What's the difference between Human Rights and Civil Rights?

The two words seem to be used in different contexts

Civil rights - rights layed out by the constitution
Human Rights- "rights" that are not covered under the constitution. For example "rights" of people in foreign countries where the constitution doesn't apply.Or universal helath care may be "human right", but not a civil right.

Everyone has basic and general human rights by virtue of being born, regardless of who they are or where they live. Those rights basically recognize certain things - slavery, rape, muder, etc are wrong to do to anyone. Those rights also state that a person has the right to food and a given amount of freedom. Some people (myself included) also feel basic human rights include an education, medicine, not be discriminated against because of race / nationality / who their parents are, and a chance to improve their life.

Civil rights are considered a smaller group of rights that apply within a certain society or civil structure. Many people feel civil rights are a subset of basic human rights, in that every person has an equal right to participate in their society - at least until they do something to lose those rights.

These rights are considered inherent by being a member of the society. For example, many Americans consider civil rights to be granted to all American citizens but not necessarily non-citizens. These rights are usually granted and protected by law, not principle.

It is subtle difference to be sure.

Human rights can also be considered "natural" rights, rights people have simply because they are human. All humans have the same human rights regardless of where they live, although different political systems differ are what these rights are.

Civil rights are rights given by government to its citizens. These vary wildly from nation to nation.

While all humans are entitled to the same rights, the biggest visible difference in these terms comes down to how they are discussed when violated.

Human rights abuses are generally society or nation wide, such as an oppressive regime like North Korea. Its citizens, nationwide, are subjected to violations of their human rights. Think of the current situation in Dafur or the Nazi concentration camps or our own country's past treatment of the native tribes.

Civil rights apply to all in society and are given to citizens of particular nations through their government. An example is the right to vote or to a free press. Civil rights violations tend to focus on a particular group in a particular society (women or orientals for example). Think of the civil rights marches of the 1960s, protesting the unequal treatment blacks received in education, justice, land ownership, etc. Think of women not being allowed to vote until the 20th century.

Civil rights are those granted by a government to individuals. "Human rights" are those retained regardless of government action--the right to life and liberty most notably. Countries that interfere with those rights are termed to have violated "human rights."