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Individuals do have natural liberties which should be protected by government, however the word 'rights' is more often associated with positive rights which confer an entitlement rather than a freedom. For example the right to a family confers an entitlement, which is different from the freedom to have a family. The distinction is not often made but should be made.

Individual liberty is important if you believe the individual, as a unit, is of higher importance than collective society. If the individual is seen as the prime element then liberty is necessary to enable that individual to live their life without undue interference from anybody else. The concept of liberty is also, necessarily, self limiting, as one individual's liberty only stretches as far as another person's liberty begins. Or to paraphrase a US supreme justice "my right to swing my fist ends where your nose begins".

Liberties are more accurately defined as negative liberties or negative right, in that they limit interference in your affairs. Rights are more accurately defined a positive liberties or positive rights as they confer a responsibility on the state (collective society) to ensure your entitlement. Assuming this question is referring to negative liberties then government does have a duty to protect people's freedom. The government should ensure no person's liberty is violated, in order that that person is able to live their life as they desire and free from interference.

Freedom is important if you believe that individuals make up society, and that the state exists through the will of the people to work on issues of common interest and to protect the freedoms of others. If you believe that society is the most important unit then you tend towards socialism which requires a large degree of intervention in people's lives and a necessary restriction of political and economic freedom.

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