politics and human rights
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Politics and human rights. Kathalijne Buitenweg Laurien Koster. Politics and human rights. History of human rights Main trends in promotion and protection of human rights Forward-looking: challenges for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) Future trends? – your input. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Politics and human rightsKathalijne BuitenwegLaurien Koster
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Politics and human rights
History of human rights Main trends in promotion and protection of
human rights Forward-looking: challenges for National Human
Rights Institutions (NHRIs) Future trends? – your input
Human rights:
A moral concept A legal concept
Fundamental for human dignity.
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History since 1945
Main activities at international level
Standard setting Development of international monitoring
machinery Focus on national implementation
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Standard setting
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) Contains civil and political rights as well as
economic, social and cultural rights
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Indivisibility of human rights
1993 World Conference on Human Rights => Vienna Declaration, article 5 ‘All human rights are universal, indivisible and
interdependent and interrelated.’
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Standard setting
General instruments Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights (1966)
Controversies during drafting Emphasis CPR – ESCR Acceptability of monitoring procedures
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Different human rights?
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Different human rights?
Alleged differences CPR – ESCR No state action necessary – Requiring state
action Cheap – Expensive Clear - Vague Justiciable – Non-justiciable
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Standard setting
Treaties dealing with specific issues or groups Racial discrimination (1965) Discrimination against women (1979) Torture (1984) Children’s rights (1989) Migrant workers (1990) Persons with disabilities (2006) Enforced disappearance (2006)
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International accountability
Accountability of States UN human rights treaty bodies Political mechanisms Regional Courts Towards a World Court??
Accountability of individuals Combating impunity International accountability (ICC)
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National implementation
National Preventive Mechanisms (OPCAT, CRPD) Technical assistance programmes National Human Rights Institutions
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Realisation of socio economic rights Role of independent National Human Rights
Institutions The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights
Realisation of rights
State fulfills its obligations Enforceability
The UN treaty body System
Monitoring of state obligations Clearifying of the norms Political peer review Recommendations Individual complaints
Domestic Political debate Follow up
European Convention Human Rights:
- Binding judgements European Court- Supervision of execution
of judgments
Domestic acces to justice- The judiciary- Semi judicial function of NHRI; non discrimination
Non discrimination
Equal acces to socio-economic rights No guarantee for core minimum
Paris Principles
Competence to promote and protect h. r. Broad and effective mandate and responsabilities
i.a. advice, reports on the national situation, encourage ratification of internat. hr-instruments,, hr education,investigative powers
Interaction with International HR system, Cooperation with other hr institutions and NGO’s Independence from the state, adequate funding Pluralist composition Protected position of commissioners Own staff, independent housing
Netherlands Institute for Human rights Strategic priorities:
- Older people in caring homes & human rights- Migration and human rights- Discrimination and access to the labour market
- Human Rights education - Inhabitants of the Carribean part of NL
& human rights- National yearly report on HR in NL- A-accreditation at UN level/Cmttee of NHRI’s
Netherlands Institute for Human Rights