10 2. Respect for human rights
PART I: POINTS OF DEPARTURE
2. Respect for human rights
Aim. To strengthen understanding of human rights principles, particularly women’ s human rights, and the consequences of violating them.
Human rights are rights to which all human beings are entitled. International human rights treaties affirm that every individual has dignity and certain inalienable rights. The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights( 1948) states that recognition of these rights is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.
‘ Human rights’ standards refer both to the substantive rights that are defined and codified in international treaties, declarations and covenants, and mechanisms or institutions that operationalise and enforce those rights, for example by investigating claims that rights have been violated, clarifying the application and content of human rights principles, and ensuring that states comply with the obligations they assume when they sign human rights agreements.
Human rights affirm the dignity and physical integrity of every person and their right not to have their dignity and physical integrity violated. In particular, they prohibit all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Threats to life and other violations of rights have very serious effects on the lives of people, harming or destroying their health and well-being. This is why respect for rights is at the heart of our health work with women( as well as with men and children) and guides our analysis and the approaches we adopt.
The present training builds on and is inspired by the human rights framework. Identifying rights and abuses of rights is also important in practical psychosocial work. Understanding the experiences of participants and survivors in terms of rights and their violation may be creative and bring insights, and can give survivors and their helpers valuable tools. Awareness of human rights, and their great importance for everyone, can be a valuable resource when working with people whose rights have been brutally disrespected. Human rights values may assist us both to understand the suffering we encounter and find ways to respond to it in a respectful and helpful way.