DIGNITY AND EQUALITY FOR ALL Introduction to Human Rights Yolande Tomlinson, Ph.D., US Human Rights...
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Transcript of DIGNITY AND EQUALITY FOR ALL Introduction to Human Rights Yolande Tomlinson, Ph.D., US Human Rights...
DIGNITY AND EQUALITY FOR ALL
Introduction to Human Rights
Yolande Tomlinson, Ph.D., US Human Rights Network
Dina Tyson, National Center for Civil & Human Rights Khalidah Guy, National Center for Civil &
Human Rights
Who We Are
Who We Are
Agenda
What are human rights Standards Tools
Case Studies: Quiz Youth Declaration of Rights
Action
Ground Rules
This is a safe space Step up/step back One diva, one mic [W.A.I.T.] Circle of knowledge Questions & additions
Goals
Provide an introduction to human rights principles;
Provide the tools for you to be able to Articulate a basic understanding of human rights; Understand how human rights apply to everyday life; Be able to frame one or two key issue(s) as human rights
issues; and Identify human rights violations;
Lay the groundwork for further engagement with human rights;
Provide opportunities beyond this workshop for you to apply what you have learned.
Introductions
Song Scramble
What do you consider human rights?
Jill Scott’s “My Petition”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8uA3DMFPfk
Human Rights: The Whole Picture
So-cial
Civil
Sexual
20
Eco-nomi
c
Cultural
Political
Environmental
What are Human Rights?
A set of values and standards that allow all people to live with:
DignityFreedom
EqualityPeace
Justice
What are Human Rights?
A set of tools needed to:
Promote
Protect
Remedy violations
Where do human rights originate?
Originate within us, as humans Come from human needs and desires
From people fighting for them Indigenous Peoples in America Africans enslaved in the Americas Women’s right to vote Workers fighting for protection on the job World War II (WWII) Restoration of voting rights to formerly-incarcerated
persons
Promoted and protected in international law
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable
rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom,
justice and peace in the world” – Preamble to the UDHR
UDHR: History & Context
Adopted on December 10, 1948Developed out of World War II & Creation of
the United Nations Desire to preserve peace
Product of social justice, civil rights, civil liberties, and religious groups, calling on the United Nations NAACP & W.E.B. Dubois American Bar Association American Jewish Committee 21 American Countries
International Bill of Rights =
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR)
+
The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR)
+
The Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR)
Declaration Convention & Covenant
Non-binding, not legally obligated to adhere
Customary law: people hold it up as common standard and practice
Aspirational & Inspirational
Legally binding (.i.e. treaty)
Can be enforced (.i.e. becomes law)
People can make demands for change (i.e. bring to court)
Human Rights: A Set of Tools
Human Rights: A Set of Tools
Respect Protect Fulfill
Government cannot take away your
rights or stop you for
enjoying those rights
Government must prevent
others (individuals or corporations) from violating
your rights
Must take positive
actions to contribute to
your enjoyment of basic human
rights
Human Rights: A Set of Values & Principles
1. Everyone is born free and equal in dignity and rights.
2. Everyone has equal rights regardless of differences between people such as gender, color, religion, language, wealth or political opinion.
3. Everyone has the right to life and the right to live in freedom and safety.
4. No one shall be held in slavery or slave-like conditions
5. Everyone has the right not to be tortured, degraded or treated cruelly.
6. Everyone has the right to be treated as a person under the law everywhere.
7. The law is the same for everyone and should protect everyone equally.
8. Everyone has the right to ask for legal help when their basic rights are not respected.
9. No one should be arrested, imprisoned or expelled from their country without good reason.
10. Everyone has the right to a fair trial, if accused of a crime.
11. Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, accused of a crime.
12. Everyone has the right to privacy. 13. Everyone has the right to travel within and outside
their own country. 14. Everyone has the right to seek asylum in another country,
if they are being persecuted in their own country. 15. Everyone has the right to a nationality. 16. Everyone has the right to marry and have a family.
17. Everyone has the right to own property on their own or with others. No one should have their property taken from them without good cause.
18. Everyone has the right to their own free thoughts, conscience and religion including the right to practice their religion privately or in public.
19. Everyone has the right to say what they think and to share information with others.
20. Everyone has the right to meet with others publicly and privately and to freely form and join peaceful associations.
21. Everyone has the right to vote in regular democratic elections and to take part in the government of their country.
22. Every country must do its best to ensure that everyone has enough to live a life of dignity (social security).
23. Everyone has the right to work for a fair wage in a safe environment and also has the right to join a trade union.
24. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure time. 25. Everyone has the right to “an adequate standard
of living,” including a home, enough food and health care.
26. Everyone has the right to education and to free primary education.
27. Everyone has the right to take part in the cultural life of their community and the right to benefit from scientific and artistic learning.
28. National and international laws and institutions must make possible the rights and freedoms set out in this declaration.
29. Everyone has the responsibility to respect and uphold the rights of others in their community and the wider world.
30. No one has the right to take away any of the rights in this declaration.
Human Rights: A Set of Values & Principles
Know your (human) rights: Case Studies
Government: School-to-Prison Pipeline
Corporation: Environmental (In)Justice
Private actors: Homeless LGBT Youth
Case Study: School-to-Prison Pipeline
Inadequate resources in public schools 2nd rate schools
“Zero Tolerance”: Expulsion and suspension for minor incidences 1.7 Mil (‘74) to 3.1 Mil (2000)
Targets Black, Latino, LGBTQ students and students with disabilities
Increased reliance on police in schools In Ohio, up to 80% of court-involved cases do
not have lawyers
Case Study: Environmental (In)justice
Children more vulnerable to changes in the environment
Study found over 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in babies’ umbilical chord
Cancer is leading cause of death among children
Increases in rates of: Asthma, obesity & neurological disorders among children
Hazardous waste and landfills located most closely to Black and Indigenous communities (regardless of income)
What rights are violated?
LGBTQ youth are 5% of the youth population
Yet they are 40% homeless youth population
Subjected to abuse at home, in school, in foster care, and detention centers
Harassment by religious individuals and groups
Lack of understanding about needs and identity
62% youth suicide rate 58% homeless LGBT youth
subjected to sexual abuse
Case Study: LGBTQ Youth Homelessness
A Youth Declaration of Rights
The Human Rights Framework
Universal All of us have them and they apply everywhere
Inalienable We were born with them (not granted)
Indivisible The realization of human rights depends on the
protection and fulfillment of all of rightsInterdependent
They depend on each other to be fully realized
The Human Rights Framework
The floor, not the ceilingEvolving There is NO government or society on earth
that has realized all of these rights. There is no utopia.
Why are human rights important?
Unifies and connects all of our issuesEveryone is covered; no one is undeservingSays government has a role play in ending
human suffering and inequality Calls for changes to systems, not just policiesPuts control in the hands of people
Share your knowledge on social media
Talk to Conference Attendees
Spreading the Word
Tweet using the hashtags:#AdvancingRights@USHRN@NCCHR
YOLANDE TOMLINSON, PH.D.Y T O M L I N S O N @ U S H R N E T W O R K . OR G
404-588 -9761 (EXT. 105)
Thank You!
www.ushrnetwork.orghttp://www.civilandhumanrights.org
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