Forum (Spotlight Weekly)

Respecting Human Dignity And Freedom

By Dr. HENNING KARCHER

The mark of all civilizations is the respect they accord to human dignity and freedom. All religions and cultural traditions celebrate these ideals. Yet throughout history they have been violated. Every society has known racism, sexism, authoritarianism, xenophobism - depriving men and women of their dignity and freedom. And in all religions and cultures, the struggle against oppression, injustice and discrimination has been common. That struggle continues today in all countries rich and poor. Nepal is no exception.

Every two hours, a child is born in the mountains under-nourished and under-privileged from day one of her life. She will never have a chance to go to school and may eventually be traded as a sex slave to a neighboring country. A woman surrounded by the members of her family will be looking forward to the birth of her first child. As the labor sets in and becomes stronger, the family will realize that a caesarean section will be required.
In the absence of a trained surgeon, the woman will die a painful death. Cheerful expectations will have turned to tragedy. Clearly basic human rights of these persons will be violated.

Human rights and human development are two sides of the same coin. They are both about securing basic freedoms. Human rights express the bold idea that all people have claims to social arrangements that protect them from the worst abuses and deprivations and that secure the freedom for a life of dignity.

Human development, in turn, is a process enhancing human capabilities - to expand choices and opportunities so that each person can lead a life of respect and value. When human development and human rights advance together, they reinforce one another - expanding people’s capabilities and protecting their rights and fundamental freedoms.

Until the last decade human development and human rights followed parallel paths in both concept and action - the one largely dominated by economists, social scientists and policy-makers, the other by political activists, lawyers and philosophers. They promoted divergent strategies of analysis and action - economic and social progress on the one hand, political pressure, legal reform and ethical questioning on the other. But today, as the two converge in both concept and action, the divide between the human development agenda and human rights agenda is narrowing. There is growing political support for each of them - and there are new opportunities for partnerships and alliances.

Rights lend moral legitimacy and the principle of social justice to the objectives of human development. The rights perspective helps shift the priority to the most deprived and excluded, especially to deprivations because of discrimination. It also directs attention to the need for information and political voice for all people as a development issue - and to civil and political rights as integral parts of the development process.

Human development, in turn, brings a dynamic long-term perspective to the fulfillment of rights. It directs attention to the socio-economic context in which rights can be realized. In short, human development is essential for realizing human rights, and human rights are essential for human development.

Nepal’s draft Human Rights Action Plan in conjunction with the logical framework that goes with it represents a unique document formulating objectives for different categories of rights, policies and strategies, indicators, sources of information, major activities and external risks. It is a practical operational tool that will enable all of us to translate the concept of a rights-based approach to development into practical operational steps addressing priority issues in a strategic fashion. For example, efforts of the state will be directed to the most pressing needs of those in society who suffer most from deprivation and discrimination. Participation will become an integral part of the entire development process from the identification of needs to the formulation of action plans and implementation. Accountability of the duty bearers will be an integral part of the entire process.

Participation has also been the hallmark of the entire process that led to the formulation of the draft Human Rights Action Plan. All relevant stakeholders, in particular ministries and civil society organizations were fully involved from the beginning. Regional and district consultations are now under way.

Human rights may be universal, but they are not universally accepted. Huge advances have been made almost everywhere in the decades since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted over 50 years ago. But new threats lurk on the horizon. The nature of the struggle depends on the right and the opponent. The fight against exploitation by individuals, groups or firms defines one domain of struggle.

Those who oppose human rights do so for a mix of reasons. And they often camouflage their denial of rights with distorted claims of political necessity - or make lack of resources an excuse for inaction.

Indeed human rights is seen as a threat by many groups, including many in positions of power or superiority. Rights challenge entrenched interests, just as equitable development threatens those in privileged positions. But in the longer run, all can gain. Human rights and human development help build law-abiding, prosperous and stable countries.

(This article is based on a speech delivered by UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Henning Karcher at a briefing and discussion on the National Human Rights Action Plan)