Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10th December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 and sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
In the UK the Human Rights Act is used extensively within advocacy as an important tool when we promote and safeguard people’s rights. There are some key principles shared between the Act and advocacy to ensure that people are treated fairly and with respect.
Human rights are about a person-centred way of working – making sure that a person’s views, needs and wishes are fully considered. Advocacy similarly strives to make sure that people are at the heart of the decision-making process within health and social care services. The Act makes it clear that all public bodies (like courts, police, local authorities, hospitals and publicly funded schools) and other bodies carrying out public functions are required to respect and protect your human rights.
Much of the Act can, and often is, used by advocates to remind professionals about the importance of considering a person at the centre of the decision. Advocates will reinforce the support we are able to provide using key principles within the Act when we adopt a rights-based, person centred approach.
Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections that every person has simply because they are human.
Human rights make sure people are:
- Treated with dignity.
- Treated with respect.
- Treated fairly.
- Listened to and have a say over their lives.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission sets out in more detail what is included in the Human Rights Act, this can be found here: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/human-rights-act
The British Institute of Human Rights also developed a ‘Know Your Human Rights’ tool which aims to support people to be able to speak for themselves or to equip their advocates with the knowledge and practical understanding to be able to make human rights arguments to address an issue. You can read more about this here: https://knowyourhumanrights.co.uk/
A full copy of the Human Rights Act can be downloaded from here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/42/contents