Human Rights in the development discourse have reached a stage-of-no-return with the climate for the adoption and application of human rights principles and obligations slowly, but steadily increasing. (W.Barth-Eide)
1. If you agree with the above, the challenge we face is to make people’s rights a more political issue; ergo, we can no longer stay away from engaging in daily political debates on the human rights (HR) framework. Importantly, this will have to come to mean giving-people-a-voice-rather-than-a-message when it comes to HR. (FAO) This, since citizenship is claimed and human rights are realized (respected, protected and fulfilled) primarily through the actual actions of the affected people themselves.
2. It is frustrating to see so many of our colleagues giving a nodding assent to the HR framework, but failing to actually apply it. Because of this, many of them still need to go through a process of more active politicization.
3. We all do refuse to accept what is unacceptable in HR terms. But we now must stop tolerating intolerable HR violations. (Alexander Muller)
4. It does not matter where our activists are or will be coming-from. Improving health, nutrition or education is as much an issue of economics as one of welfare, of social protection and of HR. (WB, 2006!) Regrettably, in the current research agenda in these areas, the focus is still predominantly on descriptive research (what, where and who?) with not enough emphasis on a) the analytical whys?, and b) on how to translate already existing and sanctioned research findings into practice…the ultimate way to change the deplorable HR situation.
5. Ultimately, strong commitment alone is not enough to realize our vision; we need to be strategic and tactical, as well as realistic (i.e., with regard to what is not possible to achieve) –and that will be part of our political apprenticeship.
6. The application of the HR framework has to make sure it always remains connected to the realities experienced at the household level of the marginalized and the discriminated…and that is not possible unless we incorporate the claim holders of these households in the struggle.
7. Capacity development of our cadres is thus not only to get involved in training to improve knowledge and skills in HR; it also requires that the concerned claim holders they will interact with a) accept responsibility, b) have or seek the authority to speak out, and c) have or seek access-to and control-over the resources necessary to carry out the needed tasks. (David Sanders)
Claudio Schuftan, Ho Chi Minh City
cschuftan@phmovement.org