Variations on a theme by the Danish writer Peter Hoeg. Inspired, extracted (plagiarized) and paraphrased from his short story “Reflections of a young man in balance”, in Tales of the…
I have been re-reading some of the Health Sector Reform (HSR) and health and poverty literature. I have been amazed by the ambiguity, lack of clarity and of a sense…
Equity in health means equal access for equal need. Near-zero-priced public services for the poor is an essential public policy towards equity. Government intervention in the inequitable workings of the…
Introduction Many of our fellow development professionals are not satisfied with the training future generations of our colleagues are receiving. Quite a few have been vocal about it and discussions…
Capacity/accountability analyses (that tell us why duty bearers at many levels do not seem to be able to perform their duties as expected) are a cornerstone of Human Rights planning.…
The notion of duty and justice (…and not compassion!) give rights their cutting edge. Power is the key relation in health and Human Rights issues: A right confers power, i.e.…
Focusing on sustainable poverty alleviation is inseparable from bringing about greater respect of Human Rights and greater equity. Current development thinking is at a cross-road. We need to influence overall…
Human Rights are plainly not guaranteed by the existing institutional arrangements.. (AmartyaSen) A country becomes State Party to a convention or covenant once it has ratified it. The same is…
What We Have Not Yet Done The implementation of Human Rights requires first and foremost its translation to the domestic level. The current lack of development may not be invoked…
Getting From Here to There Meetings on Human Rights (e.g. the recent 26th Session of the UN’s ACC/SCN, Geneva, 12-15 April, 1999 and many other), and even the UN Secretary…