Dear List Members, Thank you all for your very interesting and overwhelming contributions over the past two days to the discussion about how to define a "culture of human rights". We received numerous messages in reply to Rebecca Dudley's question on Monday (4 September) and the initial responses by Samuel Hanneman, Payel Rai Chowdhury and Maria Antonia Borges da Cunha (all on 5 September). Instead of posting all responses in separate messages we decided to compile the contributions in one message. You will find them below (posted in order that they were received). Warm regards, the Moderators ----------------------- Dear Rebecca, I think human rights culture means where everyone respect principles, norms and values of human rights. Binu Binu Shrestha National Human Rights Commission, Nepal ---------- Dear Rebecca, I got the mail and it has created an interest in me to write about the term 'culture of rights'. If you specify culture that means doing various entertaining aspects related to dance, music & song. If you broaden the term, it means own/traditional practices, livelihood, cultivation, norm, behavior, outlook, attitude, belief, environment, process and rituals. Every citizen has the rights to exercise all those aspects within his/her own periphery. Imposition is a contrary to an inherent privilege. I hope you will be able to find out your meaning out of this clarification and it is my own understanding and I also follow this idea in my work accordingly. Best regards Nazmul Ahsan Nazmul Ahsan Ph.D Chairperson LOSAUK 2, Farazipara Road Khulna -9100 Bangladesh Phone & Fax: 880-41-725940 Website: www.losauk.org ---------- Dear Rebeca Your question is a challenging one. In my opinion if culture is a way of "being in the world": knowing, feeling acting in a manner that defines my identity, a human rights culture is a way of being in the world as a subject of rights: knowing and respecting my rights and the rights of Others, being responsible of my dignity and the dignity of the Others and acting in the day to day life as a human rights - being that defines my identity. Human rights culture is a personal and collective identity that is socially constructed. With love Abraham Magendzo Coordinator of Unesco Chair in Human Rights Chile ---------- Kia ora Rebecca I use "where rights and responsibilities are understood and respected". All the best with your work. Regards, Sandy Jamison Director/Educator HR at Work Christchurch New Zealand Website: www.hratwork.co.nz ---------- Hi Rebecca, Maybe you would like to check out my website where I describe a human rights culture. The website (you guessed it) is: http://www.humanrightsculture.org (You can just click on the link below if you like) I guess I would say in ten words or less that a human rights culture is a lived awareness of human rights principles found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and human rights documents following, in one's mind and heart and dragged into one's everyday life. All the best in your work. Joe Joseph Wronka, Ph.D. Professor of Social Work 263 Alden Street Springfield College Springfield, MA 01109-3797 USA Office: 413-748-3067 Fax: 413-748-3069 http://www.humanrightsculture.org ---------- I agree... the culture of human rights as a way of life to respect human dignity. Angela Barlotti - Servizio Biblioteche - Provincia di Ravenna Membro Commissione Nazionale Multicultura dell'Associaizone Italiana Biblioteche AIB 'Standing Committes for Libraries Service Disadvantaged Person Section' dell'IFLA International Federation of Library associations and institutions Via Garatoni, 6 - I -48100 Ravenna - t. +39.0544.258306 - fax. 0544.258301 ---------- Hi Rebecca, Here is the definition we have developed at Equitas-International Center for Human Rights Education for a culture of human rights. Although more than 10 words, we felt it was the shortest we could get that would capture the essence of the meaning, as well as also providing some guidance as to how to go about getting there. What we understand by a culture of human rights: A way of life, politically, morally and legally, developed over time, and inspired and guided by international human rights standards and norms. Vincenza Nazzari Director of Education/Directrice de l'education Equitas International Centre for Human Rights Education/ Centre international 'd'education aux droits humains 1425 Boul. Rene Levesque O. Montreal, Quebec H3G 1T7, Canada Tel: (514) 954-0382 ext. 26; Fax: (514) 954-0659 www.equitas.org ---------- "Human rights culture promotes both individual freedom and equality." "Promotes" because rights are not passive. "Freedom and equality" because these are the two big and conflicting aspects of rights. The US and the rest of the West claim to promote freedom (which they do not, but that is another discussion). The US and much of the West have also overtly, purposely actively resisted any efforts to promote equality both inside the society and across the world. Freedom without equality is a false promise, a lie. Equality without freedom is also a lie. Societies need to confront these two conflicting aspects of human rights and social justice. Peace Dan Jordan ---------- Human rights are those to which all persons are entitled by virtue of being human. A culture of human rights is one in which the people create and obey legal institutions that respect, protect, and fulfill human rights. -- Michael Pates ---------- Dear Rebecca, Celebrating December 10th as an INTERNATIONAL focus-day on UDHR has been helpful in my cultural-musical-scholastic and public event education circles. Please refer to Every Man, Woman, and Child, www.spiralingmusic.com, for more info and music. I crafted the material to work for many public events of many age groups and diverse cultures. At the very least, celebrating this day opens the doors to a culture that knows the UDHR exists, and something about the text and concept. (We cannot assume that any population already knows that!) Please feel free to ask me about the materials. Merrill Collins ---------- Ms. Rebecca Dudley, "Culture of Rights" expresses complete knowledge for promotion and development of human rights. Samir Kumar Das Advocate Secretary General IMAECSED 28, Lawyers Chamber Supreme Court of India New Delhi -110001 India Phone: 091-11-22443703 Website: www.imaecsed.com ---------- I have thought about your request and I have mostly known a culture of human rights to mean a 'condition where human rights respect is a way of life'. Wafula Muyila Kenya, but currently at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Denmark ---------- Dear Rebecca and Payel, Thank you so much for sharing your ideas in relation to defining what is a culture of human rights. I hereby would like to comment that, a 'culture of human rights' means a culture in which all human beings' values and dignity are respected. Indeed, that is a culture in which human rights and fundemental freedoms of all individuals are fully recognised and implemented.' Hope you might find it useful! Nghia Hoang PhD Candidate, School of Law, the Manchester Metropolitan University, All Saints West, All Saints Campus, Oxford Road, Manchester. M15 6HB, United Kingdom Website: http://www.law.mmu.ac.uk ---------- Dear Rebecca Dudley: Culture of peace is an human dignity that was existed in the heard. best, Dara khlok Project director human rights and arbitration Project management Unit (PMU) Council for legal and judicial reform (CLJR) website: www.cljrkhmer.org ---------- Maria Antonia Borges da Cunha wrote: > Culture of rights is an environment where the respect of human rights comes first, before anything else. This is true Maria. But it is also an environment where nobody is left behind, people, individual or collectively are put first. In hort, it is a people centered arena. Chafi Bakari Senior Legal Adviser African Union Commission on Human & Peoples' Rights Kairaba Avenue, P.O. Box 673 Banjul, the Gambia Tel: +(220) 439 2962 (Ext 42), Fax: +(220) 439 0764 ---------- Dear friend: I believe that culture of rights is a way of living, based on respect for human dignity and the inherent condition of subjects of rights and duties of every person. Pablo Zavala Sarrio IPEDEHP Av. Trinidad Morán 1340, Lince Peru Telefaxes 422.7911 / 422.7912 / 460 9444 ---------- Dear Maria, Some time in one sentence - as you did- we capture it all.. the many words often obliterate the real meaning. However, it is my experience, from close to 20 years in the field, that most people do not know the meaning of human rights except its legal paradigm but not its moral and political holistic vision, mission and practical application in the field. It is high time we understand human rights as a political ideology -- human rights as a way of life - political, civil ,economic, social and cultural -- this framework as a guideline for delving human rights culture, with respect, trust and unconditional love - as been called for by Martin Luther King. Please do not be "afraid" of the word "ideology":. All it means is the way we want to be in the world, guiding our horizontal and vertical relations with others. --Belonging in dignity in community with others. -- this is the human rights ideology. Thank you for your attention, Shula Koenig recipient of the 2003 UN Human Rights Award. PDHRE People's Movement for Human Rights Learning 526 West 111th St. Suite 4E, New York, NY 10025, USA Tel: 1-212-749-3156 * Fax 1-212-666-6325 ---------- Dear all: One of the most important cause for human rights violations is disregard for cultural and racial diversity. Thus, our understanding of culture of human rights should reflect this important issue. Culture of human right is a social condition where cultural and racial diversities are flourished and regard for human dignity are asserted. Begna Begna F. Dugassa Canada ---------- Hello to all again, I have answered some of it in an earlier E mail... but wish to add for clarification. First and last we can not use the word RIGHTS, when we want to define human rights culture. Rights are the derivative of human rights and are only legal and vertical. Rights can be taken away and given at a whim of the government .. human rights are a birth right, horizontal and can not be appropriated. Next: considering human nights as a way of life and understanding that we have no other option but human rights to secure the future of humanity, and then asking to define it in a specific amount of words is in my opinion not doing justice to human rights. Yes. You may want a short definition to share with people and for them to know that they are owners of human rights but let us think of its universality and what it may men in the universal and yet culturally relevant way. What about the following: Human Rights is a holistic vision of life for all women, men, youth and children. It is about equality and non-discrimination .. it is a way of life giving us all the guideline of how to belong in dignity in community with others. Shula PDHRE People's Movement for Human Rights Learning 526 West 111th St. Suite 4E, New York, NY 10025, USA Tel: 1-212-749-3156 * Fax 1-212-666-6325 ---------- Dear Rebecca, The 'culture of rights' for me is the empowerment and dignity of oneself and other at micro, macro and Mata levels through thoughts, words or/and Acts. Rev. Inderias Dominic Bhatti, National Director, Unitarians in Pakistan. ---------- Dear Rebecca, In very brief, "the culture of HR" seems like an immunity of human dignity. Best regards, Sara Arslan National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia ---------- 16 words definition: A culture of human rights aims to facilitate the personal self-realization through recognition of human rights. 75 words background: In a culture of human rights, human rights legitimize state authority when they are respected, and they delegitimize state authority when they are violated. Human rights education aims to lead to a culture of human rights thus it also serves to deconstruct power relationships and replace them with a mutually agreed upon international standard of cooperation and coexistence. In a culture of human rights, human rights education consequently becomes the litmus test of a democracy. *********************************************************************** Nils Rosemann (PhD Candidate) Attorney at Law / Human Rights & Development Consultant House 8, Street 43 Sector F-7/1 Islamabad (Pakistan) Phone: +92-(0)51-26 53 681 *********************************************************************** ---------- Dear Rebecca, To my mind culture of Human Rights is a behavior of people who first of all respect human dignity and what is around. Best regards, Takhmina Shokirova Tajikistan ---------- Dear Antonia Culture of rights in nutshell is that type of social and institutional practice where everybody knows his/her duties before claiming his/her rights. It sets culture of rights I think. With Regards Dhani Ram Sapkota ---------- We have agreed that being homo sapiens means we have fundamental rights. On 05/09/06, Maria Antonia Borges da Cunha wrote: > Culture of rights is an environment where the respect of human rights comes first, before anything else. Jim Hilborn ---------- Hi, Cultural rights are the most compromised. The Covenant on ESCR recognizes every one's right to take part in cultural life, to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress, and encourages the development of international contacts and co-operation in the area of science and culture. The rights of indigenous peoples are a first step towards legal recognition of cultural rights. We find our selves in an era that accepts classified cultures by their positive contribution to the human race, fine, for example FGM, this act is medically considered hazardous, thus illegal, which was initiated by different sources rather than the beneficiaries. It has been a cultural practice for ages in most parts of the worlds with their ideal standards, its OK with them, why should such a burden be the onus of a foreign group. The people should be left alone to practice their cultures, its their heritage, which might not be compatible to medical science or beliefs of some international group, so what, is like marital rape, it's a felony in some nations, its fine, its no offense for another nation, what's the big deal! Leave people to live their lives according to their indigenous traditional beliefs, Governments should not be lured into the prevention of certain cultural practices rather they should ensure accessibility and availability of their information through scholarly and popular publications and workshops, let the people use their discretion, its is their indigenous cultural rights. Edward Edward Moiwo-Korji Sierra Leone ---------- Dear Rebecca Dudley A culture of rights requires certain personal skills, attitudes and knowledge that begin with oneself. These include openness, dialogue, self criticism, listening (not selective listening of course), honesty with oneself, exuding attitudes that neither discriminate, undermines nor dictates and no pretense. I must apologise for exceeding the expected amount of words required. Sincerely Sarah Motha Human Rights Education Coordinator Amnesty International South Africa Kutlwanong Democracy Centre 357 Visagie Street,Pretoria P.O.Box 29083,Sunnyside,0132 Tel: +27 (0)12 320 8155 Fax:+27 (0)12 320 8158 ---------- Dear Maria Antonia Borges Thanking you for your good email. I am Gurudataa from India Bangalore city. Here in Bangalore we have started Central Human Rights and Consumer Firum. We are planning many Human Rights activities in our country. How are you doing there. Dear, the world is very big and we should try to work for good and Truth. Regards to every one there. Thanking you. With best regards Gurudatta. ---------- Hi Rebecca, Interesting topic you got going here. I would define 'culture of rights' as: 'A practical acceptance to mutually co-exist with others' or even shorter version Rebecca; 'A mutual co-existence' (?) English is my third language but there is my try. Kindest regards. Sande Sande Olocho Kenya ---------- How about "Any society where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is familiar, respected, AND DISCUSSED"? (If you reduce the document title to its acronym, UDHR, you'll have exactly ten words.) Darrell G.H. Schramm ---------- I tend more towards Hanneman's perspective, talking of a culture of human rights as internalising human rights as a way of life, how we see and relate to ourselves, others and our community in terms of human dignity Regards Emma Emma Sydenham Coordinator, equalinrights The Netherlands Institute of Human Rights Janskerkhof 3, Utrecht The Netherlands, 3512 BK Tel: +31 (0) 30 253 8510 www.equalinrights.org ---------- The culture of human rights can be awarness of rights at the same time awarness towards duties. A culture of rights without a culture of duties is not possible. Rhishikesh Dave On 5 September 2006, Maria Antonia Borges da Cunha wrote: > Culture of rights is an environment where the respect of human rights > comes first, before anything else. > > Maria Antonia Borges da Cunha > Angola On 5 September 2006, Payel Rai Chowdhury wrote: > Your mail sent me thinking. > Just to say, in very brief, a 'culture of rights' seems to mean, a > celebration and advancement of the welfare > of human well-being. > Hope you find it useful! > > Best Regards, > Payel. > > >*Payel Rai Chowdhury.* >Doctoral Fellow - RWI-SIDA >Raoul Wallenberg Institute-Swedish International Development Agency Office of Human Rights and Social Development >Faculty of Graduate Studies. Mahidol University. Salaya Campus, Thailand. > On 5 September 2006, Hanneman Samuel wrote: > Dear Rebecca Dudley, > > I would rather define the culture of human rights as a way of life to > respect human dignity. > > Regards, > Hanneman Samuel > University of Indonesia > On 9/4/06, Rebecca Dudley wrote: > > [***Moderator's note: In January and February 2003 a very lively > discussion took place on this list on how to define the term "human > rights culture". A summary of this discussion --prepared by Deanna > Gallagher, one of the list modeators-- can be found at: > http://www.hrea.org/lists/hr-education/markup/msg01188.html ***] > > > I would be very interested to hear from colleagues: are there very > brief ways that you use to describe to groups what exactly a 'culture > of rights' means? Not too jargon-y or long, please; if possible less > than 10 words. > > I am trying out 'a society where rights are known about and > respected.' > > What other explanations work for educators out there? > > Rebecca Dudley ======== Global Human Rights Education listserv ======= Send mail intended for the list to < >. Archives of the list can be found at: http://www.hrea.org/lists/hr-education/ **You are welcome to reprint, copy, archive, quote or re-post this item, but please retain the original and listserv source.
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