UNDERSTANDING HUMAN RIGHTS

Transcription

1 UNDERSTANDING HUMAN RIGHTS A Manual on Human Rights Education Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Austria Democracy

2 Democracy Everyone has has the the right to to take take part part in in the the government of of his his country, directly or or through chosen representatives. Everyone has has the the right to to equal access to to public service in in his his country. The The will will of of the the people shall shall be be the the basis of of the the authority of of government; this this will will shall shall be be expressed in in periodic and and genuine elections which shall shall be be by by universal and and equal suffrage and and shall shall be be held held by by secret vote vote or or by by equivalent free free voting procedures. Article Article 21, 21, UDHR UDHR

3 Democracy Democracy: Rule of of the the people Form of of government Idea Idea which underlines the the socio-political and and legal organisation of of the the state Democracy is is strongly related to to the the principles of of HRs HRsand cannot function without assuring the the full full respect and and protection of of human dignity. Democracy depends on on the the interest and and active participation of of its its beneficiaries. Access to to knowledge and and information are are a precondition to to meaningful participation. Democratic education has has the the formation of of responsible citizens as as its its aim. aim.

4 Democracy Definition and Description Democracy Definition and Description A form of of government in in which state authority is is derived from the the people: USA USA the the first first modern democratic state. Direct democracy: popular assemblies, popular legislative initiatives, recall, referenda, etc. etc. Representative democracy: parliamentary democracy, presidential democracy Most Most existing democracies combine these types of of democracy and and feature elements from all all forms.

5 Core Elements of Modern Democracy Key Key elements constituting the the basis of of every democratic society Equality All All human human beings beings are are born born equal equal they they enjoy enjoy equal equal opportunities and and participation in in the the political life life entitled to to equal equal treatment before before law law social social and and economic equality between men men and and women Participation in in community and and policy policy affairs affairs

6 Core Elements of Modern Democracy Majority rule and minority rights Obligation of of the the majority to to take take the the rights rights and and needs needs of of minority groups groups into into account Rule of of law and fair trial ensures ensures that that a state state has has an an autonomous legal legal order order Respect for human rights assure assure the the respect, respect, protection protection and and fulfilment fulfilment of of all all human human rights rights free free from from fear fear and and free free from from want want Political pluralism diversity diversity of of ideas ideas and and opinions opinions to to secure secure structures structures flexible flexible enough enough to to adapt adapt to to changing changing needs needs but but still still remain remain stable stable

7 Core Elements of Modern Democracy Free and fair elections elections are are democracy s most most fundamental and and unique unique characteristic they they leave leave the the decision on on political leadership to to those those primarily affected by by the the governmental system system the the people people Division of of power State State power power is is divided divided between between legislative, executive executive and and judicial judicial bodies bodies functioning independent but but are are accountable to to each each other other John John Locke Locke Two Two Treaties Treaties of of Government, 1690; 1690; Montesquieu De De l esprit l espritdes des lois, lois,

8 Forms of Democracy Forms of Democracy

9 Intercultural Perspectives Intercultural Perspectives Importance of of several constitutive elements of of democracy differs among cultures. The The emphasis of of the the Western model on on civil civil and and political rights is is problematic for for other countries. Asian values debate: community-orientation, oligarchic leader- ship ship as as opposed to to notion of of maximum freedom for for the the individual. Muslim World: Shura, Islamic concept of of consultation in in conducting common affairs. Limited by by Allah s legislation and and cannot be be modified. Opposed to to openness, pluralism and and the the separation of of powers.

10 Implementation Relationship majority/minority: protection of of political minorities Civil Civil society: free free and and active citizens to to hold hold government accountable Free and and independent media: control over over means of of information = control over over decision-making in in a democracy Democracy and and human rights: interplay an an indicator for for a vital vital democracy

11 Implementation European Convention of Human Rights (CoE): Greece 1967 ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) established by the OSCE IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) to facilitate networking of national parliaments UN Development Program / Human Development Report 2002 ILO Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Convention

12 Good to Know Women and Democracy Women and Democracy Women in in Parliament: In In years, from to to 1995: The The number of of sovereign States having a Parliament has has increased seven-fold; The The percentage of of women MPs MPs worldwide has has increased four-fold; The The record average level was was reached in in 1988 with with 14.8% of of all all MPs MPs being women.

13 Good to Know Online availability of of internet accessnot a substitute for for democratic structures; exchange and and use use of of information to to create informal organisational structures online communication caused dra- dramatic increase in in activities of of NGOs, campaigns can can reach more people, can can express own own opinion more easily

14 Good to Know Online million online, 5,8 5,8 billion are are not: not: digital divide between developed and and developing countries OR OR between urban and and rural areas within developed countries democratic challenges are are about assuring access, and and about contents: --Ku-Klux-Klan increased numbers of of members considerably since its its online presence --Yahoo! Declared to to monitor voluntarily and and to to prohibit activities such such as as offering neo-nazi memorabilia on on its its website

15 Good to Know Online The The internet can can be be a medium to to facilitate communication, but but it it will will never be be a substitute for for a lack lack of of commitment in in the the offline world.

16 Good to Know CHALLENGES Globalisation and Democracy --many decisions go go beyond national boundaries --socio-economic changes --anti-globalisation movements: claim that that a globalised world lacks democratic principles --key key mode of of campaigning: mass demonstrations (WTO, Seattle 1999) --democratic global governance, participation of of civil civil society, democratisation of of international economic relations

17 Good to Know CHALLENGES Democray and IOs, MNCs, NGOs --important actors in in world politics --decisions and and regulations affect policies of of states and and lives lives of of millions of of citizens --explore practices, policies, decision-making if if principles of of democracy are are fulfilled --proposals for for reform: UN-SC, parliament for for WTO, Global Peoples Assembly etc. etc.