Section 1 Human rights community-led development and National Human Rights Institutions Section Overview This section explores: • what is meant by a human rights community-led development approach • the principles and ethics that guide a human rights community-led development approach • the link between community cultural and faith-based values and human rights • why human rights community-led development is a useful approach for NHRIs • the benefits of a human rights community-led development approach for communities. 1.1 What do we mean by ‘human rights’? Human rights are about life, education, health, work, personal security, equal opportunity and fair treatment. They are also about our systems of government. A culture of respect for each other’s human rights is a prerequisite for harmonious relations among the diverse groups making up our world. Human rights deal with relationships among and between individuals, groups, communities and the State. Human rights determine how we live together and inform us about our responsibilities to each other regardless of their sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, skin colour, culture, age, disability, nationality, health status, marital status, and belief. While steps had been taken to recognise and categorise human rights, it took the atrocities that occurred during World War II to galvanize the international community into developing common standards and processes for the protection of human rights. In 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations, followed by two major human rights treaties – the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Culture and Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These three make up the International Bill of Rights and lay out the grouping of rights that everyone is entitled to – economic, social, cultural, civil and political. The characteristics of these rights are described as: • Universal: Human rights apply equally to all of us. • Inalienable: Human rights cannot not be taken away, except in specific situations and according to due process. • Indivisible and interrelated: One set of human rights cannot be enjoyed fully without the other. • Equal and non-discriminatory: Human rights do not show prejudice on the basis of any human characteristic • Both rights and obligations: Every person and group, in relation to others, has human rights and responsibilities. APF HRCLD Guide 12