Member Care and Human Rights--2

How is member care (MC) related to human rights (HR)?

*****
http://www.un.org/av/photo/subjects/30.htm
*****

1. How does HR provide a foundation for our responsibility
to manage and support our mission/aid staff?

2. How does HR provide a foundation for our responsibility
in mission/aid work to help vulnerable populations
who have experienced human rights abuses?
*****

I believe the answer to these two core questions is found in the opening statements of the Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Note the powerful contrasts that are used—e.g., recognise vs disregard; progress vs oppress, promote vs contempt, reaffirm vs outrage, freedom vs tyranny, peace vs fear.

*
"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
*

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
*

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
*

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
*

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom…"

Historical note from: http://www.un.org/av/photo/subjects/hrhis.htm

*
"The Convenant of the League of Nations, written at the end of the First World War, was silent on the issue of human rights. In 1941, the "four freedoms" were proclaimed as the objective of the Allies: freedom of speech and worship and freedom from want and from fear. The Allies repeated that commitment in the 1941 Atlantic Charter." The above photo shows the signing of the Atlantic Charter on the HMS Prince of Wales--Churchill and Roosevelt are present (seated in the upper left).

*

Reflection and Discussion
Here are four applications of the Preamble to the mission/aid community—people’s rights and responsibilities! What do you think? Any other applications for relating MC and HR?
*

1. We recognize the dignity and rights of our staff and of the people that are the focus of our services. Freedom, justice, and peace are core values and goals.
*

2. We promote friendly relations, social progress, and better standards of life within our organisations and within the people that are the focus of our services.
*

3. We are outraged when basic rights are disregarded within our organisations and within the people that are the focus of our services. We seek to protect people’s rights and we oppose (rebel) against those entities that stifle freedoms of speech and beliefs and the freedom from fear.
*

4. We reaffirm our ongoing commitment to these basic human rights in both our organisations and in the people who are the focus of our services.