Getting Human Rights into Policy and Legislature

I’ve no answers here, and I’m actually hoping to get some ideas on this issue.

 

The other day I attended Red Drinks (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?sid=2b60210e117ed08cd903de4e7901a451&gid=39307232156) , where Braema Mathi, a very prolific and proficient activist in Singapore, gave an insightful talk about human rights & ASEAN.

 

One thing she said has kept me wondering. There are many countries where Human Rights is a dirty word, to policy makers at least. Human Rights are simply not considered something to be considered in policy making at all. However, she said that we could get policy makers to think about Human Rights by reframing the issue, re-labelling these Rights. So instead of talking about Human Rights, talk about Accessibility, she said.

 

She also highlighted how everyone of us can play a contributory role. We don’t all have to hug trees or wave banners. In the course of our jobs, our lives, our interactions with friends, we can make sure that Human Rights are respected, in whatever aspect we have influence over. Or we can simply talk about it to raise awareness. Make sure your maid has enough food, rest, is treated as a human with choices and feelings. Make sure that your department doesn’t have an unfair discriminatory culture.

 

In light of these 2 things we can do, ie. highlighting Human Rights considerations using alternative lingo, and maximising our influence within our own domains, I’m brainstorming the different ways we can do this. Specifically, if you’re in the position to influence policy — not just national policies, but your company’s policies, your school’s policies, or country club’s policies, or religious institute’s policies etc etc

As Braema pointed out, Accessibility is an aspect of Human Rights.

Other things I can think of, that people would tend not to find objectionable or controversal, are stuff like Safety (your right to a work environment or food that does not kill you) , Staff retention (you need fair practices to retain staff? ), Productivity and stress ( slavery creates mental stress, decreases productivity??) etc etc. I wonder if readers would share their ideas??

 

 If you think about it, Human Rights are in a way, enshrined in the Singapore pledge — Justice and Equality. The only thing is that its only regardless of race, language or religion. Health status (people with HIV, disabilities), nationality , gender, sexual orientation, “intelligence” (“meritocracy??”) are not basis of Justice and Equality — YET.

How do we bring that YET about?

 

I was just talking to someone else the other day about our laws that weren’t very fair towards homosexual people, or people with HIV. Not just about the laws that were in place, but also about the laws that OUGHT to be in place.

 

He brought up a most interesting point. He said,” As the government, you’ve got to listen to the voices of your people. Most Singaporeans are not willing to accept such laws yet — most people here support the current legislature, as unfair as you may think it is. The government needs the support of these masses — this is a democracy. “

I said ” But it’s the government’s duty to uphold justice. We made laws countering racism when it was at its most violent point. We made laws protecting pregnant women even though it was unpopular with employers.”

He responded “True, but you can’t force legislature down people’s throats in such a draconian way every time.”

 

Me? Draconian?? I thought I was fighting for democracy and human rights?!?!

 

How do you deal with that?!? How do you balance democracy ( acting according to the majority’s wishes) with human rights (justice and equality) ??

 

( See also : http://mathialee.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/can-a-democracy-work-in-a-place-with-an-uneducated-majority/ )