Human Rights
The Just Governance Group adopts a comprehensive approach to human rights, one which considers the specific political, social, economic and cultural context in a country or region. Human rights, manifested in legal instruments as well as distinct socio-cultural practices, are considered interdependent and mutually connected. This interdependence of rights recognizes that enjoyment of one right depends on the fulfilment of other rights.
The traditional approach to human rights places the State as the central actor responsible for ensuring respect for full respect for human rights while individuals and civil society organizations demand remedies for violations by public officials. The Group recognizes that factors such as globalization, rules of intra-state armed conflict and universal jurisdiction in international criminal law together have broadened the responsibilities for human rights to non-state actors, including armed insurgents and business entities. These developments invoke the need for collaborative State-Civil Society strategies to ensure respect for the spectrum of human rights.
The Group understands that the complexity of promoting respect for human rights in a pluralistic society is challenging and multi-dimensional. While collective understandings of rights may be especially important in communal societies, individual rights may be considered paramount in other societies. The Group promotes the coexistence and recognition of all rights in a democratic society. In order to promote equality, inclusion and participation the Group privileges initiatives to advance the rights of the most vulnerable groups in a society.
The Group has particular expertise in working with human rights institutions in Latin America. In combination, members have experience in complaint resolution, policy development, education, promotion and management.