discrimination
Syndicate content

Testing for discrimination

Adapting the method used by US organizations on housing discrimination, the Legal Defense Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities (NEKI) uses a method of testing to collect evidence when there is an allegation of discrimination in order to challenge it in court. The Hungarian court recognized testing as a valid technique for documenting discrimination for the first time in a case in 2000 where an individual was denied service in a public accommodation on the ground of the customer’s ethnic origin.

Dialogue: National Human Rights Institutions help combat discrimination

Philippe Duhamel's picture
Posted April 23rd, 2008 by Philippe Duhamel
NHRIphoto cc: Fransesco Esposito and NASA (modified by P. Duhamel).

Human rights form the indispensable foundations that make it possible for human beings to lead meaningful, satisfying lives. They define the basic entitlements and freedoms that are our birthright. Centuries in the making, the new, growing culture of respect for human rights has been driving the modern push for democracy, development, and accountable governance.

Everyone is entitled to live in dignity, with their basic needs being met. We were all born with a heart longing to be free and equal.

Human rights are universal — they belong to individuals and also to communities. Human rights are interrelated and indivisible — none can be taken away without hurting the others.

Using National Human Rights Institution mechanisms for addressing discrimination issues

Begins April 23 - Using National Human Rights Institution mechanisms for addressing discrimination issues!

National Human Rights Institutions can be powerful vehicles for the promotion of human rights. Join our experienced resource practitioners from eight countries.

Become a member today so you can join this discussion!  Dialogues provide members the chance to discuss tactics within the New Tactics community.

Dialogue: March 21 - International Day Against Racism

npearson's picture
Posted March 21st, 2008 by npearson

Today, March 21, is recognized as the International Day Against Racism. The date is historically significant. We have also recently seen in stark and tragic detail how discrimination can lead to violent conflict.

In the United States, it was fitting that on Tuesday, March 18, Senator Barack Obama made a speech addressing the question of racism that has been raised in the current US presidential campaign. 

notebook: Testing for Discrimination: Identifying and Prosecuting Human Rights Abuses

In this notebook we learn about how an organization in Hungary tests for and documents incidences of systematic descrimination against a disenfranchised population.  When an instance of discrimination is reported, this organization will send out testers find out whether or not this discrimination was systematic and then document their findings.

notebook: Making the Global Local: Applying Global Agreements to Local Enforcement of Human Rights Laws

In the human rights field there is often a gap between local human rights abuses and the international laws and treaties that are meant to prevent these abuses.  The League of Human Rights Advocates in Slovakia recruits members of a disenfranchised population and trains them to become human rights monitors.  These monitors watch for human rights abuses in their own locality and then translate international human rights laws and apply them to their local situations.