Human Rights

Human rights are a person’s most basic rights, such as life, liberty, and security. Whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status, we are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all inalienable, interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. 

The first international agreement on human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. Its first draft was prepared by the Canadian law professor John Peters Humphrey. The UDHR has since been followed by UN covenants on civil, cultural, economic, political, and social rights.

International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups. The core principles underlying the human rights conventions recognize the equality of all people and the accountability of governments for the promotion, protection, and fulfillment of their rights. Observance of human rights is fundamental to the well-being of individuals and to the sustainable development of societies.

When groups are denied their rights, they can neither contribute to, nor benefit from, social and economic progress. This perpetuates exclusion and often results in conflict, putting progress at risk. Among the groups most commonly excluded are the poor, the elderly, women, children, persons living with disabilities and illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, ethnic minorities, and refugees.

The goal of CIDA’s Deployment for Democratic Development program is to enhance the realization of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights by all individuals in society. DDD supports technical assistance to incorporate human rights standards and principles into public institutions and programs to increase knowledge of, demand for, respect for, and enjoyment of human rights. Special measures are taken to strengthen respect for the rights of women and the protection of children.

DDD human rights initiatives aim to:

• Realize the human rights of women, children, and marginalized groups
• Strengthen formal human rights institutions and mechanisms
• Support civil society, education and accountability roles

Here are a few highlights from our DDD human rights initiatives:

Africa Regional -African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
Burkina Faso – Ensuring a Gender Approach to Microfinancing
Côte d’Ivoire – Strengthening Civil Society Organizations
Niger - Preventing and Managing Food Crises in Niger
Niger – Ensuring Children’s Right to Education
Niger – Strengthening Gender Analysis and Budgeting in Niger
Niger – Fostering Girls’ Education in Niger