Communicating Human Rights

Lydia Yeshitla
Sep 7, 2018 · 4 min read

A research review analyzing emerging techniques and trends to communicate and strongly enforce global human rights.

Thanks to Purpose for all the help with this, and for an incredible summer.

This report explores literary reports and case studies from journals that hold human rights dialogue close to their hearts. Among these pieces of literature was one shared incentive: to integrate the discussion of human rights with other current pressing matters. There are a total of 16 focus areas relevant to such human rights dialogue, including the following: sustainable development, ideology, women, government, technology, China, security, “west vs. rest” mentality, horizontal leadership, tone of messaging, demand-side messaging, race & ethnicity, economic inequality, multilateral cooperation, legality, and development. By closely analyzing researchers’ and scholars’ recommended strategies to communicate human rights, this report can provide for a stronger understanding of the comprehensive nature of human rights.


The diverse array of focus areas and the means by which human rights can be addressed within them are outlined below.

Sustainable Development:

Climate change is regarded as a threat to individual human rights and major groups foresee a policy change in order to reduce its risk on human rights.

Ideology:

Scholars acknowledge the differing ideologies existing within nations and their potential to change the way governments and/or citizens interpret human rights. In order to prevent conflicting ideologies from impeding on one’s fundamental human rights, scholars urge actors within the human rights field to implement an objective understanding of human rights.

Women:

Several literary reports emphasize the importance of an increased consideration of women’s rights within the discussion of human rights.

Government:

A case study conducted by Eleni Delimpaltadaki of the NYC Economic Development Corporation and Julie Rowe of The Opportunity Agenda shares the same sentiment expressed in the “Human Rights Communicators’ Leadership Seminar” summary report organized by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Both documents underline a need to facilitate collaboration between the public and the government (as well as other federal institutions) in order to mobilize support from a general audience.

Technology:

A story written by The International Journal of Press/Politics titled “May We Have Your Attention Please?” highlights the importance of protecting personal security in this digital age. The article emphasizes the regulation of technology and an elimination of the threat that disruptive technology can impose on our human rights.

China:

Several major groups see China as a game changer within the human rights field. China’s approach to communicating Human Rights, coupled with their active economic role, can yield insights into ways to engage public audiences in human rights issues.

Security:

Both scholars and researchers alike agree that efforts to strengthen national security are directly related to the protection of human rights. Yale University political scientists, cited in a Medium blog post by an Amnesty International activist, used their findings to lay out a suggestion of strategies to discuss human rights; these researchers advise that integrating human rights in the discussion of national security is an effective way of communicating with politically polarized groups on the topic.

“West vs Rest” Mentality:

Journalists, academics, and key actors within the human rights field recognize the need to limit narratives that view the western approach to upholding human rights as superior to nonwestern approaches. In doing so, they seek to expand their outreach to nonwestern nations and eliminate the notion that human rights are traditionally and exclusively western ideals.

Horizontal Leadership:

Major players within the human rights field understand that in order to garner public engagement and mobilize support from a general audience, the human rights movement must adapt a more level power structure. In a 2014 article written in The Guardian by Eric Posner, he urges the human rights movement to shift to a more inclusive leadership structure, namely from one that is “bottom-up” to “top-down”.

Tone of Messaging:

Major players realize that a shift from negative messaging to positive messaging is required in order to instill hope among the public, ultimately mobilizing them and garnering their support.

Demand-side Messaging:

Research scholars and social psychologists recommend using language that presents human rights as logical and valuable. These studies reveal that providing a rationale for the enforcement of human rights, as opposed to presenting it in a lecturing or “demanding” manner, may more effectively appeal to right-granters (member-states, court, etc.).

Race & Ethnicity:

Economists, scholars, and activists alike argue that one of the primary roles played by human rights actors must be combatting issues of racial or ethnic discrimination faced by marginalized groups.

Economic Inequality:

The wealth gap must be narrowed — according to economists and researchers — as it poses a severe threat on human rights. Players in the human rights field are advised to incorporate discussion on economic inequality and social welfare when communicating human rights.

Multilateral Cooperation:

Several players within the human rights field concur with Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions theory, which ultimately suggests that diplomacy and cross-cultural communication between countries is critical to fostering mutual understanding and the stricter enforcement of human rights.

Legality:

Lawyers within the human rights space agree not only on emphasizing accountability and eliminating corruption in justice systems, but also on ensuring that law is consistent with practice.

Development:

Literary studies and research reports have revealed findings that demonstrate a need to pursue economic development without it being at the expense of human rights.


The Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds Report issued by the National Intelligence Council, as well as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, have referred to the ways in which human rights impacts various focus areas — including the 16 mentioned in this analysis. Ultimately, the ease at which human rights can be intertwoven with other current issues demonstrates the all encompassing nature of human rights. Put simply, any issue presently being tackled by the United Nations will more often than not also affect one’s human rights.

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