What are human rights?
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to everyone, based on shared values like dignity, fairness, justice and equality. Human rights matter because they relate to the people and issues we all care about, such as people in care and survivors of domestic abuse.
Human rights are not just abstract concepts. They are defined and protected by law. In the UK, the Human Rights Act 1998 protects our core rights alongside other acts such as the Equality Act 2010. Many such laws apply to local councils, the police, the NHS, schools and other organisations that deliver statutory services required by law. However, we all have a responsibility to make York a better, fairer place to live. Every day many individuals, businesses, charities and organisations uphold this responsibility. For example, York is a dementia
friendly city.
Why have we prioritised certain rights?
As a result of carrying out surveys and discussions with people who live, study and work in York, five priority human rights were identified. These are: the right to equality and non-discrimination, education, a decent standard of living, housing, and health and social care.
What is a human rights indicator?
A human rights indicator is a piece of information which helps tell a story about and measure York’s progress as a Human Rights City. Through consultation with people who deliver services and/ or stand up for York residents – experts in the five human rights priorities for York residents – we identified some indicators (information) from data that are specific to York, regularly updated and available to the general public.
York Open Data, an information bank hosted by the City of York Council, was our main source alongside the North Yorkshire Police and the York Foodbank (Trussell Trust).
It is important to note that indicators by their nature are not perfect but they are a good starting place. As part of our ongoing work we will regularly review and improve them. However, by looking at the same indicators every year we will also be able to identify where progress is being made and where there is still more to do.
What is the role of the indicators and the report?
The indicators that we have chosen:
– Measure certain aspects of York’s five human rights priorities and link them to relevant domestic and international law.
This report is intended to:
– Follow progress in relation to the indicators chosen
– Encourage positive and constructive local debate about relevant issues
– Inspire action and advocacy on human rights
We will be publishing a report and holding a public meeting each year to discuss progress against the indicators, setting out any changes to the indicators and chosen human rights for the following year.
