What Are The Fundamental Principles Of Human Rights In Procurement?
Introduction
Human rights play a vital role in our society, but what about when it comes to procurement? As businesses become more aware of the impact their actions have on the world around them, understanding the fundamental principles of human rights in procurement is becoming increasingly important. In this blog post, we’ll explore what these principles are and how they can be applied to ensure that all stakeholders involved in procurement are treated fairly and with respect. So buckle up and get ready for an eye-opening journey into the fascinating world of human rights in procurement!
The right to life
The right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights. It is the right from which all other human rights flow. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) recognises the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
The UDHR affirms that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. This right is enshrined in many international and regional human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The ICCPR, Article 6(1), states that: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.”
The ECHR, Article 2(1), provides that: “Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law… No one shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime for which this penalty is provided by law.”
In order to protect everyone’s right to life, governments must put in place effective legal frameworks prohibiting arbitrary deprivation of life and providing accountability for acts which result in loss of life.
The right to freedom from torture, inhuman or degrading treatment
The right to freedom from torture, inhuman or degrading treatment is one of the most fundamental principles of human rights. It is a basic principle that all humans are equal and should be treated with dignity and respect. This principle is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has been reaffirmed by numerous international treaties and conventions.
Freedom from torture, inhuman or degrading treatment is a fundamental human right that must be respected by all governments. This right is essential for the protection of the physical and psychological integrity of every person. Torture and other forms of ill-treatment are abhorrent violations of human dignity that can have serious long-term consequences for the victims.
There are a number of ways in which procurement can contribute to the prevention of torture and other ill-treatment. For example, procurement policies and procedures can ensure that only those suppliers who comply with international human rights standards are contracted. In addition, effective monitoring mechanisms should be in place to ensure that contracted suppliers do not engage in activities that could lead to torture or other ill-treatment.
The right to freedom from servitude and forced labour
The right to freedom from servitude and forced labour is one of the fundamental principles of human rights, and procurement is no exception. This principle holds that no one should be subjected to slavery, servitude or forced labour, and that all workers should be free to choose their own employment.
This principle is reflected in a number of international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It is also enshrined in numerous national laws and constitutions.
In procurement, this principle requires that contractors and suppliers respect the right of their employees to freedom from servitude and forced labour. This includes ensuring that workers are not subjected to conditions that could reasonably be considered equivalent to slavery or servitude, such as excessive working hours or dangerous working conditions. It also means ensuring that workers are not coerced into working against their will, for example by withholding their wages or threatening them with deportation.
The right to freedom of movement
The right to freedom of movement is one of the most fundamental principles of human rights. It is the right of every person to move freely within their country, and to choose their own place of residence. This right includes the freedom to travel, and to live and work in any part of the country.
There are some restrictions on this right, such as the need for a valid passport or visa, but these should not be used to limit people’s ability to move freely.
This right is important for many reasons. It allows people to escape from poverty or persecution, and to seek a better life. It also allows people to visit their families and friends, and to explore new cultures.
The right to freedom of movement is enshrined in several international treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The right to a fair trial
The right to a fair trial is one of the fundamental principles of human rights. It is the right of every person accused of a crime to be given a fair and public trial by an independent and impartial tribunal. This right is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and numerous international treaties.
This right is essential to ensuring that everyone receives a fair hearing and that justice is seen to be done. It is also important for ensuring public confidence in the justice system. However, this right is not absolute and there are certain circumstances in which a fair trial may be dispensed with, such as in cases of national security or where the interests of justice otherwise require it.
The right to privacy
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death. They are based on values like dignity, fairness, equality, respect and autonomy.
The right to privacy is one of the most important human rights. It protects our ability to keep our lives private from public scrutiny and interference. It also allows us to control how much information about ourselves we share with others.
When it comes to procurement, the right to privacy must be respected in all stages of the process. This includes when businesses are invited to participate in a tender process, as well as during and after the awarding of a contract.
Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
When it comes to human rights, procurement practitioners need to be aware of the fundamental principles of freedom of thought, conscience and religion. In order to protect these rights, procurement processes must take into account the following:
– The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental human right that is enshrined in international law.
– This right includes the freedom to change one’s religion or belief, and the freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
– Procurement processes must not discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of their religion or belief.
– Individuals and groups must be free to express their religion or belief in procurement processes without fear of discrimination or reprisal.