General Terms

Human rights
Human rights refers to the concept of human beings as having universal rights, or status, regardless of legal jurisdiction or other localizing factors, such as ethnicity and nationality.
The existence, validity and the content of human rights continue to be the subject to debate in philosophy and political science. Legally, human rights are defined in international law and covenants, and further, in the domestic laws of many states. However, for many people the doctrine of human rights goes beyond law and forms a fundamental moral basis for regulating the contemporary geo-political order. For them, they are democratic ideals.
Cultural Relativity
 
Cultural relativity is the idea that cultures must be understood and gauged on their own terms, and not set against a ‘benchmark’ of some sort. Within the human rights field, advocates of cultural relativity argue that the general perception of human rights is a predominantly western one: the focus on civil and political rights, for example, is a consequence of Europe’s political history.
 
There is no definitive answer as to whether cultural relativists are right or wrong. On the one hand, there is a significant amount of truth in the claim that social context is a key factor in determining the significance of an act: western society, for example, is undoubtedly far more individualistic than its far eastern equivalent. On the other hand, cultural relativity, while perhaps applicable for more periphery human rights, cannot be invoked to excuse violations of human beings’ fundamental rights and freedoms. The fact that practically every state in the world has signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights attests to the fact that fundamental rights and freedoms are universally shared, regardless of culture.
Customary International Law
 
There are two main sources of international law. The first source is the various treaties and conventions that states sign and ratify. Once a state ratifies a treaty, convention or covenant, then it is legally bound to respect it.
The second source of international law is customary law. When various states refer to a non-binding declaration several times, or adopt a practice voluntarily rather than out of an obligation to do so, a rule of customary law may come into existence.
 
Take an example from your home. Perhaps dinner is always ready at 7pm on the dot. Although there may be no specific rule ordering you to be at the table at 7, over time it may evolve into a tradition. If one day you remain in your room, your mother/father will probably get annoyed at you. Habit has turned the 7 o’clock tradition into an unspoken rule.
Universal
 
Human rights apply to every single human being, without any distinction whatsoever to race, sex, language, religion or ethnicity.
 
Indivisible
 
No single human right, or set of human rights, is more important than another. Human rights and fundamental freedoms stand and fall together: they are not part of a ‘pick and mix’menu.
 
Inalienable
 
You cannot sell or give your human rights away. They belong to you simply for existing at all – your human rights are an inherent part of you.
 
ECHR
 
This stands for the European Convention on Human Rights. It was signed in 1950, and was the first human rights document to deal specifically with one region. Focusing on civil and political rights, it also led to the establishment of the first regional human rights enforcement mechanism – the European Court of Human Rights.
Gender Mainstreaming

In July 1997, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) defined the concept of gender mainstreaming as follows:
“Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in any area and at all levels. It is a strategy for making the concerns and experiences of women as well of men an integral part of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres, so that women and men benefit equally, and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal of mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality.”
Civil Society

While there are myriad definitions of civil society, the EMHRN has proposed a working definition:
Belong to the civil society, persons and and organisations that act:
  • on a non-profit basis,
  • by peaceful means and acting independently from public authorities, from the promotion of commercial interests, political party and religious agendas,
  • based on universal human rights values, democratic values and respect for international law,
  • by mobilising public opinion and promoting through projects and other activities the respect and implementation of issues such as: public liberties, human rights, social inclusion, gender equality, labour standards, cultural diversity, quality of life, a clean environment and protecting nature, citizens’ participation in political life, etc
Women’s rights

Women's rights typically refer to the legal, social and human rights of women.
In all societies, with few exceptions, women have been and continue to be subjugated.
Although significant advances have been made in some parts of the world, in many others women continue to be thought of at best as children and at worst as mere chattel belonging to their fathers or husbands.
Although by number women constitute a majority of the population, making them one of the most populous "minorities", they wield disproportionately low political and socioeconomic power.
Human Rights Education

Human rights education can be defined as education, training and information aiming at building a universal culture of human rights through the sharing of knowledge, imparting of skills and moulding of attitudes directed to:
The strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
  • The full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity;
  • The promotion of understanding, tolerance, gender equality and friendship among all nations, indigenous peoples and racial, national, ethnic, religious and linguistic groups;
  • The enabling of all persons to participate effectively in a free and democratic society governed by the rule of law;
  • The building and maintenance of peace;
  • The promotion of people-centred sustainable development and social justice.

 To read more, "Human Rights Education: A Background Paper"

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe (CoE) is an international organisation of 46 member states in the European region. Membership is open to all European states which accept the principle of rule of law and guarantee fundamental human rights and freedoms to their citizens.
One of its main successes was the adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950, which serves as the basis for the European Court of Human Rights.
The Council of Europe is not to be confused with the Council of the European Union or the European Council, as CoE is a separate organisation and not part of the European Union.