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Filling the gap : a learning network for health and human rights in the Western Cape, South Africa
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London, Leslie, Fick, Nicolé, Hoan Tram, Khai and Stuttaford, Maria. (2012) Filling the gap : a learning network for health and human rights in the Western Cape, South Africa. Health and Human Rights: an international journal, Vol.14 (No.1). pp. 1-18. ISSN 1079-0969
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WRAP_Stuttaford_Filling_gap_learning.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (516Kb) | Preview |
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Abstract
We draw on the experience of a Learning Network for Health and Human Rights (LN) involving collaboration between academic institutions and civil society organizations in the Western Cape, South Africa, aimed at identifying and disseminating best practice related to the right to health. The LN’s work in materials development, participatory research, training and capacity-building for action, and advocacy for intervention illustrates important lessons for human rights practice. These include (i) the importance of active translation of knowledge and awareness into action for rights to be made real; (ii) the potential tension arising from civil society action, which might relieve the state of its obligations by delivering services that should be the state’s responsibility—and hence the importance of emphasizing civil society’s role in holding services accountable in terms of the right to health; (iii) the role of civil society organizations in filling a gap related to obligations to promote rights; (iv) the critical importance of networking and solidarity for building civil society capacity to act for health rights. Evidence from evaluation of the LN is presented to support the argument that civil society can play a key role in bridging a gap between formal state commitment to creating a human rights culture and realizing services and policies that enable the most vulnerable members of society to advance their health. Through access to information and the creation of spaces, both for participation and as a safe environment in which learning can be turned into practice, the agency of those most affected by rights violations can be redressed. We argue that civil society agency is critical to such action.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Health and Social Studies |
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Right to health -- South Africa -- Western Cape |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Health and Human Rights: an international journal |
| Publisher: | Harvard School for Public Health, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights |
| ISSN: | 1079-0969 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| Volume: | Vol.14 |
| Number: | No.1 |
| Page Range: | pp. 1-18 |
| Status: | Peer Reviewed |
| Publication Status: | Published |
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
| Funder: | South Africa-Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development, National Research Foundation (South Africa), Oxfam, Deutscher Volkshochschulverband (DVV), University of Cape Town. Program for Enhancing Research Capacity (PERC), Open Society Foundation for South Africa |
| URI: | http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/47977 |
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