On-line Human Rights Seminar

The Balance Between Humanitarian Aid and Human Rights Activism

February 21, 2006

By Martin Weightman

In the humanitarian field there are many groups and individuals working hard and tirelessly to deal with the immediate or imminent threat to the survival of millions of people.

As is the case in many African and Asian countries, If food aid is not continually provided for, this then infringes against most vital human right, simply because it is a matter of life or death.

For these people – what does it matter whether other human rights are respected or not? Why would that be important to them? Where should the available finances be spent – on food aid, on other human rights programmes, or both? And if both, what should be the balance?

This is one of the subjects being taken up in a series of on-line human rights seminars and round tables throughout the week of 27th February to 3rd March. The conference is organized by Documentation Sciences Foundation, using Interwise ECP Connect conferencing technology to broadcast the conference across the web.

This issue will be discussed following the line of reasoning that in any long term strategy, ensuring human rights to all must always be high on the agenda; even if is not a matter of helping somebody to live from day to day. Without entering that factor into the strategy the cause of the problem will never be located and donors will be caught in a constant cycle of giving without being able to look at the broader issues. Discrimination, greed and corruption are almost certainly factors that will be found behind most cases of poverty. On the other hand, it is vital to empower people to the point where they can achieve a level where they are able to create their own resources and income whilst looking after their own basic rights.

Martin Weightman is the Human Rights Director of the Church of Scientology International European Office for Public Affairs And Human Rights