Human Rights Local

Connecting, driving change locally and building human rights bridges to equality, freedom, dignity and respect.

We are all members of communities where “alone the free and full development of (our) personality is possible”, as recognised in Article 29(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Human Rights Local brings human rights closer to the ground, adapting international standards and principles to the local context. By identifying local priorities and needs, we support local communities to translate these concerns into rights-based demands for change, and create avenues for dialogue and participation.

Human Rights Local is forming strong connections with a number of local community groups based in Colchester, Jaywick and Clacton. Following on from the support both the Human Rights Centre (HRC) and the Human Rights Centre Clinic gave to the official visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Philip Alston, to Jaywick in November 2018, the HRC initiated and co-organised a follow-up local community event on 2 July 2019. These meetings have started to address the many ways in which the systemic human rights challenges identified in the Special Rapporteur’s report on UK poverty can begin to be effectively challenged with the support of the Human Rights Centre.

The Human Rights Centre also contributed to Colchester Pride in June 2019 to underline the human rights-based dimensions of the rights and entitlements of the LGBTQI community.

We are working alongside Just Fair, Amnesty International UK and ATD Fourth World to facilitate that people with lived and learned experience of poverty from all nations and regions in the UK meet and learn from each other, gain and develop research and advocacy skills, build networks, and improve our general understanding of social rights challenges and opportunities in our country.

Localising human rights means celebrating tall figures of our shared history, like John Ball, born in Colchester and executed for his leadership in the Peasants’ Revolt of the 14th century. With some of our partners, we are looking to honour John Ball’s memory and that of other men and women who throughout history fought for the rights of their peers in the UK and abroad.

Activities

• On 20 November 2023, Human Rights Local took part in a conference organised by ATD Fourth World at their headquarters in Pierrelaye, near Paris. At this gathering, approximately 60 participants, including professionals, activists, and concerned individuals from France, the UK, Belgium, Poland and Bulgaria, came together to delve into crucial issues surrounding child protection systems in Europe and their interaction with families in poverty, addressing key points raised in one of Human Rights Local’s reports.
• On 10 February 2021, the HRC, Amnesty International UK, Just Fair and ATD Fourth World held an event to learn from local advocacy experiences led by people with lived experience of poverty and other forms of disadvantage, including a campaign for the right to work in Belfast, for refugee rights in Manchester, the right to food in Wales, the socio-economic duty in Teesside, and to address the digital divide nationally. Read more about the event.
• On 21 January 2021, the Human Rights Centre, ATD Fourth World, Just Fair and Amnesty International held an online event under the theme of ‘Building a Human Rights Bridge out of Poverty’. The event brought together people with lived and learnt experiences of poverty from London, Manchester, Glasgow, Teesside, Cardiff and other parts of the UK. This event was part of an 8-month series to provide a platform to exchange knowledge, develop skills, build capacity and form alliances for real change to end poverty and promote greater equality in the UK. Read the article.
• In October 2020, the Human Rights Centre issued a statement to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, alongside Amnesty International UK, Just Fair and ATD Fourth World.
• In July 2020, the Human Rights Centre worked with Mercury Youth Theatre and Packing Shed Theatre Company to honour the legacy of John Ball, a 14th century promoter of equality who was originally from Colchester. Based on an online talk delivered by Dr Koldo Casla from the Human Rights Centre about champions of liberty, equality and solidarity over past centuries, members of Mercury Youth Theatre recited famous speeches that became part of the history of international human rights.

Some of our partners are: FirstSite, Mercury Theatre, Unite Community, Packing Shed Theatre Company.