Human Rights

Human Rights image

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

The Trust actively promotes equality for patients and staff across the organisation, and we regard equality, diversity and human rights as fundamental to our core business, knowing that apart from making good business sense, it improves productivity, performance, provides better quality of service and leads to more satisfied patients and staff.

What are human rights?

“Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world” (from the Equality and Human Rights Commission). They are an important part of our everyday lives whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination.

Why are human rights important?

Human rights protect our freedom to control our own life and enable us to make free choices about what happens to us. That is, the freedom to act and the freedom to decide based on clear, sufficient and relevant information and opportunities to take part in decision making.

Human rights are relevant to our day-to-day life as they offer us protection from prejudice and discrimination. We must all respect the rights of others.

Human rights are supported by a core set of values that spans the range of human rights in the Human Rights Act 1998 as well as being supported in the NHS Constitution.

These are called the FREDA principles:

F – Fairness

For example, fair and equal access to services, right to fair trial, etc.

R – Respect

For example, the right to have private and family life respected.

E – Equality

For example the right not to be discrimination against based on your ‘protected characteristics’.

D – Dignity

For example, the right not to be treated in a degrading way or be subjected to harassment, bullying or victimisation.

A – Autonomy

For example, being able to make informed decisions and choices for things such as working hours, appointment times, etc.