CHAPTER III: A Multi-faceted Image of Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Goals

1. No Poverty – economic growth must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and

promote equality

2. Zero Hunger – the food and agriculture sector offer key solutions for development
and is central for hunger and poverty eradication

3. Good Health and Well-being – ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-
being for all ages is essential to sustainable development

4. Quality Education – quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives

and sustainable development

5. Gender Equality – gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but is
also a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world

6. Clean Water and Sanitation – clean, accessible water for all is an essential part
of the world we want to live in

7. Affordable and Clean Energy – energy is central to nearly every major challenge
and opportunity

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth – sustainable economic growth will require
societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs

9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – investments in infrastructure are

crucial to achieving sustainable development

10. Reduced Inequalities – policies should be universal in principle, paying attention

to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations to reduce inequalities

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities – there needs to be a future in which cities
provide opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing,
transportation and more.

12. Responsible Consumption and Production – responsible production and

consumption

13. Climate Action – this is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere

14. Life Below Water – careful management of this essential global resource is a key
feature of a sustainable future
 15. Life on Land – sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and
reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – justice for all, and building effective,
accountable institutions at all levels

17. Partnerships for the Goals – revitalize the global partnership for sustainable
development

SDGs are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everybody.
SDG’s address global challenges we face. This includes issues relating to poverty,
inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. The 17 goals
are all interconnected, and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve
them all by 2030 (UN.org).

CHAPTER IV: Peaceful Conflict Transformation

Lesson 1: Upholding Human Rights

1. Human Dignity
Human Dignity – Core Value which serves as the foundation for peace and development.
- “It is a principle which recognizes the humanness of man; that man is endowed with
rights and has certain human faculties to perfect or maximize.”

2. Human Rights
- are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity,
language, religion, or any other status. This includes the right to life and liberty, freedom
from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and
education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.
 FUNDAMENTAL

INTERDEPENDENT
INALIENABLE

HUMAN
RIGHTS IMPRESCRIPTIBLE
UNIVERSAL

INHERENT INVINCIBLE

CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

1. Human rights are inherent and are essential part of our lives.
- This means that we cannot be fully called “human” if are acting or treated otherwise. Moreover,
no any other person or any authority can grant them. Unlike constitutional or legislative rights,
human rights do not need any legislation or reason for being. And so, right to life and right to
dignity as human beings are called human rights.

2. Human rights are also fundamental because “without them the life and dignity of man will be
meaningless”.
- Human beings are unique and autonomous. We express our existence in very different ways.
And so, it is fundamental that we recognize our right to liberty and security and also the freedom
of thought or religion.

3. Human rights are inalienable because it cannot be taken away from a person.
- No free individual can be legally tortured or hurt by anybody and can actually claim the rights
of others. Inalienable means that it cannot be separated from any person.

4. Human rights are imprescriptible because they cannot be lost even by a long passage of time.
- This means that even if a person has not asserted his/her rights for a long period of time, this
does take away one’s human rights.
- Inalienable means that it cannot be separated from any person.
5. Human rights are also invincible because even if they have already been enjoyed before, one
can still be enjoyed for the rest of one’s life.
- The freedom of expression of belief or opinion can be repeatedly used as to being human.

6. Human rights are universal which means that all human beings have them.
- Race, color, religion, sex, status in life do not determine who to enjoy these rights. Human rights
are universal in that they encompass all boundaries.
- A Filipino’s human rights in the Philippines would not be disregarded in other countries.

7. Human rights are interdependent because the realization of these rights is dependent on each
other.
- This means that one could not fully exercise one right when the others are being restricted or
violated. Like people may essentially have the rights to think freely and independently but when
their rights to security and good standard of living are not met, they could fully exercise these
rights. And so, the achievement of human rights must be holistic and interdependent.

Kinds of Human Rights

Economic, social and cultural rights

• the right to work in just and favourable conditions;

• the right to social protection, to an adequate standard of living and to the highest
attainable standards of physical and mental well-being;
• the right to education and the enjoyment of benefits of cultural freedom and
scientific progress.

Civil and political rights

• rights as freedom of movement;
• equality before the law;
• the right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence;
• freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
• freedom of opinion and expression;
• peaceful assembly;
• freedom of association;
• participation in public affairs and elections;
• Protection of minority rights
• prohibits arbitrary deprivation of life;
• prohibits torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment;
• prohibits slavery and forced labour;
• prohibits arbitrary arrest or detention;
• prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy;
• prohibits war propaganda;
 • prohibits discrimination;
• Prohibits advocacy of racial or religious hatred.

Human Rights and Sustainable Peace and Development

Upholding human dignity is the center of the values system that we associate with social
peace. This means that the promotion of the concept of peace must begin with recognition and
protection of human dignity and well-being. According to Betty Reardon (1995), “the
achievement of positive conditions of human rights provide the foundation of nonviolent social
order and greatly reduce the causes of armed conflict” (Castro & Galace, 2010).

1. UN generally defines rights as inherent in our nature and without which us humans
cannot live as human beings.
2. CHR says that rights are the supreme inherent and inalienable rights to life, dignity, and
self-development. It is the essence of this rights that makes man “human”.

Human Rights and Social Justice

What is Social Justice?

- It is a complex issue.
- Is based on the premise that all people are entitled to the same basic rights and freedom
as everybody else.
- Social justice is connected with issues of equality and equity.
- Human rights can help to fight dignity.

Social Justice can be defined as “justice in terms of distribution of wealth, opportunities,

and privileges within a society”. Is achieved through institutions or services that work to make
sure people can equally access the benefits of social cooperation and guard against socio-
economic inequality. (EachOther, 2017)

Social Justice and Human Rights have a shared goal: human dignity and equality for all.
The issues that make social justice difficult to achieve, such as poverty, exclusions and
discrimination are in direct contradiction with human rights, which applies to all individuals
indiscriminately.

Social Justice and Development

• The human development model of development emphasizes that people are the means and
end of development.
• Development cannot be considered to be true development unless someone experienced good
from it and not at the expense of others.
• Social justice is a non-material indicator of human development
• Human development is predicated on equity and inclusiveness