Ensuring governments respect human rights

Democracy should generate protection for human rights through accountability mechanisms that work across three axes:

1. horizontal accountability refers to the role of the judiciary and integrity institutions such as the ombudsman and human rights commission
2. vertical accountability refers to elections and the participatory role of citizens
3. diagonal accountability denotes the role of free speech, media and civil society organisations in holding governments to account.

1. Protecting human rights

1. Undermining governments abusing human rights
2. Providing technical assistance on human rights
3. Promoting international cooperation in human rights
4. Monitoring government involvement in human rights violations

1. Violation of political processes
2. Connivance of authorities in human rights abuses

1. Self-respect
2. Rights
3. Respect
4. Inhumanity