Human rights or social justice? The problem of rights inflation. Issue 2 (7th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clément, Dominique
• Is Part Of: International journal of human rights. Volume 22:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2018-02-07
• Subjects: Human rights -- social justice -- Canada -- social movements -- politics -- law; Human rights -- Periodicals; Civil rights -- Periodicals; 323
• DOI: 10.1080/13642987.2017.1349245
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-2987

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article debates a paradox in politics, law and social practice: Whereas human rights has become an effective strategy for framing grievances, the increasing appropriation of rights-talk to frame any and all grievances is undermining attempts to successfully address systemic social problems. I argue that issues such as poverty should be framed as social justice rather than human rights. In an attempt to further develop a sociology of human rights, I explore how framing a grievance as a human right shapes the way people understand both the problem and the solution, and the limits to framing social problems as rights violations. Canadians, in particular, typify a broader global experience of increasingly asserting rights-claims in everyday life, from the environment to bullying at school.