key Concepts

Democracy: a form of government where the authority to govern is derived from the people, either by direct referendum or by means of representatives elected by the people entitled to vote.

Human rights: rights that universally belong to all human beings. Human rights are indivisible, inalienable and universal and respect the equality and dignity of each individual.

Globalisation: generally describes the process of increasing interdependence and exchange between nations – particularly in the economic, social and cultural spheres. The term is also used to refer to a specific form of international integration, designed to fulfil the interests of private power, manufacturing corporations and financial institutions, closely linked to powerful states.

Citizenship: a) a legal relationship between a person and a state, resulting in mutual rights and obligation or b) used to describe the general relationship between individuals and the state to which they are “attached”, including expected forms of behaviour and attitudes.

Civil rights: (sometimes known as civil liberties); a category of rights and freedoms that protect individuals from unwarranted government action and ensure their ability to participate in the civil life of the state without discrimination or repression.

Civil society: refers collectively to voluntary civic and social organizations, associations and institutions, for example registered charities, non-governmental organizations, community groups, women’s organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, trade unions, self-help groups and advocacy groups that form the basis of a functioning democratic society. Civil society is seen as distinct from the state and commercial institutions of the market.

Gender: A social construct that informs roles, attitudes, values and relationships between women and men. While sex is determined by biology - the biological differences between men and women - gender is determined by society; almost always functioning to subordinate women to men.

Discrimination: any distinction, exclusion or restriction of preference, which is based on any ground such as race, culture, ethnic origin, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, physical handicap, or other characteristics not relevant to the issue in question.

Gender mainstreaming: a globally accepted strategy for promoting gender equality. It is not an end in itself but a means to achieve the goal of gender equality though ensuring that gender perspectives and attention to the goal of gender equality are central to all activities including policy development, resource allocation and planning, implementation and monitoring of programmes and projects.

Minority: any ethnic, linguistic or religious group within a State, in a non-dominant position, consisting of individuals who possess a sense of belonging to that group and determined to preserve and develop their identity.

Advocacy: to publicly support or suggest an idea, a development or way of doing something.

Empowerment: increasing the spiritual, political, social, or economic strength of individuals and communities. It is used in relation to giving marginalised individuals and groups the ability claim their rights to participate fully in society through, for instance, legislation, affirmative action and training.