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Even though the concept of human rights mainstreaming is not new to publicinternational law, it has recently gained increased recognition as a practicalapproach for recognizing the linkages between human rights and other socialjustice issues such as environmental protection. A plenitude of literature havebeen generated on the need to recognize and enforce human rights standardsand norms in a wide range of issues including environment, health, gender,poverty, food, water and refugee protection to mention but a few. Despitethe rapid ascendancy of the human rights mainstreaming concept, muchattention have not been given to the scope of human rights mainstreamingand the practical aspects of human rights mainstreaming, particularlywhether institutions consisting of ?outsiders? to the human rights epistemiccommunity can interpret and enforce human rights obligation. Put simply, doenvironmentalists, scientists and outsiders to human rights have the capacityto mainstream human rights? This paper examines the scope and tenetsof human rights mainstreaming, it then discusses the practical aspects ofmainstreaming human rights into policy making, particularly how epistemicconcerns on human rights mainstreaming can be addressed in national andinternational policy design and implementation.There is virtually no aspect of our work that does not have a human rightsdimension. Whether we are talking about peace and security, development,humanitarian action, the struggle against terrorism, climate change, none ofthese challenges can be addressed in isolation from human rights. |
