Local public libraries as human rights intermediaries

Glušac, Luka

doi:10.1177/0924051918772968

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The same applies to development, that is, the SDGs, which must reach every inch of the world to be truly global. Both development and human rights call for the symbiotic endeavor of national and local actors, instead of becoming arenas of contestation between local and national authorities (Glušac 2018a).…”

Section: Leaving No One Behindmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaving No One Behind, Leaving No One Unaccountable

Glušac

2023

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How does the nexus between security, human rights and good governance play out in the sustainable development context? Based on state-of-the-field, interdisciplinary research with a global perspective, Leaving no one behind, leaving no one unaccountable offers the first comprehensive account of the role of ombuds institutions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, launched by the United Nations in 2015. With their unique position in-between three branches of power, the mandate to oversee public administration (including the security sector) and protect human rights, ombuds institutions are well-placed to play an important role in national efforts to fulfil the SDGs. The book takes the specific angle by looking at SDG-16, devoted to effective, accountable and inclusive institutions, through the lens of security sector governance. It brings granular analysis of all SDG 16 targets, demonstrating how ombuds institutions could contribute to achieving each of them. The book develops an innovative conceptual framework, by looking at both implementation and accountability. The former is captured under the title of ‘leaving no one behind’ and the latter under ‘leaving no one unaccountable’. Leaving no one behind is a central credo of the 2030 Agenda. It is highly relevant for SDG-16, as well as security sector governance, due to the centrality of the principles of responsiveness, inclusiveness and participation. The book attests that for a number of the SDG 16 targets, ombuds institutions should primarily serve as accountability mechanisms. It argues they should work with, pressure, and make public administration accountable, in cases when the administration as the primary duty-bearer fails to protect the rights of citizens and when their actions fall short of the standards needed to achieve the SDGs. As this book demonstrates, many SDG 16 targets are rather vague, and limited guidance exists on how to measure and achieve them, especially in fragile contexts. It thus provides guidance and recommendations to ombuds institutions and other actors on how to best support each other in achieving SDG-16. Leaving no one behind, leaving no one unaccountable is a key resource for scholars, policymakers and activists concerned with effective, accountable and inclusive institutions, and those interested in political science, security studies, human rights and development studies.

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Section: Leaving No One Behindmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaving No One Behind, Leaving No One Unaccountable

Glušac

2023

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“…LGBTQ+-focused groups within the library sciences field, such as IFLA's LGBT Users Special Interest Group (Glusac, 2018) and the American Library Association's (2009) Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table . The overall mission of these groups is to provide members with a "forum for discussion and an environment for education and learning regarding the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender professional community and population at large" (American Library Association, 2009, para. 2).…”

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confidence: 99%

Suppressing communities: An analysis of LGBTQ+ censorship in libraries

Stevens

2020

Pathfinder

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Librarians serve as defenders of intellectual freedom and social responsibility, and this includes speaking out against censorship. Censorship of information, materials, and books occurs in the public, but censorship can also occur in libraries themselves. Those impacted the most by this censorship are marginalized communities, such as the LGBTQ+ community. The purpose of this paper is to explore how internal, external and institutional censorship affects the LGBTQ+ community and what librarians can do to uphold their defense against censorship. Internal, or self-censorship, occurs at the librarian level where LGBTQ+ materials may be hidden by librarians or library staff or simply not ordered due to pressure from the community the library serves. External censorship occurs at the community level where the community culture pushes for the censorship of LGBTQ+ materials. Lastly, institutional censorship occurs at the classification level where classification models such as the Dewey Decimal System or subject headings may not provide accurate representation for LGBTQ+ materials. In order to put an end to these forms of censorship, trained and certified librarians must act as agents of change, committing to their due diligence to provide information to all members of their communities.

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Social Workers as Local Human Rights Actors? Their Response to Barriers in Access to Care and Support in the Netherlands

Dibbets¹,

Eijkman

Claessen

et al. 2021

Journal of Human Rights Practice

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The realization of human rights standards depends in part on the commitment of local actors. It can be argued that local public service professionals such as social workers can also be regarded as key players. The possible role of social workers becomes imperative if these professionals are working in a policy context that is not congruent with human rights. If existing laws or policies cause or maintain disrespect for human rights, social workers are in a position to observe that this is having an adverse impact on clients. When social workers are regarded as human rights actors, the question arises how they can or should respond to law and policy that impedes them in carrying out their work with respect for human rights. This article adds to existing theories on social workers as human rights actors by examining the practices of social professionals working in such a challenging policy context. The research took place among professionals in social district teams in the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands. Following a series of decentralizations and austerity measures the social care landscape in the Netherlands has changed drastically over the last few years. As a result, social workers may find themselves on the one hand trying to realize the best possible care for their clients while on the other hand dealing with new laws and policy expectations focused on self-reliance and diminished access to specialist care. The article explores how social professionals’ responses to barriers in access to care affect human rights requirements. In doing so, this socio-legal study provides insight into the ways in which everyday social work relates to the realization of human rights at the local level.

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Local public libraries as human rights intermediaries

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Leaving No One Behind, Leaving No One Unaccountable

Leaving No One Behind, Leaving No One Unaccountable

Suppressing communities: An analysis of LGBTQ+ censorship in libraries

Social Workers as Local Human Rights Actors? Their Response to Barriers in Access to Care and Support in the Netherlands

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