Leisure, Sport and Tourism: Politics, Policy and Planning A.J. Veal Chapter 4: Human Rights and Citizenship Rights

Contents Definitions History Human rights declarations in leisure, sport, arts/ culture, tourism/travel Group rights Meaningfulness of rights declarations Rights and freedoms; Non-human rights Citizens' rights.

Definitions A right is a 'justifiable claim, on legal or moral grounds, to have or obtain something, or to act in a certain way’ (SOED) Human rights: those rights which all human beings are entitled to on the basis of their humanity alone (Donnelly, 1989: 12)

In 1585 the Queen: ‘.. quashed a Puritan Bill aimed at banning all sports and entertainments on Sundays. The Queen felt that her people had a right to spend their only day of rest enjoying themselves as they pleased, without interference from killjoys... History: Elizabeth I - Alison Weir

Leisure Declarations - 1 We hold these truths to be self- evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. American Declaration of Independence, 1776 Thomas Jefferson

Leisure Declarations - 2 Article 24: Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. United Nations: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 Article 27: Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

Leisure Declarations - 3 UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966, Article 7 affirms:... the 'right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work', including the right to: Rest, leisure, reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay, as well as remuneration for public holidays.

Leisure Declarations - 5 All people have a basic human right to leisure activities that are in harmony with the norms and social values of their compatriots. All governments are obliged to recognise and protect this right of its citizens. World Leisure Organization: Charter for Leisure 1970/1981/2000

Sport Declarations - 1 The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. Article 1: The practice of physical education and sport is a fundamental right for all. 1978: UNESCO International Charter of Physical Education and Sport The Olympic Charter – IOC, 2010 edn

Sport Declarations : European Sport for All Charter Article I: Every individual shall have the right to participate in sport. 1992: European Sports Charter Governments … shall take the steps necessary to apply the provisions of this charter... in order... to enable every individual to participate in sport

Travel/Tourism Declarations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 13 Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. 1998: Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (UN World Tourism Org.) Article 7: Right to tourism Article 8: Liberty of tourist movements Article 9: Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry

Group rights 1975: Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons 1979: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimin- ation against Women 1989: Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989: Convention Concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries 1999: Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities

David Harvey Economic rights vs political/civil rights ‘… hardly any attention has been paid.. to their [economic rights] implementation’ … almost all … signatories to the Universal Declaration are in gross violation of these articles. Strict enforcement.. would entail massive …. revolutionary transformations in the political- economy of capitalism. Neoliberalism..[is].. a gross violation of human rights’. (Harvey, 2000: 89-90)

Meaningfulness: issues in implementation Rights and freedoms – Some people’s rights may limit others’ freedoms Taxation – Securing some rights costs money Morals – Some rights involve contested moral values National sovereignty – International upholding of rights may limit national sovereignty

Other rights Future generations – eg. environmental sustainability Animal rights – eg. Prevention of cruelty – eg. Hunting in UK …

Citizenship rights.. a bundle of entitlements and obligations which constitute individuals as fully fledged members of a socio-political community, providing them with access to scarce resources. (Turner, 1994: xv) Civil: liberty, freedom of speech, religion, owning property, right to justice, etc. Political: right to vote, etc. Social: economic welfare, services, including leisure services

Obligations of the citizen Examples – Observe the law – Pay taxes – Serve on juries – Bear arms to defend the state, if called upon – Take part in the democratic process by voting (compulsory in Australia) – Actively seek work, if drawing unemployment benefit See UK Citizen’s Charter (Conservative Govt 1991) A feature of the ‘Third Way’ (UK: )