Defining Rights and Wrongs: Bureaucracy, Human Rights, and Public Accountability (Law and Society)

Human rights complaints attract a great deal of public interest, but what is going on below the surface? When people contact a human rights lawyer, how do they think about and use human rights discourse? How are complaints turned into cases? Can administrative systems be both effective and fair? Defining Rights and Wrongs investigates the day-to-day practices of low-level officials and intermediaries as they construct domestic human rights complaints. It identifies the values that a human rights system should uphold if it is to promote mutual respect and foster the personal dignity and equal rights of citizens. Defining Rights And Wrong Investigates The Day-to-day Practices Of Low-level Officials And Intermediaries As They Manage The Gap Between Social Relations And Legal Meaning In Order To Construct Domestic Human Rights Complaints. It Documents How Agency Staff Struggle To Manage A Huge Body Of Claims Within A System Of Restrictive Rules But Expansive Definitions Of Discrimination. It Also Examines How Independent Human Rights Lawyers And Advocacy Organizations Challenge Human Rights Commissioners And Seek To Radically Reform The Existing Commission/tribunal Structure. This Book Identifies The Values That A Human Rights System Should Uphold If It Is To Be Both Fair And Consistent With Its Own Goals Of Promoting Mutual Respect And Fostering The Personal Dignity And Equal Rights Of Citizens.--jacket. 1. An Overview Of Public Administration Of Human Rights Enforcement In Canada -- 2. The Roles Of Frontline Staff And Independent Lawyers In The Public Administration Of Human Rights Enforcement -- 3. Transforming Human Rights Complaints Into Cases -- 4. Publics, Counterpublics, And The Public Interest -- App. Excerpts From The Ontario Human Rights Code. Rosanna L. Langer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [173]-185) And Index. Canadian human rights commissions have attracted increasing criticism in recent years, yet relatively little is known about the practical aspects of their work. When people contact the human rights commission or a human rights lawyer, how do they think about and use human rights discourse? How are complaints turned into cases? This study investigates the day-to-day practices of low-level officials and intermediaries of the Ontario Human Rights Commission as they manage the gap between social relations and legal meaning in order to construct domestic human rights complaints. It documents how agency staff struggle to manage a huge body of claims within a system of restrictive rules but expansive definitions of discrimination. It also examines how independent human rights lawyers and advocacy organizations challenge human rights commissions and seek to radically reform the existing commission/tribunal structure. The book also identifies the values that a human rights system should uphold if it is to be both fair and consistent with its own goals of promoting mutual respect and fostering the personal dignity and equal rights of citizens "Defining Rights and Wrong investigates the day-to-day practices of low-level officials and intermediaries as they manage the gap between social relations and legal meaning in order to construct domestic human rights complaints. It documents how agency staff struggle to manage a huge body of claims within a system of restrictive rules but expansive definitions of discrimination. It also examines how independent human rights lawyers and advocacy organizations challenge human rights commissioners and seek to radically reform the existing commission/tribunal structure." "This book identifies the values that a human rights system should uphold if it is to be both fair and consistent with its own goals of promoting mutual respect and fostering the personal dignity and equal rights of citizens."--Résumé de l'éditeur Investigates the day-to-day practices of the officials who manage human rights complaints. This work documents agencies' struggle to reconcile a huge body of claims within expansive standards and restrictive rules. It also examines how independent human rights advocates and organizations challenge the agency to respond to calls for change.