abuse - causing physical, mental, verbal or sexual harm to a person
accusation - a statement that someone has done something wrong
advocacy - seeking with, and on behalf of, poor people to address underlying causes of poverty, bring justice and support good development through influencing the policies and practices of the powerful
allegation - an accusation, usually without evidence
asylum a place of refuge and safety from persecution
atrocity act of extreme wickedness, usually involving violence
boycott the refusal to have anything to do with a particular organisation or its products, as a means of protest against it and in order to persuade it to change its policies
bribery the deliberate giving of a sum of money or other gift to influence someone else’s behaviour
caste the social class and rank or position of somebody in a society, which is based on birth, or occupation
citizen a person who belongs to a country or state
condemns forces someone to experience something bad
consequences the results of an action
constitution a written statement outlining the basic laws or principles by which a country or organisation is governed
corruption dishonest practices, like offering or accepting bribes or altering records, usually for financial gain
discrimination to treat a particular group of people differently, usually for the worse, for example because of their race, sex or ethnic group
enforced put into practice, not given a choice
entitled having the right to something
environment natural world that surrounds us
equivalent something that is the same, or equal
ethnic (origin) belonging to a group in society with a shared identity, history, culture and traditional home land
exploit to take unfair advantage of people or resources for personal gain
female genital mutilation a harmful traditional practice where flesh is cut away from the female sexual organs
human rights the basic rights and freedoms that all human beings should have
independent (court) not controlled by politics or money and able to decide freely
indigenous belonging to the local area, ethnic group
inheritance goods, money and property that a person receives from someone who has died
injustice unfair treatment, abuse of power
interpretation the way something is understood and used in practice
jubilee biblical tradition of cancelling debts every 50 years
justice fair treatment, good use of power
lawyer a person who is professionally trained in law, whose work is to speak on behalf of people in the law courts
legal aid legal help given free of charge to people who cannot afford to pay for lawyers
oppression harsh or cruel treatment of the powerless by the powerful
orphans children whose parent or parents have died
participation / participate involvement in something / to be involved actively
prisoners of conscience people who are sent to prison because of their political, religious or social views
reconciliation the bringing together of people or organisations that have been in conflict, and resolving that conflict
redistribution sharing out resources more fairly
repercussions negative results of an action
righteousness being in right relationship with God, other people and the creation
rights-based approach a participatory and empowering method of development, which seeks to hold institutions and powerful people accountable for their responsibilities to those with less power
sexual exploitation to take unfair advantage of someone for sexual purposes
significance the importance or meaning of something
social justice fair treatment for the community
stewardship the responsibility to look after something
torture deliberately and methodically causing pain to someone
universal applying to all people
UN convention a treaty that has been agreed and signed by member countries in the United Nations
unwittingly without realising
vulnerable at risk of harm
widows women whose husbands have died
(legal) witness someone who speaks in court about their experience of the person or event