Design and supply services towards human rights : how to overcome the challenges for the realization of human rights through public services

Considering the role of the public services in terms of the capabilities to answer individual needs within the societies, they are seen as interfaces between citizens and human rights. It is argued that there is a strong connection between answering people’s needs and fulfilling their human rights within the scope of this thesis. Indeed, there are tremendous challenges behind the ineffective realization of human rights through services. Lack of human rights literacy remains a key reason that is interconnected with the formation process of the other challenges such as the creation of vulnerabilities, lack of user-orientation or digital exclusion. A human rights-oriented approach to service design and supply aims to overcome those challenges and pave the way for improved human rights literacy of actors involved within the service (including service users, designers, developers, and suppliers) while focusing on user-centricity and co-design approach as well as digital innovation to booster service design and delivery methods. The thesis finally conclude that this approach can guarantee better realization of human rights and eventually empowerment of the people.