---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In human rights theory it is very…"
description: "\"In human rights theory it is very important that governments still have the primary responsibility for the standards and provision of such services eve..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/mary-robinson-4639_discrimination_in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-import_2882597.jpg"
---

#  In human rights theory it is very important that…

![“In human rights theory it is very important that governments still have the primary responsibility for the standards and provision of such services even if they no longer deliver them. They must insist that the private sector delivers without discrimination. So governments still have…” quote by Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/mary-robinson-4639_discrimination_in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-import_2882597.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/mary-robinson-4639_discrimination_in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-import_2882597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/mary-robinson-4639_discrimination_in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-import_2882597.jpg)

> “In human rights theory it is very important that governments still have the primary responsibility for the standards and provision of such services even if they no longer deliver them. They must insist that the private sector delivers without discrimination. So governments still have responsibility, including the need to influence business.”

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Governments must retain ultimate duty for public services, even when private actors deliver, ensuring non‑discriminatory access.

**In simple terms:** Governments stay responsible for services.

Key Takeaway

Ensure accountability in public‑private partnerships.

Themes

human rights governance public policy private sector equity

Mood

concerned determined

Type

policy advocacy

When to use this quote

- healthcare
- education
- infrastructure projects

Key Concepts

social contract service delivery non‑discrimination

Questions to Reflect On

- How can governments enforce fair standards on private providers?
- What mechanisms ensure non‑discriminatory service delivery?

A Different Perspective

Private sector may lack accountability without oversight.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Discrimination Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination-governments-4003929/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-responsibility-1434508/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Including](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Primaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primaries/) [Private sector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-sector/) [Provision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provision/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Responsibility Including](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility-including-4003930/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-theory-2238273/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/)

## Related quotes

> [We own ourselves. This is the core of a libertarian theory of rights. But on this theory, while we are at liberty to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/we-own-ourselves-this-is-the-core-of-a-libertarian-theory-of-rights/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [The security of the citizens of Israel, the future of the state of Israel, this is the Israeli governments responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avigdor-lieberman/the-security-of-the-citizens-of-israel-the-future-of-the-state-of/)

[Avigdor Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avigdor-lieberman/)

> [An individual citizen cannot protect himself from the powers of large corporations or external governments. It is the responsibility of the government to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/an-individual-citizen-cannot-protect-himself-from-the-powers-of-large/)

[Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/)

> [By the time I finished doing regular practice, most of my work was in international regulatory law, so I was advising foreign governments about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/by-the-time-i-finished-doing-regular-practice-most-of-my-work-was-in/)

[Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/)

> [The governments are seen to be less effective than they used to be. The private sector is perceived as being so much more efficient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/the-governments-are-seen-to-be-less-effective-than-they-used-to-be/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [If you make provision for the desires of the flesh and bear a grudge against your neighbor on account of something transitory, you worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-you-make-provision-for-the-desires-of-the-flesh-and-bear-a-grudge/)

[Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/)

> [Old wine, and an old friend, are good provisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/old-wine-and-an-old-friend-are-good-provisions/)

[George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/)

> [I thought that my voyage had come to its end at the last limit of my power, that the path before me was closed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/i-thought-that-my-voyage-had-come-to-its-end-at-the-last-limit-of-my/)

[Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/)

> [if human justice is to supplement Nature's provisions, all family duties must be shared equitably, in person or by proxy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette-brown-blackwell/if-human-justice-is-to-supplement-nature-s-provisions-all-family/)

[Antoinette Brown Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette-brown-blackwell/)

> [It is not till it is discovered that high individual incomes will not purchase the mass of mankind immunity from cholera, typhus, and ignorance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-h-tawney/it-is-not-till-it-is-discovered-that-high-individual-incomes-will-not/)

[R. H. Tawney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-h-tawney/)

> [I pay tribute to John Major's achievement in persuading the other 11 Community Heads of Government that they could move ahead to a Social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/i-pay-tribute-to-john-major-s-achievement-in-persuading-the-other-11/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [Manufacturers...gradually shift their places, leaving those countries and provinces which they have already enriched, and flying to others, whether they are allured by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/manufacturers-gradually-shift-their-places-leaving-those-countries/)

[David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/)

> [Hinduism... gave itself no name, because it set itself no sectarian limits; it claimed no universal adhesion, asserted no sole infallible dogma, set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/hinduism-gave-itself-no-name-because-it-set-itself-no-sectarian/)

[Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/)

> [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/)

[Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/)

## More by Mary Robinson

> [The governments are seen to be less effective than they used to be. The private sector is perceived as being so much more efficient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/the-governments-are-seen-to-be-less-effective-than-they-used-to-be/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [If the Chinese business community takes the Declaration of Human Rights, core labor standards, and environmental standards seriously, the government of China will take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/if-the-chinese-business-community-takes-the-declaration-of-human/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [Every government has signed up to a voluntary legal commitment under at least one of the international covenants and conventions based on the Universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/every-government-has-signed-up-to-a-voluntary-legal-commitment-under/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [Since 9/11 the United States has been followed by countries with bad records, such as the former Soviet Union countries, into erosions of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/since-9-11-the-united-states-has-been-followed-by-countries-with-bad/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [I'm not interested in scoring points or being over-critical of the US administration. I want to find the entry points to try and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/i-m-not-interested-in-scoring-points-or-being-over-critical-of-the-us/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [Tackling the issue of climate change presents us with an inflection point in human history - a climate justice revolution that separates development from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/tackling-the-issue-of-climate-change-presents-us-with-an-inflection/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [Look, you are interested in trying to make sure that governments keep a clean environment, have regard for the lifestyles of indigenous peoples, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/look-you-are-interested-in-trying-to-make-sure-that-governments-keep/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [ I felt when I was elected that the most important task on this island \[Ireland\] was to extend the hand of friendship right across… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/i-felt-when-i-was-elected-that-the-most-important-task-on-this-island/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [We now know that climate change is a driver of migration, and is expected to increase the displacement of populations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/we-now-know-that-climate-change-is-a-driver-of-migration-and-is/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/i-was-elected-by-the-women-of-ireland-who-instead-of-rocking-the/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [There are numerous issues that governments used to deal with that they now no longer deal with to the same extent: Prisons have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/there-are-numerous-issues-that-governments-used-to-deal-with-that/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [As Elders, we are fully committed to the principle that all human beings are of equal worth. You will see that we highlight equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/as-elders-we-are-fully-committed-to-the-principle-that-all-human/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [I agree with those who argue that it is possible to distil from the religions of the world their common values and relevance. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/i-agree-with-those-who-argue-that-it-is-possible-to-distil-from-the/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [Freedom from discrimination for women, ensuring that female children can learn to read, these are human needs for half the human race, not western…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/freedom-from-discrimination-for-women-ensuring-that-female-children/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

> [All countries are particular and no models are perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/all-countries-are-particular-and-no-models-are-perfect/)

[Mary Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

[Explore all 108 Mary Robinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/)

## More Discrimination quotes

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/)

[Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/)

[Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/)

> [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/)

[Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/)

> [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [Judging someone by the color of their skin is ignorant. Their skin complexion has nothing to do with their morals, beliefs or intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/judging-someone-by-the-color-of-their-skin-is-ignorant-their-skin/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We try to take a very strong stance against discrimination and hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/we-try-to-take-a-very-strong-stance-against-discrimination-and-hatred/)

[Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/)

> [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/)

[Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/)

> [End discrimination and hate everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy/end-discrimination-and-hate-everyone/)

[Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy/)

> [This bill would allow an employee to bring a claim against an employer decades after the alleged initial act of discrimination occurred. Trial lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-mckeon/this-bill-would-allow-an-employee-to-bring-a-claim-against-an/)

[Buck McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-mckeon/)

> [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/)

[Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/)

[Browse all 1,366 Discrimination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In human rights theory it is very important that governments still have the primary responsibility for the standards and provision of such services even if they no longer deliver them. They must insist that the private sector delivers without discrimination. So governments still have responsibility, including the need to influence business.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mary Robinson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-important-that-governments-still/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Discrimination"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-important-that-governments-still/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/mary-robinson-4639_discrimination_in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-import_2882597.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/mary-robinson-4639_discrimination_in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-import_2882597.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf7/mary-robinson-4639_discrimination_in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-import_2882597.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In human rights theory it is very important that governments still have the primary responsibility for the…” — Mary Robinson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mary Robinson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-robinson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In human rights theory it is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-important-that-governments-still/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-robinson/in-human-rights-theory-it-is-very-important-that-governments-still/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
