|
|
“All human
beings are born free and equal in dignity and right. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of
brotherhood.”
These lines from Article 1 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights are
the very foundation of modern human rights activism and promotion of mutual
respect and compassion. It is the inspiration for organizations such as
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Today, human rights are not
just a moral philosophy but also an ideal recognized by international law
and encouraged by a global movement. Yet, history stands a silent observer
to the gross violation of human rights and fundamental freedom.
Time and again our conscience has been infuriated by repugnant acts of
merciless brutality committed by individuals and groups. There is the
continued violence in Iraq, chaos in Afghanistan, uncertainty in the Middle
East and fear of terrorist attacks in every city and town. It is not
uncommon for the unprivileged to be denied justice, and social, cultural and
economic rights continue to be violated everyday. It all makes one wonder
whether human rights really matter? Does anyone really care after all
inhuman acts continue to be part of our history?
It is easy to say ‘No’ as human rights seem to have simply become an
idealist concept for majority of the people in the world. It is a vision
that has inspired international laws and organizations but largely remained
an unrealized reality. Take for instance the Armenian Genocide during
1915-1916, where about 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the then Turkish
Government. The Holocaust led to the death of almost 6 million Jewish people
and left many more to live with the scars of human cruelty for life. We
continue to be haunted by the images of frail bodies and pleading eyes of
victims starved, beaten and tortured. The pledges to prevent such terrible
acts against humanity remain insincere, ineffective and lacking political
commitment as perpetrators rarely punished and the lack of accountability
allowing a vicious cycle to set in with ease.
The genocide of Cambodia between 1975 and 1979 led to the death of over half
a million Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge. In 1994, the genocide in Rwanda led
to approximately 800,000 people being brutally murdered as the international
community deliberated and struggled to find consensus for an “intervention
force” in Rwanda. From the “ethnic cleansing” in Kosovo to the tortures at
Abu Gharib prison in Iraq, the dark side of human nature has surfaced each
time with greater wickedness and contempt. The gruesome deaths and tales of
horror become more disturbing with each new conflict and wave of hate. What
propels such brutish inhumanity is debatable but unjustifiable.
Human Rights violation is not only defined by the magnitude of killings and
tortures alone but the denial to a decent existence and respect for human
life. In many countries, people survive under deplorable living conditions
and an estimated 250 million children around the world are working in
various jobs, frequently under hazardous conditions. Religious persecution,
repression and denial to access to rule of law are all cumulatively
violation of human rights in a small, medium or large scale. There is an
acknowledgement of Universal Human Rights as a righteous vision, but the
continuous violation of its principles has left many to wonder whether it is
simply a hypothetical concept confined to international statutes.
Human right is not a new phenomenon having evolved over centuries.
Abstractly derived from the philosophy of the ancient Greco-Roman doctrines’
of natural law, the principles of human rights were reflected in the
earliest known legal document called ‘Magna Carter’ or ‘Great Charter.’ The
document was signed in 1215 as a concession made between King John of
England and a group of barons that rebelled against the arbitrary powers of
the King. As a result, the charter granted rights to the citizens of England
and at the same time created limitations to the King’s authority. It had
then become an important part of British constitutional history and a
significant part in the struggle for Universal Human Rights.
The works of the Italian theologian and philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas laid
the foundation of international law outlined by Hugo Grotius. In the 17th
and 18th Century, philosophers debated the theory of “natural rights”
emerging from the concept of natural law. That is, human beings were born
with certain rights that could not be denied by any authority as they were
endowed by nature or God. It was a theory clearly reflected in the works of
John Locke, Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Paine.
In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It recognized the need to “promote
and encourage respect for Human Rights and fundamental freedoms.” The
Declaration is a testament of a commitment to the basic principles of Human
Rights. But as the statues are voluntary, governments and the international
community are not bound to adhere to the principles of international law.
However, from the English Bill of Rights in 1689 to the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the struggle continues for dignity and
civil liberties for all human beings.
Various International organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights
Watch and Free the Slaves to name a few, have become global movements that
strive to keep alive the vision for a world where human dignity has a value
and where respect for human rights is not a choice but a necessity. There
have been failures and setbacks which have made us disillusioned about the
value placed on human rights.
However, the challenge remains to overcome the hurdles without losing hope
in humanity to prevail through the dark times.
Where there is a failure, there is also a success. The International
Criminal Court is a promising step forward in bringing to justice war
criminals and crimes against humanity. In Albania, lawmakers have
successfully passed anti-discrimination bill to ensure equality for all.
These are just some of the successes that renew and strengthen our belief in
‘Human Rights’ as a conscientious obligation of all nations for change and
betterment.
The success of Human Rights lies in the effectiveness of global civil
society to be mobilized in voicing their concerns and exerting pressure to
end crimes against humanity. Governments must be held accountable by their
citizens to ensure the rule of law is applied impartially. International
organizations build much greater awareness of issues but need to find
effective solutions implemented by action. There have been considerable
obstacles in the journey for human rights, as history reveals, but we must
not give up or give in but stay firmly on course for there is no other way,
humanity is the only way to our existence.
It is not easy to strive for human rights and freedom in a world that is far
from perfect and divided by changing times. It would, in all honesty, be
unrealistic to think that there can be no violation of human rights and that
every human being is capable of being peaceful. However, Human Rights begins
with each one of us ensuring that human rights means something more than
just words in the pages of international law. There is an anonymous saying
that best sums it up: “There is enough bad in people to make law necessary,
and enough good in people to make it workable."
Courtesy:
Fatima Choudhry |
|
Fatima
Choudhry