All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
– Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
In spite of how exotic and irrelevant human rights might sound, they are surprisingly just around the corner.
Human rights are defined as indivisible and inalienable rights that come with every human being innately. Human rights are every step one takes, whether it is the decision to study in the field in which one is willing, the right to express their thoughts and opinions on matters or even the right to stand on any political side.
Natural rights are not a new concept in the twenty-first century. As a matter of fact, human rights first emerged in 539 B.C. in the era of Cyrus the Great. He was the one who freed the slaves at that time, encouraged people to choose their own religions, and started racial equality as well. The statement of the emperor, which is reckoned as the first declaration of human rights in history, was carved on a baked-clay cylinder called the Cyrus Cylinder. Moreover, later on, the United Nation established the first four charters according to the cylinder.
That one special day that has significant meaning to mankind from the very first day until these days and we all celebrate, among several special days, is Human Rights Day.
Human Rights Day is celebrated on every 10th December as in 1948, right after World War II, the basic principles of human rights were first agreed on officially and internationally, so the United Nation General Assembly decided to approve the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the same day.
The purpose of the document is to reaffirm and protect the rights to which every human being is entitled since birth in order not to let human rights be violated and ignored in society as during World War II. There was untold suffering for Jews back then as a result of the holocaust of ethnic cleansing of Jews. Nazi Germans were determined to eradicate other races throughout Europe, so the troops would put Jewish people in concentration camps, subject them to labour or conduct vicious human experimentation, and carry out gas chamber massacres thousands of times, regardless of gender, age, or any other status. The violation of human rights during the war became known as a war crime. Therefore, the UDHR was committed to assuring that the transgression would not happen to the next generations.
Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it has continued to play an important role in many countries’ legal systems around the world as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and nations. However, due to the status of the declaration, the associated organizations could not cope much with it but only monitoring and delivering the warning letter to the nations that violations are detected.
Although the document has been set forth for a somewhat long period of time, human rights transgressions still exist, some of which are lurking whereas some are being displayed to the world. For instance, this year Palestinian Muslims were facing the bloody end of Ramadan, the most sacred month for Muslims worldwide, with no hands reaching out to help them.
The oppression of Israel towards Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is an endlessly ongoing issue which shows no sign of culmination. It has violated Palestinians’ human rights in every way for ages, let alone the displacement of the Palestinian population. Not less than hundreds of Palestinians have been facing discrimination, arbitrary detention, unlawful killings, restrictions on accessibility to health care, forced evictions and demolitions, unfair trials and the list goes on, with no exceptions for women or children. The action reflects the idea of colonization and ethnic cleansing, which is consistent with the determination to have Palestine erased from the map.
The tension escalated this year as Israeli police raided Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Muslim world’s third holiest site of worship, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades while Palestinian Muslims were performing for the last Friday prayer, injuring over a hundred Palestinians on May 7th. Then, regardless of humanity, dozens of missiles were launched, killing Palestinians and destroying buildings and residences for the rest of the week. Today the world is currently witnessing Palestinians being threatened to evacuate their homeland and their sacred Ramadan has awfully turned into a curse that will forever haunt and traumatize them. What is more, Israeli forces brutally deprive homes from the people, brutally deprive freedom from their hands and brutally deprive babies from their mothers. As the number of casualties continues to rise as the war crimes enter their second week, Palestinians’ hopes and future are being taken away bit by bit.
Should human rights violations not be accepted in any form?
This is what people need to stand up for. Not because one is Muslim. Not because one is Asian. Not because one is pro-democracy but because one is a human and there is humanity running through the veins. It is also extended in Article One of the UDHR that
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. “
Therefore, humans ought to acknowledge their own rights and look out for others’ as well. The declaration alone is not enough. The seed has to be instilled in kids and the youth to build awareness of the rights and their importance because they are the future of this world, the changemakers who are going to drive our society forward and build up as close as possible to a respectful and peaceful society.
Lastly, I am hopefully looking forward to that one special day where we will be celebrating and commemorating the Palestinians’ victory and the independence they deserve in order to signify to the world that human rights violations have come to their death.
Authored by
Irene Paphawarin
