10 December 2008 - Human Rights Day - Share your thoughts

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Comment by Theresa Miyashiro on December 10, 2008 at 7:43pm

Thank you for giving us so much to think about on this Human Rights Day. Here in the US we often take our freedoms for granted. We need to be constantly reminded that human rights are being violated here and around the world and me must strive to bring those rights to everyone.
It pains me to know that my country, the supposed land of the free and defender of human rights has committed so many human rights atrocities in recent times, but I look forward and envision the day when we will again help lead all the world into peace and freedom.

Comment by Julie on December 10, 2008 at 6:57pm

I think that it is atrocious how people in many countries are ill treated in so many ways. I believe also that it is a basic human right for everyone to live in peace but quoting something I received this week "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

Comment by Marena Chen on December 10, 2008 at 6:43pm

I am really saddened by the fact that not one single solitary person even commented on - or was outraged by the facts I have presented above. Do you all think that these issues are UNIMPORTANT when in actuality they are a cancer in the very fabric of humanity? I am talking about over 100 M I L L I O N FEMALE BABIES plus a HUGE number of their "USELESS MOTHERS" Does that not youch a nerve in anyone???? GOD HELP US ALL!!!

Comment by rockync on December 10, 2008 at 6:40pm

We're not there yet, but we're getting there; one person at a time....

Comment by AnjaRa on December 10, 2008 at 1:41pm

I order to have a peaceful sight in this matter, it is important for everybody to realice that we can not set the One before the Other. Let us not go into it with our both legs and set one human right infront of another.

EVERYBODY should have the right to decide if they wanted to live with the freedom it is to accept the Human Rights - Everyvwhere!

What I think the world is missing today, is a person-to-person-responcebility to NOT WALK OVER ANYONE!
It is very "IN" with all what you have right to do, but a responcible person do what she likes, except stepping on others right to live in freedom and peace. And the issue here is "Do not take the freedom from ANYBODY!"

I think the overall thief in all issues are money!
What? - you do think :)

Please, let me explane:

The air we breeth is filled with someones polluted money.
The water we drink is filled with someones polluted money.
The forest we live in are filled with someones polluted money -
if it exciste at all anymore.
The oceans are filled with someones polluted money.
The earth we grow food in is filled with someones polluted money.
The thoughts we think are filled with someones polluted money.
The emotions we feel are filled with someones polluted money.

The most People do not want to eat garbadge or polluted food, but that is what the most of the people have to choose from today!

Take the money away and what do we get? Someone would tell you that we get a kaotic world!!!!

But, please, think again!

IF there was no money, we'd have A HUGE DISH to handle! Kaos for a little while, and then peacefullnes, happines, sharing and love!
Everybody would have the right to take what was needed to support their own needs on dayly basis. With no stress of money!

Everybody have that right today - but we have all given it away to some crazy dud for something we cannot eat, drink or live in, just because of something he have told us we need more than food or shelter. (In fact his world would kollaps if we did not tolerated his bossines - but we don't realice it!) Or, we have stolen it from some peaceful tribes and nations that wanted to share with us all that they had! We let them write their signs on paper. We lie to them, we sheet and betrayd.

Who are most civilised? Well, if money meens civilised, I rather be uncivilised!

You probebly do not belive I am right, but think of it - and read it again :)

The world is full of beauty and food and shelter. Love and compassion is the way!

I Love You All, and I know that you know it :):):)
I am just ME - AnjaRa Torill Vråskar, and I am proud of it :):)

Comment by Soaroir de Campos on December 10, 2008 at 1:39pm

Mais e melhor alfabetização para que esses Direitos possam ser lidos, interpretados e exigidos.

Comment by Marijke on December 10, 2008 at 12:44pm

Respect,thats what is missing.Respect for life and all that is.

Comment by Pauline Cory on December 10, 2008 at 10:56am

As quoted on www.parallelcommmunity.com, I believe that it is a basic human right for everyone on this planet to live in peace and intend to envision that and do all I can to contribute to that goal by actively BEING the change I wish to see in the world.

Comment by Momoh K. Sei on December 10, 2008 at 10:35am

today is important day in our life as we are celebrating our Human Rights Day i pray that will we have whta we call human dignity as a human being. As for us in our country Liberia we have series of event to celebrate this day such as raido talks shows etc. But in Africa there still a greater need for the promotion human rights as most people don't even understand whta is human rights.

Comment by Rene Wadlow on December 10, 2008 at 10:14am

Human Rights in Larger Freedom



Rene Wadlow*



Our age which has often been so cruel, can now pride itself on having witnessed the birth of a universal human rights movement. In all walks of life brave individuals are standing up for their brothers who have been reduced to silence by oppression or poverty. Their struggle has transcended all frontiers, and their weapon is knowledge…Defending human rights today means above all bringing the most secret crimes to light. It means trying to find out and daring to speak out with complete objectivity, something which requires courage and occasionally, even heroism… The United Nations is cognizant that, for human rights to be more fully recognized and respected, the awareness and support of all are required. Javier Perez de Cuellar





As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December — marking the day in 1948 when the Declaration was adopted in Paris, it is inevitable that we look at the large gap between the aims and the practice. It is easy to grow cynical at governmental double standards, politically selective hypocrisy and tactical alliances. Yet success in the human rights field depends on a continuing commitment to outwit those who have a vested interest in keeping the UN weak and unable to act effectively. It is important to note the land marks of progress. These are some of the victories where intense effort and creative cooperation among representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UN Secretariat, independent experts, and a few representatives of progressive governments created awareness, got resolutions adopted, and built structures for follow up. Each case would merit a fuller analysis and character sketches of some of the players, but that would be a book rather than an article.



I list 10 victories which seem to me to be real advances. Others would no doubt make different lists, but as an NGO representative to the UN in Geneva, I had participated in each of these advances and knew the key players. Governments, who alone have the ability to vote UN resolutions in the end, happily take credit for advances. Yet in these cases, progress was made by ideas coming from NGO representatives, helped by UN Secretariat who must keep a “low profile” and the representatives of some governments where an issue touched them personally — and did not go against their government’s policy.



1) Awareness of the rights and conditions of indigenous and tribal populations. When this issue was first raised in the early 1980s “indigenous” were considered to be only the Indians of North America who had come in force to present their case in Geneva. Some governments finally went along thinking that such analysis would be a subtle criticism of the USA without costing them anything. However, the International Labour Organization Convention N° 109 on indigenous peoples speaks of “indigenous and tribal”. Thus, it was possible to raise issues of tribal groups in south-east Asia such as the Chakma of Bangladesh, who are not “indigenous” having migrated from south China over the last 2000 years but have a tribal society. Much of the advances in the field are due to the skills and dedication of Ms Erica Daes who for many years chaired the Working Group on Indigenous Populations. Now, the indigenous and tribal issues cover a wide number of countries and have moved to center stage.



2) Torture. When the use of torture was first raised in 1973, it was thought to be a rare practice limited to a small number of countries. It turns out that it is, in fact, widely used by a large number of countries. Getting torture to be a recognized issue and having the Commission on Human Rights create the post of Special Rapporteur on Torture owes much to Sean MacBride (1904-1988) at the time chairman of the Amnesty International Executive Committee (1961-1974) and Nobel Peace Prise laureate (1974). MacBride had been the Foreign Minister of Ireland (1948-1951) and knew how governments work. He had also been a long-time member of the Irish Republican Army (1917-1936) and knew well how police as well as insurgencies work. MacBride called torture an ‘epidemic’ perpetrated by regimes ‘to control dissent and maintain power.’ The well-organized campaign against torture brought together numerous NGOs to pressure governments in the UN General Assembly to take action.



3) Death Penalty. The efforts for the abolition of the death penalty also owe much to Amnesty International and its long-time Secretary-General Martin Ennals. His role, often in the background but always on key issues, is an example of how NGO impact can be made.



4) Conscientious objection to military service. Conscientious objection as a human rights was a long but successful fight on the part of a small number of NGOs such as the Quakers, the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the International Peace Bureau. It was led by the representatives of Ireland, Canada and Austria — all of which have armies but whose representatives went “that extra mile” to overcome opposition and get the resolution passed.



5) Child Soldiers. The attention now given to the human rights violations from the existence of child soldiers — both the fact that children are taken as soldiers and the human rights violations that they are forced to commit was brought to the attention of the Commission on Human Rights by the Quakers and the NGO Defense for Children. This led to the creation of a Special Representative on Children in Conflict as well as attention at the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court.



6) The Right to Housing. The right to housing and especially the destruction of houses in the process of slum clearing, often done without re-housing, owes its place on the human rights agenda to a small number of NGOs but who had dramatic examples of abuses. There is now an active Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing.



7) Freedom of Religion and Belief. It was a 20-year effort to get the adoption in 1981 of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief. It was an effort kept alive by a small number of States and NGOs. It is not sure that as far-reaching and complete a Declaration could be drafted today. The Declaration serves as a guideline for the right to belief in many of the current religious-based tensions.



8) The Rights of Women. It is always strange how difficult it is to get proper attention to the rights and condition of women since they are half and probably more of humanity. Nevertheless, it has been a long effort largely carried by NGOs. It is a multifaceted effort and was helped by a series of UN-sponsored conferences on women. Geneva-based NGOs such as the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom have played key roles. The concept that women exist and thus have rights has brought together NGOs who are often divided on other issues.



9) Systematic rape. The awareness of systematic rape as a crime against humanity has grown as part of the broader effort on the equality of women mentioned in point 8. Many of the NGOs concerned with equality of women have been concerned with domestic violence as well. Thus, they reacted strongly to reports of systematic rape during the conflicts in former Yugoslavia. This issue has also been raised concerning the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, and in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.



10) Human Rights Defenders. I leave for last our auto-defense: the efforts to protect human rights defenders on the front lines. Raising human rights issues in a good number of countries can get you into trouble. Even writing to Amnesty International is not a danger-free practice in some places. The killing in Moscow of Anna Politkovskaia, a journalist critical of the conflict in Chechena, is there as a symbol of all those on the front lines of human rights efforts. Thanks to NGO efforts, the UN has created a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders — a constant reminder to governments and in some cases non-governmental militias that they are being watched





All these victors are fragile, and there are governments who would want them reversed or forgotten. But on Human Rights Day, we can welcome these advances, remember those whose drive, skills and determination helped bring forward these issues which many would have left in the dark. We need to prepare for the next battles which are not far away.



Rene Wadlow, Representative to the UN, Geneva, Association of World Citizens

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