More importantly, at Allversity, we often wonder how we can best work towards improving human rights in today’s changing, complex world. Everyone wants the world to be a better place, but where do we start?
Coming to Consensus on Human Rights
Over the years, there have been many different conceptions of what a right is, and although the concept is present in many ancient religions as well as Greek and Roman philosophy, it wasn’t until the Renaissance that human rights came to be thought of as a distinct concept in Europe.
Human rights were conceptualized by those in privileged positions; the philosophers, law-makers, and scientists. However, as demonstrated by the French Revolution, rights were implemented and enforced through the will of the populace. In fact, the ideals of the French Revolution (liberty, equality, and fraternity), became the foundation of many modern democracies.
Shocked by the horrors of World War II, and determined to create lasting change, the United Nations drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. This is widely considered to be the most comprehensive document detailing human rights, and guarantees such rights as freedom from slavery, equality regardless of background, and the right to freedom of thought and expression.
If you would like to learn more about the history and structure of human rights, check out our new course, Introduction to Human Rights!
Questions and Answers About Human Rights
Some claims to human rights are controversial: for example, the right of nations to self-determination. Or, when cultural or religious practices infringe on human rights, such as equality between men and women. Who decides what is right in these cases? And is it cultural hegemony to decide that every human, regardless of their cultural context, is entitled to certain rights?
These are complex issues, and generally, it is agreed that people should have the option to decide for themselves. Ultimately, it is considered to be a human rights violation when a government decides on rights-violating cultural norms for its constituents. Yet this is an area where activists tread lightly, respecting cultural and religious practices, while striving to ensure those practices are not harmful, and that decisions are made by individuals old enough to give informed consent and free from intimidation.
"Organize!” Photo credit: Beautiful Cataya
Who does one turn to when human rights are abused?
Sometimes it seems like the abuses need to reach monumental proportions before they are noticed. When abuses happen in your city, or your village, what can you do? The United Nations have been tasked with ensuring that human rights are upheld throughout the world, and they take on some of the world’s worst offenders. But there are also many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charities that work to uphold human rights. Among them are Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, just to name a few.
Working for Human Rights in Today’s World
At Allversity, we believe that education, aside from being a right, is also the most powerful way to affect change in the world. Information changes everything, and although one voice is small, many voices can become large.
Working to spread the word about abuses in your community is a strong tactic for preventing or stopping those abuses. New Tactics in Human Rights is a wonderful resource, providing case histories, discussions, and strategies for building awareness and generating media buzz around your issues. Or, if you prefer to help out with an organization that already exists, there are organizations in almost every country who are working for human rights.
Turns out, protecting human rights can be as simple as talking to your neighbor, observing arrests or interactions with those in power, educating your children of their rights, or starting a community garden. How do you work to support human rights in your community?
Post by Sabra Melamed for Allversity
