Human rights issues - Essay Example

Body paragraphs using ideas of Forwarding from the article and countering Article Human Rights Issues Background The human rights declaration in1948 was a major achievement for the United Nations. This was because, from different regions in the world, the human rights documents included values which were to be applied globally to all citizens across the world irrespective of gender, race or ethnicity. Moreover, the basic functions in which human rights were created to serve were to ensure equality among men in different spheres of life, and endowed individuals with an opportunity to have life, liberty and happiness in all corners of the planet. Human rights apply in all major contexts which characterized daily human activities around the planet. They are social, physical, emotional, and economical amongst others. What this simply means is that the values stated in the human rights document are applicable in all aspects of life. An example is when trading, there are human rights values which both parties must abide to exercise equality. The topic of human rights is of extreme importance to me because in my understating it has made my world a better place. Unlike before where the world was full insecurities, today I know with course I can travel to anywhere within my country and to freely interact with any individuals whosoever I wish without developing fear or being discriminated because of gender, race or ethnicity. In addition, to other individuals, human rights is of extreme importance because in a century or year (2015), characterized by globalization, that when left for government s and corporations to handle, they would not enjoy the happiness and freedom they are experiencing now because of availability of human rights. The rights ensure that they are respected, protected and fulfilled with basic needs both internally and externally. Introduction Human rights can be simply described as the basic rights and freedoms which are entitled to every living individual. The main characteristics of human rights are they are considered universal and inalienable, they are also interdependent and indivisible, they are equal and not discriminatory and they all rights and obligations. Human right is not an aspect which is alien to people of the 21st century .We are humans and we do have the right to live on earth like any other person. Human rights have been a controversial issue since man has civilized. Generally speaking, the human rights issue covers many subjects and it is still an evolving phenomenon. Why is human right a crucial subject? It is because human have varied culture, race, sexual orientation and religion and all these factors need to be considered when one talks about human rights issue.. Have you ever imagined living in a society which is not guided being guided by human rights of any form? The answer to this is simple, the world would be characterized by conflicts and confusion in all major segments as there would be no order. A good question to ponder on this topic is what would the world look like when human beings are allowed to kill each other without consequences? This said, human rights are the basis to the freedom most individuals enjoy today because it allows them to live freely basing on principles which are constituted for the wellbeing of all as the values cater for all communities and races on the planet. Human rights are all the same though may take different approaches in various countries. This necessitated universal human rights which are expressed and curtained by different laws, treaties, customary laws and other forms of laws. A good example is that the human right law in America and Africa are not same and to understand the differences it is important to understand different laws and constitutions applicable in each respective country or continent, but they all serve the same purpose. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine elements of forwarding and countering in used resources for the topic of human right. Article Human Rights Issues In the article the framework of democracy is human rights law by Ebadi Shirin who is an Iranian human rights lawyer makes an analysis on the impacts human rights has had on democracy in different countries. The article portrays Islamic based countries as countries where human rights values are not practiced as they consider it westerners tools used in controlling them. Conversely, as this is a good point from the author, I believe that not all western tools are bad. A good example of this would be the looking at how life even in the developed Islamic states has changed. Justice is now available toe everyone through judicial systems put across to determine the guilt or innocence of a citizen. Likewise, human rights value represents a beacon of hope for oppressed citizens as the only way to bring equality within these countries. The author points out those Islamic countries that are not applying human rights into their systems have subjected their citizens to sufferings and curtailed their freedom. Various reports have testified to this and one good example would be a chopping off the hand of an individual who is considered a thievery suspect. Likewise Islamic states that consider they to be democratic, do not allow their citizens the privileges of human rights values today. One such example is that women in Iran are suffering because of the grasp religion has on their government. It should be noted from the article that democracy is a cultural tool, as when the culture does not believe in its credibility, so awkward are the laws put across to govern such individuals. However, as much as the two works in harmony, I do believe that culture and democracy are two separate things. This said democracy should just a tool of its own because there are certain cultures which were applicable in the past due to lack of laws, but not applicable today because individuals have greatly expanded on their knowledge of issues and things within a society. In other words, states which consider they to be democratic should not apply a section of human rights values and leave out the rest, but they should apply all rules pointed out in the human rights document. In my opinion, I do believe that the frame work of democracy is based on people’s knowledge and not human rights as the author states as I do believe that when individuals practice human rights but, lack knowledge of what is good or wrong, then the values will be baseless as only the learned and privileged in the society will enjoy such a democracy. In the article piece Protect Human Rights by the United Nations, different ways and organizations have been highlighted as the mechanisms through which the United Nations protects human rights. Likewise, these organizations are the ones responsible for the freedom being enjoyed in different corners of the world. The reports highlights the importance of the United Nations in keeping peace across different countries in the world by pointing out to the organizations main role of investigating and reporting issues related to human rights in different parts. Conversely, I do believe that different bodies and organizations are not required to keep in the world as world peace is for the benefit of everyone; therefore individuals are the ones to do be tasked with peace keeping and practice of human rights values. The author states that the United Nations purpose is to point out different agencies and offices responsible for handling different cases of human rights violations in different areas of the world. Cases of human rights violations have gone unreported in different corners in the world because of the legal process involved in filling and pursuing such cases. Likewise, the article highlights numerous legal instruments which can be used as a basis for promoting democracy in different regions and continents. In my opinion, the best legal instrument for promoting democracy are leaders as they are the ones who make either good or bad choices for citizens. In the article, Guantanamo Speak and the manufacture of Consent by Ojeda, Almerindo highlights the sympathetic condition of prisoners at the prison and how their rights were continually abused by officers mandated to man them. In my opinion, as much as prisoners should be granted rights, the rights should be limited because when they are completely granted full rights then the whole sense of being a prisoner is lost. Conversely, the author points out that as much as human rights values are present in the prison’ policies, the rights of the prisoners were abused because officials there used terms stated in the human rights document to give out a different meaning for all those involved in the process of looking after such prisoners. An example is that the prisoners were referred to as dangerous individuals capable of anything thus instilling a notion of fear towards the guards who were tasked to look after them. Conversely, I am for the opinion that all prisoners should be considered as dangerous individuals in the society because they many of them landed in the facility because of breaking a law put a cross by the country to govern how individuals relate with each other. The author points out that the results of this were that the guards were very cruel and ruthless to prisoners confined at the prison. Likewise the author argues that in spite of officials knowing the rights of prisoners in the prison, they have devised language as a way of concealing actual things which happens inside the prison. A good example of such terms is that when a prisoner is being taken for interrogation and torture is involved, the official use a lighter term to conceal what the prisoner is going to face so as to make it sound with the rights or human rights charter created to govern prisoners in a prison. The piece aim is to center on the deteriorated human rights values within the institution as the author views that as much it is a topic not discussed by many due to the circumstances of the prisoners, they are all human beings and a such rights should be exercised on them and they should not be treated like an animal in a country that champions for democracy and human rights to other countries or citizens. Further, the author supports her arguments about how prisoners are still being denied human rights values by emphasizing on the need formations of specific institutions or panels which monitors how institutions like prison exercise human rights values towards those whom they are dealing with. In sum, as much as the author is advocating for the rights of prisoners, I am for the opinion, that their rights should be limited as prison is a correctional facility and individuals confined inside should not be allowed to enjoy same rights as those who have not committed a crime, since they will not have the urge to change their wayward characters which landed them there. In her article, Mea Culpa Mea Amore by Higdon, Nolan, the author talks of ways in which the government censors various information being given to the public through different media channels. In my opinion, the government should censor information as security check to monitor against unforeseen events like riots. Likewise, the article for example points to critical stories which should by the highlight of news for different media houses, but are avoided or not shown at all because of biases from different media houses and the government. Interestingly, media houses are signs of democracy within a country and by media houses being censored by the government or refusing to shows specific news due to internal biases, then the meaning of democracy as a whole is rubbished. This is because in democratic states, the media has a freedom to operate as a different entity from the government and should not under any circumstances operate as government tool. Conversely, I do believe that as a government, they should be able to lay hands on information related to citizen’s welfare so as to plan and protect their citizens accordingly. The authors’ main purpose is too make readers see how the government though claiming to be democratic, controls and manages bits of information considered to good for the public’s consumption. In addition, most citizens have suffered or believed in inaccurate information given to them by the government; therefore, the author deems it necessary to educate the public on different ways that the government controls those institutions which are trusted by the public. In sum, I am for the opinion that information should be censored by the government because at times the types of information displayed by the media is not always effective for consumption by the public as it leads to such things like public’s opinions even when the government is faced with a threat or an issue which public opinion can not solve. Works Cited Ebadi, Shirin. "The framework of democracy is human rights law ."https://www.opende mocracy.net. Open Democracy, 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2015. Higdon, Nolan. Mea Culpa Mea Amore. New York: Inspiring We the People, 2014. 70. Print. Ojeda, Almerindo. "Guantanamo Speak and the manufacture of Consent."The Guantanano Testimonial Project (2011): 1-8. Print. United Nations, . "Protect Human Rights."http://www.un.org. UN, 2010. Web. 23 Mar. 2015. . Read More