Is Justice Possible - Research Paper Example

 Is Justice Possible? Introduction The possibility of justice in regards to social issues becomes the key objective for analysis while presenting a discussion of the prevalence of such in human rights. The case for human rights is addressed by focusing on the position of political prisoners, education for the lower income groups and the influence of religion on justice. In regards to political prisoners the case of political victims of America’s Counter Intelligence Program is dealt with. It is found that the Counter Intelligence Program of the Federal Bureau of Intelligentsia triggered to dissolve the political movements of the Blacks and other progressive institutions. (Day & Whitehorn, 2001, p. 285). In regards to the influence of religion in promoting justice the role of religious heads like pastors, priests and of the imams and rabbis in healing the wounds of injustice in towns, cities and rural areas have been discussed. (Philpott, 2007, p.93) Similarly, the case of extension of the parameters of justice in matters of generating social equity in education is dealt with focusing on the action of non-government organizations in Nigeria. (Akinbode, 2006, p.92) The possibility of justice in regards to gender issues is also dealt with in the paper with special focus of role of women in politics and religious institutions and issues in workplace discrimination. In regards to the status of women in politics, the case of the Black Women’s liberation movement is analyzed. (Duffie, 2008, p. 81) The position of women in regards to religious institutions is discussed by focusing on the absence of women in taking religious decisions in the Muslim countries. (Barazangi, 2009, p. 403) Discrimination of women at the workplace in regards to less pay is discussed focusing on the renewal measurers taken in Sweden to promote workplace equity. (Fransson & Thornqvist, 2006, p. 606). The paper also divulges into discussing the humanitarian aid and ethical standards for achieving justice in respect of cosmopolitanism, realism and nationalism societies. In total, the paper endeavors to cite the position of justice in issues concerning human rights, gender discrimination and in the role of ethics and humanitarian aids. Human Rights The Case of Political Prisoners The Federal Bureau of Intelligentsia (FBI) in America had initiated a program popularly known as the Counter Intelligence Program or the COINTELPRO. The Federal Bureau of Intelligentsia undertook this program to dismantle and dissolve the liberation movement taken by the Black communities and other such progressive bodies in America. To this extent, several panels of bodies observed that the United States prisons are flooding with political prisoners since a long time. Further observation made by the panels rendered information that nearly all of the political prisoners had served a long period of imprisonment for more than thirty years. However, the government of United States of America is found to deny such charges of holding political prisoners and that also for such longer periods. The panels observed that the Federal Bureau of Intelligentsia had carried out the rampant arrests of the Black demonstrators for they wanted to restrict the formation of a nationalist group of the Negro community. To this extent, the members of other political factions including the whites who reflected a common sympathy for the black community were also detained. The panels observed that the political prisoners were kept in isolation and were severely maltreated. They were not grant bail and sometimes wiped of the criminal records files. The government in this regard is found to use the judicial system for carrying out such detentions. However, of late the government has become conscious of the huge number of political prisoners serving long periods of illegal detention. Thus, it is aiming to free the political prisoners who in turn are carrying on further movements to free their associates. (Day & Whitehorn, 2001, p. 286, 291, 295) Ensuring Equality in Education for the Low Income Groups In this regard, the possibility of the expansion of the paradigms of justice and ethics are observed in the light of granting educational rights to the children of developing countries. The country chosen for discussion here is Nigeria. The country of Nigeria being under prolonged military rule had lost its democratic status. Human Rights activists from several countries empowered the Nigerian masses by providing educational training on Human Rights issues. This helped the Nigerian people to revitalize their spirits and to eradicate military rule from their country. This case shows that through education a society can earn the determination to liberate them from oppression. In the context, of educational rights Nigeria is observed to be a participant of the Jomitien agreement. This agreement specially focuses on educational needs. However, Nigeria is still observed to be much backward in its educational status. This fact leads to a number of children to be the sufferers of acute poverty. In addition to the lack of educational infrastructure, the girl community is further deprived of their educational right. To this end, civil bodies in Nigeria like the Social Alert Network and Center for Human Rights and Empowerment are keenly observing the actions taken by the Federal and State Governments in promoting education for all. Moreover, the Global Campaign observes it for Education that the prevalence of education in African countries has helped in reducing the threat imposed by AIDS. (Akinbode, 2006, pp.92-94) Role of Religion in matters of Social Justice The role of religion in promoting justice to a region or community is widely encouraged by human rights bodies. In fact it is observed that the human rights bodies have operated closely with religious units to render social justice in regions of Latin America like Chile and Brazil. It is observed that religious bodies have insisted on the reduction of capital punishment. However, the human rights activist have strongly opposed to in this direction stating that abolition of capital punishment signifies judicial sacrifice. They further added that abolition of capital punishment is permissible in cases for reconciliation to convey democratic peace in the country. Further, the religious bodies have also stressed on matters of political reconciliation between conflicting groups to restore peace and empathy in the country. Christians and Islamic bodies are mainly found to participate actively in the restoration process through religious doctrines of Jesus Christ and Allah respectively. It is further observed that religious bodies in Latin American countries like Brazil and Chile attempted to carry out detailed sets of investigation on the activities of the military regime. The Catholic Church further carried out a reconciliation exercise to restore democracy in the region. Keeping in tune to the activities of the Chilean Catholic Church the Archbishop of South Africa and other religious leaders created the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission or the TRC. Through the body created reconciliation and moral support were provided to the apartheid victims. (Philpott, 2007, pp.95-96; 101-103) Gender Justice Women in Politics The rise of women in politics can be observed through a case in America where a group of Black female activists showed protests in front of the Civil Rights Section of The Department of Justice based in Washington. The protests of the women of the Negro community were centered on the reducing the effects of racial discrimination and of the increased threats from the white communities. The group of Negro women protesting along the stated facts called themselves as the ‘Sojourners for Truth and Justice’. These groups of women activists were considered the first female group formed from the people of black community to vehemently protest against the Cold War policy of the United States. To this end, the group of Sojourners also formed the black leftist front that looked into the matters of oppression of the black women in their working atmosphere. However, it is often observed that while conducting a study on the issues of apartheid and racial discrimination the active role of women in launching protests against the same is excluded. The work of the Sojourners gains ground in the present decade for being the first group meant at developing a vision of letting a peaceful atmosphere both in their home front and as well as in the workplace of the African women in international arena. The sojourners in spite of being the first Negro women activist group who carried on several protest activities failed to gain any national status. Membership status of the group was around a hundred members. The group gradually disappeared from the political atmosphere. The reason attributed to their disappearance from the political scene was due to the left parties non-recognition of the Black Women group. (Duffie, 2008. pp-81-83; 93-94) Religious Status of Women To present a discussion on the religious status of women the case of Muslim women not given the permission to conduct religious issues is presented. It is observed that despite several endeavors to reform the position of Muslim societies the plight of the Muslim women is highly pathetic and degradable. The Muslim society functions under the regulations of the Islamic Law, Sharia. In this regard, the not granting of permission to Muslim women to have a say to such regulations counter the increased injustice over them. The Muslim community observes the role of women in the society as secondary. They are found to take the help of Quran in justifying the male supremacy. Thus, despite several attempts to upgrade the status of women in Muslim societies it had earned no results. (Barazangi, 2009, pp. 407-408). Women at Workplace It is widely observed that the plight of women in the labor force in the global context is viewed as secondary in comparison to the men’s role. However, the case of lower payment of the women in the workforce is closely observed in the context of Sweden. An estimate made in 2002 reveals that the pay scale of women in the Sweden workforce amounted to 92 percent to that of the male work force. Moreover, it is found that the women population in Sweden employed in workplaces amount to half of the male force. The male population occupies mostly the high paid sectors. The women population on the other hand mostly occupies the low paid public sector units. Though legislative measures like the Equal Opportunities Act are found to be in force in Sweden yet it failed to render a solution to the problem of wage discrimination. The main reason attributed for the same was the passive role taken by the Swedish Labor Courts in regards to such wage differences. To this extent, the need for wage pay audits is recommended to justly observe the need for wage differentials in the Swedish workforce to arrive at a common solution. (Fransson & Thornqvist, 2006, pp.606-608) Global Justice Humanitarian Aid and Ethical Standards in achieving Peace and Justice Cosmopolitanism: The humanitarian and ethical standards in cosmopolitanism can be discussed both on the economic and political parameter. It is held that the condition of destitute living in a society can be improved by sacrifices made by the well to do groups. Such actions are made without having any special relationship with the deprived population. However, it may also be conducted based on some other interests. It is stated in this regard that it is the responsibility of the individual states to bring about a social order of distributing the nation’s wealth. This accounts for it serves the basic right of the people to dwell in an equated society. In the political front it is also found that the existence of coercive institutions is the key factor restricting individual liberty. They are found to use political power to go about the process of depriving citizens of their basic rights. To this end, cosmopolitanism stresses on the construction of international bodies to take control over state actions and promote global justice. (Beitz, 2004, pp. 20, 24-25) Realism and Nationalism: a discussion along these points reflects a contradiction to the principles of cosmopolitanism. It is because where in cosmopolitanism it is widely stated that the individual focus on eliminating poverty is of prime need the tenets of realism argue that one should not operate beyond his domain. It is argued, that despite the reasons that people are suffering for poverty there is needless for any individual to perform something beyond his original control. Moreover the nationalistic principle states that every country has a right to trade its resource base to other countries. Thus, poor and developing countries suffer for coercive institutions continue to drain the country’s resources to richer hands. (Das, 2007, p. 338, 341) Conclusion The case for justice has been increasingly dealt with humanitarian, gender and global ethics and justice front. To this extent, it is found that in humanitarian grounds the case for political prisoners signify a sense of despair. They are found writhing in isolated and dark quarters for decades with no proper justice rendered. The case of rendering educational rights to the poor global population however is found in getting answered leading to improvements in the social front. However, in regards to religious emancipation of women it is found that in Muslim countries the women are considered as secondary citizens and are kept away from taking part in such. Religion is also observed in several grounds in finding an amicable solution to social conflicts. The case of women in politics is accepted on a joint front with men. A separate isolated women group fails to hold ground for a long time. Again, women are also not properly paid in comparison to their male counterparts. This case holds good for both developed and developing countries. References 1. Akinbode, O. (2006). Recasting Justice and Ethics Through Human Rights Education: The Nigerian Experience. Convergence. 39(1), Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from: http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf19_22/pdf/2006/CVG/01Feb06/30003130.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=30003130&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSep7E4zOX0OLCmr0ieprFSrqa4TLeWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGstE%2BvqrJMuejjhe3q41Pj3u2L8gAA 2. Barazangi, N. (2009). The Absence of Muslim Women in Shaping Islamic Thought: Foundations of Muslim’s Peaceful and Just Co-Existence. Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 24. Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from: http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf23_24/pdf/2008/FZ1/01Oct08/43481664.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=43481664&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSep7E4zOX0OLCmr0ieprFSsKe4SrWWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGstE%2BvqrJMuejjhe3q41Pj3u2L8gAA 3. Beitz, C. (2004). Cosmopolitanism and Global Justice. The Journal of Ethics. 9. pp.11-27. Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from: http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf9/pdf/2005/GGN/01Jan05/16177119.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=16177119&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSep7E4zOX0OLCmr0ieprFSsq%2B4TK6WxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGstE%2BvqrJMuejjhe3q41Pj3u2L8gAA 4. Das, R. (2007). Ethics and International Affairs. Philosophical Books, 48 (4) pp. 329–344. Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from: http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf19_22/pdf/2007/D8P/01Oct07/26961010.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=26961010&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSep7E4zOX0OLCmr0ieprFSs6m4TLeWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGstE%2BvqrJMuejjhe3q41Pj3u2L8gAA 5. Day, S. & L. Whitehorn. (2001). Human Rights in the United States: The Unfinished Story of Political Prisoners and COINTELPRO. New Political Science, 23(2) Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from: http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf13_15/pdf/2001/36N/01Jun01/4781040.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=4781040&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSep7E4zOX0OLCmr0ieprBSrq24S7GWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGstE%2BvqrJMuejjhe3q41Pj3u2L8gAA 6. Duffie, E. (2008). A “New Freedom Movement of Negro Women”: Sojourning for Truth, Justice, and Human Rights during the Early Cold War. Radical History Review. 101. Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from: http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf9/pdf/2008/2AT/01May08/32653032.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=32653032&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSep7E4zOX0OLCmr0ieprFSr6%2B4TLOWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGstE%2BvqrJMuejjhe3q41Pj3u2L8gAA 7. Frannsson, S. & C. Thornqvist. (2006). Some Notes on Workplace Equality Renewal in the Swedish Labour Market. Gender, Work and Organization. 13 (6). Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from: http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf18_21/pdf/2006/BPM/01Nov06/22642646.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=22642646&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSep7E4zOX0OLCmr0ieprFSsK64TbaWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGstE%2BvqrJMuejjhe3q41Pj3u2L8gAA 8. Philpott, D. (2007). What Religion Brings to the Politics of Transitional Justice. Journal of International Affairs. 61(1), Retrieved on November 13, 2010 from: http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf19_22/pdf/2007/JIA/01Sep07/28057537.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=28057537&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSep7E4zOX0OLCmr0ieprBSr6e4SrKWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGstE%2BvqrJMuejjhe3q41Pj3u2L8gAA Read More