Reema Shaukat
THE 10th of December is marked as World Human Rights Day every year. It remembers the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly approved the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” with an objective of promoting civil and human rights around the globe. Year 2020, marks the 72nd anniversary of “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages it is the most translated document in the world. After many years of passing of this Declaration one still feels whether the objectives for which this agreement was formulated are achieved or not. Unusually, with this notion of human rights also comes to mind right of freedom or self-determination. It is one of the pillar of charter of human rights that still has not been achieved by many people or more broadly by nation-states. This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring human rights are central to recovery efforts.10 December is an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of human rights, the need for global solidarity, interconnectedness and shared humanity.
One sees that post-colonial military occupations have resulted in even greater threats to peace as proven in the case of Kashmir and Palestine. Later the emergence of Rohingya crisis which were there for the past many years but the massive scale genocide and fleeing of refugees towards neighbouring countries have raised serious questions towards the safety and rights of even a single human being. These struggles by individuals and even groups have witnessed and still face worsened human rights violations, war misconducts and criminalities against humanity. At smaller scale masses suffer through tortures, abuses, disappearances or any other inhumane act but on bigger gauge collateral damage to humanity is done by use of chemical and biological weapons. It is indeed unfortunate that mostly Muslim countries are passing through ordeal now but whatever the conflict or issue between countries is humanity must survive.
Amnesty International, a watchdog on international human rights, in its report states that the past few years have been devastating years for those who are pursuing to stand up for human rights and for those caught up in the sufferings of war zones. In this regard, International Humanitarian Law states that in war times attacks must not be directed against civilian populace. The principle of distinguishing between civilians and combatants is a fundamental safeguard for people caught up in the horrors of war but still civilians suffer. History shows that time and again civilians had to bear the brunt in any conflict. Be it’s in the name of search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq or stated as rebellious fighting in Yemen and Syria, an ethnic cleansing has been done to humanity. Genocide in Rwanda and of Rohingyas or Boko Haram abductions in Sudan, all bring a question to human rights and its broadcasters. Indiscriminate bombings in Palestine, Afghanistan and Syria not only left millions of people homeless but they grieved much. Similarly in case of Jammu & Kashmir introduction of Armed Forces Special Power Act has given impunity to Indian forces for misuse of power and they now use it brutally against innocent Kashmiris and thus violation of human rights is seen at its peak in Jammu & Kashmir. Kashmir is not only under illegal occupation of Indian forces but since August, 2019, it is in state of lockdown by Indian forces in order to revoke Article-370.
The Amnesty International suggests that some militant groups like ISIS spills over national borders, more civilians will be forced to live under their quasi-state control, subject to abuse, persecution and discrimination. In this regard, respective countries must take some immediate steps and stop imagining that the protection of civilians is beyond their power and help roll back the tide of suffering of millions. Leaders must embrace a fundamental change in the way they respond to crises around the world and ensure that there is no flow of weapons to such militant organizations. Similarly, restrictions on the use of explosive weapons which cannot be precisely targeted or which otherwise have wide-area effect in populated areas could have helped save thousands of lives lost in Gaza, Afghanistan, Kashmir and many other conflicted zones. The international community can and must do more to protect civilians whose homes have become the frontline battle zone of warring parties. One of the major threats which world sights nowadays is refugee crisis or internally displaced people. Pakistan still is the only country in the world which hosted Afghan refugees for more than three decades. Generally, it is witnessed that the influx of refugees has seriously strained resources and led to rising tensions between refugees and local communities in the region.
Human Rights Day on 10 December recognizes the work of human rights defenders worldwide who act to end discrimination. Acting alone or in groups within their communities, every day human rights defenders work to end discrimination by campaigning for equitable and effective laws, reporting and investigating human rights violations and supporting victims. So there is a need for bang to act, as the global attitude on the state of human rights is unwelcoming. Nation states must ensure that their response to security threats do not weaken fundamental human rights or fuel the violence further. Instead of environment of oppression in which extremism can flourish, dialogue/talks or other ways be sorted. Leaders must take immediate and decisive actions for conflicts, without use of force to make world better and safe as it is rightly said, “human rights matter because they are dependent on only one thing: being human”.
—The Islamabad-based writer works as Senior Coordinator at PAYF.
