Human Beings and Human Rights
December 18, 2008 by grteadmin
Why is it that most human beings do not appear to be passionate about fundamental human rights similar to other passions such as non-human rights?
Human rights apply to every human being, rich or poor, young or old, male or female, powerful or ordinary. One would expect therefore that human beings would be informed about the UN Declaration that is published in many languages of the diverse peoples of the world. It is somewhat strange that most of us are either not aware of the declaration itself or the rights which we are entitled to. What we see often is a selective relationship with human rights to the neglect of others although we think that it is only a holistic approach to rights that can be part of its manifestation. To the extent that rights has become a profession of a few individuals and organisations who are mostly cash strapped and overwhelmed with the extent of human rights abuses across the globe.
One is amazed at why human beings would not be positively passionate and interested about own human rights at the same time as respecting the same of other persons. Increasingly, we see a world where certain people consider their rights as superior to the rights of other human beings which is clearly in violation not only of the spirit but of the letter of the UN Declaration and other conventions put in place to affirm some of the most obviously and rampantly abused human rights and civil liberties with a view to prevent their violation.
Just as some philanthropists leave large legacies to human rights causes, some are minded to leave similar wealth to champion animal rights. In some parts of the world, people are more passionate about the rights of other species than even human beings and go to the extent of putting themselves at risk to protect animal and plant species. Sustainable development is critical to human welfare. We are interested in understanding the lack of interest by human beings in their own rights proportionate to the multiple problems that afflict the human race, or is it that human rights are not important and we should accept the status quo?
