Human Rights Day was actually on December 10th, but I was unable to post something on that day. In any event Human Rights Day is an awareness day in which we recognize that “All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms.”
For this year, the United States has announced to the world by its policies and actions that these rights are not recognize. No longer can the United States lecture other countries such as China on their Human Rights issues. Now, the United States must look within its own boarders to change legislation that was passed and to stop practicing torture.
Torture is only one human rights violation. Poverty is also a cause of human rights violations. According to the U.N. “People whose rights are denied — victims of discrimination or persecution, for example — are more likely to be poor. Generally they find it harder or impossible to participate in the labor market and have little or no access to basic services and resources. Meanwhile, the poor in many societies cannot enjoy their rights to education, health and housing simply because they cannot afford them. And poverty affects all human rights: for example, low income can prevent people from accessing education — an “economic and social” right — which in turn inhibits their participation in public life — a “civil and political” right — and their ability to influence policies affecting them.”
The U.S. along with countries like the Sudan and Iraq must now turn towards a movement which enhances human life. As we have seen across the globe, the rich are getting richer and the poor are staying poor. Nations must enact policies that benefit the lower class and to promote social policies such as education and health care. As we have seen in Darfur, women are raped as a means of retaliation, child soldiers are forced to participate in killings and mass killings happen as a means to enforce power must stop.
Additional info can be found here:
Study guide on Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
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