Saturday, July 19, 2008
12:17 AM
Do you think human rights are universal?
As countries advance and develop due to economic growth, there is growing pressure on countries all over the world to place more focus on its people, to ensure that human rights are pursued. Personally, I feel that human rights are universal only to a certain extent. Yes, there is no doubt that there are many policies on human rights in the world today. This includes the World Conference on Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil Rights and Political rights, United States Bill of rights and many others. However, these policies may not always be effective. One example is Singapore’s refusal to sign the International Covenant on Civil Rights and Political rights. Even if one country and particularly that small as Singapore is not part of the human rights movement, then human rights cannot be said to universal.
There are countries in which human rights are absent as well, making human rights not universal. Universal mean something pertaining to characteristics of the whole. As such, if human rights are non-existent in even one country, human rights cannot be said to be universal. One example is Sri Lanka during year 2006. In that year, the Human Rights Commission’s members’ term of office expired and there was an absence of a human rights commission for that period. This shows that the universality of human rights is only possible every single country and individual play their part. Thus, human rights are not always universal.
Lastly, even countries themselves violate human rights! How is it possible for human rights to be universal then? If countries pledge to support the human rights movement, but cross the line once they turn their backs, then human rights can be said to be non-existent in that country. One example is the Sudan Genocide. In 2003, rebel groups in Darfur demanded greater political power. Afraid that other small states may follow suit, the government of Sudan carried out an extermination of the people in Darfur, killing over 400000 people. If a government can kill its innocent people, they obviously have no regard for human rights. Hence, human rights are not universal because not all countries practice it.
Hence, I feel that human rights is universal only to a certain extent.
Melissa (:
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