DOES THE HUMAN RIGHTS BY THE UN PROVIDE FULL DIGNITY TO HUMANS in ‘REAL SENSE’?
( have refered to the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WEBSITE, YOUTH FOR HUMAN RIGHTS WEBSITE, THE ARTICLE ‘
Eunuchs: An Analysis of Social Status in voices of People website, NDTV NEWS WEBSITE, IBN LIVE NEWS VIDEO,BBC NEWS WEBSITE)
BY NICOLE FERNANDES, 3744. TYBMM, SOPHIA COLLEGE
DOES THE HUMAN RIGHTS BY THE UN PROVIDE FULL DIGNITY TO HUMANS in ‘REAL SENSE’?
Assurance of International cooperation, along with peace and security are the major features which would help the World turn into a Global Economy, in spite of the existence of different nations. In order to fulfil these goals, in 1919, the League of Nations formed 58 members and took up the responsibility for ensuring peace and cooperation between world nations. But later as World War II began in 1939, World Peace was destroyed.
Later, on 24th October 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was drafted at the UN Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, California. 50 nations and several non-governmental organizations signed the Charter.
The key principles that were set by the UN were as follows:
1. Save future generations from war,
2. Reaffirm human rights, and
3. Establish equal rights for all persons. In addition it also aims to
4. Promote justice, freedom, and social progress for the peoples of all of its member states.
In order to keep an eye on the proper functioning of its key principles and the different Human Rights established by the UN, it divided itself into 5 Branches:
- UN General Assembly: It performs the function of decision-making and representative assembly in the UN and upholds the principles through its policies and recommendations. It is composed of all member states, is headed by a president elected from the member states, and meets from September to December each year.
- UN Security Council: It authorises the deployment UN member states’ militaries, mandates a cease-fire during conflicts, and enforces penalties on countries if they do not comply with given mandates. It is composed of five permanent members and ten rotating members.
- International Court of Justice: It is responsible for the judicial matters of the UN.
- The Economic and Social Council: It provides assistance to the General Assembly in promoting economic and social development as well as cooperation of member states.
- The Secretariat: Its main responsibility is providing studies, information, and other data when needed by other UN branches for their meetings.
Even though the General Assembly proclaims ‘THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS’ , there certain human rights which is questionable in terms of the actual dignity given to every Individual in India per sae.
The loopholes which some Articles we as Indians should work on:
Article 1.
- All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
- Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Article 6.
- Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Argument regarding the above articles:
By observing the situation in India, is really every person born free and equal? Then why does the Eunuch not get the same equality as other do in society? It’s always that the ‘eunuchs’ or the ‘Third sex’ that is not given importance and ignored. Whenever one sees a eunuch one tends to run away from them. We say ‘why do they beg on streets or in trains?’ well then isn’t it that the Multi National companies should provide employment to this sect of population? If not these companies, then why does the Nation refrain from giving government jobs to these individuals? This might be one of the reasons due to which eunuchs go in for beggary or prostitution as well, in order to earn their living. Isn’t it our duty to treat them as equals and don’t make noises while they pass by and instead give them the dignity of life that they too deserve as individuals? Many a times the abortion of female foeticide is raised up as a social issue then why is the that the birth of A eunuch considered as a ‘curse’to the family and not given dignity as an ‘Individual’ and make them to live in a combined area of Eunuchs? Doesn’t this prove as an insult to the birth of Eunuchs?
Such questions actually prove that eunuchs are totally segregated in our society and that the spirit of brotherhood still needs to be inbuilt an reconsidered by each individual.
the below link will show the degrading status of eunuchs in our society:http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldVmHE2XwLs
Article 4.
- No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5.
- No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Argument regarding the above Articles:
Does article 5 of Human rights actually allow each human being to escape from torture in our society? The answer to this is a clear cut ‘NO’. The reason for this is the existence of ‘Child Labour’ which includes children selling newspaper, roses on the streets, selling cosmetics in the trains, in small scale industries etc. Isn’t this stealing the child from the right of being a dignified human and not an enslaved one? Doesn’t this lead to degradation of social status in the society? Whether it is the child of the poor or the child of the rich- both have the same innocence of childhood which is many a times stolen from them through ways of Child labour and child beggary as well.
Isn’t Domestic Violence and Marital Rape make a woman a slave in the four walls of their own house? Why is this aspect of slavery not considered as one of the not- to – be considered as a human right for women? The video of satya meva jayateh brings out awareness on how even in todays day and age women are ill-treated, tortured, beaten up by the husbands and there is silence maintained by women in the name of ‘Values’ (sanskar) and for the security of their kids.
THE below link will take you the rality of domestic violence as a form of slavery in families:
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldVmHE2XwLs
Article 12.
- No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Argument regarding the above Article:
Does privacy actually given importance?
Just few days ago, NDTV news website had reported that ‘a 21-year-old Mumbai woman shared her views on the shutdown of the city as Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s funeral was being held. Her friend “liked” her post. At 10.30 am on Monday, they were arrested, were ordered by a court to serve 14 days in jail and, hours later, were allowed out on bail after paying two bonds of Rs. 15,000 each. The woman had posted, “Respect is earned, not given and definitely not forced. Today Mumbai shuts down due to fear and not due to respect”. A local Shiv Sena leader filed a police complaint and the woman and her friend who liked her post were booked under Section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for “deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.”
Doesn’t this interfere in the right of privacy anf freedom of expression of the two girls who were jailed? Yes, it does and so this type of human right is also stolen due to the political game played.
the below link is the palghar case reported by IBN LIVE:
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHSYwrPR61A
The above articles of Human rights and the arguments regarding the same bring out the loop holes that one needs to still notice and not turn a blind eye and only after reconsidering the above arguments, Human Rights can be achieved by each and every Individual in ‘real sense’.
BY NICOLE FERNANDES, 3744. TYBMM, SOPHIA COLLEGE
THESE ARE THE LINKS I REFERRED TO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0XfazoqlWho#!
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/intro.shtml
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldVmHE2XwLs
yell0wblog 