Monday, March 16, 2009

United We Stand?

Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.


Human Rights perhaps is the most debated subject in modern times along with being among the worst abused of all! Civilizations, cultures, education, compassion and the fact of being fellow human beings have still not put an end to violence and untold hatred among communities due to the mere reason of being different from one another!

Resolution A/RES/60/251 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 15th March 2006 gave birth to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) which came into being without the support of the United States, the Marshall Islands, Palau, and Israel! Although the world hailed this as a big step forward in the path to uphold and maintain the sanctity of human rights across all places, a lot needs to be done to ensure that ground realities change in many geographies especially in Tibet and Africa! Which brings me to the Godsend Paul Rusesabagina. If the name does not ring a bell, I'm sure Hotel Rwanda does! The movie is based on a real-life remarkable story of how one man ensured the safety of 1,268 people during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.


Scores of other such inspirational accounts remain and yet on the other side, numerous instances of human rights violations remain unreported and unnoticed. I do not know of a remedy for this scourge, but I do want to see my world and that of my unborn children safe, peaceful and conducive for a good living. I don't believe I'm asking for much, from fellow human beings!

Footnotes

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

The United Nations Human Rights Council - Wikipedia

Images Courtesy: Wikipedia & The United Nations Human Rights Council

24 comments:

  1. A very relevant thought, Rak...

    The present world is by all means scary for someone who thinks about..But perhaps, one could help by initiating for a change in his or her small worlds...

    love,
    devika

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  2. I don't know how much of human rights we have these days, but I believe we never had much of it. Denying the basic rights of people just to make them cheap labour and keep them so, is one such violation where I wonder how people justify that to themselves, forget others! We a huge hypocrites, aren't we?

    Destination Infinity

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  3. It is such a simple concept - Equality for all Humans, yet people never seem to understand it.

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  4. A good message! Yes, it's sad to see the number of states which have not signed in! Some of which really should!!

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  5. Tell u something. If ever u actually fall into trouble, hope to god u dont, I strongly do NOT recommend u putting ur hopes on Human Rights Commission. None at all.
    I know how it works..practically.

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  6. strange but true! sadly so that human rights has become a subject for debate when in reality it should have been there period just there!

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  7. Hey brother, sorry I stopped it abruptly. That was since I was finalising the last few touches to the concluding part of the BAJUS.

    I tried finishing it as fast as I can jus so U r not left unsatisfied on the read. It's done and published now. Enjoy and lemme know wot u think.
    Beware the BAJUS though.
    ANand. :-)

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  8. to be frank buddy i feel the things are expressed are things of the past..

    today people and conutries have become so selfish that they dont care about ne body but themself so they fallow the principle of crabs..

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  9. civilizations improvise with time...man is growing matured in his behavior though not completely but the progress is continued..i m sanguine that one day we would be seeing world peace and human rights enabled in total..the only issue is the pace of improvisation..it would take time let us all be patient..the past was much more brutal than present!!

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  10. I do not see absolute peace in my lifetime at least. Pessimistic view but sadly I feel it's true.

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  11. The biggest issue now is not wars and its not human rights either.. griever is the issue of terrorism..and to curb terrorism the governments of all the world have to be working together!!

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  12. I feel United Nations is in name alone. What could happen if the rich and developed nations alone united to voice generally on terrorism and global warming? People are scare to speak at strangers and there is a huge distance between rich and poor, loved to be a ruler and unreason hatred stops the peace process today. It was an aware post to me and others. Thanks Rakesh.

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  13. "I don't believe I'm asking for much, from fellow human beings!"

    That's what precisely I think every time..

    Well, At times, I become very pessimistic when It comes to certain things, And I genuinely wish that I don't get started on this again. sorry! you know me..

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  14. Devika Chechi

    Thanks very much! I agree with your thoughts about the present world being a scary place, but I guess things have changed and evolved over time far far apart from what it used to be during the dark ages / medieval times!
    I'm confident that things will improve......just that we may not be around to see the change!

    But even then! Its a happy thought!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  15. DI

    Like what I told in my previous comment, I'd like you to stop for a moment and think about the dark ages in Europe when lawlessness was the law.....we are a far cry away from that now!
    But yes, attrocities continue at large and go unreported big time! Its a scourge that will take a very long time for things to change.....but change they will!

    And yes, huge hypocrites we definitely are!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  16. Rakesh

    Yes indeed. But its the most simplest of things that are more misunderstood or not adhered to!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  17. Peter

    Indeed! A change is needed in the mindset and the attitude!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  18. Anand

    Yeah, I've heard of how murky a world HR is all about!
    & thanks for the Baju story...!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  19. Magiceye

    Yes, I agree.....it seems that even the most basic things are fragmented!

    Rakesh

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  20. Rakesh

    I'll agree with you on that! Selfishness has ruled all along! Its more about me now, rather than us!

    Rakesh

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  21. Nav

    Agreed! Like I have in some of my previous comments said, things will change!
    Sadly, some of us will not be around to see that!

    What? Governments working together? Are you kidding?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  22. Jeevan

    The US is a forefront for the United States! It does nothing to check actions of some superpowers who fund and arm it!
    But things will change.....we have to teach our children to resist the ongoing anf usher in a change!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  23. Bharath

    Who doesn't get pessimistic on this issue? I struggle to maintain hope!

    Rakesh

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