To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. – Nelson Mandela, president of South Africa from 1994-1999
We are all at some point in our lives concerned or affected by issues relating to our rights, the rights of others or community rights.
In your opinion, do you think the concept of ‘human rights’, be it legal or moral, is impartially practised and protected by our nation?
Your answer would most likely depend on several factors.
It could be influenced by your economic status, social status, race, religion, culture, political outlook, political affiliations and various other variable dynamics.
Over the years many efforts have been made internationally and in various forms, to provide safety net type policies to safeguard the rights of people.
Human Rights Day was marked a few days ago on December 10.
On this day in Paris, 1948, 72 years ago, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Why is the UDHR important? Well, there are many good reasons and explanations. I find the one given by Amnesty International below to be clear and to the point.
“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a document that acts like a global road map for freedom and equality – protecting the rights of every individual, everywhere. … Its adoption recognised human rights to be the foundation for freedom, justice and peace.”
Overall, the UNHR Declaration outlines 30 rights and freedoms.
It covers four key areas: personal rights, involving matters such as freedom and equality; relationship rights, related to nationality and having a family; spiritual and political rights, e.g. freedom of religion and voting; and economic, social and cultural rights, covering work, wages, education and social security.
Many of these rights have been included in various formats into the constitutions and laws of many nations and also form the basis of international human rights law.
The important rights we have in Malaysia are in Articles 5 to 13 of our Constitution. These include some of the UDHR principles.
These rights are of course subject to limitations (to freedom of speech, assembly and association) as happens in most nations — some with more extreme limitations than others.
So, it includes many of the UDHR principles, but the question in the minds of many is always been — are they being applied fairly, selectively or not at all.
In Malaysia, other than rights in our constitutions we also have The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
This was established by Parliament under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999, Act 597.
Twenty years ago, Suhakam held its inaugural meeting on April 24 2000. How effective is it?
Well, considering their scope, they have carried out some public enquiries professionally, such as those held on the disappearances of Joshua Hilmi, Ruth Hilmi, Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh.
In their report, Suhakam mentioned, “It has also led the public to perceive that these disappearances of persons may have been the acts of the state and/or that the state may either have been complicit, involved, supportive of or concealing these unprecedented disappearances.”
However, regarding the investigations by the authorities, there is still no outcome with many concerned citizens waiting for answers.
Why is it that as we acquire more knowledge and wisdom by leaps and bounds, people are still being unjustifiably ‘disappeared’, killed, tortured, detained, etc.?
Perhaps it due to some humans with their negative political ideologies, religious and racial agendas.
This happens across the board in all types of political systems. The irony is that ‘human rights’ are being abused by ‘humans’.
In democracies that have strong and ethical public institutions, human rights often prevail. Where there are weak and malleable institutions, with weak-minded people in charge, the people or minorities will suffer.
In a recent Racial Discrimination Survey at https://www.indexmundi.com/ Malaysia did not fare too well. I am confident that if a survey was done on Sarawak we would do much better.
Ultimately, no laws, declarations or promises can permanently prevent the abuse of human rights.
It is the people themselves, either acting individually (perhaps via the ballot box) or in a team with concerted effort (through civil rights group) who must act as guardians or sentinels against tyranny and racist agendas.
Having humanistic political leadership also is a bonus.
So next time your right has been infringed – speak up and act. It just might make a difference and also make our nation a better and safer place.
In the meantime, let us appreciate the peace and stability we have at home here in Sarawak.
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
