(MENAFN- Daily Outlook Afghanistan) Peace and justicehave been the highest aspiration of the common people, which will be obtainedthrough respecting the fundamental rights and inherent dignity of allindividuals. 'To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, whichtwice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, members of thehuman family sought to pave the ground for respecting one's rights and freedomsregardless of their caste, color, or creed. However, violence and bloodshed didnot stop since peoples continued their discriminatory approaches toward eachother.
Fundamentalideologies, which leave no room for tolerance or racial and religiousacceptance, have generated hatred, discord, and violence. Religious hardliners,which are mostly acting as pawns in political games, have narrowed the room forpeaceful coexistence and the spirit of brotherhood. They violate thefundamental rights –i.e. rights to life, liberty, and property – and dignity ofpeople flagrantly and discriminate them on the basis of their racial,religious, ethnic, and sexual grounds.
It isself-explanatory that 'disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted inbarbarous acts and ideological and racial war led to countless human casualtiesthroughout the history. Although members of the human family sought to savehuman societies from the scourge of war and form a peaceful community where allcould exercise their rights and freedoms. Therefore, they adopted the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which stipulates in Article 1, 'All humanbeings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed withreason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit ofbrotherhood.
Nonetheless, a numberof global powers disregarded the humane principles stated in the UDHR and theUnited Nations Charter and engaged in violating people's rights for politicalreasons. For example, Israel is said to be one of the largest violators of thehuman rights on the surface of earth and has been condemned by the UnitedNations more than any states. Israeli soldiers still shed the blood ofPalestinian combatants and non-combatants alike with impunity. Meanwhile, SaudiArabia is the next state widely involved in violating the fundamental rights ofmen, women, and children, mainly those of Yemenis. Their aggressive anddestructive acts have outraged the public conscience around the globe. Butglobal powers remain as silent observers.
Life has turned socheap and global powers so indifferent to flagrant violation of human rights.The graph of human fatalities has increased to a great extent not only in thewake of deadly acts of religious hardliners but also global powers. In otherwords, global powers, except for few, have been changed into large violators,rather than supporters, of human rights and liberties.
A number of globalpowers capitalize on religious sentiment of some individuals to achieve theirown political goals. The issue of religious fundamentalism has been strongly coupledwith political games and goals since religious hardliners are supported andharbored by states. Goodwill and sincere intention remain elusive in politicaldeals, in which human rights and dignity are turned a blind eye.
In the meantime,human rights are defined on the basis of political interests in many cases.Under the term of human rights, states and global powers put pressure on eachother for political reasons.
Violations of humanrights and freedoms have been desensitized in the wake of constant andday-to-day occurrence. For example, in Afghanistan, people, including women andchildren, are killed on daily basis in one way or another, but their pain andsuffering are ignored.
The vacuum for thespirit of brotherhood is felt widely across the world. Peoples have not learntthe art of living together peacefully. One is discriminated on the grounds oftheir race, color, and creed.
Overall, discord,hatred, and conflict largely stem from racial and religious discrimination aswell as political dealings. Justice and peace will not emerge if global powerspursue their political objectives at the cost of human rights violation. Thus,the world should pursue humane principles and uphold the rights and dignity ofall members of the human family.
Meanwhile, ordinarypeople and religious figures have to exercise tolerance toward one another andpromote the spirit of brotherhood. They should practice upon the principle ofequality and treat one another on the basis of being human rather than race, gender,or sects. Hatred and violence are unlikely to be mitigated unless peoplerespect the rights, freedoms, and dignity of one another. Indeed, 'all humanbeings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and should be able toexercise those rights freely.
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