The lack of basic human rights around the world: a harrowing reality

Today is Human Rights Day; a day designated by the United Nations to draw attention to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. That declaration set out 30 fundamental rights belonging to all persons. But 76 years later, the state of play of human rights across the world leaves a great deal to be desired. Gross and systemic abuses continue to be perpetrated at an alarming rate. Despite the UN and regional systems investing vast sums into protecting and promoting human rights, they are disregarded in many countries. A day does not go by without news reports of grave human rights abuses in countries across all regions of the world. We are confronted with deaths and displacements inSyria; looting and killing inIraq; rapes and amputations in theCongo; repression of dissent and ill-treatment of workers inChina; disappearances and beheadings inMexico; torture and arbitrary detention inGuantánamo Bay; racism and xenophobia inEurope; subjugation ofwomenand oppression of homosexuals across the Arab world; and the list goes on. The question that must be asked is: why is more not being done to protect individuals from these atrocities? Discrimination Human rights do exactly what they say on the tin. They are rights that belong to all people by virtue of them being human. Underpinning all rights is the foundation of non-discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, sexuality or any other grounds. Yet discrimination persists and is enshrined in national laws across the world.