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.

Celebrating UDHR: "Keeping Our Promise"

Late, on the evening of December 10, 1948, a final and heroic debate ended when forty eight nations voted for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This night, a promise was made that could never be broken. For on this night, all who witnessed the adoption of the Declaration made a commitment that the "recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world." They affirmed, "it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law."

I can only imagine, the power of action and proclamation that resided in the room that night. The feeling of victory, pride and achievement. Knowing that what was set before them, would change and protect the lives of many for years to come. Never had there existed a tool more powerful and indisputable for the protection of human rights.

Almost 60 years later and we owe much gratitude to the Declaration's authors. The Declaration has become a building block for international law and has direct reference in national constitutions around the world. It has also led to the adoption of legally-binding treaties.

So, why is it important that we raise awareness on the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Because we have to continue our promise to uphold the basic human rights spelled out in the Declaration. We have to create a safer and more peaceful world where every man, woman, and child is given a life free from prejudice, hate, violence, poverty, disease, and inequality.

I envision myself in the room the night the Declaration was declared. I read each article knowing that one day one of the articles would directly relate to a life that is affected by rape, lack of access to education, genocide, torture, famine, and environmental degradation. I know that it is my responsibility to see that all are aware of the Declaration's promise to promote human rights. Today, I make it my mission to do so.

Big Picture: My Take on the UDHR

This blog is joining in the initiative to spend the next year raising awareness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – culminating with the 60th anniversary on December 10, 2008. We have decided to use this forum to delve into the document and look at each of the 30 individual articles of the declaration. We hope that if people see how fundamental these rights are but how often they are violated, people would be more moved to act.

What I have noticed already is that many of these rights are things that Americans hold dear. And the major violations throughout the world are things we wouldn't stand for here. Whether it is 27,000 rapes in one province in one year, forcing children to fight a war, an overall lack of rights for women, sex trafficking, or torture, if it was happening in the US, there would be immediate outrage and action.

The uphill battle we have as advocates for human rights across the world is that people choose to distinguish between Americans and others – between us and them. Our goal then is not only to raise awareness that this document exists, but to make people believe that humanity everywhere shares a common bond. There needs to be outrage when rights are violated no matter where it is happening and who it is happening to. This will not be easy and is likely to be not just a yearlong effort, but a lifelong effort. But for my mind, I can't think of a more worthwhile mission.

Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This year’s Human Rights Day gives special recognition to an important document created 59 years ago. Today, we will stat a one-year long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United Nations Secretary General and High Commissioner for Human Rights are devoting the upcoming 2008 year to reflect on the state of human rights around the world. This year-long commemoration is an opportunity to promote the mechanisms that are imperative to protecting human rights and universality of the Declaration.

To take part in the United Nations efforts to raise awareness of the Declaration, the Human Rights Committee is embarking on an important blog initiative. Starting today, December 10, 2007, our blog will raise awareness on the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by relating today’s human rights events with articles from the Declaration. Every two weeks, we will bring you an Article from the Declaration and express our impressions of the meaning of the Article and how it relates to current events of today. Starting with Article 1, we will share with you the latest news, initiatives and inspiration for change. Until we have reached Article 30, we hope to encourage you to speak out and get engaged in important human rights issues. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is pivotal instrument that can help bring hope and understanding to every basic right that should be given to everyone. Join us and celebrate!


About the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United States had a strong voice in developing the text of the Declaration. Eleanor Roosevelt led the drafting of the UDHR and was perhaps the most prominent American involved in the promotion of universal human rights. She hoped that the document would become “the international Magna Carta.” The UDHR defines set of rights, including civil/political liberties and social conditions of freedom, to be enjoyed by all humans but does not have any enforcement mechanism.

Polling data shows that awareness of the UDHR is low. The 1997 poll conducted by the Hart Research found that only 8% of respondents could name the document and 24% had previously heard of it.

Good for Malawi

I am not one who heaps a lot of angry rhetoric on organizations like the World Bank and World Trade Organization. But they do certainly have their faults. For one, they seem to rely more on economic development than on alleviating immediate hardship. (By the way, can anyone explain me me how free market principles are taken for granted when we give advice to developing countries, when that remains to this day a major source of debate in the US?)

And here is seemingly one example of this. The World Bank, the US and Britain have been telling Malawi that they shouldn't provide fertilizer subsidies. The Malawian government has finally decided to ignore that advice, and the result is significant increases in agriculture production. Granted, the country has also seen good rainfall the last two years, but that analysis points to the fertilizer making a significant impact on increases in food production.

What really makes me angry though is that the US is telling these countries not to have agriculture subsidies, while we continue to boost agribusiness in our country. I don't understand how we can be so hypocritical in in such a way that allows people to starve. Maybe more developing countries will start to ignore the US and World Bank in situations like this.

Somalia Caught in the Middle

I am going to admit something that I am not so proud of. When I analyzed the situation in Somalia in the past, I mostly did so from a Global War On Terror perspective. Granted, in part it was driven by a desire to show how President Bush was wasting time in Iraq, where there was not real threat for terrorism, and ignoring places like Somalia where terrorism was thriving. What I often overlooked was the very real humanitarian crisis that has persisted there for at least a decade. And in fact, one of the main reasons for the crisis is / was the way that outside forces used the country for their own interests and only when they were interested (USSR and US during the Cold War, and now US / Ethiopia and Islamic extremists).

There have been two recent articles about Somalia recently. One on MSNBC's World News and the other on the NY Times. The New York Times article says that Somalia is currently the worst humanitarian crisis - worse than Darfur - with higher malnutrition rates and less aid (in terms of workers and funding).

What makes me feel extra guilty is that there was apparently (according to the article) a short time of stability during the six months last year that the Islamic government was in control. This is obviously relative, considering the extremist Islamic government, as I understand the situation, would likely have instituted Sharia - Islamic laws that are not friendly to human rights, especially the rights of women. But to know that I was happy that Ethiopia was supporting military operations that would cause so much devastation (something I didn't think about) gives me no satisfaction.

Print Version - IRIN Africa | DRC Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Sudan Somalia Tanzania Uganda | AFRICA: Joining the fight against gender-based viole

Print Version - IRIN Africa | DRC Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Sudan Somalia Tanzania Uganda | AFRICA: Joining the fight against gender-based violence | Gender Issues Human Rights | New: "rights"

Women in Conflict

I have come to realization lately that I am a numbers person. In many aspects of my life, I realize that it is numbers that really affect me. This might explain why I am most passionate about human rights issues as they relate to conflict situations. When you hear that 800,000 people were killed during the genocide in Rwanda or 400,000 killed and 2.5 million have been displaced due to the genocide in Darfur, it shocks my conscience.

When I read the October 7th article in the NY Times about a "rape epidemic" in Eastern Congo, again is was the sheer numbers that moved me.

According to the United Nations, 27,000 sexual assaults were reported in 2006 in South Kivu Province alone, and that may be just a fraction of the total number across the country.

[Edit]

Malteser International, a European aid organization that runs health clinics in eastern Congo, estimates that it will treat 8,000 sexual violence cases this year, compared with 6,338 last year. The organization said that in one town, Shabunda, 70 percent of the women reported being sexually brutalized.

The article goes on to describe hospitals crowded with victims of rape, of doctors performing 6 surgeries per day for victims of rape, and sending women home early because more victims show up every day.

Don't worry, I am not a robot. What affects me about the numbers is knowing that for each person represented in those numbers, there is one story of terror and unimaginable pain. The NY Times article linked to above gives some stories from the victims. The true horror is knowing that there were 27,000 such stories in South Kivu Province, and any one of those should make us rise up and do what it takes to prevent any more.

The truth though is that while these numbers are very shocking, it is not the only place this is happening. Conflict zones in Columbia and Darfur and neighboring Chad are dealing with this. And Sierra Leone, Uganda, and the former Yugoslavia were witness to it (Amnesty International has a good web page on the issue).

Defending Rights to be Cold

I've never thought I would be happy about the weather getting a little cooler. Usually, by this time of the year, I am use to seeing the trees without their leaves. However, I look out my window and my beautiful sycamore holds a colorful array of leaves and we are moving into our second week in November in New York City. "Is it the effects of climate change?" I ask myself.

Far north, in the an Inuit village called Kuujjuag in northern Canada, there is a growing concern that climate change is vastly changing the lives and culture of the Inuit people. In an article I read recently, a woman describes her experience growing up with cold summers and rarely ever wearing short sleeves. Now, the summers have grown warm and people are swimming in the local river to keep cool, an activity not common in the Arctic. Sheila Watt Cloutier is a local advocate on climate change, has witnessed the changes in the Arctic climate such as melting ice sheets; eroding coastlines; and shrinking habitats for polar bears, caribou, and other animals the Inuit have relied on for sustenance. The effects of climate change in Kuujjuag are not only melting ice caps but the culture of the Inuit people is disappearing.

Martin Wagner, an environmental attorney from Earthjustice describes the impact of climate change on the basic human rights of the Inuit people. "The impacts of climate change have very real, negative, harmful impacts on the Inuit's ability to sustain themselves as they have traditionally done, their ability to be healthy, which they have a right to in the Inter America human rights system." Wagner continues - "Their ability to maintain their unique culture, which is absolutely dependent on ice and snow; their ability to hunt and fish and harvest plant foods; their ability to have shelter and build their homes - all of those rights impacted by climate change in the Arctic."

Who is responsible? We all are. Have you ever heard of the term "pollution without borders"? Sheila Watt Cloutier, along with the federation of Native Nations, Canada, Greenland, Russia and the United States have come together through the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) to combat climate change and to take action on one of the world's biggest users of Greenhouse Gases (GHG), the United States of America. Ms. Cloutier says that she is "defending our rights to be cold."

What can we do? Is it too late?

The ICC has filed a petition with the Inter America Commission on Human Rights to hopefully gain support for future federal legislation. In the meantime, I believe we owe it to the Inuit people and to ourselves to be more cautious of how we use our energy. We have a responsibility to protect our planet and with that responsibility we are protecting ourselves.

Under the Women's and Youth Forum, I have chosen to focus on climate change and its effects on human rights. Notice the picture of the little Inuit boy above. I would like to create a call to action to empower our youth to be leaders for the environment and to support the human rights of all.

Bush and Darfur

I found this to be a very enlightening article about President Bush's role on Darfur. Basically, it shows a president that has been engaged on the issue, but restricted in his actions by political circumstances as well as the typical advice from foreign policy staff. To see that President Bush has been active and interested in this situation is promising. But to see that the same old things prevent action is enraging.

The main point of the article is that the White House hasn't followed through on promises to fix the situation in Dafur. The US is unwilling to commit any troops nor has it been willing to try enforcing a no-fly zone (the Sudanese military has reportedly supported Janjaweed attacks with the air force). Key aides in the Bush administration have been able to talk Bush out of these actions. In fact, we see Colin Powell advising against using military force to intervene here, just as he did during the genocides of the 1990s. The forces restraining action to stop genocide in Darfur are strikingly similar to what Samantha Power depicted in her groundbreaking work on genocide - A Problem From Hell: America in the Age of Genocide.

At the same time though, at least we had a leader that wanted to act, even if he felt constrained. It might not be popular to say this, but President Bush has done more in the face of a genocide in Sudan than Clinton did for Rwanda - and Clinton only got involved in the Balkans when his inaction was affecting his polls. Bush was willing to spend some political capital on Darfur and use the term genocide (admittedly thanks to Colin Powell, who is not afraid to talk about genocide, but never seems to want to do anything about it).

In the end though, there still has been not enough action. We need to get to a point where advisers are telling presidents how to get involved, instead of why not to. But before that happens, we need a population that is disgusted with no action in the face of these unspeakable events.

GWOT v. Human Rights

What fascinates me so much about the developing situation in Pakistan is that it is both a human rights issue and a security issue. With General Pervez Musharraf basically declaring Marshall Law, and now arresting approximately 500 people from the opposition party, we'll see where the Bush administration's priorities lie.

So far, Bush has shown that security issues trump democracy in Pakistan. Musharraf has been an ally (I think this is debatable actually) in the so-called Global War on Terror and has claimed that military rule there is required to prevent Islamic militants from taking over the government (a nuclear government). Because of this his military rule has been tolerated by the Bush White House. Granted, at times the administration has pushed for changes to put a more democratic face on Musharraf's rule, but in reality is has been a military dictatorship the whole time.

Now that Musharraf has called for emergency powers, Bush can't pretend that democracy is evolving there. Musharraf's claims that democracy would lead to a militant Islamic government have been largely debunked; their popularity is far lower than Musharraf claims. So there should be no reason why Bush can't require that the emergency decree is withdrawn. We have been providing significant funding for the Pakistani military since 9/11, and we can threaten to end the support if Musharraf doesn't relinquish power and go forward with elections.

Something makes me think though that Bush will have no choice but to go along, and that is a serious mistake. Musharraf will say he is doing it because of Islamic militants, and even though the threat is inflated, the White House will likely accept the explanation for fear of losing an ally. We have a long history of sacrificing our ideals to support regimes that support us. We can't let that happen any longer. If we truly support democracy (and Bush has said that when he leaves the White House he may want to start a foundation that promotes the growth of democracy), then we must force even our friends in the GWOT to embrace it as well.

Truth about Gendercide

It exists. What is 'gendercide' you ask? Recently at the 4th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights held in Hyderabad, India, alarming presentations were made on the issue of skewed sex ratio at birth (SRB) rates increasing in China, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. As preferred in some areas in these countries, boys are given a better chance at life than girls. With the use of medical technology, the early detection of a child's sex can be determined and if the sex is a girl, one could perform an abortion and rid of the child. Currently, China tops the list in having the highest SRB with 100 girls to 120 boys. Responses to the increases in SRB have requested an urgent call to address this 'gendercide.'

Renuka Chowdhry, India's Junior Minister for Women and Child Development powerfully put it, "When there is no economic recognition to womens' work and no social value attached to this particular gender, when resource sharing remains inequitable, when women are paid less then it becomes easier to do away with this gender." Realizing this belief among some societies, Ms. Chowdhry called for an increase in womens' political participation and push for legislation that empower women. She warned, "Don't mess with nature, otherwise it will lead to a mutation of society."

After reading the outcome of the 4th Asian Pacific Conference, I have come to realize how important the Human Rights Committee's Women and Youth Forum truly is. Together, we are going to bring light to issues such as 'gendercide' and reproductive rights among women. Can we even fathom that somewhere in our world that we share together that gender is selected as a choice? We must fight for the rights of women and the girl child.

A Good Name

In my last post, I mentioned that Coalition for Darfur has stopped, at least for now, but that there are other blogs to get regular information on Darfur. I mentioned the Enough Project, only because the Coalition mentioned it in their last post. At the time, I hadn't checked out their blog yet. I finally did check it out and I am very impressed. Their mission is to provide regular information not just on Darfur, but also northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I am really glad that there is a blog focusing on those three areas of serious conflict. In fact, I have long hoped that the international community would expand their focus from just Darfur to include other regions where violence and displacement continue.

Hold on to Hope

From the beginning of the atrocities in Darfur, I remember thinking to myself "what can I do to help?." My question to myself was an overwhelming thought. The news from Darfur seemed to get worse and worse and I felt helpless and at times hopeless. However, every time I learned that people were uniting to raise awareness on Darfur, I began to regain hope and felt that if we all just kept talking about it, maybe some good would result. If just one more person knew about what was happening in Darfur that is one more person closer to making a difference. When I joined the Human Rights Committee I decided that I was going to make it my mission to have a voice for those who do not. We must forge ahead with whatever we can do and by talking about it and keeping aware of what is happening, we can work together to do something about it. I guess what I am trying to say is, as untouchable the situation appears to be for an effective change, we must hold on to hope.

Recently I did a Google search on 'Crisis in Darfur' and came upon an amazing tool. The United States Holocaust Museum has partnered with Google in an unprecedented online mapping initiative. The program "Crisis in Darfur," enables more than 200 million Google Earth users worldwide to better visualize the genocide unfolding in Darfur. Overtime this tool will include information on potential genocides, allowing for citizens, governments, and institutions to respond.

I liked what the Director of Unites States Holocaust Museum said about the initiative.

"Educating today's generation about the atrocities of the past and present can be enhanced by technologies such as Google Earth. When it comes to responding to genocide, the world's record is terrible. We hope this important initiative with Google will make it that much harder for the world to ignore those who need us the most."

Learn more...
http://www.ushmm.org/googleearth/

— Sara J. Bloomfield, Director, USHMM

It's Getting to Everyone

At the first blog I wrote for, Restless Mania, we joined a group called the Coalition for Darfur. Basically, it was another blog that provided regular updates and advocacy for the situation in Darfur. Every week we agreed to post a message from them on our blog. Restless Mania has since gone idle, but Coalition for Darfur has kept chugging. When I went back to it today though, my heart sank. Apparently the author feels the same way I do:

Having posted here on an almost daily basis for nearly three years, I have to admit that the entire crisis is wearing me down and I am finding it harder and harder to keep reading and posting articles about the daily ins-and-outs of what is happening.

On top of that, I am getting increasingly busy with work and other things - so I am going to put this blog on hiatus for the time being.

But for those of you still seeking daily updates on what is happening in the region, please visit Passion of the Present, which has consistently posted a vast array of coverage, and the ENOUGH Project.

Best,
KM

I don't want to actually put myself in the same boat though with the author of Coalition for Darfur. This blog has posted daily about Darfur, while I certainly have not. I can't even imagine the stamina it must have taken to have posted for this long about it. But the crisis will wear you down eventually. For three years there has been no real progress and no real outrage. At some point, it is going to seem hopeless and it is natural to want to step away from it. So although I am sad to see such a good site come to an end, I am even sadder because I think I know, at least in part, how the author's heart feels.

There are still sources of regular information on Darfur in case you want to know what is going on. Eric Reeves seems to be active and Darfur Daily News also has information. And the author mentioned two sites I don't know; the Enough Project and Passion of the Present.

Keep the Fire Going

There was an article in today's NY Times about another attack on unarmed civilians in Darfur, allegedly by Sudanese government troops (or at least people dressed as government troops). The article made me think again about how disappointed I am in myself for my lack of real continued advocacy for Darfur. I don't write to my Congressman (now that I have one again - I was living in DC for a while), I don't respond to the emails I get, and I haven't attended any of the rallies. I tell myself that it is because the situation has been going on so long with no hope of meaningful intervention. While I do think that is why I have not been invested in this issue, it isn't a good excuse.

This issue applies to more than just Darfur. It seems that most human rights issues are an uphill battle when it comes to achieving meaningful steps for resolution. What I need to do for myself is find a way to maintain the fire even when issues seem hopeless, as I am afraid many will. I think though that this committee will help me with that.

Who We Are

We are the Human Rights Committee of the Southern New York chapter of the Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC). YPIC is a part of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA). Our basic goal is to advocate for the protection of human rights. Below are descriptions of UNA-USA and YPIC.

What is UNA-USA?

The United Nations Association of the United States of America is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to building understanding of and support for the ideals and vital work of the United Nations among the American people. Its educational and humanitarian campaigns, including teaching students in urban schools, clearing minefields and providing school-based support for children living in HIV/AIDS-affected communities in Africa, allow people to make a global impact at the local level. In addition, its policy and advocacy programs stress the importance of nations working together and the need for United States leadership in the United Nations. The association is affiliated with the World Federation of United Nations Associations.

Our Mission

"The United Nations Association of the United States of America is dedicated to educating, inspiring and mobilizing Americans to support the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system, and achievement of the goals of the UN Charter."

Young Professionals for International Cooperation
Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC) is a program of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) that seeks to engage young professionals in discussions of international affairs, emphasizing the importance of multilateral cooperation and the United Nations. While we appreciate supporters of all ages, YPIC members are typically between the ages of 21-40, and are a diverse group of individuals from the fields of business, law, government, nonprofit, the arts and philanthropy. YPIC provides an exciting opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals and gives young professionals from all walks of life a unique forum in which to learn more about current international issues, the United Nations, and the work of UNA-USA.

UNA-USA is America's largest grassroots foreign-policy organization and the leading center of research on the United Nations and global issues. UNA-USA carries out its action agenda through a combination of public outreach, policy analysis, and international dialogue, and advances international cooperation and the work of the United Nations through more than 170 community-based Chapters and Divisions nationwide and over 25,000 members. Often, YPICs are programs of local UNA-USA Chapters or Divisions.