People all over the world believe consider human rights and freedoms struggles as a war won in the past. However, they have been underprivileged in enjoying their freedoms such that they have adapted to living under the shackles of bondage. Documented below are some of the reasons why defilement of human liberties and freedoms is perceived as common.
First, the practice of primitive cultural principles in countries such as most Islamic states has consistently built a notion in which human rights abuses seem so ordinary. Women are denied the chance to establish themselves and enjoy equal opportunities with men, denied the right to own property and are often perceived as resources meant to please men. The governments in such states fail to intervene and champion for the women rights (MacKinnon and Catherine 139). With time, the oppression becomes part of life for women in these countries, and they no longer view it as a vice. For example, many African states political positions are reserved for men while women fight for the reserved minority positions.
Second, due to insecurity, people have evolved to using human right depriving measures to protect themselves. Perpetrators have wreaked havoc and mistrust among the ordinary folk such that the mob has decided to take the law into their own hands. Many cases of lynched suspects have been reported, and the government keeps a low profile on such matters (Curtis et al., 1). This is a violation of the right to life. Police also have shot dead some suspects instead of adopting the regular prosecution means without government intervention. The ordinary citizens rejoice at such murder news.
Third, events of mass terrorism have changed the perceptions on human rights violation. Countries that have suffered massive terrorist attacks such as the United States have formed security agencies such as the CIA that even violate human rights to obtain intel from suspects through torture (Gronke et al., 439). People, however, will still believe that such cruelty is appropriate as long as the intel provided promotes in building their security.
Fourth, courts have violated the right to live during their course of administration of justice. Astonishingly some high-profile countries still exercise death penalties on suspects convicted of crimes such as treason or robbery with violence and war crimes (Donnelly et al., 4). A good example is the hanging of Saddam Hussein. Countries that have vested their judicial institutions with the power to take a life include, United States, Japan, and Taiwan among others. Surprisingly, citizens in these countries still consider death sentences to be.
Lastly, due to financial hardships, hostile employment conditions have gradually developed into slavery. For example, Qatar enacted laws that ordered every foreign employee involved in the construction of stadiums in preparation of 2022 world cup, to surrender their passports to their superiors (Pattison 5). This law appeared to be directed towards depriving the foreign employees the free will to work and movement. Many foreigners have been subjected to torture and even unaccounted deaths in the Gulf countries which works against the human rights agenda. However, due to economic hardships, the employees had to surrender their travel documents to keep their jobs reluctantly.
Conclusion
Human rights and freedoms are the pillars around which equality is built. To create a holistic society, we need to ensure that all citizens enjoy equal opportunities. However, it all starts with the public realization of their violated rights their efforts towards restoring those rights.
Works Cited
Curtis, Michael. Mass atrocity, collective memory, and the law. Routledge, 2017.
Donnelly, Jack, and Daniel Whelan. International human rights. Routledge, 2018.
Gronke, Paul, et al. "US public opinion on torture, 2001–2009." PS: political science " politics 43.3 (2010): 437-444.
MacKinnon, Catharine A. "Rape, genocide, and women’s human rights." Genocide and Human Rights. Routledge, 2017. 133-144.
Pattisson, Pete. "Revealed: Qatar’s world cup ‘slaves’." The Guardian 25 (2013): 2013.
