Previously in this series regarding the Universal Human Rights, I did select some of those important rights and added my personal view. This year (2021), I am going through all the 30 basic rights. I would like to encourage you to look up our Human Rights, not to take these for granted or to misuse, but as a reminder we are all human beings, Beautiful Souls and therefore we ALL matter.
Universal Human Rights - Do you know them?
Violence, intolerance, racism, discrimination seems to be part of a never ending story. More and more people need to flee their homes and/or their countries, in the hope to find safety and peace elsewhere in our world. When even world leaders appear to have forgotten our Universal Human Rights, I believe it’s time (again) and very important to remind us all of our Universal Human Rights.
Background
“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 3rd session on 10 December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, France. The full text is available on the United Nations website.
The Declaration consists of thirty articles affirming an individual’s rights which, although not legally binding in themselves, have been elaborated in subsequent international treaties, economic transfers, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions, and other laws. The International Bill of Human Rights consists of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its two Optional Protocols. In 1966, the General Assembly adopted the two detailed Covenants, which complete the International Bill of Human Rights.” Source: Wikipedia
At my website you will find a permalink to a list of the 30 Universal Human Rights: regardless where you were born, how you are raised, your circumstances, etc., as a human being you automatically have these basic rights. I added this link to make sure all the Beautiful Souls who visit my site, will be reminded of the rights we have.
This year (2021), I am going through all the 30 basic rights and add my personal view. I would like to encourage you to look up our Human Rights, not to take these for granted or to misuse, but as a reminder we are all Human beings, Beautiful Souls and therefore we all matter.
In addition, I hope to inspire the writers and artists among us to also use this topic for an article, story, poem, photograph, paint or any other piece of art and help me and many Human Rights Organizations to spread this information of huge importance.
Article 4 ~ Freedom from Slavery
“No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.”
My personal view
While the previous Universal Human Right, article 3, was/is complex to me, I just can’t get my mind around the need to list this fourth one. Throughout history, our ancestors have fought hard for the Freedom from Slavery. Researching this topic, again, slavery in all its forms still exists. Today, April 23 2021. What the F… ?!?!
Now to be honest, I knew this, because I’ve written about slavery (and how I find it outrageous it still exists) before. The other reason, why it is no surprise to me; because I am well aware we, human beings, are animals. While the majority of us humans use the conscious our species developed, some of us, apparently, still go through life without even the slightest bit of integrity. Because to me, using your conscious is also going through life from a place of integrity.
Integrity helps us distinguish between right and wrong.
Slavery is not ethnic, racial, gender, age bounded. It happens in all societies, cultures, parts of the world. The animal law ‘the strongest will survive’, the need to feel superior, the never ending urge to have more power and money it will not only destroy us humans, it will destroy our earth completely.
Yes, we are animals. However, we developed a consciousness, that separates us from other animals. Integrity, I believe, is also given to us during our growth in our mother’s belly and we come into this world with it. I also believe, during our upbringing the education some of us get, fails.
The right to many freedoms, as also mentioned in the 30 Universal Human Rights, should not be used as an excuse to do whatever we feel like. No right to freedom exceeds the responsibility to live life based upon integrity. Our ancestors left us with enough harsh lessons, in my opinion, how we today, and in the future, can do better. To become an integer, compassionate, peaceful ancestor ourselves.
If we could remind each other that regardless our differences, we ultimately have the same goals as a species – to survive, evolve and connect – maybe practices as slavery will extinct. And just maybe, the Universal Human Rights end up in a history book, a chapter, we feel ashamed about our ancestors even needed to draft them in the first place.
Today, I already feel that shame, however, I also believe we still need to be very aware of the Universal Human Rights and not put them away on a dusty shelf. Look them up, read them, remind each other, educate one and another that many freedoms are still not a given.
To all of the Beautiful Souls who visit my virtual home: Will you also take the pledge you will stand up for Human Rights? CLICK
Resources:
Human Rights Library, University of Minnesota: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/ (in more languages available)
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights
United Nations: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Amnesty: Slavery Today
Download the UHR campaign logos: HERE
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Missed the first post in this series? Find it HERE
2 Responses
Thank your for mentioning this, Patty: even today, we need this reminder.
Not only does debt and sex slavery exist, but apparently even chattel slavery seems to be going on, if images from Libya are to be believed, from not too long ago. All of these rights need protecting, and we need both empathy and education to build a better world.
Hi dear Shira, thank you for your support and insightful comment. Warm regards, Patty
ps. haven’t forgotten about sending you an email. Have been a bit busy lately with other projects. Until soon!