Let’s celebrate and respect each other’s rights

The Star

TODAY the world celebrates International Human Rights Day. There will be the usual reports and rankings of countries that have improved their human rights records and those that have not.

The world is generally in agreement that all human beings have certain inalienable rights that transcend race, religion, nationality, social standing and other boundaries.

But the reality is that not all rights can be seen in clear-cut definitions. There are certain limitations which every sovereign nation, including even the most advanced of so-called developed nations, puts into place for their own interests.

Which is why we continue to see inconsistencies, and at times blatant hypocrisy, in the way leaders of certain powerful countries pontificate to the lesser nations, even if they supposedly infringed on the same particular human rights issue.

Be that as it may, this is a day for all of us living in a peaceful free nation to celebrate. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, after all, was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948.

And Malaysia, by virtue of being a member of the UN, has subscribed to the philosophy, concepts and norms provided by this declaration, which sets out the minimum and common standard of human rights for all peoples and all nations.

There are, however, some areas where we fall short. Which is why there must be continuing efforts to rise to the standards, not because there is a legal compulsion to do so, but because it is the right thing to do.

We should work hard to come up with our National Human Rights Action Plan, which is one of the key recommendations outlined in the Vienna Declaration for states to improve on the promotion and protection of human rights through public policy.

What is worrying, especially in recent times, are attempts to project “human rights” as a totally alien concept inconsistent with our country. Race and religion often come into play through the selective highlighting of certain issues that attempt to tar everything with the same brush.

Thus, meaningful discourse guaranteed by the freedom of expression is hijacked by those who, because of their unwillingness to argue rationally and with moderation, will take the easy way out to label freedom of expression as something this nation should do without.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, in his address to launch Human Rights Week on Monday, urged Malaysians to come together to promote the dignity of each other, liberty of each other, equality of each other and brotherhood of each other.

Respecting the rights of one another, especially in such a diverse nation as ours, is surely consistent with the underlying principles of human rights.

Surely, we are not in breach of any human rights if we declare that we want to act against those who teach and propagate extreme beliefs and hatred against others who believe differently, and encourage others to become irresponsible and choose the path of violence and the loss of personal dignities.

As Low correctly points out, recognition and appreciation of religious, social and cultural diversity would promote greater tolerance, respect and observance of human rights.

Today is a day to reaffirm our commitment to the belief that all human beings, irrespective of race, religion or gender, are entitled to equal worth and dignity.

Where we fall short, let us put it right.