Stakeholders Mark Human Rights Day
A group of community stakeholders gathered at City Hall to mark Human Rights Day on Tuesday [Dec 10].
A spokesperson said, “The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights was adopted within three years of the ending of World War II, after two years of dialogue. The declaration was championed by an international committee, led by Elenor Roosevelt, with the goal of promoting profound respect – one for the other – across the diverse members of the human family.
“The momentum of the global movement advocating human rights was grounded in the grassroots, as globally, ordinary people had witnessed much blatant inhumanity manifested by the powerful. The concept of human rights has been embraced around the world in various ways, including anti-colonial movements, civil rights campaigns, and other means to hold the power elites accountable.
“It is noteworthy that during this same year, human rights were being established as a norm. There were two milestones, which history is clarifying are anathema to human rights. 1948 saw the establishment of the apartheid regime of South Africa and the state of Israel – the later, under the slogan ‘a land with no people for a people without a land.’
“It should be pointed out that both countries are grounded – like all settler colonies – in a blatant disregard for the human rights of the indigenous people occupying their respective lands.
“Recently, we have seen an escalation of the global trend, attacking the human rights of people around the globe. Whether it involves students protesting the plausible genocide in Gaza with peaceful assemblies – camp-ins – in universities in various parts of the globe being violently handled by police, or the Israeli regime ignoring the guidelines issued by the World Court on that body’s inquiry into plausible genocide and its implications for medical, food, water supplies for the civilian population in Gaza.
“The most recent ruling of a tribunal from the I.C.C. issuing arrest warrants for both the Israeli Prime Minister and former Defence Minister on charges of war crimes and genocide has brought the global community to a pivotal crossroads. While most countries have expressed their intention – including the U.K. – to cooperate with the ruling, both Israel and the United States continue to vehemently ignore any responsibility to international law. Of course, this has grave implications for both international law and the cause of human rights.
“This Human Rights Day offers the global community the chance to reflect on this crossroads. This with the intention of considering the implications for both international relations, and it also takes into account how this plays out for communities’ respect for the rule of law and the rights of others.
“While this scenario speaks to the dangers facing the cause of human rights, there are green shoots that offer hope. These include:
- “The global peaceful movement – including many people of Jewish descent – expressing their opposition regarding attempts to normalize genocide.
- “The action of some states, for example South Africa’s courageous and comprehensive legal case at the World Court, as well as NGOs such as Amnesty International’s recent comprehensive report on genocide in Gaza, are examples of a refusal to remain quiet in the face of the unspeakable.
- “The resilience of ordinary people to the challenge by power basic human rights, recently demonstrated by the citizens of South Korea.
“Here in small Bermuda, we all are reminded that human rights are not gifts, but hard-won pillars. We also should note that these rights are only sustained by caring communities.”
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