by Fakhitah Yusuf
Edited by Siti Sarah Sofea
Human Rights Day is observed annually on December 10th. It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document outlines fundamental human rights and freedoms to be universally protected. The day is a reminder of the importance of promoting and protecting human rights for all individuals around the world.
On this day, various events, conferences, and activities are organised worldwide to raise awareness about human rights issues and advocate for the protection of these rights. The focus extends to addressing discrimination, inequality, and injustice and promoting the importance of dignity and respect for all individuals.
Human Rights Day serves as a reminder that safeguarding human rights is crucial for building a just and inclusive world. It encourages individuals, organisations, and governments to take action to uphold and advance human rights principles.
So, to reflect on this day, I would like to address a worldwide current issue—or is it really a current issue? This issue has persisted for a span of 75 years. It is a so-called crisis between Israel and Palestine. As people have been exposed more to social media, the world has now realised that it is not a crisis; it is an ethnic cleansing towards Palestinians by Israeli settlers.
The genocide that has been happening in Palestine has killed so many lives. The refugee camps and hospitals are bombed. The bombing is relentless; one by one, bombs have been dropped on innocents. Even innocent children are not spared. The Israelis’ cruelty has reached the extent of using phosphorus bombs that violate universal regulations, yet no action has been taken by authority such as the United Nations.
Everything detailed below for sure also violated human rights. Palestinians are not only being attacked; they are also being stripped of the rights they deserve. All basic necessities are being cut off. There is no water, food, shelter, or electricity. One of the tragedies that could not be forgotten was when the electricity was cut. A number of premature babies were gone as they lost support for their lives. Furthermore, women are facing menstrual poverty as they do not have any access to menstrual products. As a resort to the crisis, they consume pills to manage menstruation or to avoid being pregnant.
The question is, what is the meaning of Human Rights Day after all, in this situation where basic rights are being violated left and right? The answer is the corrupt political systems in this world. No matter how society fights for human rights, if the authorities abuse the power they have, there will be no justice. Even with the challenge, we could still see the power and unity within the community. Take, for example, the boycott of Israeli products. Little by little, the boycott became a success through our perseverance, which demands solid unity.
A community that desires unity would require good understanding with each other. In Islam, Muslims have been taught the rights of human beings. The Maqasid Shariah has drawn a clear line of which rights need to be fulfilled. So, on this day, Human Rights Day, let's spread information about every human rights violation. Human rights are meant to be fulfilled, not violated. Let's keep sharing the truth about the atrocities occurring in Palestine and their people. However, do keep in mind to fact-check first before sharing information regarding any matters of human rights in order not to spread misinformation that may be more harmful.
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