Against Human Rights Abuse

Defining Human Rights is a tricky field in itself. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the following:

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

Human Rights are a distinctly liberal idea, and we should bear in mind that some countries might regard a Western conception of Human Rights as a species of cultural imperialism. In those countries in which the United Nations' conception of Human Rights are supposed to be enforced, we should not tolerate the abuse of those rights.

Human rights abuse can be loosely defined as any force or action which restricts a subject's freedom, political authority or choice of religion. There are many other forms of human rights abuse, but these are the most common that are still felt worldwide.

Human rights laws are in place in every country's constitution as a commitment by a sovereign party to respect certain rights of individuals. However, these rights are still abused by nations and individuals all over the world.

One of the most powerful single figures speaking out against human rights abuse is Aung San Suu Kyi, a Burmese politician and activist. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, and in 2003 used this money to establish a health and education trust for the people of her country. She remains under house arrest, despite the pressure of the United Nations and the popular media.

Amnesty International is the world's leading organization working to prevent human rights abuse and help the victims of oppressive regimes. It not only deals with problems on a global scale, but works to help out the individual who has been a victim of abuse.

You can sign up with Amnesty International by visiting their website and finding out the details of your local chapter. This is the best way for you to get involved and speak out against human rights abuse.

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