Human Rights are part of larger socio-political order

On December 10, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a global non-binding charter that guarantees freedom and dignity to all humanity. For that reason, December 10 of every year is celebrated as the International Human Rights Day.

While we celebrate the gains made, it is important to conduct a performance review given the strange times we are in - a time when the pillars that support human rights apparatus are weakened day-by-day, a moment when our minds are fresh with the news of the gruesome murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist, whose body was reportedly dismembered and dissolved in acid in a Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

The status quo reminds us that human rights are not isolated concepts, but are part of a broader institutional framework, both national and international, charged with the conduct of human affairs. To function properly, the broader framework must be healthy and functional.

A global road map for a new era in which humanity would leave in peace and freedom was established in key documents such as the Atlantic Charter, the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN Charter, a global constitution of sorts, became a beacon of hope and freedom for all peoples of the world through independent states subjecting themselves to international norms.

In Africa, the post-World War synergy accelerated the decolonisation process and led to the eventual collapse of the apartheid regime in South Africa in 1994.

On the global stage, old-age forces of conflict and global rivalry collapsed with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the eventual demise of the Cold War.

The ultimate result of this progress was greater freedom and respect for the rights of the individual.
But yet even with this progress, toxic forces that had twice brought sorrow and suffering to the human race continue mushrooming.

In Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, dictatorships remain and governments continue to abuse the rights of citizens; women remain the subject of exploitation and abuse. Dictators around the world continue to massacre or jail journalists and political opponents.

Strongman rule and a politics of division are on the rise in countries that had long embraced liberal ideals. Global rivalries are re-emerging. International law, once a harmonizing force between and among nations, is being undermined by some countries. Even countries such as the US that once spoke louder in defence of human rights are in retreat.
With populism threatening liberal democracy and gains made in human rights, there is need for a new thinking in how we move forward.

Sustained progress will be achieved by a holistic, bottom-up approach and the best safeguard to human rights are empowered and enlightened citizens from whom strong and accountable, democratic governments emerge. A community of accountable democratic governments gives rise to a human-rights conscious international community that is committed to the cause of human rights.

There is a need to invest in human rights education in schools and families, which are the first pillars of society. It is these basic units of society that give rise to national leaders and consequently global leaders. A human rights curriculum should be developed, focusing not only on human rights alone, but also the other pillars; democratic governments, independent courts and a civically conscious citizenry which collectively make adherence and respect for human rights possible.

The teaching of history to new generations is key because, for those that did not experience the terrible past, it is easy to take the post-World War order for granted.

Sustainability in human rights will only be possible when the other pillars - stable governments, independent courts, and a thriving democracy are fully functional. But the determinant of all these is an enlightened and empowered citizen; one who votes and participates and civically is guided by liberal progressive values, one that understands history not only of his or her country but also of the world in the knowledge that we are a community of nations and that the effects of a distorted world order could affect every nation.

Mr Birungi is a lawyer, [email protected]