Human Rights

Human rights sounds like a simple concept. However, many people's rights are violated every day. I was struck this week by the violation of human rights through the practicing of female circumcision. Young girls are forced to endure the process, which mutilates their genitals as well as damaging them emotionally. The practice is senseless, has no health benefits and robs the girls of their sexuality later in life. It is a practice that does not respect women and their human rights. Female genital mutilation violates Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." When someone does not have control over what happens to their body, it is a violation of that right. The practice is not as common anymore, but it is something relatively new to people in the U.S. I heard of it a few years ago in another class, but before that I had no idea it was going on. One of our articles this week talked about the tendency for Americans to push things aside if they don't affect them. The way it should be looked at is when human rights are violated, OUR rights are violated. Promoting the stopping of practices like FGM is very important in order to protect ourselves.

I really liked the movie "The Shape of Water" because it highlighted people all over the world being activists for various violations of human rights. I am definitely guilty of being that typical American who doesn't feel like I should worry about things that don't affect me. It is especially easy when things are across the ocean and we don't have to face them. Here in the States, we are very sheltered and misinformed about the goings on in other parts of the world. Knowledge is important, and I think one form of activism can be uncovering violations of human rights. If we find it and put it out there, people have to face it.