…. for Human Rights

Not too long ago I heard about a nonprofit organization called Artists for Human Rights.  Being an art major, and aware of the human rights violations that take place around the world, I was very interested in learning more about this organization.  AFHR is a group that was formed to raise human rights awareness and promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

AFHR uses all types of media in their campaigns, including film, music, visual arts and literature.  Using art to promote social change is most definitely not a new idea.  In fact, many of the major modern art movements shared the idea that their art could change society.  Whether it’s in the form of video, music, paintings, sculptures, photography or anything else, art can shape society.

I had never thought that I could use art to promote human rights so I am glad that I found the AFHR website.  It also made me think of how anybody, whether they’re artists, doctors, teachers, lawyers or anything, could use their passion to promote human rights.  So I found many groups of human rights supporters including Physicians for Human Rights, Journalists for Human Rights, Poets for Human Rights, University Teachers for Human Rights, and many more.  Here is a list of these and many more websites for human rights organizations that shows that whatever your passion might be, you can use it for the advancement of human rights or any kind of social change.

• Artists for Human Rights
• Doctors for Human Rights
• Journalists for Human Rights
• Lawyers Committee for Human Rights
• Music for Human Rights
• Painters for Human Rights
• Physicians for Human Rights
• Poets for Human Rights

Besides organizations that are supporting human rights, you can find the same kinds of groups that are supporting just about any other cause.  Whether it’s peace, the environment, war or any other cause, people in all kinds of professions are using their talents to improve the world that they live in.

Drug Violence in Mexico

Even though the number of illegal substance users has dropped by nearly 50 percent in the last 30 years, some drugs, such as methamphetamines, are still on the rise.  Whether it’s marijuana, cocaine, heroin or meth, drug cartels in Mexico are a major supplier of illegal drugs.  There is increasing violence in Mexico involving not only drug dealers and police, but innocent civilians as well.

The demand for drugs by users in the U.S. fuels the violence that the cartels use to keep their businesses going.  Besides authorities being killed, some drug dealers have targeted civilians, including a group of people who were celebrating Independence Day and had a grenade thrown at them by members of a drug cartel.

This is a video from The New York Times that covers the drug cartels in Mexico and the violence that is a result of the drug wars.

The illegal drug users that I know have argued that it is their choice to use drugs because it only affects their body and no one else.  I used to go along with this way of thinking because, even though I don’t think it’s a good idea to use drugs, I thought as long as it wasn’t hurting anybody but the user than it should be their choice.  However, as long as there is demand for the drugs that the Mexican drug cartels are selling, there will continue to be violence.

Sure, maybe if all drugs were just legalized, there wouldn’t be so much violence.  However, as long as it is illegal there will be people losing their lives so some addict in the U.S. can get their high for the day.  Anybody that is still okay with using drugs despite all of the killing going on because of the drug wars is not okay with me.

Nonviolence and Peaceful Protests

The philosophy of nonviolence has been used as a tool for social change throughout history.  Great leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. used it to create change and better society.

An example of non-violent protests occurring today is found in the Palestinian village of Beit Jala.  Despite the number of protests over the occupation of the West Bank by Israel that turn violent, organizers in Beit Jala are training people to peacefully protest.  Many protests in the past in Beit Jala have been met with Israeli authorities shooting tear gas or even rubber bullets at the protestors, which is why the new methods of peacefully protesting are very important for the Palestinians.

In a news story from Amnesty International, peaceful protests were violently broken up by authorities in Egypt.  The anti-government demonstrators were beaten with batons and at least one was detained and abused by Egyptian authorities.  Another peaceful protest turned violent in Egypt on April 6 when authorities forcefully repressed it as well.  Even though Egypt agreed to allow citizens the freedom of expression, association and assembly after the UN Human Rights Council held its Periodic Review of human rights in Egypt, acts of violence against peaceful protestors still take place.

There have been many leaders who were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and his methods of nonviolence and non-cooperation.  I believe that nonviolence is something that should be promoted and taught to more people.  It is something that I never learned much about growing up, but it seems like something that is so relevant to the violence-filled world that we live in should be part of every person’s education.

After learning more about the philosophy of nonviolence I have wondered, if there is a peaceful way to create change, why not use it?  If nonviolence can bring down dictatorships, improve living conditions and win a nation’s independence, then why not use nonviolence more often?

The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is another leader who promotes nonviolence.  His views on peace and methods to a more peaceful world are inspiring to me. There are many people that are using the methods of nonviolence that have been promoted by people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. and there have been many people that have used nonviolence in the past as well.

• Peace Action
• Nonviolence International
• The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
• Nonviolence Peaceforce

Rights Violations in the U.S.

A few weeks ago I blogged about the U.S. Human Rights report that put together human rights abuses and violations from countries all over the world.  I mentioned that human rights issues in the United States were not included in the report.  However, November 26, 2010 is the first time that the U.S. will have to submit their report to the UN Human Rights Council.

Human Rights First gave a report to Human Rights Council that drew attention to human rights violations that are occurring in the United States.  Their report focuses on issues such as refugee protection and immigration detention, counter-terrorism policies, and hate crimes.

The report from Human Rights First says that the United States has not treated refugees seeking asylum the way they are supposed to and there is a need for a change in laws to fix the problem.  According to Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. ”  The report says that the U.S. government has improved the interrogation methods used on detainees, it is still able to be abused and would violate international law.  Also, the government has yet to give adequate information about abused detainees from a “black site” in Afghanistan.

The United States has one of the best systems of data collection and hate crime legislation, however there is still violence based on discrimination.  Human Rights First points out that official response to this discrimination is not the same throughout the country, and vulnerable groups are subjects to violent acts.

These, along with other human rights violations in the United States, need to be addressed and solved.  Human Rights First suggests that the United States change its laws and regulations in order to help asylum seekers with speedy court hearings.  They also suggest that the U.S. Army Field Manual be revised to it would not allow conduct that violates international human rights and humanitarian law.  Human Rights First also believes that in order to help the problem of hate crimes, the U.S. should be persistent in finding ways to improve community outreach efforts and increase confidence in police and local government to address the problem.

These are all steps that the United States should take to improve our country and ensure the human rights of every person.