Colombia: The Fight for Human Rights

  A world where every living person contains personal rights and people from every culture, gender, religion, and ethnicity agree on these personal rights brings encouragement and hope for the future. Sadly, that isn’t today’s world. As a world, we do agree that there should be human rights and the United Nations (UN) created an document, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that addresses and acknowledges 30 human rights that applies to every human. Even though this document has been created, human rights violations continue happening around the world.  

In the article, Beyond Eurocentrism, Farish Noor addresses eurocentrism, tendency for people and cultures to view themselves and environments around them from their point of perspective, to show the need for global understanding of the cultures in the world. The author points out that we, humans, should "attempt to engage with the other" and "appreciate the different cultural understandings of human rights and liberties" in order to go beyond eurocentrism. She mentions this point to help bring a solution to the problem of misunderstanding. The climate change affects this and therefore directly affects human rights. As individuals' lifestyles are changing, so does the viewpoint on human rights. 

As a world, we should see the need for human rights because everyone is a human. Elizabeth Lindsey mentions in her Ted Talk that we must see ourselves for who we are and not for how much physical things we have. 

Earlier this year, human rights violations were evident in Buenaventura, Colombia. Buenaventura contains the main pacific port for Colombia. This city that should have a future for prosperity and success is "dominated by paramilitary groups, Urabenos and the Empresa," that hinder any promise for the Colombians'safety and success. These dangerous paramilitary groups prohibit residents from moving, recruit children, contain corrupt businesses, use kidnappings to get what they want, and exert violence to anyone who goes against them. It has been estimated that over "150 people have went missing between January 2010 and December 2013." This number is guessed to be much higher because majority of kidnappings and killings go unreported since citizens are afraid for their own and families' lives. Its sad and discouraging knowing that many people throughout the world are victims of human rights violations just like the Colombians' in Buenaventura, Colombia. 

Colombia: Crisis in Buenaventura

Stories like this should encourage us to fight for higher human rights equality. A group called the Human Rights Watch fights for the unheard and victims to violations against human rights. The Human Rights Watch was founded in 1978 to defend the rights of people worldwide. This organization does a variety of things to find different ways to assist people in need. They provide recommendations to the country's administration, courts, and city administration. For the Buenaventura case, they provide suggestions to help promote security for the public, how to handle investigations and cases to prosecute individuals, and provide support for the citizens of Buenaventura. This organization is a great example of fighting for others. 

May we become a world that fights for the human rights of people around us.