This photo hangs on the wall at UNHQ. What are your
thoughts about this photo?
Since becoming
interested in human rights as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa five years
ago, I've spent a lot of time thinking about situations like the one portrayed
in this photo. For me, it conjures images of voices being silenced, lives
being snubbed out - the lack of human rights. Today, more than 60 years
since unanimous ratification of the UN's Universal Declaration of
Human Rights http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/,
we continue to live in a world in which crimes against humanity are happening
every day. Why?
I wonder about the
boy in this photo - where he was born, what his home life was like. What
is he fighting for? Is he part of a militia sanctioned by a corrupt
government who is sent to rape and murder villagers in their homes, or is he a
member of a rebel group attempting to overthrow that corrupt government and
restore peace to his village? Whatever the answer, I think it’s
reasonable to assume it’s something that affects his daily life.
Does it affect
your daily life? Probably not. Like most Americans, you are more
likely to be concerned with getting your kids to school on time with clean teeth
and deciding whether to have fish or chicken for dinner, respectfully.
You probably don't give much thought to people being subjected to having
their homes burned and children forcibly taken from them. Why? I
think Maslow helps answer that question.
Maslow's Hierarchy
of Needs provides a foundation upon which much of social psychology rests.
At the bottom of the triangle lay our most basic needs: food, water,
sleep, etc. As we elevate toward the pinnacle, we reach a place where self-actualization is
paramount - the need to solve problems, be creative, act morally and the like.
From my
perspective, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is about ensuring that
all people have the opportunity to seek self-actualization. Many of us
will never become self-actualized, but the point is we should have the chance.
Self-actualization is not about money or fame. It's about your
relationship with the world around you. Think about where you see
yourself in Maslow's hierarchy. Think about why you're there, and how you
got there.
Although it’s true
that individuals born in every country in the world may have the opportunity to
become self-actualized, I believe where you were born has enormous effect
on your chances. And because I'm of the belief that we don't have any say
in where we're born, those of us born into privilege should be very grateful.
Seeking self-actualization is a privileged place to be. It’s a
place I'm doubtful the boy in the top photo will ever enjoy.
I believe in
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration should
not represent some esoteric idea of an unattainable Utopian society - if we think of it that way that's
all it will be. I believe we need to actively promote the ideas of
the Declaration. Protecting human rights for all individuals should be the
most important challenge we face.
We can no longer sit back and wait for
peace to come. If we want it, we must actively pursue it. Each of
us has a role to play. The UN has a role, President Obama has his role,
you have your role, and I have mine. It's time we stop thinking of world
peace as somebody else's problem - holding on to the naive viewpoint that we
are disempowered. Given the vast intelligence and creativity of the human
race, I am convinced we have the ability to protect human rights in every
country in the world. It’s a matter of
will.
However, this is just my opinion. There are some who would argue that we don’t have the ability to end human rights
violations – that if we did, we would have done it already. What do you think? Do we fail at protecting human rights because
we don’t have the ability, or because we don’t have the will?
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