When Human Rights are under Threat

The anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations, enshrining rights and freedom that belong to every human being, is a grand occasion as Human Rights bodies across the world observe Human Rights Day–December 10–with great enthusiasm. It is difficult for the people in a third world country like India with low political consciousness and poor organisational backing to stand up for their rights unless they know what those rights are, why they matter and how and when they are at risk. Very recently there was a lot of furore over the two-day discussion in Indian Parliament on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. But how Constitutional Rights are being trampled day in and day out by the ruling parties of all shades in almost every part of the country was hardly touched. While Prime Minister Modi attacked the main opposition Congress for changing the Constitution as they have made amendments 75 times in almost six decades, Congress, however, without defending its action, particularly the promulgation of an internal emergency in 1975, slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for making repeated attempts to replace the Constitution with ‘Manusmriti’ to execute their Hindutva agenda. But they talked less or virtually nothing regarding rampant violation of human rights across the country. Modi has a chequred history of destroying democratic institutions mandated by the Constitution ever since he took office in 20214. Also, his administration has earned enormous notoriety for suppressing even a mild voice of dissent mocking human rights and ignoring the Constitution with impunity because of their brute majority in Parliament. For all practical purposes, Modi’s India is a big prison house, citizens’ rights are looted and press freedom is curtailed to such an extent that the very survival of independent media is in question. Things were not better during the Congress rule though they are too vocal today to criticise the BJP for destroying India’s constitutional spirit in every sphere.

Political parties irrespective of their colour don’t have any programme of action to fight against violation of human rights. They just finish their duty by leaving the issue to some human rights groups and civil society to act.

In truth, human rights are under threat throughout the world. Only independent media fights for the cause of the people, albeit this is the time when a free press matters more than ever. Over the last decade, the global state of human rights has gone from worrying to outright alarming. The impact of climate change, driven by corporate greed and the refusal of those in power to invest directly in protecting the planet, has been devastating–resulting in massive loss of life due to unprecedented weather events, an increase in climate-related migration, and the exacerbation of existing harm to marginalised peoples. The rise of far-right governments and the policies they have enacted across the globe have threatened the rights of life, health, safety and cultural identities. Then the US military-industrial complex has directly contributed to the destruction of civilian lives and created immense humanitarian crises in the Middle East, Ukraine and across the Global South.

The climate crisis is no longer a distant danger—it is the current reality. Global temperatures have risen by 1.2 degree Celsius since pre-industrial times. Extreme weather conditions are increasing in frequency and intensity, sea-levels are rising at a fearful rate. There lies a huge gap between official posturing and genuine action. The much-publicised climate summits have simply failed to guarantee the protection of the rights of the people.

And now the Trump administration has set out a roadmap for destroying the rights not just in the US, but around the world. At the time of writing four students at the University of Rochester are said to be facing up to seven years in jail for putting up posters around campus accusing a small number of faculty members of enabling the Genocide in Gaza.

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Frontier
Vol 57, No. 27, Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 4, 2025