In the News

Originally posted on www.news-press.com on December 10, 2006

"Recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world" is the overarching goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed on Dec. 10, 1948.

Today is World Human Rights Day and the last day of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. This years theme, "Fighting Poverty: A Matter of Obligation, Not Charity," can be summed up in one sentence. "Poverty is a cause and a product of human rights violations." The gap between rich and poor nations is enlarging and the gap between rich and poor within most nations, including our own, is also enlarging. (Source: www.ohchr.org)

Poverty comes with a price, not only to the poor, but to the society we live in. Poverty breeds conflict, discrimination, resentment, violence and disease. It creates a climate where human trafficking, violence against women, infant mortality, and other evils prey on the most vulnerable in our society, whether the victims are in Bangladesh or in our backyard.

Caring about human rights is not a political issue. We care with the human part of our beings, not the political part. In our world, filled with ethnic cleansing, war, poverty, terrorism, torture, hunger, and untreated disease, its hard to ignore these transgressions against human beings, but easy to think that we, as individuals, cant do anything about them, especially because they are happening so far away.

But sometimes these ills come to our own homes. Perhaps someone in your family is struck by a devastating disease or accident not covered by health insurance or cant find affordable housing. You may love someone who has been a victim of violence or is affected by drug addiction or has lost the pension he counted on. Perhaps discrimination keeps a family member from getting a much needed job or education. The violation of human rights doesnt only happen "over there", but sometimes to us, to our friends or our family.

Darla Letourneau, a fellow member of the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva, wrote "End Violence Against Women Here, Now" on Nov. 29 about the inadequacy of local services for those who are in need of mental health care or emergency shelter and how that inadequacy often results in crime. Youve read about recent cases of human trafficking actual slavery in our own community; horrors in our foster care system children dying or abused; and shortages at our food banks and soup kitchens people going hungry amidst plenty. These human rights violations are happening in Southwest Florida and you may wonder what one person can do about it.

There are two things you can do and you can do them right now. First, you can open your minds and your hearts to understand that protecting the most vulnerable of us is protecting all of us. Let our leaders know that we care about the human rights of everyone. Making the world a better place for those most in need will likely result in all of us having more of whats important in our lives, not less. If our loved ones become victims, well know that their human rights will be protected too.

Second, you can find a cause that touches your heart and use your skills to do something about it. As a result of Darlas article, a man asked me what he could do to help. A Vietnam vet, he has horrible memories of the violence against women he saw there, and he knows that gender violence is happening here now. He is not a trained social worker or law enforcement officer, but he sees a lot of people through his job. Now he is making a difference by passing out information about organizations that can help women. His passion and compassion will make a difference. Yours will too.

During the holidays, we are all more sensitive to the needs of those who are in need. Lets use World Human Rights Day as a reminder of the right of all of us to live a good and decent life and of our responsibility to our own children and grandchildren to protect those rights by protecting and cherishing human rights for all.