Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December every year. The date was chosen to honour the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It set out, in 30 articles, the fundamental rights to be universally protected and described them as, designed to promote, “universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights went on to describe these rights as inherent to all human beings regardless of sex, race, creed, or colour and declared them indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated. This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to ‘Equality’ and Article 1 of the UDHR – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The principles of equality and non-discrimination are at the heart of human rights. The day is normally marked both by high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. It is usually on 10 December, the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize are awarded. Every year Human Rights Day is celebrated with a special theme. This is done to raise awareness and instill the importance of human rights in the minds of the people. The theme for Human Rights Day 2024 is “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now”. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of human rights in shaping a better future for all individuals and communities. It highlights the role of transformative force for good, empowering people to build a more peaceful, equal, and sustainable world. The theme of the World Human Rights Day on 2023 was ‘freedom, equality, and the themes for the last five years were Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All in 2022, Equality: Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights in 2021, Recover Better – Stand Up for Human Rights in 2020, Youth Standing Up for Human Rights in 2019, Stand Up for Human Rights in 2018 and Let’s stand up for equality, justice and human dignity in 2017. The day is celebrated by organizing the political conferences, meetings, exhibitions, cultural events, debates and many more programs to discuss all the issues of human rights. Most of the events held on the day are aimed to instruct people, children as well as teenagers about their human rights. Some of the protest activities are also held in order to aware the people from areas where the human rights are unrecognized or disrespected. The main Objectives of celebrating Human Rights Day across the world are to:
(a) Promote awareness about human rights among the people
(b) Emphasize the endeavours of the United Nations General Assembly in order to progress the overall human rights conditions.
(c) Get together and celebrate in co-operation to discuss and highlight the specific issues of the human rights
(d) Encourage the vulnerable group of people like women, minorities, youth, poor, disabled person, indigenous people etc. to take part in this event and political decision-making.
Major religions of the world have played a determining role in valuing the recognition of rights. The tenants of Islam include a basic set of rules designed to protect individual rights and freedoms, however the rights of individuals are not permitted to infringe upon the rights of communities. Muslims believe that Allah is the sole Creator and Sustainer of humankind and the universe. He has given each human being dignity and honour and the human rights and privileges we enjoy are granted by Him. Every human being is entitled to sustenance, shelter, and security and if some people are denied their God given rights, it is the responsibility of the rest of humankind to restore those rights. Allah says, “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for God, be just witnesses, and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear God. Verily, God is well acquainted with what you do.” (Quran 5:8). Power and authority narratives have become entrenched in human rights advocacy. Legislation and unenforceable treaties cannot protect the downtrodden and oppressed. However, Islam proclaims that God treats all human beings equally and true human rights can only be achieved by obedience to Him. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights deals with many issues. It attempts to ensure humankind treat each other with respect and dignity. Islam is a religion that holds respect, dignity and tolerance in very high esteem and the rights and responsibilities inherent in Islam are a declaration of human rights. One of the most important principles in Islam is that God created humankind to be fully accountable for his actions. Each human being has certain rights and responsibilities and no human being has the right to restrict the freedom of another. Anyone who dares to take away the God given rights inherent in Islam, including the right to human dignity, is called a wrongdoer or an oppressor. God calls on those who obey Him to stand up for the rights of the oppressed. Allah says, “And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the cause of God, and for those weak, ill treated, and oppressed among men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from you one who will protect; and raise for us from you one who will help!” (Quran 4:75) . More than 1400 years ago Islam also tackled the issue of slavery. In the 7th century CE, slavery was entrenched in Arabian society, just as it was in other societies and systems of law. Slaves were acquired easily via, warfare, debt, kidnapping and poverty; thus, prohibiting slavery outright would have been as useless as trying to outlaw poverty itself. Therefore, Islam placed restrictions and regulations on slavery designed to bring about its eventual abolishment. There are no texts in the Quran, or in the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, that enjoin the taking of slaves but there are countless texts calling for their freedom, including Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) simple yet deeply profound words, “Visit the ill, feed the hungry and release the slaves. Muslim leaders were encouraged to free prisoners of war or exchange them for ransom. The principle of dealing with slaves in early Islam was a combination of justice, kindness, and compassion. Muslims pay a small portion of their yearly, accumulated income in compulsory charity and one of the lawful ways this money may be used is to free slaves. Freeing slaves is also the expiation for many sins, including breaking vows and accidental killings. Although man made declarations and treaties have denounced slavery, ironically, on the open market, a slave is worth less today then he was 200 years ago. Modern day “slaves” who are physically confined or restrained, or forced to work, or controlled through violence have no legal way to purchase their own freedom nor is there any legal body to oversee their treatment. Slavery exists under the radar and is usually associated with drugs, prostitution, and other illegal activities. The restrictions imposed by Islam gave slaves rights and protection from ill treatment. The second Caliph of Islam, Omar Ibn Al Khattab (R.A) said, “A person would not be held responsible for his confession, if you inflicted pain upon him or scared him or imprisoned him [to obtain the confession].” The enforcement of human rights in Islam is linked inextricably to the implementation of Islamic law. Islam promises that those who follow God’s rules and regulations will be rewarded with His guarantee of eternal Paradise. However choosing to restrict or take away rights given to humankind by God is a punishable offence. “On the Day of Requital, rights will be given to those to whom they are due (and wrongs will be redressed)…”( Saheeh Muslim ) Islam is the religion revealed for all of humankind. It is the religion and way of life that assures that humankind is able to access all of their rights. It makes sense to think that the One Who created us knows what is best for us, and He (God) has given us access to all the knowledge we need in order to live happy secure lives. Muslims believe that this knowledge is accessible through the Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and that it is guaranteed by the Sharia (Islamic Law). Islam establishes a legal framework, and embodies a code of ethics, designed to protect the rights of an individual including his or her right to live in a secure society. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whosoever wakes up (in the morning) feeling that he is secure in his community, free from ailments and diseases in his body, and has enough provision for a single day, it is as if he owns the entire world” (Tirmidhi).
“The National Human Rights Commission is playing a significant role in creating mass-awareness and building mass-opinion against the human rights violations in India. National Human Rights Commission which sets a hallmark in the Indian civil liberties movement was not a sudden development, rather than its necessity was felt on various grounds. Let us hope that the divine gift of an innocent smile may be restored to every human face.”
The Sharia is concerned with preserving five basic rights: the right to practice religion, the protection of life, the safeguarding of the mind or intellect, the preservation of honour and family, and the sanctity of his wealth and property. There are many verses in Quran that point to the dignity, equality, and brotherhood of humankind. Furthermore, God makes it clear that rights and freedoms are granted to all, regardless of race, gender, social origin, nationality, language, colour, or status. Allah says, “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with God is that (believer) who has taqwa (piety and righteousness). Verily, God is All Knowing, All-Aware.” (Quran 48:13) God created humankind to act as vicegerent upon the earth; human beings were set above the animals, birds, and fish and given a task of great responsibility. Allah says, “See you not (O men) that God has subjected for you whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, (both) apparent and hidden” (Quran 31:20). The first man Adam, the father of humankind was honoured and treated with due respect and dignity. God blew man’s soul into him, He fashioned him with His own hands and He ordered the Angels to bow down before him. By honouring Adam God assured that all of humankind are worthy of dignity and respect. Islam also makes it clear that all mankind is descended from Adam and as such are brothers and sisters to one another. Allah says, “And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am going to create a human (Adam) from clay. So when I have fashioned him and breathed into him (his) soul created by me, then you fall down prostrate to him.” (Quran 38:71-72) God said in Quran (49:10) that believers are nothing less than brothers to one another and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) constantly reinforced the necessity of maintaining the ties of brotherhood. He said that no person would attain true piety until he wished for his brother (or sister) what he wished for himself ( Saheeh Al-Bukhari). When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) realised he would soon be returning to his beloved Allah, he addressed all of humanity with profound and beautiful words that became known as the Farewell Sermon. He gazed down upon more than 100,000 thousand followers standing on the plains of Arafat, and said, “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab. A white has no superiority over black nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood”( Saheeh Al-Bukhari ). The holy Quran, says, “We ordained …that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land – it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.” (Quran 5:32) We are obligated to care for each other and ourselves. Suicide out of despair of God’s mercy or for any other reason is strictly forbidden. The sanctity of the body is inviolable and the bodies of the deceased must be handled with care and fitting solemnity. It is concluded that Human rights are universal and every person around the world deserves to be treated with dignity and equality. Basic rights include freedom of speech, privacy, health, life, liberty and security, as well as an adequate standard of living. In brief, Government as well as people are responsible to protect individuals against human rights abuses. Human rights have the power to tackle the root causes of conflict and crisis, by addressing grievances, eliminating inequalities and exclusion and allowing people to participate in decision-making that affect their lives. .Human rights have to do with the all-round development of the human person in harmony with that of his fellow beings in the totality of the relations in a society. The concept of human rights is necessarily evolving in nature, a space with the evolution of human civilization in the context of a changing social, political, economic and cultural milieu. It is therefore, a daunting task of the State to create societal conditions which will enable a person to nourish in the society. The National Human Rights Commission is playing a significant role in creating mass-awareness and building mass-opinion against the human rights violations in India. National Human Rights Commission which sets a hallmark in the Indian civil liberties movement was not a sudden development, rather than its necessity was felt on various grounds. Let us hope that the divine gift of an innocent smile may be restored to every human face.
(Nazia Fayaz is a research scholar at the Dept of Law Kashmir University and Dr. Bilal Ahmad Professor Statistics at S K University Of Agriculture University Kashmir- SKUAST-K Srinagar. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the authors and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Nazia Fayaz Azad
Dr . Bilal Ahmad
