The United Nations’ (UN) founding mission in 1945 was to
prevent the scourge of war and advance human rights and dignity around the
world. Today, the UN remains on the front lines of preventing and responding to
conflicts, emergencies, and human rights violations. More than 90,000 ‘blue
helmets’ help countries navigate the difficult path towards lasting peace;
working alongside governments to build democratic societies; assisting with
recovery efforts following natural disasters; and providing food, water,
shelter, and medical assistance to vulnerable people across the globe.
The Founding of the United Nations
In 1945, in the aftermath of World War II, the United
Nations was founded on the principles of peace, security, and human rights. The
UN’s founding mission was to prevent the scourge of war and advance human
rights and dignity. Today, the UN remains on the front lines of preventing and
responding to conflicts, emergencies, and human rights violations. More than
90,000 ‘blue helmets’ help countries navigate the difficult path from conflict
to peace. The UN also works to protect human rights in countries around the
world, including Pakistan. What is international human rights? International
human rights law applies to all people, whether they are citizens or
non-citizens, within a country's borders or outside them. The goal is to make
sure that governments provide protection for their people and that no one is
subjected to torture or cruel treatment by government authorities. What is
human rights? Human rights are universal standards set by the 1948 Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that must be upheld by every nation on
earth. The UDHR guarantees such things as life, liberty, security, health care,
education and more
How This Organization Works
The United Nations is an international organization that
works to promote and protect human rights. The UN was founded in 1945 with the
goal of preventing war and advancing human rights and dignity. Today, the UN
remains on the front lines of preventing and responding to conflicts,
emergencies, and human rights violations. More than 90,000 ‘blue helmets’ help
countries navigate the difficult path to peace and security. The UN also works
to protect human rights in Pakistan through its many programs and initiatives.
From providing education for girls and literacy for women to educating
communities about HIV/AIDS prevention and treating drug addiction, the UN
strives to ensure a better life for all people.
In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was
established by the General Assembly. It sets out 30 articles specifying what
constitutes a fundamental set of human rights which every person should enjoy
regardless of sex, race, religion or other status. These rights include
political participation; access to food; equality before law; freedom from
slavery; work-related protections such as just wages and safe working conditions;
protection from arbitrary arrest or detention; health care including free
maternity care; right to nationality; right against racial discrimination etc.
Human Rights and Dignity
The UN’s founding mission in 1945 was to prevent the scourge
of war and advance human rights and dignity. The UN Charter contains an
unequivocal commitment to respect human rights, making it the first
international agreement to do so. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
adopted in 1948, sets out the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to,
regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Today, the
UN remains on the front lines of preventing and responding to conflicts,
emergencies, and human rights violations. More than 90,000 ‘blue helmets’ help
countries navigate the difficult transition from conflict to peace. They are
also there when disasters strike, such as earthquakes and hurricanes. When
human rights are violated, the UN can launch a fact-finding investigation with
a view to bringing perpetrators to justice. These include crimes against
humanity and genocide as well as war crimes such as torture or sexual violence
against women and children. The world would be a better place if we all
respected human rights and dignity.
Human Rights Violations
A human rights violation is an act that breaches one or more
of the universal human rights. These include the right to life, liberty and
security of person, freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment, the right to a fair trial, freedom from slavery and servitude,
freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, among
others.
Sadly, human rights violations are all too common. According
to Amnesty International, in 2017 there were 532 reported cases of torture
worldwide – a rise of almost 20% from 2016. Cases of ‘disappearance’ – where
people are abducted by state officials and held in secret locations without
charge or trial – also increased last year.
Pakistan is no stranger to human rights violations. In July
2017, Pakistan experienced its deadliest terrorist attack since 2009. The bomb
detonated in Quetta killed 86 people and injured more than 200 others. These
victims represent a microcosm of human rights violations occurring around the
world today- terrorism, domestic violence, poverty, refugee crisis - with each
contributing to millions of victims every day. Humanitarian organizations such
as Doctors Without Borders have stepped up to combat these crimes against
humanity through humanitarian response initiatives such as mobile clinics
providing healthcare for Syrian refugees living in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley or
Doctors Without Borders mobile clinics operating at migrant detention centers
on the US-Mexico border.
Human Rights in Pakistan
Pakistan is a country located in southern Asia. The
population of Pakistan is over 200 million people, making it the sixth most
populous country in the world. The majority of the population is Muslim. Islam
is the official religion of Pakistan.
Pakistan has a long history of human rights violations. The
government has been accused of torturing and killing opponents, curtailing
freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, censoring the media, and carrying
out forced disappearances. In recent years, there has been an increase in
attacks on religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus.
Human rights activists have also been targeted.
Despite these challenges, there are also many Pakistani
Muslims who are working to promote human rights and dignity in their country.
One organization that seeks to ensure human rights in Pakistan is The Citizens
Foundation (TCF). TCF works primarily with children from low-income families by
providing them with education and skills training. TCF was founded by Imran
Khan, a well-known international cricket player from Pakistan.
Oxfam International currently operates projects in 18
different countries across Africa and Asia. Oxfam's programs seek to empower
women by supporting them through economic opportunities such as sustainable
farming, safe water access, and livelihoods for income generation or business
ownership. In addition, they provide disaster relief after natural disasters
like floods and earthquakes, and support survivors of gender violence.
Some of the major problems with human rights in Pakistan
include violence against women, restrictions on free expression and
association, arbitrary arrest and detention without trial, inadequate
protection against domestic violence, discrimination against minority groups
such as religious minorities and Dalits (untouchables), military courts trying
civilians.
Challenges Ahead
As the UN celebrates its 75th anniversary, it faces a number
of challenges in continuing to protect human rights and advance peace
throughout the world. First, what is international human rights? Second, what
is human rights? According to the UN, human rights are rights inherent to all human
beings, regardless of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sex, or any other
status. These include the right to life and liberty, freedom from torture and
discrimination, and the right to seek asylum from persecution. However, despite
these fundamental rights being enshrined in international law, they are still
violated every day.
Conclusion
The United Nations has a long history of providing
humanitarian assistance and protection of human rights. The UN was founded in
1945 with the mission to prevent the scourge of war and advance human rights
and dignity. Today, the UN remains on the front lines of preventing and
responding to conflicts, emergencies, and human rights violations. More than
90,000 ‘blue helmets’ help countries navigate the difficult path to peace and
stability. The UN also provides critical assistance to people affected by
natural disasters and other emergencies. In addition to its humanitarian work,
the UN also works to promote human rights around the world. The UN has played a
key role in promoting human rights in Pakistan, where it has helped to raise
awareness about women’s rights, child labour, forced marriage, and other
issues. A Pakistani activist for human rights in Pakistan, Farzana Bari said
that without the UN we would not have been able to put pressure on our
government.
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