Do You Know What Your Human Rights Are?
By understanding what our human rights are, we are in better position be the mouthpiece for someone who might be weak and vulnerable.
Look at the poster which depicts The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Which points do you feel most strongly about? Pick a few points and discuss why it is important to protect these rights.
Visit: https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/ to read more about each Article.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 (General Assembly resolution 217 A) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.
How is life really like for refugees?
Imagine you were denied an identity and a place to call home. Your rights to study, work, travel, marry and practice your religion didn’t exist – because you belong nowhere.
You’re not given any way to prove who you are or where you’re from, so gaining citizenship status anywhere is almost impossible. Wherever you go, you’re locked in detention – simply because of who you are.
This is the life of a refugee who is stateless and belongs nowhere.
Although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an official document, said to be a “common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations”, not all countries and governments subscribe or adhere to all the Articles stated in the documents.
World Refugee Day is on the 20th June every year. On this day, we commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees who were forced to flee.
Image from: https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/800/1*D42Gz7wFMbqaEwavBv4MQQ.jpeg
Alia
Alia fled her home in Aleppo, Syria and is currently living in Damour, Lebanon. She shared her story through Gruppo Aleimar, an Italian NGO which provides free, nutritious meals to refugees in the Damour area. Alia is 7 years old.
“The last thing I remember of Syria, before we left, was when my mother was taking me from our place to our grandparents. The roads were full of dead corpses. I saw dead people with no heads or no hands or legs. I was so shocked I couldn’t stop crying. To calm me down, my grandfather told me they were mean people, but I still prayed for them, because even if some considered them mean, they were still dead human beings. Back at home, I left a friend in Syria, her name was Rou’a. I miss her a lot and I miss going to school with her. I used to play with her with my Atari, but I couldn’t bring it with me. I also used to have pigeons, one of them had eggs, I would feed them and care for them. I’m worried about them, I really pray someone is still caring for them. But here I have a small kitten that I really love! I miss my home a lot. I hope one day we’ll be back and things will be just like before.”
Read more about the refugees’ experiences: https://medium.com/globalgoodness/12-powerful-refugee-stories-from-around-the-world-5c0a54d2e2ed
Through their stories, we learn about how harsh reality can be for refugees. But we learn that no matter how hopeless their circumstances are, they never give up and constantly hope for a better future.
What can we do in Singapore to help those are in need?
Visit some of these links below to find out what some organisations are doing and how you can contribute:
Relief Singapore (RSG) https://www.facebook.com/relief.sg/
Relief Singapore (RSG) is a social enterprise and Non-Profit Organisation (NGO) based in Singapore. It exists to rally and inspire people living and working in Singapore to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief for those prone to and affected by conflicts, calamities, and climate change.
Advocates for Refugees- Singapore (AFR-SG) https://afr-sg.com/
AFR-SG is a ground-up movement based in Singapore, focused on bringing about greater awareness on the issues of refugees and forced migration in the region and beyond. They feel strongly that Singapore – like many other countries – has a crucial role to play as part of the international community in responsibility-sharing when responding to the effects and consequences of global displacement.
Other than governments and the respective authorities, every pillar of society should protect the rights of each individual as we are all part of the human race.
How can we raise awareness of the plight of refugees?
Do you have any ideas how you can do your part to help those who are underprivileged?
Sources:
- https://www.amnesty.org.au/who-are-the-rohingya-refugees/
- https://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/
- https://medium.com/globalgoodness/12-powerful-refugee-stories-from-around-the-world-5c0a54d2e2ed
- https://www.standup4humanrights.org/en/download.html
- https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/
Suggested Videos:
The World’s Largest Refugee Camp (Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh)
https://www.facebook.com/unicef/videos/465716227303152/
Life inside a Syrian Camp Refugee Camp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubGhzVdnhQw (Key parts: 0-3.36 mins, 4.10- 6.44 mins, 12.49- 17.07 mins)
