By Jethro S.K. Harris, Contributing Writer
This writer joins many activists around the world today in condemning in the strongest possible term the hideous act of infringement of rights, forceful labor, exchange of humans as a means of trade, an act that was abolished centuries ago so as to enable cordiality amongst the citizens of the world.
It can be recalled in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly made history when it adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an instrument considered as the “common standard of achievements for all peoples and nation “in the struggle for universal recognition, protection and promotion of human rights.”
According to its Preamble, the “… recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family” constitute “the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”.
“… if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,” the preamble goes on to state.
As provided for in Article I of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “all human beings are born equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act toward one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Article 3 states that human rights are universal and indivisible and that everyone is entitled to all human rights and freedoms without regard to race, color, creed, language, nationality or sex.
Against this backdrop, today we can fearlessly and unfavorably say that, the abuse of the rights of those foreigners in Libya is a form of Modern Slavery.
There have been tireless efforts to abolish every form of slavery. Valiant men and women have sacrificed their time, energy, and most of all lives in the pursuit of preservation of global human rights.
I therefore call on all Human Rights Activists, Human Rights Organizations and everyone who believes in the liberal existence of the human race to stand up against this act of human rights abuse in the African state of Libya and all around the world.
We recommend and demand that in accordance with the above context of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights that, those at the detriment of the cruelty in Libya and around the world be set free to enjoy their inherent rights.
It is the right of every human to live freely on this earth as they are citizens of the world.
About the writer:
Jethro S.K. Harris is a student at the University of Liberia reading Public Administration and Economics. He is also a Student Activist, and a Volunteer for Humanity. He runs a local NGO called the Educative Nation Builder. He is also a top member of the Clifford-Russell Foundation.