Global Human Rights Violations of 2013

  

      Despite the fact that Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted 65 years ago, it is still more dream than reality. Violation of its articles prevails all over the world and has different forms. Almost in every part of the world people are tortured, suffer from mistreatment, face unfair trials, restricted in their freedom of religion, language and etc. On top of that, descrimination and abuse of rights of women and children continues to plague the world.

       2013 was full of human rights violations, starting from sexual abuse against women ending up with crimes against humanity. Governments reacted almost indifferently with the lack of transparency and little respect of human life. This apathetic attitude induced protest and demostrations of an international community advocating human rights. We will recall some shocking human rights violations in the paragraphs below.

•       600 deaths and 91 women assaulted during riots at Tahrir Square, Egypt.

Hundreds of women were raped and sexually abused by gangs during 4 days of protests against Egyptian President Morsi on June 30. Women needed medical assistance after being attacked and assaulted by sharp objects. Protestors achieved their goal and made Morsi leave the post. However, casualties resulted by protests and violation of women's rights were nearly ignored despite the public discontent.

• Thousands died in horrific building collapse in Bangladesh.

Global garment companies use cheap labor force in developing countries and pay little attention to fire safegurads or other adequate working conditions. Such negligence led to the collapse of the factory in Bangladesh, which killed over 1000 people and injured more than 2500.

• Humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.

There is internal conflict in South Sudan mainly between two ethnic groups Dinkas and Nuers, which led to bloody massacre and forced over 100 000 people to leave their homeland. Furthermore, The UN efforts to solve the problem seem fruitless as its peacekeepers are abeing attacked and found dead.

      To sum up, I want to mark that examples given above are only a tiny piece of the huge problem of violation of human rights happening every day in every part of the world. We must not forget that there is nothing valuable than human life. Therefore, rights and freedoms of any person should be equally respected.

       

Migrants die under tow in Greece

Current unstable situation in the world forces millions of people to leave their homeland to find a place where their life won't  be threatened and they could find food and shelter. They use various ways to abandon a country where their rights are abused, compatriots are killed and cities are destroyed. One of them sea-born refugee traffic. On 22nd of January,2014, the boat carrying 26 Afgans and two Syrian refugees capsized when it was being towed by a Greek coastguard vessel. Unfortuantely, bodies of an 11-year-old child and 38-year-old woman were found, and 10 people are still missing. Incident took place near the island of Farmakonisi, Greece.

The accident caused a piblic outcry. Some non-governmental organizations, namely "Pro Asyl and Ecre" assume that Greek side intentionally tried to prevent migrants landing in Greece. Refugees seeks to enter EU trough Greek -Turkish land border. Therefore, the incident should be regarded as push-back of migrants due to the facts like ignoring begs and cries of survivers on a boat. Moreover, refugee boat was towed at high speed when it capsize.

To defend themselves, Greek side claims that they put out a fire on a stricken boat, rescued 16 people, and searched the area for survivers using helicopter. 

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)and NGOs demand inbiased investigation of circumstances that caused such casualties. They affirm that actions taken by the Greek side to force migrants to turn back to Turkish waters are illegal, inhumane, endanger people's lives and have to be ceased immediately. Furthermore, survivors should be provided by any assiastance and their need must be looked after.