Happy New Year 2015 It Is the Year of Responsibility Human Right 29 We Have a Duty to Other People, and We Should Protect Their
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Message from the CEO Dear Friend, As we close the door on 2014, it is time to review if it was a good year for Human Rights in our homes, workplaces and society in general. What do you say? I cannot give you comparative statistics of the years gone by. I can tell you that the public we work with are certainly more aware of their rights than before. They can see that rights do not just appear out of the blue; one has to work to get and to keep rights, in whatever context. We have plenty of examples around us that show the lack of Right to Education and disregard for the Right to Life. The Peshawar incident is the most recent and heartbreaking one. To the degree we can see that rights are missing in society, we can also see that we need to do something to ensure rights are given to people. Our greatest duty you will agree, is to see that children’s rights are protected. We judge our work from the successes of those we serve. 2014 has been a great year for our organization. We have expanded our reach into more schools, reaching a greater number of parents, teachers and students. Our college/university area has shown expansion too, with many faculties committing to work with us on a long-term basis. Our Newsletter is shared with you to show the results and successes we produced with our youth, parents, teachers and children, and to thank those who supported us. Through this Newsletter we also wish to show you the potential you hold to influence all those around you. Miracles will occur in homes and workplaces if the individual stands up for what is right and if you and I make our voices heard and our actions count. We have labelled 2015 The Year of Responsibility at the individual level. Our plans are great for this year. We look forward to serving you and working with you to create a better world. Staying connected with you always! -Fareeda Abbasi Happy New Year 2015 It is The Year of Responsibility Human Right 29 We have a duty to other people, and we should protect their rights and freedoms. “People of character do the right thing even if no one else does, not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world.” -Michael Josephson © 2015 Youth Together for Human Rights Education - Creating with YOU a Culture Supportive of the Rights of All Page 1 of 31 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1. We are all Born Free and Equal. We are all born free. We all have our own thoughts and ideas. We should all be treated in the same way. 2. Don’t Discriminate. These rights belong to everybody, whatever our differences. 3. The Right to Life.We all have the right to life, and to live in freedom and safety. 4. No Slavery - past and present. Nobody has any right to make us a slave. We cannot make anyone our slave. 5. No Torture. Nobody has any right to hurt us or to torture us. 6. We All have the same Right to use the Law. I am a person just like you! 7. We are all Protected by the Law. The law is the same for everyone. It must treat us all fairly. 8. Fair Treatment by Fair Courts. We can all ask for the law to help us when we are not treated fairly. 9. No Unfair Detainment. Nobody has the right to put us in prison without a good reason and keep us there, or to send us away from our country. 10. The Right to Trial.If we are put on trial this should be in public. The people who try us should not let anyone tell them what ot do. 11. We are Innocent until Proven Guilty. Nobody should be blamed for doing something until it is proven. When people say we did a bad thing we have the right to show it is not true. 12. The Right to Privacy. Nobody should try to harm our good name.Nobody has the right to come into our home, open our letters or bother us or our family without a good reason. 13. The Right of Freedom to Move.We all have the right to go where we want in our own country and to travel as we wish. 14. The Right to Asylum.If we are frightened of being badly treated in our own country, we all have the right to run away to another country to be safe. 15. The Right to a Nationality.We all have the right to belong to a country. 16. The Right to Marriage and Family.Every grown-up has the right to marry and have a family if they want to. Men and women have the same rights when they are married, and when they are separated. 17. Your Right to Own Things. Everyone has the right to own things or share them.Nobody should take our things from us without a good reason. 18. Your Right to Freedom of Thought.We all have the right to believe in what we want to believe, to have a religion, or to change it if we want. 19. Free to Say what You Want. We all have the right to make up our own minds, to think what we like, to say what we think, and to share our ideas with other people. 20. Right to Meet where You Like. We all have the right to meet our friends and to work together in peace to defend our rights. Nobody can make us join a group if we don’t want to. 21. The Right to Democracy.We all have the right to take part in the government of our country. Every grown-up should be allowed to choose their own leaders. 22. The Right to Social Security.We all have the right to affordable housing, medicine, education, and child care, enough money to live on and medical help if we are ill or old. 23. Workers’ Rights. Every grown-up has the right to do a job, to a fair wage for their work, and to join a trade union. 24. The Right to Play.We all have the right to rest from work and to relax. 25. Right to a Bed and some Food. We all have the right to a good life. Mothers and children, people who are old, unemployed or disabled, and all people have the right to be cared for. 26. The Right to Education.Education is a right. Primary school should be free. We should learn about the United Nations and how to get on with others. Our parents can choose what we learn. 27. Culture and Copyright. We all have the right to our own way of life and to enjoy the good things that “art”, science and learning bring. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community. Copyright is a special law that protects one’s own artistic creations and writings; others cannot make copies without permission. 28. A Free and Fair World. There must be proper order so we can all enjoy rights and freedoms in our own country and all over the world. 29. Our responsibilities. We have a duty to other people, and we should protect their rights and freedoms. 30. Nobody can take away these rights and freedoms from us. © 2015 Youth Together for Human Rights Education - Creating with YOU a Culture Supportive of the Rights of All Page 2 of 31 www.ythre.org [email protected] 0311 205 0292 021 343 83909 Issues that Concern Us These pages are being introduced for you. Send us your views on agreements we need to change, so that we have a society that grants Human Rights to all. You can write on any topic as long as you present the situation and give solutions. Do not attack another in your article. Instead, write to persuade others to bring about a better society. Adolescent Suicide This topic came to my attention when I observed a student commit suicide due to tension of failing in an exam. Fortunately this was not in reality, it was just a scene in a movie. This made me think and wonder about some questions. • Is committing suicide the only way to get out of this stress? • Is the fear of failing so great to take such an extreme step? • What is the role of teachers and parents in creating this situation? Research says that the latest mean worldwide annual Suicide rates are on the rise. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among all those between the ages of 15 to 24 year of age. Suicide among young teens and young adults has increased by 300% in the last three decades. Common reasons that lead to suicide attempts in our society are: • School problems • Dispute with parents, siblings or peers “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living • Low self-esteem someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma • Bullying - which is living with the results of other • Depression people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ • Breakup with boyfriend or girlfriend opinions drown out your own inner voice. And School problems can be, for example, facing difficulties in doing some most important, have the courage to follow assignment or quiz which can be the cause of disqualifying from that your heart and intuition.” subject or being dropped out of your school.