Taking up the cause: Human rights activists campaign to end discrimination and uphold freedom

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, … and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people…Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law...”.

These are the second and third paragraphs of the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, without a dissenting vote. It is the first international declaration mentioning human rights by name, and the human rights movement has largely adopted it as a charter.

The vision of the UDHR is of a world in which the human rights of all are fully respected and enjoyed in conditions of global peace. It is the role of human rights activists to alert governments and the world community to the reality that these standards are too often ignored or unfulfilled, and to be a voice for the victims of human rights violations anywhere. It is also their role to press the international community to take steps that can prevent violations, including support for the right to development.

Most nations have agreed that basic human rights must be protected, not only for the sake of the individuals and countries involved, but to preserve the human race. Some famous persons who dedicated their lives to the pursuit of social justice and human rights are Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

What do I have to do?

Human rights activists campaign to end discrimination, uphold political freedom, protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and bring offenders to justice. They also enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all. As torture persists and takes on new forms, human rights activists are campaigning for the eradication of this crime against humanity. Campaigns for the rights of refugees are also being taken up.

Human rights violations and abuses of national and international law are documented by non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, World Organisation Against Torture, Freedom House, International Freedom of Expression Exchange, Anti-Slavery International and others.

Human rights activists work within human rights organisations or independently. They document human rights violations, publicise them and press the concerned authorities to stop the violations.

They publicise the work of activists, publish books and leaflets to express their problems and aspirations, and organise symposiums and seminars on human rights violations.

What should I study?

For most courses, a graduate degree in any subject is required. The study of human rights includes human rights theory, international human rights law, human rights and civil liberties, human rights of women and children, human rights of tribal and indigenous groups, international humanitarian and refugee law, etc.

What next?

You can work for non-governmental organisations or for the government in various capacities such as programme officer and manager, and social policy researcher and consultant. You can also join the departments of political science/international relations/law in colleges and universities as a faculty member.

As a human rights specialist, you can even work with the electronic or print media as a freelance writer/journalist. Activists will continue to play a significant role in the protection of civil and political rights throughout the world. The National Human Rights Commission of India was started by lawyers and human rights activists as a resource centre for campaigns, documentation, education, and investigation.

Where to study

• Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi.
• University of Calcutta, Calcutta.
• Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
• National Law School of India University, Bangalore.
• Indian Institute of Human Rights, New Delhi.