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Defending the Defenders: Ethical Commitment for Human Rights By Daniel Bekele  Daniel Bekele is an Ethiopian human rights
defender who spent two and a half years in prison, along with his colleague
Netsanet Demissie. While he was imprisoned, he was profiled by the CIVICUS
Civil Society Behind Bars Campaign.December 10, 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the UDHR. The achievements in the past 60 years are by no means negligible. At the time of its adoption, the UDHR was considered as a statement of principles to serve as a "common standard of achievement" rather than a legal treaty having the force of law. Nevertheless, the UDHR has not only set a standard of achievement but earned an increasing moral, legal and political significance. It has inspired a number of international conventions, national constitutions as well as judicial practices. Today many of its provisions enjoy the status of customary international law, which mean that no member of the international community can legitimately derogate from them. Like the Magna Carta, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the American Declaration of Independence, the UDHR constitutes a milestone in humankind's struggle for freedom, dignity and equality. However, six decades after the universal declaration articulated a vision of human dignity and social justice, the mismatch between aspirations on the one hand and the actual practice on the other remains a daunting challenge. Although a number of states have increasingly acceded to a number of the international human rights conventions including unconditional adoption of the UDHR, the ethical commitment to the basic concepts of human dignity and human equality and the actual implementation of even the most basic human rights is a far cry from the rhetoric claims of many states. Malicious politicians of some governments have simply reduced the international human rights instruments to be mere tools in the international diplomatic discourse. Often times they have simply used them as nothing but a subterfuge before the world community. Political leaders of the more developed democracies have in many instances chosen to turn a blind eye against systematic violations of human rights, brazen lies and mockery of justice, where the perpetrators are considered to be strategic partners in politics. Governments who terrorize their own citizens have today become partners in the "global war on terror". Despite the daunting challenges, the struggle of promoting human rights continues to be energized by self-less citizens active in the frontline and global citizens passionately campaigning worldwide. While the synergy of the various actors working at different levels is ever promising, the promotion of human rights is poised to face newly emerging challenges as a result of the alleged " war against terror" that is being waged in the name of protecting human security. Human rights defenders on the frontline are facing new challenges as authorities are cunningly using trumped-up charges to detain and punish activists. Governments are enacting overly regulatory and punitive laws that restrict the freedom of expression and the freedom of association. Prisoners of conscience are entangled in a feigned legal process while media and civic activism is silenced by harassment, chilling laws and harsh enforcement. The world community is poised to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the UDHR against this background of both successes and failures of the past six decades. On this day, I know we will remember and reflect on achievements, failures and the challenges ahead of us. I know we will also remember, indeed as we should every day, the many brave and selfless souls who continue to languish in prisons all over the world and many more who have given their lives for the cause of human rights. But on a personal level and reflecting on my experience of over two years behind bars, I wanted to pay a special tribute to the wide network of global citizens and institutions that stand in defence of frontline human rights defenders. From close families and friends to global citizens who share the pain and anguish of human rights defenders behind bars; from the office and village prayers to the vigils and street actions in world capitals who demonstrate their unwavering sympathy and solidarity; from committed individuals to global level institutions who stand with human rights defenders; from the main stream media to the bloggers on the web who uncover the truth and inform the public; from the silent observers to vocal activists who expose the travesty of justice; from individuals signing petitions and sending cards to institutions and their committed staff mobilizing people based global campaigns demanding justice; from young students to eminent scholars who feed the human rights debate with the intellectual nutrition - they all stand in defence of the defender. Reflecting on a difficult journey of time spent behind bars, I find that these wide networks of global citizens and institutions are the true social soil for human rights work to continue to thrive. The idea of outreaching to those behind bars has a deep sense of respect for human rights based on an ethical commitment for the concepts of human dignity and human equality. It is precisely the lack of such an ethical commitment which is undermining respect for human rights, while sustaining social injustice. In spite of the seemingly never ending challenges and in spite of the predicament of the frontline defenders, I have faith in the power of the human rights movement to deliver us from the quagmire of social injustice across the globe to social justice everywhere. Freedom for imprisoned civil society campaigners Join the CIVICUS Human Rights Day Appeal |