In 2012, why do we discriminate people’s rights for the way they were born? Does the government have a right to dictate what type of love is legal or illegal? Just the way a heterosexual man can love a woman; can’t a homosexual man have the choice to love a man? Why does a government have the power to tell its citizens when, why and whom to love? In today’s day and age, spreading hatred through war and bloodshed seems to be a normalcy while innocent love between two men or two women is deemed unlawful in some places. This contradiction begs further questions about the priority of universal human rights.
The atrocities and aftermath of the Second World War called for a new world order that would respect, protect and prioritize humanity. In 1948, such a document; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was formed to set out the fundamental human rights of all men, women and children. The UDHR has since become one of the most important documents created in the twentieth century concerning international human rights.
The UDHR has enabled and empowered remarkable progress in human rights in communities, schools, work place, and in international relations. Unfortunately however, these achievements have not been reached and celebrated globally.
From Iran to Uganda to China, human rights are violated and discriminated against every day with the misuse of cultural, religious, and social ideologies. Since we can remember, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights have been in the long standing battle for dignity and acceptance. While countries like Canada has made huge strides towards LGBT rights, other nations have been struggling to prioritize human rights over social, religious and cultural beliefs.
According to a 2011 UN report, approximately 76 countries condemn same-sex relations between consenting adults and in at least five countries, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen, the death penalty prevails. In Africa, 38 out of 53 countries discriminate and punish homosexuality through violence, execution and other forms of discrimination.
In October 2009, an “Anti-Homosexuality” bill was introduced in Uganda but was swiftly removed with threats of foreign aid loss from the US and UK. Unfortunately, the Ugandan “Kill the Gays” bill is back on the table again, pushing for the criminalization of any gay acts with a life sentence in prison if caught. Similarly in Iran, President Ahmadinejad has claimed that Iran does not have any homosexuals. The disregard of an entire minority group has resulted in 4000-6000 gay executions in Iran, according to human rights activists. Most recently, Amnesty International urged Cameroon to overhaul laws criminalizing gay relationships as they have arrested 13 people since March 2011, for allegedly practicing homosexuality.
Let’s take a step back and look at this picture. Innocent people are being punished because of the way they were born, who they love, and how they look. Targeting and questioning a vulnerable minority of their right to life is a direct identity attack that has belittled the innocent and empowered the guilty. Whether in Uganda or Iran, the criminalization of homosexuality is not going to eradicate homosexual people. Discriminating minorities such as Gay populations denies humanity and questions the true aims and rights of policymakers, leaders and governments. The real issue here is not homosexuality but the government’s attempt to dictate a person’s right to life.
Each government has its own excuses of religious, social, cultural, and historical values but is that enough to neglect LGBT rights and humanity as a whole? The answer is no. A state is supposed to stir a society that spreads generosity, love, and unity, not hatred and division. When a state, regardless of affiliation, makes a collective decision to grant only a specific people with basic rights, they have failed the responsibility of a government to protect the rights of their citizens. Remember, human rights are not privileges; they are universal natural-born rights for every human being, regardless of identity or sexual orientation.
Punishing people for who they are only increases hate and spreads misunderstandings and thus creates a superficial separation between humankind. This world is for everyone to share and no individual or group is above another.
Imagine the world if we all used love to celebrate, improve and empower one another. That type of world will become a reality when human rights include all walks of life.
“Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.” John F. Kennedy
Twitter @sonja_be
