I hope and I pray that year 2013 will uplift us towards a more rights-based politics and which actually promote human rights! Practically and not only empty words…
A new Master’s programme in Public Policy has recently been launched by the University of Cambridge in UK. The English Parliament express a wider need of a more strategical and analytical policy based on rational and evidence-based arguments. Intresting since the skills that will be achieved, hopefully, will face towards a more practical policy approach which is well needed. Not only in UK but in other countries all around the world!
But much more is needed to develope the democratic processes in Europe, USA, Asia, Africa etc.
Surprise and astonishment along with upset feelings is unfortunately today’s outcome by reading or watching the news. You watch a reality where policymakers deliver strange and lively arguments regarding “some kind of a “threat the nation is facing”, based on generalizations or stereotyping. Campaigns are rolled out for support in order to establish new and absurd decisions that actually infringe the actual concept of human rights. It is time to change the conditions for todays and coming politicians for stepping up into a prominent minister or govermental-post.
Imagine that you want to build your dream house and where you realize, after hiring the contractor or the builder, that their knowledge about how to construct and to build a house is alarming little. Well, if you are having some luck, at least they know the difference between a screw driver and a hammer, but the rest is history. Politics is not a room for amateurs or playing around for fun. It is reality and people’s living and lifes are depending on the outcomes of policies and decisions.
As a human rights activist, I welcome this kind of educational programme and at a Master’s level. This because political positions and decisions can either promote or suppress human rights, and the more awareness of a human rights based approach the more decisions and policies will be based on reality and research. Not fiction or prejudices;
Human rights are about what political decisions should include and sets particular limits on what can be decided in a democracy.
Democracy, on the other hand, is about how a political system should work and how decisions can be made.
So democracy and all kind of policies must embrace human rights as an essential guide where the politicians are certain in how to use all the tools. Only then I will know for sure that forthcoming decisions and conventions, will be able to to shake off humanity years of nightmarish policies based on wars and weapons. Discrimination and xenophobia. Exclusion and marginalization. Poverty and inequality.
The list can go on forever…
Every country have this year either shed a tear or blood. Enough! The world have had enough of hate and terror!
I pray that year 2013 no more tears or blood shall be shed. Only compassion and justice will be distributed. And we could start with it today and now – you and me. We begin with ourselves and our neighbourhood and communities. We respect our differences and we preserve each other’s dignity. The most important – we strive for justice in all matters and in all contexts. Have we come that far, we will for sure achieve the capability to choose and vote for policmakers and government leaders that for real preserve human rights.
Leaders and citizens whom together will stipulate decisions with human rights based approaches.
I wish you all Happy Holidays and a Prosperous and Blessed New Year!
Hope, freedom and love!
~ Soona
Soonas Blog 