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Human Rights Day is not Celebrated in Gaza

December 10, 2023
Photo: A Palestinian woman sits amid the rubble in Gaza. Photo credit: United Nations Development Programme.

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” These are the famous words of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted 75 years ago today. And today, if one looks at the conditions of the people of the world, one would not be remiss to think that such a declaration never occurred, or that it is only selectively honored. As the world commemorates Human Rights Day on 10 December, the plight of all oppressed peoples, including the Palestinians, and the blatant disregard for their rights, should take center stage and invite a moment of reflection followed by meaningful action. Does the Universal Declaration truly matter? As with most things in the international sphere that aren’t hard power, the answer is yes and no. From a realist perspective, which dominates international relations to a large extent, such issues are hot air. Human rights in foreign policy are at best a talking point to appease the public or a tool used to pressure a rival, but…


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