Individuals gain their rights at birth, regardless of race, sex, religion, or ethnicity, without discrimination. Even though there are several more, the most basic rights humans are the rights to live, think, and express. 10th October was claimed as the Human Rights Day after the admission of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, preserving inalienable rights. Ever since the declaration, human rights have been widely acknowledged. Unfortunately, although there is an increase in recognition of the issue, there is also a growing resistance against it. In recent years, the most common violations of human rights have been based on gender, race, and orientation.
The first issue involves gender, more specifically, women. The primary right a human being has, the right to live, is taken away from many women. In Turkey, femicide rate increased substantially in the 2000s. In 2019 only, 474 women were murdered. The most popular, so-called reason is honour. A lot of men think they have the authority to justify things in their way. This situation also restricts women's right to express their opinions as they are at risk of being brutally murdered for just having thoughts. Apart from the murder case, although we are slowly getting rid of gender inequalities, women's opinions, or women in general, are still looked down on.
In addition to sex discrimination, there is injustice between races. This injustice is not always towards only one ethnicity but towards the ones that are in the minority. Just like gender inequality, racial unfairness might be gradually diminishing, but it is nowhere near gone. For instance, people have difficulties with housing, occupations, or access to services because of their origins. Moreover, people sometimes get killed out of nowhere just because of their skin colour, getting robbed of their right to live.
Another thing seen as a reason to deprive individuals of their elemental rights is orientation. It could be a religious orientation or a sexual orientation. Religion is usually related to culture and ethnicity; therefore, it results in the same problems. However, sexual identity and orientation have been on the rise in both recognition and discrimination. There is a side that accepts it, and a part that thinks they do not deserve basic rights. Individuals who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community are especially underprivileged by their right to express themselves. They are afraid to live as who they are because of other people who are blinkered.
In conclusion, people all around the world are deprived of their primary rights for the excuse of origin, sex, religion, identity, or sexuality. However, we are all just humans regardless of these categories. All we need to do is get rid of prejudice and show some respect. Then all problems will begin to unravel.
Başak Çakmak E2
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