The most contentious aspect of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is Article 1, which reasserts, and clarifies that:

“All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”

This agreement was finalized in 1966. In 1976, after being ratified by the required 35 states, it became international law. Four states that signed the agreement have, to date, failed to ratify the agreement, Cambodia, Liberia, Honduras and the United States of America.

Although the United States can be criticized for its failure to ratify the CCPR, it is no more hypocritical to sign, but not ratify the agreement than to ratify, but not protect and enforce it. Many states that have ratified the CCPR, or UDHR have failed to provide and protect human rights by the rule of law within their borders, or to enforce the provisions in other states.

The failure of states to guarantee and protect universally accepted human rights lies at the heart of many conflicts. The denial of human rights provides the issues around which dissidents organize, galvanize support and ultimately rise up in violent political struggle.

Despite the tragic cost in human lives and economic damage wrought by conflict, states and regimes continually choose to ignore the calls for human rights, equality and justice, opting instead to repress and suppress dissenters. Ultimately, the result is revolution.

Traditionally, revolutionaries have targeted weak, repressive states, their leaders and so-called security forces. More recently, governments have accumulated overwhelming military and intelligence capabilities to maintain their grip on power. One predictable result has been the emergence of terrorism – admittedly a tactic of the weak.

Critics of terrorism are quick to state that there are few examples of successful terrorism. Conversely, there are no examples of successful, enduring, repressive states that have stood the test of time. History shows what people already know, that the human spirit is indomitable, and that people will ultimately demand and fight for their “rights,” whether they are written on paper, accepted by world leaders, or not.

Those organizations committed to the proliferation of human rights face a daunting challenge, but are comforted in the knowledge of the inevitable victory of freedom over servitude, justice over injustice and humanity over inhumanity.

In the meantime, we the people must remain dedicated to asserting our individual and collective rights. We must remain vigilant against those who would deny human rights and supportive of those who fight to protect them. Vigilance requires awareness. As citizens the first challenge is to seek information beyond the superficial daily news and to understand the real issues, obscured by propaganda, that drive people to violence. Only then can political leaders be held accountable and reforms implemented.

Human rights organizations are quick to point out that abuses are not limited to poor, developing countries or repressive regimes. Liberal western democracies, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and the United States also stand accused of human rights violations. Whenever states have been confronted by violent political groups (VPGs), one of the first reactions has been to authorize tactics that infringe on individual liberties.

Facing violent upheaval, even the most democratic states often react by passing laws that provide sweeping powers to the state, but reduce civil liberties or human rights. In Northern Ireland, Britain adopted the Special Powers Act, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act. After the attacks of 9/11, the U.S. adopted The Patriot Act. Such actions simplify the legal process, by such tactics as permitting secret detentions, but deny judicial process afforded under human rights law. Such emergency legislation also impacts on innocent citizens, limiting rights of privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and more.

Perhaps the most glaring abuse of human rights law occurs when states forgo legal process entirely and pursue policies of political assassination, as in Israel’s approach to resolving the Palestinian problem. Similarly, governments undertake collective punishment against national, religious or cultural groups. Recent examples include Israeli policies in Palestine, Turkish demolitions of Kurdish villages, Russian attacks on Chechen cities, as well as more publicized abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Human rights groups also fault western democracies for doing more to encourage than to prevent conflict in the developing world. Ironically, countries too poor to feed their people always have the money to buy arms.

According to Amnesty International, “the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the USA, UK, France, Russia, and China - are responsible for eighty eight per cent of reported conventional arms exports. From 1998 to 2001, the USA, the UK, and France earned more income from arms sales to developing countries than they gave in aid.” And who takes up arms?

The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) reports that, “more than 300,000 children under 18 are fighting in armed conflicts in more than 30 countries. Many are coerced into service and combat, and the widespread availability of small arms and light weapons has enabled child soldiers to become ruthless killers.” In addition to light weapons, conflicts leave behind a deadly, hidden legacy – landmines, millions of them, spread like seeds to kill and maim.

Human rights issues are many and varied, but rarely penetrate the mainstream news. Among the most valuable sources of meaningful information are the various human rights organizations (see below). It’s difficult to appreciate the courage required to maintain offices, seek truth and oppose regimes in the world’s most dangerous places. These are anonymous, unarmed individuals who fight oppression with words and pictures. There are no statues or memorials to commemorate their non-violent battles.