The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.
This year’s slogan, Human Rights 365, encompasses the idea that every day is Human Rights Day. It celebrates the fundamental proposition in the Universal Declaration that each one of us, everywhere, at all times is entitled to the full range of human rights, that human rights belong equally to each of us and bind us together as a global community with the same ideals and values.
How “fitting” then that the report on the CIA atrocities that have shamed America has emerged today on Human Rights Day. Twenty six years ago President Reagan signed the UN convention against torture that was ratified by the USA six years later in 1994. However, the US continued to use torture on a systematic basis until President Obama banned the “practice” just five years ago. These crimes against humanity remain unpunished. Will that now change?
If nothing else then Human Rights Day this year should be about putting into place anything that needs to be done to ensure that the rule of law over secret agencies of the state is imposed, not only in America but throughout the world.
The quote in The Guardian today says “It is one of the most shocking documents ever produced by any modern democracy about its own abuses of its own highest principles”.
Whilst I have to say it is a credit to the US that the report has been published – a massive contrast to anything we have done in the UK thus far to admit culpability. Hardly surprising that the US has now been put on red alert regarding possible revenge attacks. Time to stop patting themselves on the back about the treatment of human beings in general. But how depressing for a whole generation of young Americans who imagined that their country only ever stood up for what was right and good in the world. This should be a lesson in humanity for them and perhaps a bit more humility and understanding about the rest of the world in general will create questions on the “war on terror” approach America has had for far too long now. Morally speaking there is much to learn.
However, We know the CIA didn’t act alone. Along with other US authorities, they engaged a number of partners around the globe, allegedly including the UK, to help facilitate and carry out rendition, secret detention and torture of those suspected of involvement in terrorism.
Today not only marks Human Rights Day but the 30th anniversary of the Convention against Torture. It’s time for the UK government to properly investigate our country’s role in this programme of torture. David Cameron promised an independent judicial inquiry in 2010 yet the UK government has failed thus far to follow through with this.
And while I”m having a rant – next stop for them ought to be the abolishment of Capital punishment.
