Human Rights and Youth

March 11, 2018

WE, all human beings are born free and equal in fundamental rights and inherent dignity. In fact, human rights are moral norms that explain certain standards of human behavior. In addition, they are inherent in all human beings whatever our nationality or ethnic origin, color, place of residence, sex, language, or any other status. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. Youth do experience struggles in the exercise of their rights and there may have gaps in the protection of the human rights of youth.

Moreover, there are barriers in the protection of the human rights of youth. Young people experience troubles in the exercise of their rights because of being young. Some barriers such as cultural norms, weak institutions that do not have youth specialized services, poverty among youth, lack of real engagement with youth, etc. caused troubles. For example, youth do not receive equal pay for equal work. In some countries minimum salaries were lower for youth compare to adults.

Generally, many people know something about their rights. They know they have the right to food and a safe place to stay. However, there are many other rights. For example, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), five basic human rights such as right to equality, freedom from discrimination, right to life, liberty and personal security, freedom from slavery, and freedom from torture and degrading treatment. These rights are very fundamental and vital rights that every individual including youth should have. Legal rights comprise, civil and political rights, the rights of women, minorities, and groups, environmental rights and social rights, which each and every individual including youth is legally eligible to.

In addition, when people not well known about human rights, abuses such as discrimination, intolerance, injustice, oppression and slavery can arise. According to United Nations Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation at 28th July 2010. Moreover, the resolution acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of all human rights.

As a matter of fact, the precise meaning of the term right is controversial while there is consensus that human rights embrace a wide variety of rights such as the right to a fair trial, free speech, prohibition of genocide, right to education. However, there is disagreement about which of these particular rights should be included within the general framework of human rights where as some suggest that human rights should be a minimum requirement to avoid the worst case abuses.

In order to contribute for youth to the enjoyment of human rights, the international community must provide the necessary means and ways for educating youth in both intellectual and practical skills. Meanwhile, to achieve full enjoyment of human rights youth must also be at the forefront of efforts to encourage social and economic progress and integrity.

To sum up, democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and interrelated. In addition, all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent.

Many activities and programs designed to educate Human Rights in all levels of community is essential not only for all stakeholders such as international organizations, governmental bodies, NGOs, private sectors, media but also for youth themselves to show their concern.

References: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). International Human Rights Law: Institutions and Mechanism, Open Society Foundations (2013).

By Win Aung Kyaw MBA, Ph.D

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar