Before I elaborate upon the many human rights atrocities occurring throughout the world, I wanted to take a look at a few miraculous human rights success stories of the 21st century. So here is my comprehensive list of the greatest human rights victories from 2000-2011 (in no particular order)...
1. Justice for the People of Darfur: Obviously, no apologies or promises for the future can take away the sting of international ignorance regarding the tragedies in Darfur. However, it was a huge victory for human rights when the International Criminal Court charged Sudanese President (Omar al-Bashir) with genocide in 2010. The atrocities in Darfur span back to 2003 and involve the rape, murder, and torture of thousands upon thousands of Sudanese people. Making President Omar al-bashir accountable for his crimes does not erase the 300,000 people who died in this conflict, nor does it counteract the 2.6 million who were displaced. However, it sets a crucial precedent in the prosecution of human rights violators.
2. Major Steps Gay Rights: The 21st century has brought major gains in sexual equality. For example, in 2008, the Ugandan High Court decided that constitutional rights of the nation apply to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transexual citizens. Gay couples have the right to marry in 12 countries, as well as Washington DC and California. Most could not have imagined in 2000 that these gains could have been made in 11 years.
3. Salim Hamdan Recieving a Fair Trial: Salim Hamdan was attained in Guantanamo Bay for being Osama bin Laden's personal driver (which he admitted). However, the United States justice system had violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice by not giving Hamdan a competent tribunal to determine whether or not he was a POW. This established that the United States HAS violated the human rights of potential terrorist detainees. However, it is quite encouraging that we are willing to fix our mistakes and give even a terrorist supect a fair trial. In so doing, the United States shows terrorist organizations that we are not willing to flout the system out of fear/desparation.
4. Indicting Former Liberian President, Charles Taylor: In my opinion, there is nothing more imporant than making human rights violators accountable for their actions. That's why it was a huge success when Charles Taylor (ex-president of Liberia) was captured and charged for crimes against humanity for the atrocities in Sierra Leone (he supported rebel forces guilty of horrific crimes against innocent civilians). Did this erase the happenings in Sierra Leone? Absolutely not. However, it is so important to set a precedent of no tolerance for the violation of human rights.
5. Formation of Invisible Children: Every new human rights advocacy group brings a message of hope to oppressed peoples around the globe. However, I am especially encouraged by the Invisible Children non-profit organization. The group was started by three nineteen year old guys struck by their expereinces during a recent trip to Uganda. Their philosophy, that awareness entails action, is fantastic and the approach that they take to relief in Uganda is brilliant. I believe that Invisible Children is so fresh, young, and bold that it just might hold the potential to halt the use of child soldiers by the Lord's Resistance Army.
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