Commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has never been more important. In a year that has seen an increase in extremist ideology, civic intolerance and political influence in compromising human rights issues, Human Rights Day should spark conversations on how 2020 can be a year of transformative and systemic change. At the heart of injustice, violence and repressive norms are issues considered immoral and taboo; reproductive rights, sexual and gender diversity. These have been the cornerstone of right-wing narratives through religious, cultural and political messaging. They are easy avenues of absolving leaders from being accountable or losing credibility for the offices they hold. Despite the risks, lack of incentives and shrinking civic space; young people remain intentional in advancing civic action, organising and challenging norms.
For many, these issues are central to their identity, autonomy and agency. The struggles for respect, being a part of a community and navigating socioeconomic complexity are no different from that in which they can exercise their freedoms. Unfortunately, these freedoms have been pegged in colonial-era laws that breach on privacy, expression, self-determination and equality. The human rights lens has made significant inroads in public health or through strategic litigation. However, gaps remain in the ability to address inherent struggles that are not separate from autonomy or agency. The ability to exercise one’s rights in spite of the challenges they face cannot be realised without being resourced.
Resourcing sets the premise of options to explore, possibilities within one’s reach and the ability to create change within communities or larger systems. When these are denied, this sets a premise for shortcomings in youth organising and the ability to respond to context-specific needs and opportunities. Some of these issues are highlighted in our own experiences but these are not enough to reflect the glaring challenges young human rights defenders experience. It is important to consider the invisible, such as mental health, poverty, power and unconventional approaches that might be more strategic than resource-driven. As a leader; I had challenges in navigating suicide attempts, compromises to livelihood, managing post-sexual assault support situations, infrastructural aspects of organising whilst still channelling efforts towards impact work. This reflects how 9-5, log frames, annual work plans, theories of change and system designs can miss out on the emergent and granular aspects of working with and within a community and in the region.
Human Rights are consistently competing against themselves in courts of law, politics and opinion. Where collectives can be prioritised over the minority, underrepresented or under-resourced. This is evident in development commitments, governance and society. Where reproductive rights, sexual and gender diversity are not priorities that affect everyone. This is because some demographics can afford to secure those rights or be absolved from persecution simply because they have the means. The same can be said for those court wins that systemically change legal frameworks but leave communities behind. Young people are recognising and framing these shortcomings, however, are they meaningfully heard and engaged? Who is benefiting from keeping diversity dissent, constructive conflict and diversity from the dialogues and decision making spaces? How are they different from those that continue or remain silent on criminalising and policing our bodies and identities? Does the belief that doing good and being of good intentions always translate into meaningful inclusion, engagement and change?
We touch on some of these questions and issues in our short podcast, in a hope to spark conversations and move the focus on youth beyond this year’s Human Rights Day theme. Young people remain key to accelerating and building solutions towards a more just and equitable world. This does not mean replacing those in power and privilege, but rather sharing these in an equitable manner. Unlocking the oppressions of narrow civic space, proximity to enablers and tokenism. The kind that safeguards agency within and outside movements, strengthens skills for sustainability, fails forward and secures the universality and indivisibility of human rights in all facets of society. Let this Human Rights Day remind us of the need to support and strengthen young people working on the ground on issues relevant to them and their peers. Solidarity can go a long way in changing how youth stand up for human rights, as Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said; “It means a great deal to those who are oppressed to know that they are not alone. Never let anyone tell you that what you are doing is insignificant.”
