Human Rights Day 2024

12/12/2024

‘The candle burns not for us, but for all those whom we failed to rescue from prison, who were shot on the way to prison, who were tortured, who were kidnapped, who ‘disappeared’.’ (Peter Benenson, founder of Amnesty International)

Human Rights Day 2024 saw the tearing wide open of the doors of the infamous Saydnaya Prison in Damascus following the unexpected fall of the brutal Assad regime. It couldn’t have been more poignant. As militia, family and friends of people held there searched frantically for their loved ones, the men, women and children who have survived limped, walked or ran into the awaiting daylight stunned with hope, joy and relief. It was a breathtaking moment and a graphic reminder of the critical importance of protecting and safeguarding human rights.

It reminded me: my first foray into human rights work was in the early 1980s during the horrific atrocities and abuses taking place in El Salvador. It was a very testing time personally and a desperately harrowing time for the people of Central America. Inspired by Archbishop Oscar Romero and, later, by Baptist primary school teacher and community activist María Cristina Gómez – both of whom were murdered for their stance for the poor – I was determined to use my own small voice to advocate for change. (I do wish my efforts had been more effective).

I’ve seen a shift since in attitudes towards human rights. Back then, values that were often regarded as self-evident – in principle, if not in practice – were fairly widely-held in liberal democratic societies. Now, the notion of rights has become embroiled in heated, polarised debates over issues such as: transgender rights vs feminist rights; abortion rights vs unborn child right to life rights; asylum rights vs state border protection rights. Along with an erosion of confidence in international institutions including the UN, rights no longer command a consensus.

Perhaps this is all a natural consequence of a postmodern, globalised, multipolar world with contrasting, competing and conflicting beliefs, values and priorities, all jostling for space and supremacy in the same human-geopolitical arena. Perhaps, too, it’s why Human Rights Day 2024 passed by largely unnoticed by mainstream media, like some ethereal concept with little felt-sense of relevance or tangibility. I hope the shocking images, sounds and stories of what happened in Saydnaya will serve as a wake-up call. Human rights are hard-won yet easily-lost.

16 Comments

Steve Daniels

12/12/2024 04:06:12 pm

Hi Nick. I agree with your observation about the current state of human rights discourse. In my view, we’ve seen a disturbing fragmentation where rights are often viewed through the lens of competing ideologies, leading to a lack of unity. The rise of populist nationalism and increasing polarisation has only exacerbated this. When rights are seen as zero-sum, one group’s gain equals another’s loss. It becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the collective ethos of human dignity.

The fall of Saydnaya is an undeniable moment of triumph, but it’s also a stark reminder of just how fragile these hard-won freedoms are. I truly hope it sparks a broader reflection on how we can rebuild consensus around human rights in a time when so much seems uncertain.

Nick Wright

14/12/2024 03:27:53 pm

Thank you, Steve. I agree that competing ideologies and zero-sum mentality is fragmenting any previous sense of common ground on human rights. Building a base of what we could agree on as of fundamental importance would be a starting point...but how to get there in the midst of so much heat and noise? I wish I had the answer.

Filipe Morais

12/12/2024 04:08:43 pm

Nick. I’ve been involved in human rights work for years, and let me tell you, this idealism gets tiring. We’ve seen the world ignore these issues over and over. Yes, the fall of Saydnaya is a victory, but what comes next? Another regime will rise and those human rights will be trampled again. The reality is, human rights have always been more of a political tool than a universal principle. Most governments don’t care about your candle or your speeches. They care about power and control. Don’t expect much change from all this ‘awakening’ talk.

14/12/2024 03:36:58 pm

Hi Filipe. Yes, it can be hard to hold onto hope, especially at a time when human rights violations are on the rise. Your comment that 'another regime will rise and those human rights will be trampled again' reminded me of David Watson's reflection: 'Revolutions tend to do just that - go around in circles' and Paulo Freire's reflections on a similar theme in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. How to break this repeating cycle is a significant challenge.

Your final point - 'Don't expect much change from this awakening talk' reminded me of Greta Thunberg's famous 'Blah Blah Blah speech to political leaders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwD1kG4PI0w

I'm grateful for an inspired by your commitment to human rights for all those years. I hope, alongside others, you will find the strength and hope to continue in this critical work.

Kathryn

12/12/2024 04:11:29 pm

Hi Nick. Honestly, I’m not sure how you can maintain such optimism about human rights. I’ve been following this for years and it feels like nothing ever changes. Look at how Human Rights Day 2024 came and went with hardly a whisper. I understand that the fall of Saydnaya was a big deal, but we’ve seen these flashes of hope before only for them to be extinguished when the next brutal regime takes over. Sure, the Assad regime fell, but for every victory there are countless defeats. The international community, including organizations like the UN, are too fragmented and ineffective to make a real difference.

Human rights seem more like a dream in this chaotic, divided world than a tangible reality. We’ve seen it time and time again: governments talk about human rights while undermining them behind closed doors. What gives me pause is the belief that 'change is just around the corner.' At what point do we acknowledge the bitter truth that perhaps we’ll never get the universal, unwavering respect for human rights that we’ve been striving for? Keep writing Nick!

14/12/2024 03:43:55 pm

Hi Kathryn and thank you for such an honest response. To be honest, I don't know if I would describe my outlook as optimistic. It's more a conviction that someone has to speak - whether their efforts are successful or not - and that is proving ever more difficult in the UK owing to (in my view, misguided) government-led initiatives to clamp down on freedom of speech. I don't know if change is around the corner. I find the Stockdale paradox helpful, along with Greenpeace's slogan: 'The Optimism of the action is better than the pessimism of the thought.'

https://www.nick-wright.com/blog/stockdale-paradox

Sofia Arnold

12/12/2024 04:14:49 pm

I can’t help but feel a wave of optimism as I read your words Nick. The way you describe the fall of Saydnaya - a literal opening of the doors after so many years of oppression -feels like a powerful symbol of hope. Yes, we have witnessed setbacks, especially as human rights become entangled in political battles that sometimes seem more about division than unity. But I want to believe that, like the people who emerged from Saydnaya, there is always light at the end of the tunnel for those who struggle for justice. Human rights are not just principles to be debated. They are the core of our shared humanity and the fact that we’re still fighting for them means they matter more than ever.

Maybe it's easy to lose sight of this in times when the news is filled with so much despair but moments like these remind us that change is possible. It may take decades, it may take lifetimes, but every time someone speaks out, every time a door is forced open, it's a win for human dignity. Your own early involvement in human rights and the inspiration you took from figures like Archbishop Romero strikes a chord with me deeply. I believe that despite the challenges, there is enough hope in the world to keep pushing forward. Human rights can be reclaimed and we need to keep fighting for them no matter how long it takes.

14/12/2024 03:50:50 pm

Thank you, Sofia. Yes, I felt quite tearful as I watched the video images of those prisoners emerging from Saydnaya. I tried to imagine how they could be feeling and couldn't help but think of Jesus, who said he came into the world 'to set captives free.'

Your reflections reminded me of Mahatma Gandhi's wise words: 'Whenever I despair, I remember that the way of truth and love has always won. There may be tyrants and murderers and, for a time, they may seem invincible but, in the end, they always fall.'

Amber Quinn PhD

12/12/2024 04:19:30 pm

Hi Nick. The reflections shared here strike a chord with me too, especially the idea of human rights as both fragile and essential. I’ve been working in this field for a while and while I agree with your assessment of a global erosion of confidence in human rights frameworks, I also think this moment presents an opportunity to rethink and recalibrate our approach.

One thing that I’ve come to appreciate is the need to make human rights not just a political or ideological issue but one of practical action. The problem, as you noted, is that rights are increasingly contested within a polarized political sphere. In response, we need to shift our focus back to the grassroots level, where real change can take root. This means empowering local communities and activists, providing them with the tools and networks to demand and protect their rights. In practical terms, we need to build a stronger civil society that is resilient in the face of authoritarian regimes, one that can hold governments accountable even when international institutions fail.

There’s also an urgent need for a renewed commitment to the rule of law and international justice. This is not just about raising awareness or mobilizing public opinion; it’s about creating legal frameworks that hold states accountable when they violate human rights. Institutions like the International Criminal Court (ICC) or regional bodies have the potential to exert real pressure on those in power but only if they’re properly supported by political will and public advocacy.

And lastly, I think there’s a role for education here. If human rights are to be understood as more than just abstract ideas, they must be taught and internalized at every level of society from schools to the media, to the workplace. A well-informed citizenry that understands its rights is better equipped to demand them and defend them.

In summary, while moments like the fall of Saydnaya are important and emotionally charged, they are only one part of a much larger ongoing struggle. Let’s take this as a call not just for reflection but for action. We can do more than remember. We can work together to ensure that these hard-won freedoms are not lost again. An interesting read as always. Thank you.

16/12/2024 08:22:34 pm

Hi Amber. Thank you your encouraging feedback and for such thoughtful reflections. I do agree that strengthening civil society is an important tactical approach to promoting and defending human rights. Do you have any examples of where this has been effective, particularly where national governments have been unsupportive or even oppositional to human rights? In Central America during the period in which I was most directly involved, this often descended into violent, brutal civil war - like what we have witnessed, more recently, in countries like Syria.

Niall Hanbury

12/12/2024 04:24:19 pm

This blog reads like another idealistic rant that ignores the real issues we face today. Human rights have become a political tool used by elites to push their own agenda, all while undermining the interests of ordinary people. The constant focus on international rights and foreign conflicts distracts from the fact that we’re losing control of our own borders and sovereignty. Why should we be constantly trying to rescue others when our own citizens are struggling? We need to prioritize the rights of our own people before worrying about distant conflicts and abstract human rights that only seem to fuel division. The fall of one prison doesn’t change the fact that the world is a much more complex, chaotic place than this blog suggests.

16/12/2024 08:28:22 pm

Hi Niall. Thank you for posing such an interesting challenge. The way I view this is that human rights violations anywhere are an issue for human rights everywhere.

Prof Paul Andrews

12/12/2024 04:55:17 pm

Nick. The United Nations, which was once seen as the paramount institution for the promotion and protection of human rights globally, has increasingly become a symbol of institutional inertia, undermined by its own structural limitations. As a scholar of human rights, I find it increasingly difficult to ignore the growing irrelevance of the UN in addressing the very issues it was created to solve. The Security Council, with its entrenched system of veto power held by the five permanent members, each with their own strategic interests, has effectively paralyzed the UN’s ability to respond decisively to egregious human rights violations. This structure allows powerful states to shield themselves and their allies from accountability while smaller nations, particularly those already marginalized in the global political sphere, have no recourse for justice.

Moreover, the UN’s dependence on consensus and diplomatic negotiation often results in watered-down resolutions, which fail to address the root causes of human rights abuses. In the face of severe violations, such as genocide, systemic oppression, or authoritarian crackdowns, the organization’s tendency to prioritize dialogue over enforcement renders its actions ineffectual. Its lack of coherent mechanisms for accountability means that even when human rights resolutions are passed, they are often ignored by those in power as the UN has no means of ensuring compliance.

Perhaps more troubling is the increasing use of the UN as a platform for political posturing rather than a forum for meaningful action. While the UN Human Rights Council does provide a space for dialogue, it has been compromised by the inclusion of states with some of the worst human rights records. These nations often use their membership to deflect attention from their own abuses or to weaken resolutions that would hold them accountable. The organization’s credibility has thus been severely damaged as its moral authority is eroded by the very actors who should be held to account.

In addition, the rise of regional power dynamics, shifting global alliances and the growth of non-state actors in the realm of international law have further marginalized the role of the UN in shaping global human rights policy. While regional organizations like the European Union, African Union and even the International Criminal Court have taken steps to address human rights abuses more effectively, the UN has become increasingly sidelined. As states look beyond the UN for leadership on human rights issues, the organization’s relevance continues to decline.

The failure of the UN to act decisively and meaningfully in response to human rights violations is not simply a failure of bureaucratic process but rather a deeper reflection of the challenges posed by an increasingly fragmented and multipolar world. In the context of global power struggles, shifting economic interests and the growing influence of non-state actors, the UN’s ability to protect the human rights of individuals around the world has diminished substantially. While the ideals of the UN remain noble, its structural and operational flaws, combined with an international system that places the interests of powerful states above the protection of human dignity, make it increasingly ineffective in addressing the critical human rights challenges of our time.

I hope that's helpful.

16/12/2024 08:36:34 pm

Thank you, Paul - very helpful. Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful and well-informed reflection and critique of the UN. I find that very useful to understand the dynamics that are, sadly, rendering the UN increasingly ineffective.

Gill M

13/12/2024 06:24:10 pm

This is a fantastic piece Nick - your writing is powerful. I’m sorry you think that you wish you could have done more. I am sure you were doing everything you could at that time 🙏❤️

16/12/2024 08:33:46 pm

Thank you for such warm encouragement on the blog, Gill. To be honest, I was hopelessly idealistic at the time and equally naiive about what would be needed, realistically, to achieve fundamental change. As a friend who was also involved at the time reflected when looking back, 'We were driven more by instinct than strategy.' Or in the words of Canadian rock band Rush, 'Innocence gave us confidence to go up against reality.' Having said that, I'm pleased I can look back and say to my own conscience that I did at least *try* to do something. (https://www.nick-wright.com/blog/i-did-try)