Act Towards One Another in a Spirit of Brotherhood

The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) contains 30 separate articles each addressing a specific right that we all have. Article 1 reads: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

These are beautiful words and most people would probably agree that We should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Unfortunately, statistics show we are not doing so well in this regard.

Global Estimates on Modern Slavery in 2017, showed on any given day there were likely to be more than 40 million men, women, and children who were being forced to work against their will under threat or who were living in a forced marriage that they had not agreed to, [not to mention sex trafficking.] source: un.org/en/academic-impact/fighting-modern-slavery-through-awareness-and-training

Today, there are thousands of victims of terrorism and their families scattered in all regions of the world, struggling in their solitude with the scars of trauma and injury. source: un.org/victimsofterrorism/en/about/messages-un-victims-terrorism

According to the most recent estimates, 10 percent of the world’s population or 734 million people lived on less than $1.90 a day. source: un.org/en/global-issues/ending-poverty

In contemporary conflicts, up to 90 percent of casualties are civilians, mostly women, and children. Women in war-torn societies can face devastating forms of sexual violence. source: un.org/en/global-issues/peace-and-security

Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent, and devastating human rights violations in our world today.

• 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence.
• Women and girls are disproportionately subjected to violence, including femicide, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, trafficking, and harmful practices.

source: un.org/en/spotlight-initiative/index.shtml

While these statistics are alarming, they are used to illustrate that we have far to go for all humankind to act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. Members of our human family are living in horrific conditions every day. Their human rights and dignity are violated with indiscriminate violence. It is simply not ok!

What can you do?

First, know that you can make a difference and that your actions matter. Practice this particular human right in your daily life by how you interact with and treat every person you meet. And of course, know all 30 of your human rights and educate others to do the same.

For a free online course, visit: https://www.youthforhumanrights.org/course

Definitions from: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

All: every member, the whole amount, everybody, everything

Human Beings: person: a man, woman or child

Free: not subject to the control or domination of another

Equal: like for each member of a group, class, or society

Dignity: the quality of being worthy of honor or respect

Rights: the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled

Endowed: to provide with something freely or naturally

Reason: the power of the mind to think and understand in a logical way

Conscience: a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts; the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being morally right or wrong

Spirit: the activating or essential principle influencing a person

Brotherhood: fellowship (quality or state of being comradely); alliance (an association to further the common interests of the members