HUMAN RIGHTS FREE, EQUAL IN DIGNITY AND RIGHTS

For millennia – generations upon generations – people have been waging war against each other. Injustices between different communities, religions, genders, nations, and classes. Yet there have also been solidarities – declarations – of those who recognize the moral significance of humanity.

Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Narges Mohammadi, Eleanor Roosevelt – they all have one thing in common: the avant-garde, solidaristic, courageous fight for human rights. Natural rights, regardless of nationality, gender, or religion, for which there should be no need for an avant-garde struggle, and such struggles should, therefore, seem paradoxical. And yet, this is not an antinomy, but a reflection of reality. The history of humanity. Rights that are not reserved for everyone, as there have always been "the stronger" and "the weaker," the majorities and the minorities. Ideological groups seeking a pure unity and standing against the individual freedom and dignity of the human being.

On December 10, 1948 – 1,312 days or almost three and a half years after WWII – former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, as Chair of the Human Rights Commission, established the charter Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Her legacy. The "First Lady of the World" dedicated herself until her death to the acceptance and implementation of the rights outlined in the Declaration.

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right – you'll be criticized anyway. You will be damned if you do, and damned if you don't," Eleanor Roosevelt's words.

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HUMAN – an acronym full of significance

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Optimists, realists, pessimists. Every person has a different perspective on the meaning of a word. Some see the glass as half full, while others view it as half empty. Similarly, the word "HUMAN" carries a concentrated amount of substantial terms.

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Here are some terms that can be understood as positive or neutral:

H – as Hope, Humanity

U – as Unity, Uphold

M – as Morality, Migration

A – as Advocacy, Autonomy

N – as Necessities, Nondiscrimination

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The promotion and protection of human rights is preceded by one thing: Hope. It plays an important role in the fight for justice and the improvement of living conditions. Humanity emphasizes the shared bond between all people. It highlights the value of human dignity, empathy, and solidarity.

The cooperation and unity of all people, expressed through Unity. One whole. One. Uphold – to maintain – "to uphold human rights." The preservation and defense of all human rights.

Principles of right, ethical action: Morality. The recognition of human dignity and equality, based on moral beliefs about what is just and fair. Migration – Migration – Migrants and refugees often require special protection to uphold their fundamental rights, such as asylum, safety, and access to resources, especially in foreign countries where they may not speak the language.

The promotion of human rights through political or social campaigns, lobbying, and public awareness: Advocacy. Autonomy – the fundamental principle of human rights. The right of an individual to make decisions about their own life and to exercise their own freedom without external control or coercion.

Every person has basic needs for food, water, shelter, and healthcare, which are essential for survival and human dignity: Necessities. Nondiscrimination – another fundamental principle of human rights. This principle states that all people, regardless of origin, gender, religion, or other characteristics, should be treated equally.

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Also, here are some terms with negative connotations:

H – as Harassment, Hindrance

U – as Underprivileged

M – as Minority, Marginalization

A – as Abuse

N – as Neglect

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Harassment, bullying, as well as discrimination and violence: Harassment. Hindrance – obstruction – the exercise of rights, which is made more difficult or prevented. Associated with laws, practices, or societal conditions that hinder the full realization of a person's human rights.

Underprivileged – people or groups, often minorities, who live in poverty or are disadvantaged, and are frequently mentioned in discussions on social justice and human rights.

Vulnerable minority groups, such as religious, ethnic, or cultural minorities, whose rights are often at the center of many human rights debates: Minority. Marginalization – a process in which certain groups or individuals are pushed to the margins of society and are excluded from basic rights and resources.

Abuse – human rights violations often involve forms of abuse or mistreatment, such as physical and emotional violence, discrimination, and exploitation. It also involves the undermining of an individual's dignity and rights.

Neglect – the neglect of rights or needs that people are entitled to. Neglecting human rights is nothing less than a violation of human rights.

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Other words, such as Healing, Unalienable, Mentoring, Mobilization, Amnesty, Access, Accountability, Arbitration, Asylum, Nurture, Nations, Narrative, Network, Non-Governmental, and many others, could also be used here. Particularly those who have been persecuted or tortured in the past have a different perspective on human rights, their true exercise, as well as their protection and preservation.

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Freedom of the press for human freedom

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Truths and opinions should be allowed to be spread. The opinions of individual journalists, who are themselves citizens of particular countries, should be included. Just as human rights, including freedom of opinion and information, apply to every individual, for journalists, freedom of the press is an additional right.

According to Article 5(1) of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz, GG), every individual is granted freedom of opinion, in speech, writing, and images. This freedom of opinion is also enshrined in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and Article 11(1) of the European Union (EU).

Freedom of the press and the freedom of reporting are also enshrined in the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz, GG) under Article 5(1), but are guided by the respective state press laws – a matter for the individual states.

Journalists are not always safe worldwide. Unlike a press officer, they do not represent the opinion of a company nor are they there to paint the government in a positive light. It is they who make it possible for important global events to be reported. Whether it’s government affairs, issues of war in crisis areas, or the true face of foreign cultures and religions that doesn't fit the implanted dichotomous image, they form the true bridge between all people. It is they who can uncover the truth and serve as a channel for communication to the world, raising awareness of the need to preserve and protect human rights.

The following statistic from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) shows that since 1992, more than 1583 journalists have been killed worldwide. Many of these murders were never investigated, and the perpetrators were not even brought to trial.

Press freedom is also being fought for in other parts of the world. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) works to protect free journalists, especially those from war zones or facing political persecution, as well as to ensure the enforcement of press freedom. Reporters Without Borders was founded in Germany in 1985 as a branch of the French parent organization, Reporters Sans Frontières.

Media professionals and journalists come together to fight for their right to report openly. They are fighting for a human right, and this is still happening in the "progressive," future-oriented 21st century. Investigative reporting is officially allowed, but it often serves to reinforce the positive image of a powerful government.

Lucrative nonsense must (re)find its way to ingenious realism and be subordinated to quality journalism. Journalists must test boundaries – without violating human rights – in order to investigate and report the real truth, thus becoming a true "channel of communication" between all people.