Today we will look at the final article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We hope that in the last 30 days, you have become more aware of how each of the rights and freedoms outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have been violated by the Sri-Lankan Government.
Article 30: Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein
Click here to watch a Video on Article 30, No One Can Take Away Your Human Rights
Despite the fact that no state, group or individual has the right to take away the rights and freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we have seen how the Sri-Lankan state government has violated every single right. In terms of geopolitics, Power is achieved through organizing, occupying and administering space. The occupation and colonialization of Tamil lands by the Sri-Lankan Government is a way in which Sri-Lanka hopes to attain power.
Sinhalese and Tamils are separate from one another, geographically, politically, ideologically and culturally. Living separately and being governed independently allowed each group the freedom to cultivate their separate language, culture, and religion without discrimination. With separate governing entities, the rights and freedoms of both groups can be protected; the discrimination policies and ideologies have only been able to materialize because of the power imbalance between the Tamils and Sinhalese. Under the system instilled by the British colonial powers, the Sinhalese populations were given political power that allowed them to enact discriminatory policies, and create a nation of Buddhist-Sinhalese chauvinism. Taught about invalidation ideologies and theories of racial supremacy by British literature, the Sinhalese elite felt that they, who shared most resemblance to the European superior race, should be the ones to rule the island, and have thus embarked on a bloody campaign to wipe out Tamil identity, culture and land. The Sri-Lanka state does not recognize the rights and freedoms outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as being applicable to Tamils. They have, and continue to violate their rights with impunity, and should be held accountable for each and every right violated against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Links to Past Articles:
Article 1: We Are All Born Free & Equal
Article 2: Don’t Discriminate
Article 3: The Right to Life
Article 4: No Slavery
Article 5: No Torture
Article 6: You Have Rights No Matter Where You Go
Article 7: We’re All Equal Before the Law
Article 8:Your Human Rights Are Protected by Law
Article 9: No Unfair Detainment
Article 10: The Right to Trial
Article 11: We’re Always Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Article 12: The Right to Privacy
Article 13: Freedom to Move
Article 14: The Right to Seek a Safe Place to Live
Article 15: Right to a Nationality
Article 16: Marriage and Family
Article 17: The Right to Own Your Things
Article 18: Freedom of Thought
Article 19: Freedom of Expression
Article 20: Right to Assembly and Association
Article 21: The Right to Partake in Governance
Article 22: Right to Social Security
Article 23: Worker’s Rights
Article 24: The Right to Play
Article 25: Food and Shelter for All
Article 26: Right to Education
Article 27: The Right to Participate in Cultural Life
Article 28: The Right to A Fair and Free World
Article 29: Responsibility
Credits:
Ethnicity and Human Rights in Canada, Evelyn Kallen (2003)
Social Inequality and Social Injustice: A Human Rights Perspective, Evelyn Kallen (2004)
Bose, Sumatra (2006). Contested Lands. United States: Harvard University Press.
Little, David. (1994). Sri-Lanka: The Invention of Enmity. Washington: United States of PeacePress.
Ponnambalam, Satchi. (1983) Sri-Lanka: National Conflict and the Tamil Liberation Struggle. New Jersey: Zed Books
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