Human rights: a selective right?

Abstract

Perhaps the most significant goal in the world today is to make everyone fully aware of their rights. To end the abuse of rights the first and necessary step is to create rights awareness. By mobilizing the media to spread human rights awareness a positive transformation can take place that would not only empower individuals, groups and marginalized communities to stand up but speak out and protect themselves. There seems to be a systematic effort underway to eliminate the voices of dissent. Hundreds of such incidents are taking place which reveal the direct involvement of law enforcing or the powers that be in silencing these voices. It is within this framework that this paper examines the ‘selective approach’ of the powers that be in curtailing the free expression of these activists in communicating and enlightening the deprived and marginalised communities and aims to contribute to help strengthen advocacy and better understanding of human rights issues.