WHAT’S LAW GOT TO DO WITH DIGNITY: AN INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

Jane Gordon, a co-founder of Sister for Change, a practising barrister and a visiting fellow of London School of Economics came down recently to School of Business and Law to present a talk on “What’s Law Got To Do With Dignity? An Introduction to Human Rights Law” to the law students of KDU University College.

Jane Gordon vented that human rights as a phrase has in recent times become so over-used, employed by so many different politicians in order to justify their action or inaction. Given the fact that the occurrences of violence are increasing, she questioned whether the term holds any value or meaning at all. Sexual abuse, drugs cartel, human trafficking, violence against women and children are becoming more rampant and these violations of human rights are happening worldwide. Local laws were enacted as a response to the atrocities, but she queried whether the human rights contain universally binding principles or is it simply a useful tool for political rhetoric?

Speaking in an assertive voice with emotion, Jane said that “human rights is a particular world view. It says that each one of us counts, each one of us matters. We are all equally deserving of respect. And this respect is due not on account of what we do or how we look, where we come from or what colour we are, nor is it because of what religion we follow, what gender we are or what ethnic or national group we come from. It is quite simply on account of our human existence - the fact that we are.” Jane has spent much of her life honing the principles of human rights as she believes that “human rights demands that we acknowledge each other as individual persons entitled to esteem because of our one common attribute – our humanness – our humanity.”

With the extreme violence occurring in Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia and so many other countries, Jane remain committed and tenacious to continue advocating for human rights worldwide; that is to put an end to the culture of impunity. Jane expressed her views with a conviction emphasizing that all human being are born free and equal in dignity and rights. “Equality is the golden thread that runs through the Human Right instrument and the fight for human rights is very long and hard. Human rights will be empty if they cannot be adequately protected and enforced.”

The students of KDU University College are encouraged to make the world a better place to live. We believe that a little effort goes a long way to combat violence and create a harmonious society.