Hard to believe though it is, less than a hundred years ago, over half the British population were considered unfit to vote – men and women fought and died for the right which we now take so lightly. Participating in the life of our democracy is a basic human right that people the world over are still fighting for. The monks’ protest in Burma last year is a poignant example of how people are prepared to put their lives on the line for the right to be governed by elected representatives rather than a military dictatorship. We are lucky to live in a democracy but should never take the liberty that we experience for granted.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that we all, as human beings, have the right to dignity, freedom of speech and belief, and freedom from fear and want. Yet every day we are inundated with more stories of discrimination, humiliation, persecution and desperate and unnecessary poverty from all over the world. Human rights groups are committed to making sure that these abuses do not go unreported or unchallenged. They bring home to people in the UK the human cost of cheap goods, find and rescue child soldiers, report on the crushing of peaceful protests and ensure that the voices of those living in fear because of their race, gender or political beliefs are heard by those of us with the ability to make a change.
Otherinfo:
Taking action!
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Free Burma Campaign day
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Join the Save the Children Campaign
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Join a march / demonstration
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Sign online petitions
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Workshops for younger students to explain politics and importance of voting Form an Amnesty International group and join their campaigns
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Take part in political debates and visit Parliament
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Raise awareness of the issue of child soldiers
Sub-issues
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