By Benedict Rogers
Today is International Human Rights Day and the 76th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
And yet across Asia and the world, human rights are in tatters or under threat: trampled on, repressed, violated and undermined. Arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and slavery — all prohibited under the Universal Declaration — are widespread in Asia and beyond.
Freedom of expression, association, assembly, religion or belief, and the right to a fair trial — all protected under the Universal Declaration — are widely violated or denied across Asia and beyond.
In Asia alone, at least two genocides — of the Uyghurs in China and the Rohingyas in Myanmar — continue with impunity, the perpetrators so far unchecked.
Crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other atrocity crimes continue to be perpetrated in Myanmar, North Korea, Tibet, and in the form of forced organ harvesting in China.
Religious persecution is rife, against every religious minority somewhere: whether it is Muslims in Myanmar, India, or China, Buddhists in Tibet, or Christians across the continent, freedom of religion or belief — a right for everyone, everywhere — is a right denied to everyone somewhere.
Hong Kong — once one of Asia’s most open cities — is now a Beijing-controlled police state, with all basic freedoms trashed
As we look across Asia, we see closed societies doubling down; repressive, authoritarian regimes intensifying their brutal dictatorship; and tensions between the people and the regimes exacerbated. We see wars resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands, and communal conflicts threatening death and destruction. We see women raped, trafficked and sold, and children enslaved.
And at the same time, we also see democracy and freedom on the back foot.
In South Korea last week, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt at martial law was a shocking setback for one of the region’s most successful and dynamic democracies. Thankfully, it was rebuffed — for now — by parliament, which was a reassertion of democracy. However, the failure to impeach President Yoon after such a disgraceful act puts that at risk.
Taiwan, another of the region’s most vibrant democracies, faces escalating threats from China. If we believe in the human rights set out in the Universal Declaration, which we celebrate today, we must all do everything we can to stand with Taiwan.
Hong Kong — once one of Asia’s most open cities — is now a Beijing-controlled police state, with all basic freedoms trashed. Today, there is no freedom of expression, assembly, or association anymore.
I used to live in Hong Kong, and before the imposition of Beijing’s draconian National Security Law in 2020, I used to speak with dozens of friends in the city several times a week. Today, I am not in contact with anyone in Hong Kong directly anymore — either because they are in jail, or in exile, or because I do not want to endanger them.
Two days ago, Hong Kong’s most prominent dissident — and devout Catholic — Jimmy Lai turned 77 and spent his fifth consecutive birthday in solitary confinement in jail. Three weeks ago, 45 former democratically elected legislators and activists were sentenced to particularly harsh prison terms.
So on International Human Rights Day, we ought to be redoubling our efforts.
The barbaric crime against humanity of forced organ harvesting was being perpetrated across China
We should be supporting Myanmar’s courageous pro-democracy movement and demanding the release of its democratically-elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and all political prisoners. We should be working to cut supplies of fuel and finance to the illegal military regime that is bombing its own people, and ensuring that the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for the arrest of the dictator General Min Aung Hlaing leads to his downfall.
We must remind the world of the conclusions and recommendations of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity in North Korea, over a decade ago.
On International Human Rights Day, we ought to be asking the UN and its Secretary-General Antonio Guterres this question: what have you done about it? The answer will be not much. Our response: Why not and what will you do now? North Korea, after all, is a country where all 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are violated.
We must remind the world of the conclusions of the independent China Tribunal, chaired by the distinguished British barrister Sir Geoffrey Nice KC over five years ago, on the crime against humanity of forced organ harvesting in China. That tribunal concluded that beyond reasonable doubt, the barbaric crime against humanity of forced organ harvesting was being perpetrated across China.
This Human Rights Day, is it not time to review the judgment and explore how we hold the perpetrators of such crimes accountable?
And we must remember that, four years ago, the independent tribunal into the atrocities committed against the Uyghurs, also chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice KC delivered its judgment and concluded that these crimes do amount to genocide. It is time to re-read the tribunal’s judgment and act accordingly.
We should remember Hong Kong’s political prisoners: not only the well-known ones, such as Jimmy Lai, Joshua Wong, Chow Hang-tung, and the 45 former legislators and activists but also those whose names may not be known to us but are behind bars simply for peaceful protest and pro-democracy campaigning.
We should be holding screenings all over Asia of the remarkable documentary about Jimmy Lai, titled The Hong Konger. And everyone should read the new biography by my friend Mark Clifford, titled The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong’s Greatest Dissident, And China’s Most Feared Critic.
There are many other human rights violations in the region to consider as well
As Catholics, we should be urging Pope Francis to speak out and pray for Jimmy Lai, and for all Christians under persecution in Hong Kong and China. The pope should listen to Nina Shea’s latest podcast on religious freedom in China.
We should light candles and say prayers today and in Masses throughout the week, for Jimmy Lai, for Aung San Suu Kyi, and for all of Asia’s prisoners of conscience. We should ensure that Jimmy Lai never has to spend another birthday in prison again — and that by next year, he is freed and able to celebrate his birthday with loved ones and friends.
And we should celebrate and strengthen the region’s democracies. To mark International Human Rights Day, in addition to watching or screening the film about Jimmy Lai, a remarkable new film produced by my friend Vanessa Hope about Taiwan and its former president Tsai Ing-wen — Invisible Nation — deserves to be spread far and wide.
Of course, there are many other human rights violations in the region to consider as well. I have not mentioned Vietnam, Laos, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and beyond.
This International Human Rights Day let’s take the fight forward. It often feels like we are on the back foot. But freedom is the spirit of humankind, and that spirit is universal. The clue is in the first word of the United Nation’s human rights declaration.
Across Asia, where people are in jail for their political or religious beliefs, or face torture, sexual violence, trafficking, slavery, or death, let us remember them and fight for them.
Across Asia, where people are displaced by war, injured or bereaved by bombardment, or at risk of assassination, execution, persecution, crimes against humanity, or genocide, let us stand with them and ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are held to account.
And across Asia, whether in countries where human rights are completely denied or in those that have some freedom but face increasing threats, let us resolve to defend, protect, and indeed promote them.
Human rights are for everyone, everywhere — throughout Asia and beyond. – UCA News
*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.
