With the theme of 'End Torture Now', the Universal Human Rights Day was observed here on Saturday like other parts of the world with a renewed pledge that all out efforts will be made for ensuring respect to human beings and protection of their rights by eliminating violence of all types.
Speakers at different functions held to mark the day, said the violence affects the lives of millions of men, women and children world wide, in all socio-economic and educational circles.
"Violence against women is a universal problem that must be universally condemned. Domestic violence alone is also on the rise. Violence against women constitutes a violation of basic human rights and is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace", they pointed out.
It may be mentioned that on December 10, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has become a universal standard for defending and promoting human rights. Every year on December 10, Human Rights Day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration.
A spokesman for the Directorate of Human Rights, Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights, said that different NGOs and organisations arranged programmes to mark the day in which speakers emphasised the need for promoting respect to human rights so as to create a just society.
Speakers in these functions were of the unanimous view that all human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms.
According to speakers, son preference affects women in many countries, particularly in Asia. Its consequences can be anything from fetall or female infanticide to neglect of the girl child over her brother in terms of such essential needs as nutrition, basic health care and education. Early marriage, especially without the consent of the girl, is another form of human rights violation. Early marriage followed by multiple pregnancies can affect the health of women.
They also said that sexual harassment constitutes a form of sex discrimination. "It not only degrades the woman", but reinforces and reflects the idea of non-professionalism on the part of women workers, who are consequently regarded as less able to perform their duties than their male colleagues", they said.
They said that raising awareness on the issue of violence against women, and educating boys and men to view women as valuable partners in life, in the development of a society and in the attainment of peace are just as important as taking legal steps to protect women's human rights.
According to religious scholars, Islam is the religion of peace and tranquillity and by following Islamic teachings, goal of intolerance free society could be achieved. The first regular international manifesto of fundamental human rights is found in the last sermon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), in which the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) imposed a duty upon every Muslim to give rights to all other human beings and to protect their honour, their life and property, ie the right of leading an honourable and pious life, freedom of expression, getting instant and cheap justice, rights of protection of social, political and economic rights as well as rights of living as an independent life according to the creed and belief.
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