Student activists gather outside Pathumwan Police Station in Bangkok, Thailand, on 24 June 2015 Associated Press Photo/Sakchai Lalit. All rights reserved.Once again the world is raising a toast to Human Rights Day (10 December) marking almost seven decades since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While many, including young human rights defenders and supporters, vigorously raise their voices observing on their achievements throughout the year, many are finding themselves at risk for speaking up for human rights and freedom of expression. In Asia, many voices have been systemically silenced for merely speaking about this. Human rights belong to every ‘human’ since birth irrespective of who the person is and what they represent, politically or otherwise; a quality that cannot be taken away or given.
Human rights belong to every ‘human’ since birth irrespective of who the person is and what they represent, politically or otherwise; a quality that cannot be taken away or given. Yet across many Asian countries the perception of those defending or promoting human rights are increasingly seen as negative if not pejorative; to many, these two magic words are becoming analogous to toxic narratives. Taking actions for or expressing opinions (peacefully) in the public about human rights are frowned upon, from an uneasy awareness that those actions or views may not correspond to the “official parameters”.
In fact, the civic space is shrinking at an unprecedented rate.
