Human Rights in Syria

In August 2013, rebel forces in Syria killed as many as 190 civilians and seized more than 200 hostages during a military offensive.  A report by the US-based group says that deaths occurred in villages inhabited by members of President Bashar al-Assad’s minority Alawite sect near the costal city of Latakia.  The report stated that the findings strongly suggest crimes against humanity were committed.  Human Rights Watch conducted an onsite investigation and interviewed more than 30 people including survivors and combatants on both sides.  "Eight survivors and witnesses described how opposition forces executed residents and opened fire on civilians, sometimes killing or attempting to kill entire families who were either in their homes unarmed or fleeing from the attack, and at other times killing adult male family members, and holding the female relatives and children hostage"  The report also states that rebels executed or unlawfully killed at least 67 of the 190 dead civilians who were identified.  A doctor at a hospital in Latakia said several of the bodies had multiple gunshot wounds, stab wounds, or had been decapitated.  Some were burnt or had their feet bound.  

Human rights are commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simple because she or he is a human being.  The attacks again civilians in Syria are devastating.  The people living in this area are being treated unfairly and fear losing their life everyday.  The way that these people are being killed is showing that the rebel forces do not care who they are killing. They have been killing whole families with multiple gun shot and stab wounds.  The United nations and ally nations should be stepping in and helping support Syria against these rebel forces.  The people living in Syria should not have to  feel like they are unsafe in their homes.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24486627

Historical Perspective of Human Rights

The idea of human rights have been around for many centuries.  John Locke was one of the European philosophers that developed the concept of natural rights, which is the notion that people are naturally free and equal.  Locke believed natural rights were derived from divinity since humans were creations of God.  The United States Declaration of Independence included concepts of natural rights and states “that all en are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  In the 18th and 19th century William Lloyd Garrison wrote in a newspaper called The Liberator which main purpose was to try and convince leaders in the great cause of human rights.  After World War I the League of Nations was established.  The League of Nations goal included disarmament, preventing war through collective security, settling disputes between countries through negation, diplomacy and improving global welfare.  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a non binding declaration that was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.  The UDHR urges member nations to promote a number of human, civil, economic, and social rights asserting these rights are apart of the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.  Even though every person should have human rights many nations do not treat their citizens with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  This is still an ongoing problem today.