International Human Rights Day
Today it is International Human Rights Day. According to William Hague:
"As we enter into the 60th year of the existence of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we must remember that the declaration was not in itself conclusive.
It was a call for continued action and the duty now rests with our generation to ensure that its principles, set out in the spirit of such hope and optimism, will shine brightly forth in places which sadly remain in darkness and shadow to this day".
He is speaking of some foreign countries when he states "will shine brightly forth in places which sadly remain in darkness and shadow to this day".
I agree that we should pursue human rights internationally. But, we need to put our own house in order first. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it is also sending a message to other countries that we don't say one thing and then do the complete opposite at home. Only a good example being shown can we expect others to follow our lead.
The places which I refer to as being in darkness and shadow to this day are our prisons. In particular, it is the plight of the disenfranchised convicted prisoners. It is their human right to vote. And yet, the government has not drafted a Bill to facilitate this. Moreover, neither the Conservative Party nor the LibDems have attacked the government on this failure to do its duty.
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
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