Human Rights, Women Rights and Role of Family

Role of a family is most important to achieve human rights in developing countries where governmental role does not directly influence an individual compared to developed societies. In developed societies, government directly involves to achieve human rights during childhood and continue at old age. Whereas in developing societies, family is a decision maker, opportunity creator, education provider and decides weather to involve, travel, gather, visit, make an association, spend money or use property, for woman. Women have no rights to decide, to achieve their goal and no human rights. I have noticed women have been suffering in the name of religion, in the name of culture, tradition, masculinity and superstition. Head of a family never considers women rights.

I have a memory of a bad event in Nepal after announcement of democracy 1990.
There was big rally in a district, organised by a political party. A woman was involving to the rally carring a flag of the party . The same evening, her husband had cut her both hands from the wrist. Dr. Bruce (INF) from England, working in Western Regional Hospital Pokhara attempted to cure her hands but it was late and was not successful to replace the hands. In some societies, head of a family have high power than whole society and governmental institutions. For Instance, I listened to a BBC interview of a Pakistani woman, whose nose had been cut by her husband.Due to social and cultural pressure, She has been living with same husband for 32 years, covering her nose. Some daughters are horrendously stoned by parents (killed by throwing stones in a public places in the name of religion) just because they choose their life partner without parents consent. Banning girls and women from participating in social events, traveling and visiting relatives, hitting, breaking hands, cutting body parts and other mental and physical tortures are common in developing societies, where family members are not concious about human rights and women rights. Women rights violations are going on in developed societies as well in different forms and ways as women rights are not respected by some persons and groups.

Countless women are being killed for dowry in South Asian countries. In every society, there is a new story of murder of young girl in every new year. They are compelled to suffer as they are highly dependent. Neither they have chance to get education, to earn money nor they have rights to take legacy from their parents . But husband's family wants more money or properties as a dowry. They have no any options beside suffering the torture and eventually being the victim of horrible crime i. e. being burnt to death. These kind of situation is a big challenge for human rights activists in developing societies. It is crucial for government to take active action, to make women capable. As girls are deprived of education and cannot stand on their own feet, the society believes the only one way to make life easier for girls is marriage.

There is no guarantee that life is comfortable after marriage because if a man wants to marry second wife, he can leave first wife with children. There are numerous women with children on the streets of developing countries ,who were abandoned by men. Men role is important to make a perfect family and society as well. They have privilege of getting education, job and also have the property rights from parents.

My mind went through a life story of my friend,who was living with three children in a hospital apartment because her husband was working at that hospital. One day, he did not come from his work. She waited whole evening. Next day, she inquired the office and the staff revealed that ' her husband had transferred with a female staff of the same hospital to another district hospital,which was very far from that city. She had no education, no any skills because she had been married when she was only 11 years old. After marriage, she had started working like a slave in her husband's family. When he completed his education and found job, she had a chance to live with her husband for seven years. Eventually, she ended up in street with three small children. There are thousands of stories like this.

It is erroneous for a family, society and nation if women are not capable and are not involved in economical, social and political activities. Women cover the fifty percent citizens in a country. The role of woman has been limited by father, brothers, husband and society in the name of religion, culture and tradition. The conventional rules created thousands of years ago are still followed. Culture should be changed. It can be made comfortable enough, mentally and physically healthier to follow for all followers. It would be disastrous for a society if fifty percent citizens live inside home wearing nice colorful dresses and ornaments or covering whole body and not doing anything. Achieving human rights, free and fair and free of fear atmosphere makes individual confident. Only a confident person is able to create idea, apply idea and perform better. Women rights should be the great subject of concern in a family, sociaty and nation to foster their inner capabilities to enable them to participate in all sectors as a work force of a society. Women rights should be managed and protected by rule of law and should be respected in a family.