Minority Rights Essay, Research Paper

Minority: A racial, spiritual, or other group regarded as being different from the larger group of which it is portion ( Webster & # 8217 ; s Dictionary ) . Should the bulk, defined merely as the larger of the smaller, be given more rights to authorities concerns than minorities? Should size regulate the determinations of the state? Some persons believe that the desires of the bulk are more of import than the protection of minority rights. Others believe that minority rights must be protected at all costs to guarantee the positions of every citizen are non ignored. A bulk person may inquire why this is such an of import issue when, ne’er holding been portion of the minority, has ne’er faced the challenges of category differentiation. The protection of minority rights is a pressure concern because possible societal struggle can originate through repression of those rights. Presently in East Central Europe, legion minorities are at hazard and several parts could see cultural tensenesss lifting to bring forth yet more struggles if nil is done to protect the rights of these minorities. It is esstential that authorities protection is in topographic point throughout the universe to ease the civil agitation. However, minorities should non be granted profuse protection that could take to the misdemeanor of bulk rights. If possible, a average must be attained so that the rights of all citizens, bulk and minority, are expressed and cared for. Respect for human rights and for the cardinal freedoms of everyone, irrespective of their race, sex, or faith, is of basic importance for both persons and groups. Therefore, authoritiess should protect minority rights to such an extent that the minorities can non negatively impact the well being of others. It is the authoritiess duty to organize a society in which minorities have equal entree to take part in societal, economic, political, and cultural personal businesss. It is true that Canada is an equal chance state for both minority and bulk persons, but it has non ever been so broad. Although our hereafter is traveling nearer to a state that protects minority groups, our yesteryear is full of adversities and favoritism towards those really same minority persons. Womans were one time considered a minority without the same rights we enjoy today. After decennaries of battle and male chauvinist attitudes, adult females could claim advancement in belongings rights, divorce and kid detention Torahs, employment and educational chances, and increased societal freedoms. However, it was non until 1918 that adult females were giving the same right to vote as work forces through the success and consciousness of the Women & # 8217 ; s Suffrage Movement. Those of Nipponese lineage were besides considered a minority and, although born in Canada, had really small authorities protection for their rights. In Canada & # 8217 ; s worst systemic favoritism, Nipponese Canadians watched as their civil and human rights were abolished by the same authorities in topographic point to protect them during and after World War II. Their places and concerns were taken off from them as they were sent to concentration cantonments for false pretences. Furthermore, it was non until 1949 that Canadians of Nipponese lineage were enfranchised. Other suppressed racial minority groups in Canada & # 8217 ; s past include Aboriginal Canadians, Chinese, South Asian, and African Americans. Undoubtedly our yesteryear is full of favoritism against minorities, however our hereafter is traveling towards prosperity and protection for all. It is the responsibility of the federal authorities to protect the rights of each of these people whether they are black, white, Asiatic, Native American, conservative, broad, or socialist. Persons belonging to minorities have the right to take part efficaciously in determinations refering the minority to which they belong or the parts in which they live. The federal authorities demands to assist guarantee that each individual is given a opportunity to take a life comparable to that of a member of the majority.Compared to its yesteryear, Canada & # 8217 ; s present appears to be rid of minority favoritism. Even though minority rights have improved due to the attempts of lobbyists and consciousness groups, Canada must non halt at that place. Even in this twenty-four hours of freedoms of address, look, faith, and thought, minority rights still beg the protection of authoritiess as new issues arise. Minority can besides be defined as & # 8220 ; the province or period of being under legal age & # 8221 ; ( Webster & # 8217 ; s Dictionary ) . Therefore, the rights of kids fall into a minority grouping. Some people may reason that kids should be placed under the exclusive attention of their parent or defender and it is these individuals who should find their protection and rights. Other persons will challenge that kids have the same moral rights as any other individual and in turn demand protection against any injury that may bechance them under the attention of these persons or otherwise. Child maltreatment, sexual maltreatment and kid erotica are merely a few illustrations of the offenses against kids in our modern society. The Protective Service, the Child Abuse Legislation and the Sexual Exploitation of Children Act are illustrations of authorities protection that have proven to be highly helpful to the rights of those minority persons it defends. There is besides excessively much favoritism against such minorities as homophiles in our universe

today. They are denied the same rights as bulk heterosexual twosomes such as the rights to a legal

marriage, tax rebates and spousal benefits including health care and dental care. Their minority status makes them a target for hate crimes and prejudice. It is true that some people see them as being different; a non-acceptable part of society who deserve no government protection, but as people, they are entitled to equality, freedom, and justice regardless of sexual orientation. It is essential that governments undertake measures to promote equality and freedom and that they take steps to combat such hate, prejudice, and discrimination. Similarly, minority groups are not just restricted to humans. Animals should also be protected by governments against unlawful medical testing, murder for the fur and medicinal trade and abuse. Lobbying efforts by animal advocacy groups have resulted in trapping restrictions in numerous countries and an end to federal fur industry subsidies but it’s simply not enough. Defenseless animals require additional government aid in order to survive. Their rights should not be ignored. The federal government has an obligation to protect the rights of its country’s inhabitants; human, animal and environmental. For we are all affected by the actions of one another. In order to ensure fair and equal rights for all national minorities, protection of individual rights must be maintained.In democratic countries, such as Canada, it is even more important that the rights of minority groups are upheld. Minorities frequently find democratic, majority rule processes to be extremely threatening. The danger is that the majority will use it’s power to win elections, and then in most cases, take away the rights of the minority. This is why effective means for protecting minority rights are essential to the success of any democratic process. If the minority is suppressed it will eventually lead to an uprising, civil riots, or possibly a revolution. When basic rights are stripped from minorities, the minority eventually refuses to abide by the laws set forth by the majority. Therefore, although the rights of the majority are important, the rights of the minority cannot be forgotten. An equilibrium must be reached in which the rights and freedoms of both minorities and the majority are met.In the discussion of minority rights one must not forget the struggles throughout Eastern Europe. Differences between majority rule and minority identity has been an ongoing battle for decades and continues into the new Millennium. Since Sunday October 1, 2000, thirty-five Palestinian citizens of Israel have been killed in clashes with Israeli police in the Arab towns of Umm el Fahem, Jat, Nazareth, Ma’awia, Arrabe, Sakhnin, Kufr Manda, and Kufr Kana. The deaths were the result of the police’s brutal attempts to contain protests against minority persecution. How can one believe majority will justifies the deaths of others? Minority groups are entitled to the protection of the government, yet clashes between demonstrators and Israeli police remain ongoing. Minority rights in Yugoslavia are continuously at risk and potential conflict is continuing between such minorities as the Bosniaks (Muslims), Roma, Vlachs and ethnic Albanians. Futhermore, as a vulnerable minority group, opportunities for Muslim women in India raise concerns over access to education rights and work opportunities. Governments must intervene and allow protection against such injustices. Although such organizations as Minority Rights International fight valiantly for equality, personal minority freedoms continue to be severely restricted. In fact, elections in Egypt are rigged and religious persecution still exists in the country. Minority rights were denied for years under the leadership of Adolf Hitler throughout Germany in the early 1930’s. Hitler spread his propaganda of racial hatred and contempt for democracy. He replaced all labor unions with one Nazi-controlled German Labor Front, banned all political parties (except for the Nazi party), and systematically installed Nazi ideals within the government and the courts. The Nazi power controlled the economy, the media, and cultural activities. Thousands of Jewish minorities were stripped of their civil rights and sent to concentration camps where they were tortured or killed. Where the government protection failed in the past, it can succeed in the present. In East Central Europe, ethnic and religious minorities demand respect and protection for their cultural and religious traditions. The government must provide such protection in the promotion of inter-ethnic understanding and peaceful coexistence.Global diversity of ethnic and racial minorities is a celebrated accomplishment. There are many different cultures throughout the world, ranging from Japanese to South African; Arab to Native American. However, it is essential that governments protect minority rights to the fullest extent in order for peace and order to be maintained throughout society. Extension of protection of minority rights to such groups as children, homosexuals, women, racial cultures, the environment and even animals is a must in creating a society of peace, equality and basic standards of life. As long as one class does not contain the bulk of governmental power, nor inflict harm or judgment upon the lesser, society can govern peacefully. Therefore, governments should protect minority rights to such an extent that the minorities cannot negatively affect the well being of others.