Readers’ thoughts on human rights abuses and imprisoned slavery victims

Welcome to openDemocracy’s weekly reader comments round-up. We receive so many carefully considered messages about our work, it seems a shame to keep them to ourselves.

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These comments have been edited for clarity, accuracy and length, and aren’t necessarily a reflection of openDemocracy’s editorial position.

Re: ‘Worse than business as usual’: EU overlooks Uganda’s attack on human rights

The EU, like any supranational organisation, should take a strong stand against the abuse of human rights in non-EU countries. But at the same time, it needs to take care of abuses in its own backyard!

Currently, EU states are overlooking – if not executing and colluding in – abuses within their borders, from suppressing or restricting freedom of speech and assembly to abusing the rights of asylum seekers as defined in the Geneva Convention, among others.

The EU must also take a strong stance of non-tolerance against the genocide being carried out by the Israeli state, stop supplying arms to Israel and make Israel adhere to international law. Too readily do EU states punish those who speak out against the criminality of the Israeli state. The EU cannot operate a double standards strategy against the abuse of human rights in the Global North and Global South, where the latter is seen as the world region in which human rights abuses occur most commonly. –Wadia Khursheed

Yes, the EU should absolutely take a stronger stance on human rights in non-EU countries, and that includes the UK! –David Palmer [Editor’s note: David was responding to our weekly poll, which is sent to subscribers of our Saturday newsletter. To subscribe and have your say each week, click here.]

When the EU or any other wealthy political group defines human rights, it does so from its own perspective. The United Nations says: “Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.”

Like world peace, human rights are an admirable desire. I suggest the EU looks at its own performance at home and abroad against the UN objectives before lecturing others. –Robert Dubsky

Read the original article here.

Re: Hundreds of modern slavery victims locked up in England’s prisons

There is no sign that the Labour government intends to do anything to reform the Home Office, which has long served as a tool of a wannabe police state and is a haven for xenophobes.

Surely it is time to stop locking up vulnerable refugees and immigrants and start treating them like human beings. It would also free up prison space to lock up violent far-right agitators. –Mick Miles

Read the original article here.

Re: US elections: Where does Kamala Harris stand on Gaza?

Palestinians must have a separate, independent state. Kamala Harris must be vocal about the two-state vision she vowed. –Mashud Haque

She is another genocide-enabler. Wake up, America –Oscar

Read the original article here.