Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #unhumanrights
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I'm at the @UN today to speak about inspiring examples for the future of democracy ✨
The 1948 UN Declaration on Human Rights anchored the idea that democracy = elections.
But what if elections were *not* the heart of democracy? And this idea is limiting our imagination. A 🧵
The 1948 UN Declaration on Human Rights anchored the idea that democracy = elections.
But what if elections were *not* the heart of democracy? And this idea is limiting our imagination. A 🧵
It is relatively recently that democracy has come to be equated with elections.
The Ancient Greeks knew that elections lead to short-termism and polarisation. They mean only a narrow few have true power. In their words, they create oligarchies.
The Ancient Greeks knew that elections lead to short-termism and polarisation. They mean only a narrow few have true power. In their words, they create oligarchies.
In "On Revolution", Hannah Arendt also highlighted this perversion:
"Representative government has in fact become oligarchic government...
What we today call democracy is a form of government where the few rule."
"Representative government has in fact become oligarchic government...
What we today call democracy is a form of government where the few rule."
(start string) Nineteen yrs ago, a truck-bomb with 1-tn TNT changed my life. In the #UN office where I worked in #Iraq, it killed my spouse #Sergio and 21 friends. ‘Til today, no prosecutor or court ever gave us answers: why? B/c the #UN is #immune from prosecution
Ironically,#Sergio was #UN #HumanRights top man.Bomb survivors would like to know why immunity was never waived to bring justice. We are not alone:many withstand #abuse from international organizations’ #abuseofimmunity. Read my story in thread:
Following the impact of #Netflix ‘s movie #SergioNetflix, wanted to share a little about who #SergioVieiradeMello really was but above all, narrate what really happened after 2003 #Baghdad attack.We were a family when the bomb went off
Earlier this week, Ireland misled the UN Human Rights Committee again re symphysiotomies @UNGeneva @UNHumanRightsEU @HeleneTigroudja @MarciaVJKRAN1 @_IHREC @AmnestyIreland @ICCLtweet
Forced symphysiotomy was a policy
From 1944-1984
1/
Forced symphysiotomy was a policy
From 1944-1984
1/
Symphysiotomy was not done to save lives.
Doctors' personal belief systems drove the practice.
It was done as a preferred alternative to
Caesarean section which led to birth control which was prohibited by Rome
2/
Doctors' personal belief systems drove the practice.
It was done as a preferred alternative to
Caesarean section which led to birth control which was prohibited by Rome
2/
The surgery was done for preference in mid labour
Doctors relied on the downward pressure of the head to further open the severed symphysis. Vaginal birth was enforced, despite her partially collapsed pelvis.
3/
Doctors relied on the downward pressure of the head to further open the severed symphysis. Vaginal birth was enforced, despite her partially collapsed pelvis.
3/
BREAKING: A United Nations report into allegations of human rights abuses in the Philippines has concluded that government policies have resulted in systematic violations including killings, arbitrary detentions and vilification of dissent #UNHumanRights (Thread)
On the drug war, the report’s author says the police’s key policy note contained “ominous” & “ill-defined language” such as “neutralising” suspects & coupled with “rhetoric at high levels calling for killings of drug offenders”, it was taken as a permission by the police to kill.
“The findings of the UN are very serious, we find that there are widespread and systematic human rights violations and that there is persistent impunity and we are calling for accountability.” - Ravina Shamdasani - Co-author of report
(String :o) Following positive impact that #Netflix premiere of movie #SergioNetflix, wanted to share a little about who #SergioVieiradeMello really was but above all, narrate what really happened after 2003 #Baghdad attack.We had been together over 3 years when the bomb went off
Sergio was from #RiodeJaneiro. He loved his country & his colorful, hot & humid city of contrasts. His parents travelled the world representing Brazil as diplomats & because of the dictatorship, at 21 began his diplomatic career in #UN from the groundup #SergioNetflix
Myself, a native from Argentina who, in 90s at the age of 18, took a leap of faith to do her studies in the US, got into finance in New York, yet found a higher calling in #UnitedNationsHQ with the hope of making a contribution to improve lives of the most vulnerable
