AS we celebrate international human rights day today, it is time to look back and take stock of its state. This year is made special with the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the 25th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. Although both declarations were adopted at different times, both emphasise similar notions in that it describes human rights as universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated.

Human rights is put forward as a matter of priority for the international community with the aim to maintain peace and justice in the global arena. Yet, throughout history, the origin of human rights has sparked debate up till today – whether it is rooted in liberal, socialist or “third world” countries. I do not intend to look into the internal contradictions concerning where the notion of human rights came from, rather, I intend to emphasise that rights should be shared equally by everyone regardless of gender, race, nationality and economic background.

The question is, are we heading towards something based on the aspirations of the UDHR and Vienna Declaration, in that everyone, at all times and in all places, are able to enjoy basic human rights?

In recent years in Southeast Asia, human rights have been sorely under pressure. The legitimacy of human rights as a principle has been attacked and the practice of ensuring human rights norms is in retreat. Here in Southeast Asia, nationalistic populist sentiments are on the rise and profiling on racial and religious grounds abound, scarring societies with deepening divisions.

In Malaysia, it has been seven months since Pakatan Harapan has taken over from the Barisan Nasional government on May 9. It has been a rollercoaster ride, not only for the many first-time ministers and MPs, but the journey has been particularly challenging, too, for Malaysians witnessing the country’s democratic transition. The sense of euphoric might be waning and slowly, everyone is getting back to reality.

A noteworthy tug-of-war is playing out in Malaysia, where Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s government’s move to abolish the death penalty and ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) has been met with strong resistance, playing up debate on racial and religious sentiments. The government was forced to make a U-turn on ratifying it, even giving way to the anti-ICERD rally on Saturday and postponing a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) programme to commemorate international human rights day.

Since May, progress in Malaysia has received much attention, for not just from scholars but analysts across the world, where there has been much ongoing discourse about the “disruptive” era that we now live in, with many of the belief that democracy is being seriously challenged, and even losing ground.

What has been taking place shows us that human rights is being challenged, not just in Malaysia, but in many other Southeast Asian countries, like Myanmar, the Philippines, and Cambodia, which faces continuous human rights violations in various forms. The military remains powerful in Myanmar, and autocrats are doing everything they can to stay in power in Cambodia. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has sunk the country – once a shining example of democray in the region – to a new low.

Although the nature and circumstances vary from one country to another, things have gotten worse from a human rights standpoint in nearly all of them. While the internal conditions vary from country to country, there is one reality that affects all 11 countries in Southeast Asia – an assertive China and the counterbalancing of power by the United States. Changing dynamics with China and the US are aggravating the region’s deterioration in human rights, although it is not easy to directly link either country with human rights abuses.

In my attempt to take stock of the state of human rights today, I wish to affirm that rights and politics are not static categories. Central to this perspective is the need for an understanding of the dynamic interrelationship of rights and politics, as well as the dual and contradictory potential of rights discourse to hinder or advance political development.

What is evident is that, although Southeast Asia has seen economic growth, inequality has also increased, and this scenario will lead to insecurity and weakening support for democratic institutions. One popular argument is that the elites have taken advantage of identity politics to generate conflict as a way to maintain power and put pressure on leaders for quick solutions.

Human rights matter in many ways. In commemorating international human rights day today, it must be remembered that international standards for human rights apply to all, whether or not a particular country has ratified human rights instruments. Politicians, too, should educate themselves on human rights and try to understand the people that they serve to better articulate the people’s interests and grievances. – December 10, 2018.

* Khoo Ying Hooi reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.