Research:Go back to the list of questions you came up withregarding the contradictions or problems youfound in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Do some research, and find an articlethat addr

PART I: Narrative on Personal Experience on an Article in UDHR

Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Seattle MEPS attack in 2011

Seattle MEPS attack in 2011 happened when I was still in middle school. The attack did not take place as scheduled as the law enforcement was able to contain it even before it took place. My childhood friend Rahma used to offer me company and we spent much of the time together. Bearing in mind we were in the same school. It was not hard to find each other together. When the news was passed that the potential MEPS attackers were Islamic radicals, things changed around our area especially for Rahma. That very evening after school, she stayed indoors without much chatting online. Days following that, most people were giving the family suspicious looks and even some kids teased her at school. Rahma was a Muslim and just like fellow female believers, she had hijab always. This was and still is a mark that was used to identify Muslims. She was born of a Syrian father and Lebanese mother who met after moving to States.

The parents were citizens and so was she but her family got a lot of backslash for being a Muslim. If it’s not the kids picking her at school, it’s the rest who used to give her the looks that are suspicious. The MEPS attack was all over the news and for Muslim families it was hard for them. Rahma and I would still spend time together in school however, this was just a few days to summer break. Her family stayed indoors most of the time to avoid the nasty and unwelcoming looks as well as verbal unnecessary confrontation.

July was fast approaching but there was a bit of unrest around owing to the potential attacks. Bearing in mind it was directed at Federal facility, memories of similar attacks such as 911 would be revived in the media and online. At some point, graffiti writings of something like “Muslims are terrorists” were done on their garage door. The family thereafter left for a summer vacation to somewhere in New Jersey and their house sold a month after. I never heard from her again since they moved and her previous contacts online went unanswered. Discrimination drove the family away and our friendship was halted.

PART II: Question that arises when you look at the articles of the declaration in relation to one another

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has covered human rights that should be observed by nations that subscribe to it. These rights cover various aspects of human life to ensure that each and every person’s dignity is effectively observed. However, a question can be raised on stipulations and application of one Article from a different one’s perspective. That means the application of one Article might raise questions from another’s perspective.

Let’s take Article 12 and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 12 can basically be said to enshrine the concept of right to privacy. It further invites the law to protect against such attacks on the privacy. That means the privacy, honor, reputation of such persons should always be observed according to the Article. With such right being observed, the rights of a person will not be under attack by other persons as well as institutions which might want to interfere. Article 19 on the other hand comes forth with freedom of expression and opinion. That encompasses airing expressions with no interference. It also has receiving sand seeking as well as imparting the information via available media regardless of the limits. The person expressing oneself or passing the opinion as well as soliciting it has no barriers that seek to stop the person. That opens a wide spectrum on what a person a can do while in the course of airing their views through the media/any forum.

The question now boils down to, what will happen when the exercise of freedom of expression and opinion is tantamount to violation of privacy. That aspect draws one to a scenario where a right of privacy is being breached while in the course of enjoying the human right of right to expression. The application of the stipulations of the Articles will at such point be in a deadlock with each party purporting to express their freedom as outlined in the stated in the declaration. A good example can deduce from the internet as the media, Person A who a public figure and a person B who happens to be a blogger. Person B may write an article in their blog about how domestic issues are affecting the operation of public figure while in the course of such person’s duties. However, while doing so, did the same person attack the privacy, honor and reputation of such president enshrined under Article 12?

Let’s take another example of former secret of state Hillary Clinton’s so called private email server. Without dwelling so much into the substance of the emails, the mails were in a private server which means it private under Article 12. Can the person brought up and commented on the emails who be said to be enjoying their opinion, expression, seeking as well as imparting information or breaching privacy, honor and reputation?

The question/problem of the limit of exercise of the rights conferred by the declaration is paramount since enjoyment of an individual’s right at the expense of another is improper and unfair. One person may be enjoying the rights at the expense of the other. Such incidences especially with myriad of internet arenas such as social media have necessitated the question. An individual can publish any information they feel like to other persons in the media. People are feel to express themselves in the social media freely which is basically the rationale behind social media. However, the implications of such expressions even though it’s in line with Article 19 can lead to infringing Article 12 on privacy, honor and reputation.

In summary therefore, the question of limitation of Article 19 applications to avoid infringing Article 12 on privacy clearly evident in the declarations. The limit has not been stated in the declaration which makes some people suffer when others are enjoying their rights and that why it’s a problem. Such a problem can lead to lack of enjoyment of a person’s right since another one is infringing such rights when exercising theirs.