The Cost of Inconsistency Aldo Marchiano Kaligis og Guðbjörg Lára Másdóttir skrifa 18. október 2023 10:01 The unfolding tragedy in Gaza is undeniably heart-wrenching. Our hearts go out to the Palestinians who have lost their lives during Israel's recent invasion. While the world watches, we are compelled to reflect on the larger issue at play: the glaring double standards in how we address human rights violations. In this article, we delve into the ongoing conflict in Gaza and its implications, focusing on the disproportionate responses and selective condemnation that echo across the global stage. The recent conflict in Gaza traces its origins to 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Israel responded, and the cycle of violence has continued unabated. As of today, more than 1,900 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have tragically lost their lives. The devastating toll on human lives paints a grim picture of the ongoing conflict. In the face of this conflict, the WEIRD (White/Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Developed/Democratic) world has offered its perspectives. Criticisms have flowed, primarily directed at Hamas, citing the number of civilian casualties on the Israeli side. Strikingly, the same level of scrutiny has not been extended to Israel despite its counterattacks being perceived as highly disproportionate. Leaders from WEIRD countries have endorsed Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas's attacks. Iceland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have expressed unwavering support for Israel's actions. However, the glaring omission in their statements is the failure to acknowledge concerns of genocide, crimes against humanity, or apartheid targeting Palestinians. Paradoxically, these statements seem at odds with previous policies and comments. For example, Iceland was the pioneer among Western and Northern European countries in recognizing Palestine as an independent state back in 2011. This recognition extended beyond politics to society, as seen when Iceland's sensational heavy metal Eurovision performance by Hatari involved raising Palestinian flags during the event hosted in Israel in 2019. On the other hand, in 2022, von der Leyen strongly criticized Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, characterizing the attack as "grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability." The double standards applied to Israel's most recent killing spree are not just a matter of rhetoric; they have far-reaching implications for global human rights efforts. The principles of universality, indivisibility, equality, and non-discrimination that underpin human rights may be undermined when responses from WEIRD countries – often dubbed as the champions of human rights – diverge from these ideals. Indonesia provides a pertinent case study, taking inspiration from WEIRD countries' inconsistent responses to take a hypocritical turn when responding to allegations of human rights violations. For example, while vocally expressing concern for Gaza, Indonesia's own human rights issues, particularly in its westernmost region, Papua, have been met with deflection. On 10 October 2023, President Joko Widodo urged "the immediate end of war and violence to avoid further human casualties and damages of property because conflict escalation may give rise to further humanitarian impact" and added, "The root of the conflict, namely the occupation of the territory of Palestine by Israel, must immediately be resolved." However, the statement came against prolonged human rights violations and armed forces occupation by Indonesia in Papua. For decades, Indonesia has conducted military operations in Papua to quell the Papuans' self-independence claims, resulting in an estimated loss of life between 2,000 and 500,000individuals. Experts argue that these campaigns amount to slow genocide. This is substantiated by the demographic shift observed over the years: in the 1970s, Indigenous Papuans constituted 96 percent of the population, yet by 2010, that number had dwindled to just 48 percent. The Indonesian government has consistently denied allegations of human rights violations in Papua, deflecting international concern. In 2019, a government spokesperson expressed displeasureat Papua being included on the formal agenda of the Pacific Islands Forum's leaders' meeting in Tuvalu, warning that this could set a dangerous precedent for external interference in the domestic affairs of other nations. In conclusion, the double standards in addressing human rights issues are not just a matter of diplomatic discourse. These inconsistencies can have severe implications for global justice and the pursuit of accountability. The principles of universality, indivisibility, equality, and non-discrimination should be upheld universally, irrespective of political or strategic interests. As the world grapples with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, we are reminded that the fight for human rights must transcend geopolitical biases and confront the selective application of these principles for the betterment of all. Authors work for Aurora Foundation Sierra Leone and Amnesty International Indonesia. Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Átök í Ísrael og Palestínu Mest lesið Forvarnir á ferð Erlingur Sigvaldason Skoðun Bakpokinn sem þyngist aðeins hjá öðrum Inga Sæland Skoðun Örlög Íslendinga og u-beygja áhrifamesta fjármálamanns heims Snorri Másson Skoðun Það læra börnin sem fyrir þeim er haft Sigurður Örn Hilmarsson Skoðun Fegurð sem breytir skólum Einar Mikael Sverrisson Skoðun Mataræði í stóra samhengi lífsins Birna Þórisdóttir Skoðun Jóhann Páll: Vertu í liði með náttúrunni ekki gegn henni Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson Skoðun Björn Þorsteinsson as Rector - A visionary leader uniting disciplines and driving innovation Marianne Elisabeth Klinke Skoðun Hvað varð um loftslagsmálin? Kamma Thordarson Skoðun Verður Frelsið fullveldinu að bráð? Anton Guðmundsson Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Forvarnir á ferð Erlingur Sigvaldason skrifar Skoðun Vertu meðbyr mannúðar Birna Þórarinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Fegurð sem breytir skólum Einar Mikael Sverrisson skrifar Skoðun Það læra börnin sem fyrir þeim er haft Sigurður Örn Hilmarsson skrifar Skoðun Björn Þorsteinsson as Rector - A visionary leader uniting disciplines and driving innovation Marianne Elisabeth Klinke skrifar Skoðun Verður Frelsið fullveldinu að bráð? Anton Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Til rektorsframbjóðenda: Hvað gerir nýr rektor HÍ við Endurmenntun? Ólafur Stephensen skrifar Skoðun Mataræði í stóra samhengi lífsins Birna Þórisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvað varð um loftslagsmálin? Kamma Thordarson skrifar Skoðun Bakpokinn sem þyngist aðeins hjá öðrum Inga Sæland skrifar Skoðun Örlög Íslendinga og u-beygja áhrifamesta fjármálamanns heims Snorri Másson skrifar Skoðun Ég kýs Magnús Karl sem rektor Bylgja Hilmarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Jóhann Páll: Vertu í liði með náttúrunni ekki gegn henni Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson skrifar Skoðun Tífalt hærri vextir, meiri skuldir - menntastefna stjórnvalda? Júlíus Viggó Ólafsson,Vilhjálmur Hilmarsson skrifar Skoðun Lífið gefur engan afslátt Davíð Bergmann skrifar Skoðun Kolbrún Pálsdóttir sem næsti rektor HÍ Árni Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Vitskert veröld Einar Helgason skrifar Skoðun Draumurinn um hið fullkomna öryggisnet Signý Jóhannesdóttir skrifar Skoðun Sönnunarbyrði og hagsmunaárekstur Arnar Sigurðsson skrifar Skoðun Sem doktorsnemi styð ég Silju Báru til Rektors Háskóla Íslands Eva Jörgensen skrifar Skoðun Sterk og breið samtök – tími til að styrkja rödd minni fyrirtækja Friðrik Árnason skrifar Skoðun Nýjar ráðleggingar um mataræði María Heimisdóttir skrifar Skoðun Börn með fjölþættan vanda Kolbrún Áslaugar Baldursdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvalveiðar eru slæmar fyrir ímynd Íslands Clive Stacey skrifar Skoðun Netöryggi á krossgötum: Hvernig tryggjum við íslenska innviði? Heimir Fannar Gunnlaugsson skrifar Skoðun Í heimi sem samþykkir þjóðarmorð er ekkert jafnrétti Najlaa Attaallah skrifar Skoðun Heilinn okkar og klukka lífsins Birna V. Baldursdóttir ,Heiðdís B. Valdimarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hvað er kona? - Þörf kynjakerfisins til að skilgreina og stjórna konum Arna Magnea Danks skrifar Skoðun Ég styð Ingibjörgu Gunnarsdóttur í stöðu rektors við Háskóla Íslands Herdís Sveinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Silja Bára skilur stjórnsýslu HÍ! Elva Ellertsdóttir,Kolbrún Eggertsdóttir skrifar Sjá meira
The unfolding tragedy in Gaza is undeniably heart-wrenching. Our hearts go out to the Palestinians who have lost their lives during Israel's recent invasion. While the world watches, we are compelled to reflect on the larger issue at play: the glaring double standards in how we address human rights violations. In this article, we delve into the ongoing conflict in Gaza and its implications, focusing on the disproportionate responses and selective condemnation that echo across the global stage. The recent conflict in Gaza traces its origins to 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Israel responded, and the cycle of violence has continued unabated. As of today, more than 1,900 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have tragically lost their lives. The devastating toll on human lives paints a grim picture of the ongoing conflict. In the face of this conflict, the WEIRD (White/Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Developed/Democratic) world has offered its perspectives. Criticisms have flowed, primarily directed at Hamas, citing the number of civilian casualties on the Israeli side. Strikingly, the same level of scrutiny has not been extended to Israel despite its counterattacks being perceived as highly disproportionate. Leaders from WEIRD countries have endorsed Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas's attacks. Iceland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, have expressed unwavering support for Israel's actions. However, the glaring omission in their statements is the failure to acknowledge concerns of genocide, crimes against humanity, or apartheid targeting Palestinians. Paradoxically, these statements seem at odds with previous policies and comments. For example, Iceland was the pioneer among Western and Northern European countries in recognizing Palestine as an independent state back in 2011. This recognition extended beyond politics to society, as seen when Iceland's sensational heavy metal Eurovision performance by Hatari involved raising Palestinian flags during the event hosted in Israel in 2019. On the other hand, in 2022, von der Leyen strongly criticized Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, characterizing the attack as "grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability." The double standards applied to Israel's most recent killing spree are not just a matter of rhetoric; they have far-reaching implications for global human rights efforts. The principles of universality, indivisibility, equality, and non-discrimination that underpin human rights may be undermined when responses from WEIRD countries – often dubbed as the champions of human rights – diverge from these ideals. Indonesia provides a pertinent case study, taking inspiration from WEIRD countries' inconsistent responses to take a hypocritical turn when responding to allegations of human rights violations. For example, while vocally expressing concern for Gaza, Indonesia's own human rights issues, particularly in its westernmost region, Papua, have been met with deflection. On 10 October 2023, President Joko Widodo urged "the immediate end of war and violence to avoid further human casualties and damages of property because conflict escalation may give rise to further humanitarian impact" and added, "The root of the conflict, namely the occupation of the territory of Palestine by Israel, must immediately be resolved." However, the statement came against prolonged human rights violations and armed forces occupation by Indonesia in Papua. For decades, Indonesia has conducted military operations in Papua to quell the Papuans' self-independence claims, resulting in an estimated loss of life between 2,000 and 500,000individuals. Experts argue that these campaigns amount to slow genocide. This is substantiated by the demographic shift observed over the years: in the 1970s, Indigenous Papuans constituted 96 percent of the population, yet by 2010, that number had dwindled to just 48 percent. The Indonesian government has consistently denied allegations of human rights violations in Papua, deflecting international concern. In 2019, a government spokesperson expressed displeasureat Papua being included on the formal agenda of the Pacific Islands Forum's leaders' meeting in Tuvalu, warning that this could set a dangerous precedent for external interference in the domestic affairs of other nations. In conclusion, the double standards in addressing human rights issues are not just a matter of diplomatic discourse. These inconsistencies can have severe implications for global justice and the pursuit of accountability. The principles of universality, indivisibility, equality, and non-discrimination should be upheld universally, irrespective of political or strategic interests. As the world grapples with the ongoing conflict in Gaza, we are reminded that the fight for human rights must transcend geopolitical biases and confront the selective application of these principles for the betterment of all. Authors work for Aurora Foundation Sierra Leone and Amnesty International Indonesia.
Björn Þorsteinsson as Rector - A visionary leader uniting disciplines and driving innovation Marianne Elisabeth Klinke Skoðun
Skoðun Björn Þorsteinsson as Rector - A visionary leader uniting disciplines and driving innovation Marianne Elisabeth Klinke skrifar
Skoðun Til rektorsframbjóðenda: Hvað gerir nýr rektor HÍ við Endurmenntun? Ólafur Stephensen skrifar
Skoðun Tífalt hærri vextir, meiri skuldir - menntastefna stjórnvalda? Júlíus Viggó Ólafsson,Vilhjálmur Hilmarsson skrifar
Skoðun Netöryggi á krossgötum: Hvernig tryggjum við íslenska innviði? Heimir Fannar Gunnlaugsson skrifar
Skoðun Hvað er kona? - Þörf kynjakerfisins til að skilgreina og stjórna konum Arna Magnea Danks skrifar
Skoðun Ég styð Ingibjörgu Gunnarsdóttur í stöðu rektors við Háskóla Íslands Herdís Sveinsdóttir skrifar
Björn Þorsteinsson as Rector - A visionary leader uniting disciplines and driving innovation Marianne Elisabeth Klinke Skoðun