By Lubna Abdel-Aziz What a week for Egypt and for "human rights". First, we rejoiced as yet another Egyptian, Mohamed El-Baradei, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for working to curb the spread of nuclear weapons. This was followed by a splendid celebration in recognition of the work done by Professor Claudio Zanghi of Italy for the cause of human rights on the occasion of the first Arabic translation of his renowned book Protezione Internazionale dei Diritti Umani (International Protection of Human Rights). Our venerable scholar Boutros Boutros-Ghali, president of the Cairo National Commission of Human Rights, and H E , ambassador of Italy, were on hand to honour Egypt's eminent visitor. Professor Zangh" has been active in the field of human rights since 1964, and has authored and modified several protocols in the European Convention of Human Rights, as well as serving in several capacities at the UN, UNESCO, European Counsel, and recently the Mediterranean Commission of Human Rights. At his best, man is a noble creature with a highly developed brain, moulded by laws, knowledge, language, culture, religion, philosophy, science and technology. Our brain endows us with such lofty properties which we pass on from generation to generation, improving the lot of all beings, especially human beings. At his worst, man, classified by biologists as belonging to a class of animals called primates, is capable of base and corrupt behaviour, more shameful, more ruthless, more heartless, than any animal. He distinguishes himself as the only member of his species who kills mercilessly and for no reason, while most animals kill for physical or territorial survival. In the epic of human life, the importance of the human being, and his place in the universe, came to the fore of human thought thousands of years ago, with our ancient civilisations. There is something mournful in this unreachable quest, that every person has dignity and worth, and should command the respect of every other person. This noble and honourable aspiration, still remains just that. Is it an impossible dream that human nature itself is incapable of fulfilling? Nothing should be allowed to rob this idea of its majesty. "Human Rights" may be a concept of only a few hundred years, but "humanism", emphasising the importance of human beings, started thousands of years ago with the ancient Greeks and Romans. Although the pursuit of human rights had its roots in the life and thought of these ancient civilisations, it flourished as a historical movement in Europe, only in the 1300s with the Renaissance. Classical writings of the early Greeks and Romans, which had disappeared since the decline of the Roman Empire, were rediscovered, revived, and helped to ignite the flame of Renaissance thought. As an example, the Roman playwright Terrence ( 195 -- 159 BC ) said, more than 2,000 years before: "I am a man, and nothing human is foreign to me." The revival of learning, rejected the view of mediaeval scholars, that human beings are sinful creatures, and revived the faith in the distinctive human qualities of mankind. The great religions of the world, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, etc have all sought to establish comprehensive, coherent, moral codes of conduct, based on divine law. All contain profound ideas of the dignity of the human being. Yet through the centuries man continues to suffer wrongs, at the hands of his fellow man. England's Magna Carta (Great Charter) of 1215 decidedly checked royal power, and became the model for those who demanded individual rights for all. The ideas of humanism developed in Italy, during the renaissance period of the 1300s, and from there spread to France, Germany, England, and the Netherlands. The concept reached great heights during the 1500s when Humanism became an international fellowship of scholars, influencing much of Western culture in education, government and particularly the arts. Today we call the studies of religion, philosophy, languages, literature, history, and the arts, "the humanities", aiming for humanistic ideals. The supreme merit of such a basic principle is not found in profound knowledge of human nature, in deep thoughts, in wide views, or in prophetic vision. Rather, it is as basic an instinct as is man's quest for survival. That is what the term "human rights", child of the 20th century, means. It describes the rights possessed by people, simply because they are human beings. The protection of people's rights became the catch-cry of the English revolution of Oliver Cromwell (1640), which later led to the English Bill of Rights of 1689. The philosopher John Locke (1632-1704), argued that it was part of God's natural law that no one should harm anybody else in their life, health, liberty or possessions, and it was the government's responsibility to protect such rights. This thesis became the foundation of the American Declaration of Independence of 1776, asserting that "all men are created equal," and that governments were established by the consent of the people in order to protect their rights. Sadly this was extended only to white men, to the exclusion of women and slaves. To be neither slave nor rebel, to be either man or woman, man should stand shoulder to shoulder, equal to every other man -- or woman. It took more than 200 years for America to set the record straight, or simply, straighter. The French Revolution of 1788, also asserted the primacy of natural rights in their Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens, but the disparity between theory and practice was keenly felt immediately thereafter, when thousands lost their lives in the name of Liberté, Egualité, Fraternité. Today's doctrines of human rights are direct descendants of 18th century thought as well as the slow and steady efforts of humanists throughout the ages. The effort shows on man's brow. It is a noble effort and has had a noble result. On 10 December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. What are those human rights? They are the right to live, to love, to own property, and to be free. They are social, economic, religious, and cultural rights, and they are all extremely hard to achieve. Social justice, wealth distribution, governmental power, are still controversial issues however, that men have yet to settle among themselves in order to attain complete and total human rights. As the United Nations Preamble of 1948 states: "the recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal, and inalienable rights of all members of the human family", is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. Where are those exalted ideals? Where is this undisputed freedom for every individual? Where is the equal justice for all? And, where, oh where, is that "peace in the world"? The presence of Professor Zangh", and the celebration of the Arabic translation of his book on the protection of human rights, is the handiwork of the indefatigable Ambassador Badini. The ever-active Badini has emerged as one of the rare ambassadors who, by doing much for the country he resides in, does much more for the country he represents. Creative, dynamic, and tireless, he has been most effective in cementing relations between Egypt and Italy, both socially as well as culturally. The recent presentation of the Arabic translation of Zangh"'s book is yet another contribution by Badini to Egypt and the Arab world, during his brilliant tenure. Complete, total, and flawless human rights, may be a state of divine perfection, unattainable to mere mortals. Yet we should never waver or weary in our strive to overcome our mortal imperfections, until that 'impossible dream' is 'impossible' no more. To dream the impossible dream, To right the unrightable wrong To fight for the right, without question or pause... To be willing to march into Hell, for a Heavenly cause... The Impossible Dream, Lyrics by Joe Darion From the Musical: Man of La Mancha (1965)
