Human rights are those that connect justice, dignity, or equality with all peoples. It is found that such oppression exists in all corners of the world because they suffer harassment for race, gender, religion, or social status. Advocacy for these people means standing tall for those who are not most of the time. It’s a voice, a chance at life, respect, and freedom for everybody.
What Is Oppression?
Oppression is a condition whereby individuals get an unfair or inadequate share of some advantages of life based on their identity. It manifests through granting study rights to girls, a forced flight into refuge away from the people’s homeland, and entrance into places restricted based on race.
It denies opportunity, drowns its voice, and then em battles in a vicious circle of poverty and misery. To advocate breaks those chains, and hence fairness comes into the world.
Importance of Advocacy:
The advocacy of problem to actions empowers,
1. People Hear: Lots of oppressed people can not share their anguish, for which advocacy comes with the help of advocates.
2. It Exposes Injustice: Advocacy brings the sickness to the surface and makes it hard not to see.
3. Numbers Amount to Change: The more people that care, the more positive changes to laws and policies can be realized.
Advocacy Stories:
1. Malala Yousafzai-For Education:
Even before any attacks could be inflicted on her, she was a huge rebel against her right to study. After the attacks on her, she further did not pause but, inspired by many, became known to the world as a recognized human rights activist for children, especially girls’ education.
2. Nelson Mandela-For the struggle of Apartheid:
Nelson Mandela fought against racist apartheid in South Africa and spent twenty-seven years in jail. He hadn’t lost his ideal of justice and equality, so after release from prison, he became the first Black president of that country. That is how one can withstand and even conquer oppression.
Refugees in Search of Safety
Every year, millions of refugees, victims of war and violence, leave behind their past lives. Having lost everything, they keep fighting for a life that is better than what they have now. The advocacy groups work for these refugees all over the world to provide them with shelter, education and hope for a better tomorrow.
How You Can Advocate
Activism involves, yet is not confined to, the leaders and activists; almost anyone can do something:
* Learn About the Issues: Read, watch, and listen to learn about other people’s issues.
* Speak Out: Share what you’ve learned with friends, family, and your community. Social media has much power.
* Causes to Support: Donate to and volunteer at organizations that stand in support of oppressed communities.
Stand up locally: Where there is injustice around you this is at school, at work, or in your neighborhood-speak out.
Vote for change: Give voice and vote to leaders and policies that further equality and justice.
The Role of Empathy:
The real core of advocacy is to make others aware and to care. When the oppressed are perceived as fellow human beings rather than strangers, then one can easily act.
A Better Future
The world is imperfect; it could be better, and advocacy offers hope to the desperate. Joining hands, we do something to make the world fairer in which people can live with dignity.
Advocacy of the oppressed is the art of building a world in which all can attain, not ‘help’ others. What will you do today?
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Writer
Sarah Akter
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE