By: Hana Dawood

Hot topics in the 21st century, ranging from abortion to conflicts in the Middle East to climate change debates, all pose the same question: are the principles of human rights being upheld? The twentieth century has led us to the foundation that human rights are based on equality, autonomy, and dignity. Since then, our ability to defend human rights in this new age has been repeatedly tested.

One of the most prominent examples would be the peak of the stop-and-frisk policies in New York City. According to data, African American and Latino men disproportionately had a gun raised at them during these encounters.  It created feelings of fear, anxiety, and trauma among minorities. This violated the fundamental principle that all people are equal. In addition, police officers stopped civilians with little to no probable cause, breaching their right to privacy. Once it was revealed that stop and frisk was used as a discriminatory tool, it was taken to court and eventually led to a complete halt. The tale of stop and frisk in the early 2000s reveals how easily human rights can be endangered, especially for vulnerable population groups.

Another striking issue that highlighted the significance of human rights in the 21st century was the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. In 2014, the state of Michigan switched the town of Flint’s water supply in an effort to save costs. This resulted in foul-smelling and discolored water that led to chronic health issues for Flint residents. When the state government overlooked the complaints, activists and residents took a stand and stated that water is a human right. Their access to something as simple as safe drinking water was being taken away. In 2017, the court eventually sided with Flint residents and ensured that water pipes were to be replaced and that each resident had a working water filter installed in their homes. While residents suffered and are still dealing with the health consequences, their human right to water was given back to them. This struggle highlights the significance of taking a stand to uphold human rights.

The 20th century gave us solid definitions of human rights, but in the 21st century, it is our duty to be able to defend and execute human rights diligently. For some cases, the extent of human rights is still up for debate, and for others, they provide a framework for how we should defend them.