Compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - a Reform to End Social Injustice

As racist-prone jurisdictions besieged by social protests mull changes to right the historical wrong of racism, a number of suggestions, from re-organizing police forces to the re-training of law enforcement, are being floated as fixes to deter the persistent prevalence of the killing of too many Black people. 

However, given the reality that racism in society runs deeper and wider than any police department, the sole far reaching reform that appears pertinent to ending social injustice across all communities, is full compliance with the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

The Paris, France, December 10, 1948 Declaration states in Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience  and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. 

Thus, all people are free and equal and all should be treated the same despite creed, color and nationality. 

Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reinforces: 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.

Therefore, full acceptance, compliance and enforcement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should stand as a global law against racism and social injustice. 

Yet, these Articles were written well before the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, two-weeks-ago, and way before the deaths of too many minorities at the hands of police over many decades. 

Failure of governments and communities to adhere to and to promote the fundamental rights of humanity has resulted in the deaths of George Floyd and others. And until full weight is given to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, more George Floyds, et al, will die; there will be looting; there will be violence; there will be demonstrations; and there will be protests despite attempts to re-organize police forces and to re-train law enforcement.