The Charter of Human Rights, and other human rights laws in different countries around the world, proclaim to treat all people in the same way. However, in practice, daily, we witness that we all do not have equal rights. We do not even have to look hard to see to what scary extent our rights continue to be violated . In some parts of the world, maybe somewhere (please let us know if you know where), there is this equality in a social, economic and educational sense. Maybe there is place where everyone feels that they can reach their potential and being offered opportunities without being discriminated and oppressed? But we do not know where that place is. The questions is whether in reality we all have equal opportunities? When we talk about possibilities we mean opportunities that we can use, e.g. if there is a competition, or an exam at the faculty or a test for advancement at work … do we all have an equal opportunity to use our capacities, knowledge and skills to get the deserved recognition, grade, advancement, etc.?
In the traditional approach of the legal systems of different countries, equality is conceived as a system of rules, whose fundamental principle is that “all human beings are equal” and it must be present in the constitutions or in international treaties of each country. Every parent has at least once encountered injustice in their environment regarding their children. If parents have not encountered injustice, it is certain that they had encountered a situation where they had to do some arrangements to support their child’s progress. How to explain this way of injustice to a child? Is it even possible to explain? If we start by explaining that someone got something because they had a higher status in society, the child will develop a prejudice or opinion about class differences. If, on the other hand, we say something that is a lie to prevent child’s disappointment because he/she could not make equal progress, we are creating a misconception for children about the world we live in. Is it better to protect the child in these situations or to let them learn while they are smaller what the world is like in reality?
In the last 15 years, EU countries have had strong attitudes and initiatives aimed at achieving equality in European countries, promising to provide equal opportunities for all. Equal programs still exist around the world with goal to achieve justice in the world, equal opportunities for all people, especially young children. Different grants are awarded, projects are implemented .. but analyzes of real situations in the field still show different trends and results . We do not even have to mention media and live videos from all over the world showing daily brutality that people still need to encounter based on the way they look, religion they practice, tribe they belong and other differences. All this tells us only one thing. There is so much space for improvement to achieve equality in the world because it is not everywhere prevalent and many individuals are far away from enjoying even the simplest justice. The luck of justice spreads all the way from the smallest social units, local communities, regions all the way to the global scene. The injustice is everywhere with a noticeable difference in the populations at which this difference is present and observed.
The publication “Some still more equal than others? Or equal opportunities for all?”, published by the Council of Europe in 2011, states that “Inequality limits young people’s chances for life. However, equality is the foundation of democracy and while there is no equality there will not be democracy. Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees the rights and freedoms of young people ‘without discrimination on any grounds’. But researches show that inequality in terms of opportunities, wealth or health is widespread in Europe, and are reflected in outcomes such as life expectancy, education levels, job opportunities and the quality of health.
How can we fight inequality? How to raise children in a way that teaches them what is fair and what is not, what is good and what is not? In any case, children should be taught the true values . Values that will bring them success in life. Maybe not in the way they imagined, but nothing is impossible with their own work and development.
Author: Minka
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