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Monday, November 2, 2015, Kartik 18, 1422 BS, Muharram 19, 1437 Hijri


What do we mean by democracy and human rights?
Nashiba Sahariar
Published :Monday, 2 November, 2015,  Time : 12:00 AM  View Count : 45
Every human being has right to survival, right to clothes and living place, right to education and treatment, right to security and dignity, right to justice and citizenship, right to ruling the state directly or indirectly. Human rights are the combined form of all these rights. It is only a democratic and welfare state that can ensure human rights. On the other hand, real democracy is impossible without the establishment of human rights. In a word, human rights and democracy are complementary for each other. One cannot be imagined without the other.
Morality and values with good governance, that is human rights, always maintain a very close relation. Values are formed by long-term behaviours, manners, beliefs and outlook. According to a renowned socialist named Meta Sponsor, "Values are a yardstick that is used to justify right-wrong from all other possible sources." Based on practicality or behaviour, values can be divided into two kinds. One is positive values and the other is negative values. Again based on purpose, values can be divided into four kinds: values on ways, values on purpose, transparent values and free values. In fact, learning of values is the foundation of human rights.
The national development is accelerated by the learning of values and good governance. The respect and mutual cooperation among politicians is established through the learning of values. The feeling of patriotism and good mental faculties is kindled among the people. These conditions are necessary for the establishment of good governance. So the establishment of human rights is the precondition of good governance and democracy.
On the other hand, morality is such a virtue that is related to good behaviour and honesty. Morality is the sum of idealism and beliefs in coherence with the conscience of the society. Morality is developed through social customs, idealism, religion and justice. Morality means some principles that contain ideal principles. If morality is violated one must suffer the prick of conscience. On the other hand, values are the social yardstick to control human behaviours and manners. Democratic values mean to take sufficient steps to save the lives of the people. And good governance is the foundation of the establishment of democracy.
Good governance means such a ruling system in which the participation of the people in politics, the accountability of all activities and neutrality are ensured. People obey the law of the land. In fact, good governance is established only when responsibility and accountability is ensured. Again, ruling of law is the good governance and it is the most important element of values. Tolerance is the most effective foundation of social values. In the present world personal values are given topmost priority. Every child is born with these values. And these values foster independence.
It can be simply said the ruling system in which People's participation, ruling of law, unhindered flow of information, quality service for people, accountability of the authority and equality are ensured is called good governance. According to The World Bank, good governance is (a) public work skill (b) independent Judging system (c) applying valid agreement (d) administration under accountability (e) independent public auditor (f) accountability from legislative (g) law and human rights preservation (h) multi-organisational infrastructure and independence of
newspaper.
Through good governance, people can express the hopes and aspirations, enjoy their rights and meet their demands. Because of good governance, a long lasting development occurs in the economic and social resources of a state. After the establishment of good governance, social equality, citizen rights, democratic society and a stable state system gets established. Good governance works in establishing justice and saving social rights.
The learning of values has direct effect on the national development. For the national development, the mutual cooperation and respect is very important and it is established through values. After developing good faculties in people's minds, the feeling of patriotic zeal is kindled. And thus national development is hastened. Good governance has a direct and positive effect on National development. Accountability is found everywhere because of good governance. And thus the democratic institutions are honoured and social security is guaranteed.
The elements of values by which human rights is established are - (a) ethics and kindness (b) social justice (c) discipline (d) tolerance (e) fellow feeling (g) mutual respect (h) ruling of law (i) dignity of labour (j) true education (k) citizen consciousness and responsibility (l) honesty and (m) government's welfare thinking.
If minutely observed, it can be mimicked Abraham Lincoln's voice---"democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people." The aim and object of a democratic country is to establish ethics, social justice, social discipline, citizen responsibility and dutifulness, fundamental rights and human rights, ruling of law, independent and neutral jurisdiction etc. Morality, human rights and democracy are interrelated. To establish a crime-free, peaceful and welfare society is the purpose of this trinity.
Nashiba Sahariar is a freelance contributor







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