Human rights from all perspectives at CMHR
After thousands of years we still face the same problems — but how we deal with them is improving, and how the world deals with them shows a lot of compassion towards human rights and the want for everyone to be equal.
That’s what stood out to Joey Lecker-Evans the most after visiting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights earlier this year. The 14-year-old from Halifax, Nova Scotia visited the Museum as part of the Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program and said it was incredible to see the expansive human rights timeline in the Museum’s What Are Human Rights? Gallery.
Human Rights Over Time highlights 100 key moments from the advances and setbacks in the world’s human rights journey. Beginning with undated philosophies like Unbuntu from Africa, the philosophy of mutual respect and generosity and Whakapapa from New Zealand, a belief that all things are connected, the wall spans across history to modern-day events and issues.
As he went through the Museum, Joey was impressed with how diverse the stories were. He said it was important to see perspectives from different races, cultures and religions to be able to better understand different struggles from around the world.
You go up through the Museum and see all these stories. When you make your way back down you remember them and how they impacted different people,” he said. “They show that we should all be treated equally and that even though we may not all look alike, or not seem to have any similarities, we’re all human and you should always remember that.
Seeing these stories, he said, has made him more aware of past and current human rights issues and he plans to get more involved as a result.
“I hope to find out locally what some issues are that I can help with in Halifax.”
Joey thinks it’s important for more people to visit the Museum, so that more people can be motivated to make a difference.
I think the Museum being built in Canada gives Canadians a much better chance to see and understand what is happening and it will hopefully help prevent human rights issues, at least in Canada for now, and maybe spread globally.
You can help to change the world! Your donation will help students, like Joey, learn the incredible stories featured at the Museum and put their knowledge to use. Donate now to inspire the next generation of human rights champions.