By Lady Alicia Hamilton, First published by the United Nations Impakter Magazine, July 7th, 2016, SDG Series
As an American, I am grateful to live in a land where laws attempt to preserve what we perceive as our rights and freedoms. America is branded as the land of the free, however when a person does not know their rights, they are subject to become a victim of physical or mental slavery. Oppressors misuse, abuse, and claim power over victims who do not know their rights or where to go for help when their rights are violated making freedom a perception that cannot be actualized. From the terror inflicted by Boko Haram on the villages in West Africa, to the sex traffickers on the streets of Los Angeles, innocents are being violated, victimized, murdered, or enslaved for the pleasure and profit of their oppressor. While some people are enjoying a life of liberty, others are suffering without a voice or the ability to be heard saying STOP.
The increase in unopposed atrocities that are happening to innocent people around the world indicates that many people are not aware of the human rights violations that are taking place every day or are not willing to fight for them. Too many people are attracted to the distractions in purposeless, mundane news that fill our time, keep us oblivious, and leave little room to address the oppressions that should be brought into the light.
The same applies to our institutions and governments. Many companies profit to the detriment of people, society, and our planet. Hiding flaws and making laws that compromise food safety, pollute the environment, swindle the elderly, and poison our children, while climate change threatens all life on earth as we know it. The list goes on, and the most vulnerable will suffer the most. Although some corporations and institutions will disagree, oppression is not necessary for profit. Consider the win-win-win scenario that is made possible through the concept of SIA: Sincerity + Integrity + Accountability.
