Week 1 Critical Reflection Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Week 1 Critical Reflection

For week 1’s reading materials, I got some ideas about how they   relate to my own value and life.

In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it said “human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people.” I don't think freedom of speech has been perfectly realized in China. In recent years, comments or criticisms of Prime Minister Xi Jinping or the Communist Party in the Internet and in public places will be banned or blocked. I think it's partly against freedom of speech. Citizens of a country should have the right to comment on their government and give their own opinions. While too many negative opinions to the party and the government may affect the stability of the country and the trust of the people in the country, the discussions about the government are prohibited is clearly undesirable. Some people will even worry that they are talking on the phone about the government being bugged, which I think violates the people's personal privacy. In this regard, it is clear that human rights are not fully respected and realized. Everyone should have the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Another point I would like to discuss is the status of women. Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter equal rights of men and women and “Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.” However, there is still a potential gender discrimination in society today. In China, for example, some companies are reluctant to hire women of childbearing age simply because if they are pregnant in the future they will need paid leave. As a company, it is understandable to want the benefits of the company to be maximized, and employers have the right to choose their employees on their own, but I believe that this behavior is a form of discrimination against women and a disrespect for human rights. These laws do not fully address the issue of gender discrimination.