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Article on Safeguarding Human Rights: A Comparative Analysis of US and UK Legal Frameworks

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Human rights protections form the cornerstone of modern legal systems, ensuring the dignity, freedom, and equality of individuals. The United States and the United Kingdom, both champions of democratic principles, have developed robust legal frameworks to safeguard human rights within their jurisdictions. Here, we examine the fundamental principles and key provisions underpinning human rights protections in the US and UK legal systems.

1. Constitutional Foundations:

In the United States, the Bill of Rights, enshrined in the US Constitution, guarantees fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, as well as protections against government intrusion and discrimination. These rights are further reinforced by subsequent amendments and landmark Supreme Court decisions, shaping the interpretation and application of constitutional rights.

In the United Kingdom, human rights protections are primarily codified in the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into domestic law. The Act establishes the legal framework for individuals to enforce their rights in UK courts, including rights to life, liberty, and a fair trial, among others.

2. Judicial Oversight and Enforcement:

In both countries, independent judiciaries play a vital role in upholding human rights protections. Courts have the authority to interpret laws, review government actions, and adjudicate disputes involving alleged human rights violations. Judicial decisions serve as precedents that shape the development of human rights jurisprudence and ensure accountability for violations.

3. Protections Against Discrimination:

Both the US and UK have laws prohibiting discrimination on various grounds, including race, gender, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. In the US, laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibit discrimination in employment, education, housing, and public accommodations.

Similarly, the UK has legislation such as the Equality Act 2010, which consolidates previous anti-discrimination laws and provides protections against discrimination in various contexts. Additionally, the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) works to promote and enforce equality and human rights standards across society.

4. International Human Rights Obligations:

Both the US and UK are signatories to numerous international human rights treaties and conventions, committing to uphold global standards of human rights. While international law does not directly bind domestic courts, it can inform the interpretation of domestic laws and influence legislative reforms to align with international norms and obligations.

Conclusion:

Human rights protections are foundational principles underpinning the legal systems of both the United States and the United Kingdom. While each country has its unique legal framework and historical context, the overarching commitment to safeguarding fundamental freedoms, promoting equality, and ensuring access to justice remains steadfast. As societies evolve and face new challenges, the ongoing vigilance and adaptation of human rights laws are essential to uphold the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals.

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Essay on Christmas Festivals

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Essay on Christmas Festivals

Christmas is a festival known to be linked with Christianity, as a religion. It is celebrated each year on 25th December, as a token of love and gratitude for Prophet Jesus Christ. The religious festival is celebrated in almost every country of the world by the Christian community.

The day is marked with fun, dinner, party, gifts and decorating the houses and the streets. The festival is favourite among children as on that day children receive gifts from Santa Claus. Children also receive gifts from their elders, parents, elder siblings and blood relations.  Most of the parents tell their children that Santa Claus will come and give you gifts, so many innocent children put an empty basket outside their room or close to their bedside waiting for a gift from the Santa Claus, but in reality the real Santa Claus are their parents themselves who put gifts in those baskets or containers.

The home is well decorated with balloon, lights and bun ties, but the decoration of Christmas tree is a sight worthwhile. Christians decorate the tree with bells, stars, fruits, flowers and many people also like to have a snowman because it always comes in winter so making of snowman and turning its attire in Santa Claus, is simply a fun activity. The snowman and Santa both come in red hat and white costume.

Why Christmas is celebrated? From where the word ‘Christmas’ comes from? Well, the Christian community celebrated the day in remembrance of birth day of Jesus Christ who, according to them was born on 25th December. The word ‘Christmas’ comes from the ‘Mass of Christ.’ A mass service is what where Christians remember that Jesus Christ died there for them and then the Prophet came back to life.

Special prayers are held in churches in order to pay tribute to Jesus Christ who has sacrificed his life and save the Christian community and nation from their sins. In other words, Jesus Christ had salvaged the entire Christian community from their sins by sacrificing his life for their goodness. Bible is rampant with this story, but Holy Quran of Muslims is narrating the opposite where Jesus was taken up above by the almighty and resurrect Him in the life hereafter.

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Essay on Druga Pooja

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Essay on Druga Pooja

It is an Indian famous religious festival celebrated each year. This festival lasts for five to six days. It usually starts after Mahalaya the lunar month in the city of Bengal because it is the majority of the festival of the Bengali community that is residing in India. This festival is marked with colors, people get themselves dressed in colorful clothes, specifically in their traditional style of clothing. After that, they gather at pandals to offer their prayers to the goddess Durga Devi. It is quite prevalent in the Bengali community that the goddess Kali has been originated or appeared from Durga’s head slew Mahisasura’s evils cohorts. Another festival known as Navratri is in line with is Pooja because that festival is also dedicated to Durga Devi, but it is nine days long festival. Both festivals coincide in quite a similar way. Each day of these five or nine days festivity is marked with the sole dedication of each day. Following are the things to don according to the Durga Pooja calendar:

Day 1: Panchami, Kartik, Bilva Nimantran, Kalparambha, Akal Bodhon, amantran and Adhivas.

Day 2: Shashti, Kartik, Navpatrika Puja, Kolabou Puja.

Day 3: Saptami, Kartik

Day 4: Ashtami, Kartik, Durgs Ashtami, Kumari Puja, Sandhi Puja, Maha Navami.

Day 5: Nabami, Kartik, Bengal Maha Navami, Vijayadashami.

Day 6: Dashami, Kartik, Durga Visarjan, Bengal Vijayadashami, Sindoor Utsav.

The religious festival is of utmost importance in Indian mythology because it celebrates the victory of Durga Devi over the evil Mahishasura who was the king of demons. The first day is celebrated as a welcome to the mighty goddess to home and the last or on the sixth day which is known as Sasthi, the worships and actual celebrations get their start.

In India it is celebrated each year with the same pomp and religious fervor. The day is marked with deep love, affection and devotion to Durga devi for keeping them safe from the demons of the king of demons the Mahishaura. It is their day of respect for this devi who saved their future which otherwise could be bleak and unsafe.

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Essay on Raksha Bandhan

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Essay on Raksha Bandhan

India is immensely surrounded by different cultures and flaunts a variety of festivals. One of the many festivals is Raksha Bandhan which means Protection bond. This is a festival or an event that is celebrated to glue the bond of brother and sister. In this festival, a ritual of tying a thread is done by the sister or sisters to the brother or brothers. The purpose behind this ritual is to remind siblings that no matter what the circumstances go by, you will never ever leave each other side in thin or thick!

Hindu religion is strongly and tightly knit around mythology, so according to mythologies,  during Mahabarat event of chains, princess Draupadi tore piece of her saree and tie on  lord Karishna’s finger, when accidently he nicked his finger, Lord Karishna was so touched with this act that he swore to take care and protect her no matter how hard the circumstances would be.

In remembarance of this event, the event is celebrated on each year on the full moon in the month of Shravan (a Hindu month). The special thing about this ritual is that it cannot be celebrated on any day or time of the month, it has special timing which is pronounced as ‘muhrat’, last year it was between 9:28 am to 9:17 pm in the night.

After tying the Rakhi, the sister applies a tilak to the brother’s forehead. Nowadays, Rakhi could be tied to the eldest sister, in case of the absence of a brother in the family followed by an exchange of gifts at both sides for at least that one day. Earlier it was just a common thread that suffices the need for the Rakhi, but now many different and stylish bands of rakhi are available in the market. New era, new customs! Hail the Rakhi Bandhan! Raksha Bandhan also has another word that is Bhai dooj, in which a knot can e tied to a male who is not a brother by blood, but a brother by religion or care-based. One such example was given in the famous movie of Indian industry named Praim, Ratun Dhunpaiyo.

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Importance of Indian Festivals

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Importance of Indian Festivals

India the largest known secular country in the world. Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroaster, and a number of other people who are different in religion, culture, traditions, and languages are inhabited in this country. According to one study India caters to 33 different sects and religions that are practiced in this vast country named India! The Hindu community is what makes up the largest population of the country. Hindus are the majority in number so likewise the number of festivals is bigger and outnumber the other people and religious, cultural, and seasonal festivals. Indian festivals are many in numbers like Diwali, celebrated by all Indians irrespective of religion and language, it is celebrated in the autumn season. Next in the chain is Holi, which is celebrated in the spring season, Dussehra is a nine-day-old festival claiming victory of Ram over Ravana the evil.

Ramadha and Eid ul fitr, a Muslim festival is also celebrated in the country, Christmas, is celebrated in the country by the Christians, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in remembrance of Ganesh, the lord to the home, Durga Pooja is a five-day festival celebrated in Bengal, Baishakhi  is a festival known to be linked with Sikh which is celebrated in April over the harvest of Rabi crops, Easter, another religious festival of Christians is celebrated in the country, Onam is the biggest festival in Kerala celebrated at harvest time, Raksha Bandhan  is celebrated to strengthen the bond between brothers and sisters, Budh Poornima is celebrated by Gautam Buddha’s followers, Krishan Jananmashtmi is celebrated as a birthday of lord Karishna, Pongal is a four-day long festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Maha Shivratri is an annual event to honour lord Shiva, Bihu is a seven day long festival celebrated in Assam, Chhath Pooja is celebrated to show devotion to Sun god.  

There are many other known festivals, but the purpose of all these festivals is to create harmony and peace amongst different people and nations. Being a liberal country means knitting all the religions and making the different nations feel at home in order to promote the idea of unification and brotherhood.

How can we spend Holi festival in unique way?

Holi is a festival known to be linked with Indians, the Hindu community especially. It is celebrated in the season of spring, usually in March. It is marked with colours, dance, music, food and other related rituals. The powder is known as ‘gulal’ translated as coloured powder which they throw on each other or rub on the cheeks as a symbol of love and happiness. This tradition is times old and no newness is made in it. From ages, its been celebrated in the same way, wearing white dresses, decorating the plates with gulal powder, gathering in any open area, place or in streets, waving a handful of powder on one another or it can be rubbed on the cheek of the other person unknowingly, the festival is then prolonged on with traditional dances, or any other fun-to-do dance, singing of the famous songs and having done with the festivity, the day is ended with a sumptuous sight of food which is eaten by all. A happy day comes to an end!

The question that comes to my mind is that when new trends are followed in foods, dance, folk lore, music, dresses why not in celebrating the festivals? Why festivals are always linked with pomp and show and littered with loud music and hefty dances? Why not celebrating Holi in a new way? What you say? Agreed? Let’s begin now! Holi in a new bent… following tips/ways can be utilized as per choice:

  1. Instead of powder plate, try some seasonal flowers, arrange some carnival focusing on educating the children with the wild and exotic flowers grown in the spring season. It would be fun with learning for the young generation.
  2. Invite the needy or poor to the food table especially arranged for them, each house will dish out one dish onto that table, it will be pocket friendly and could be a free buffet for the deserving ones.

Arrange a sale on your old white clothes or give one free of cost to whom he or she likes to. Try it and you will love the new face of Holi.