No to a "post-human rights" society

In the context of this year’s Munich Security Conference, it has been said that we are living in a “post-human rights”.

In my opinion, that’s an unhelpful concept. It sends the wrong message. Human rights should remain the very basic and indispensable foundation of today’s politics. We might see all other conventions being challenged by different types of strongmen in power. That’s most worrisome. It’s as serious move towards the past. But, at least, human rights should remain as the last fortress, the last strong tower of values.

In the end, everything in politics and our daily lives is about respecting the dignity of everyone, man or woman, boy or girl. If we do not firmly stand for that, if we accept a “post-human rights” reality, even just as an intellectual frame of analysis, we can say goodbye to the moral and legal achievements and progress of the last 70 years or so. That’s not acceptable and it should not be taken as a “modern concept”.

Restoring hope

People want to feel safe. At home, on the streets and also in their jobs. Times of uncertainty, as we have today in many parts of the world, including in our more developed societies, make people feel fragile and vulnerable. They open the door, if not properly addressed, to all kinds of extremism.

The political discourse has to pay greater attention to these matters. Leaders need to reassure. And they should think again about the role of the State and its institutions, the value of predictability, stability and compromise, and keep in mind that younger generations require special attention. The future is always build on the conviction of progress for new wave, the newcomers. The future will be sombre if the youth believe they will be worst off, that they are the ones who will pay for the follies and the lack of values of today.

In the current circumstances, to restore hope to the young people is a major challenge the political leaders ignore at the peril of everyone. We cannot accept that type of political blindness.