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Every year, on March 24, the International Day for Right to Truth for the Dignity of Victims of Human Rights Violations and Torture is observed. In El Salvador, on March 24, 1980, Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero was assassinated by pro-government forces, the so-called "Death Squad", shortly after he denounced human rights abuses. He actively denounced human rights violations against the most vulnerable people in El Salvador. The United Nations observes this day to commemorate him.
The purpose of this day is to (1) remember victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of right to truth and justice; (2) respect those who have sacrificed and lost their lives in the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all; (3) In particular, to recognise the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador, who condemned human rights violations of the most vulnerable populations and defended the principles of the campaign to protect the lives of victims of torture.
On 21 December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared 24 March as the International Day for Right to Truth for the Dignity of Victims of Gross Human Rights Violations and Torture. This date was chosen because Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero was assassinated on that date. El Salvador's Commission on Truth was established under the Mexico Agreement of 27 April 1991 to investigate serious incidents of violence that had occurred since the 1980s and whose impact on society was deemed to require urgent public knowledge of the truth.
In a study conducted in 2006, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has concluded that the right to truth about gross human rights violations and serious violations of human rights laws is inalienable and autonomous, associated with responsibilities and obligations. Each state has the responsibility to protect human rights, conduct effective investigations, provide effective remedies, and guarantee compensation.
In a 2009 report on the right to truth, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights identified best practices for effective implementation of this right, particularly practices and programmes related to archives and records of gross violations of human rights and the protection of witnesses and other persons involved in trials involving such violations. The right to truth here refers to knowing the complete truth about the events that occurred, their specific circumstances and who participated in the acts as well as the circumstances under which the violations occurred as well as the reasons.
There are two types of rights. One is natural and the other is legal. A natural law does not depend on any particular culture or government law or customs. These laws are universal and inalienable (these laws can never be changed by any law, i.e. taking away one's legal rights). The concept of a natural law is related to natural rights.
Truth guides people, gives courage to move forward, gives strength to overcome obstacles, and smoothens the way to reach the desired goal. Just as many nations have conquered the world treading the path of truth, so many nations have perished by straying from the path of truth. Personal preference is one of the reasons for deviation from the path of truth.
The scope of truth is manifold. These include discipline, responsibility, character, trust and ethics. Naturally, these are very difficult subjects. Truth does not support us in throwing them into the pit. Truth gives clarity. We are indeed facing an incredible cultural change, in today's society. The wise have lost their way and become intellectually disabled. We want love. But most of us are introverted. We want tolerance, not disagreement. We seek solutions and believe that nothing is irreversible. We don't even know how to know what we don't know. We are not only afraid to tell the truth, but when we hear the truth, we often think it is a conspiracy or cynicism. We do not hesitate to call those who speak the truth evil and rude.
When we hide the truth and try to tell our truth, we unknowingly place our emotions and opinions above the truth. A teacher in society, especially a university teacher or Vice-Chancellor, judge, or law enforcement officer cannot keep the truth at the centre of his progress. Then we must think that the destruction of civilisation is inevitable. The essential resource of a society is also the practice of truth. Truth is not a matter of discovery; a matter of revelation. Truth is truth. Truth is invisible to the eye, all around us. It is every human's task to find it.
At one time it was thought that the earth was flat. When people discovered that the earth is round using scientific methods, then everyone accepted it as a fact. There is no reason to deny that the earth was still round when it was thought to be flat. Because the truth is always true.
Today truth is being defeated almost everywhere. Truth is being tortured indiscriminately. Truth is being tortured by arbitrarily spreading their emotional opinions and their attitudes. Emotions and personal beliefs cannot change the fact. If it's not true, then it's just one person's fault. In a crime-ridden society, truth lies face down on the street; equality can never enter the world of truth. Slowly the truth is becoming a stranger to us. The importance of telling the truth is decreasing day by day. Jealousy, passion and personal beliefs are taking its place. People seem to be giving more priority to the 'reasonableness of results' than truthfulness. Just as truth-telling is essential to institutional well-being, so is it to religious spaces. In the scriptures, we also see that all religions have given special importance to truth.
The right to information was established in the country as the conscious citizens raised their voice for the right to information law. The right to information helps establish good governance and empower the people. According to our Constitution, the people own all the powers. People need to know certain information, if this power is to be exercised effectively and monitoring can be properly established. The right to know information is the right to know the truth. This right has been recognised in the Constitution - 'As the people are the owners of all the powers of the Republic and the right to information must be ensured for the empowerment of the people.' It is the right of the people to know the truth. So no one has the right to hide the truth from the people.
The World Day for Truth is an important occasion to recognize and honour those who have fought for justice and truth in the face of abuses. Establishing truth is essential in the interest of the country. Let us renew our commitment to rights and make sure that everyone can enjoy the full range of their rights. Let us work together to build a better Bangladesh where rights are respected and protected for all. Let us all pledge to establish truth from this Independence Day on March 26 2024.
Professor Sarwar Jahan is founder of Southern University and works for sustainable development