Men are an important part of society, family, and human life; but above all, a man is a human being. His dignity, personality, freedom, safety, and basic rights as a human being do not depend on his gender. Being a man does not mean that a person should be above pain, problems, fear, injustice, or hardship.
The general principles of human rights around the world give people rights because they are human. Therefore, men also have the right to life, freedom, safety, justice, health, education, work, family, privacy, freedom of opinion, and social participation. No man should be deprived of these rights simply because of his gender.
How Should Men Be Defined?
A man is not only someone who provides for the family, carries heavy responsibilities, and remains silent in the face of problems. This social view cannot describe all sides of a man’s personality.
A man is a human being. He has feelings, needs respect and dignity, has the right to safety, health, and a peaceful life, has the right to make choices about his future, and also has the right to ask for help.
Expecting a man to be strong should not mean that he does not deserve help, care, and human understanding.
The Right to Life and Freedom
Every man has the right to live in safety, plan for his future without threats to his life, and be protected from unfair interference in his private life.
A man’s freedom is as important as the freedom of other people. No one should limit a man’s freedom through force, threats, pressure, or unfair treatment.
The Right to Respect and Human Dignity
Human dignity does not differ between men and women. Men also have the right to respect, dignity, and good treatment.
Insults, humiliation, inhuman treatment, forced actions, and harming a man’s dignity are violations of his human dignity, whether they happen in the family, society, workplace, or anywhere else.
Men’s Health Is Not Only Physical Health
Men’s health is not only about physical health. Mental health, peace of mind, reducing stress, and receiving help during difficult times are also basic human needs for men.
In many societies, men sometimes face the idea that they must always be strong, should not cry, and should not talk about their problems. Such social pressure can harm men’s mental and social well-being.
Men should be able to ask for help from their families, society, and professional organizations when needed, without being insulted or treated as weak.
The Right to Work and Economic Life
Work is not the only measure of a man’s human value. Men have the right to work, receive fair pay, have a safe working environment, and have opportunities for development based on their abilities.
Men should also not be deprived of their rights to human dignity, health, and private life because of economic problems and family responsibilities.
The Right to Be a Father and Have a Family
A man can be an important member of a family and a father to children; however, the role of a father is not limited to providing financial support.
A father has the right and responsibility to have love, care, education, and a healthy relationship with his children. Family decisions should be made with fairness, according to the law, the best interests of children, and the legal rights of all sides.
The Right to Justice
Men, like every other person, have the right to equal treatment under the law. If a man faces a case, a claim, or an accusation of a crime, he must be treated according to the principles of law and must have the right to defend himself and receive a fair process.
Justice should not be based on a person’s gender, but on the law, facts, and justice.
Our View
The Afghan International Human Rights Organization believes that the meaning of human rights is complete only when the rights of every person are taken into consideration.
We do not place the rights of women, children, and men against each other. Our goal is to protect the legal rights of every person and ensure that no one is deprived of justice and human dignity because of their gender.
The Organization also pays attention to the problems of men who face legal and human rights difficulties because of war, poverty, displacement, migration, violence, family problems, economic pressure, and other conditions. For many years, men have been among the largest victims of war. In wars, men are taken to battlefields, killed, injured, disabled, and separated from their families. This is a great human tragedy that should not continue.
Men also have the right to life, love, family, safety, and a future; they were not born only for war. Behind every man, there is a family that depends on his life, work, and presence. When a man is killed in war, his loss is not only the loss of one human life, but it also deeply affects the life of a family.
Because of wars, the lives of many men have been disrupted, their families have been destroyed, and their futures have faced serious difficulties. Men’s lives should not be sacrificed for political, military, or other purposes. Protecting their lives, dignity, and safety is an important part of human rights.