Manuela D' AVILA

Brazil

The debate about human rights through long centuries of history. Despite its unquestionable recognition from the Revolutions of the eighteenth century, you can find their origins in all ages and civilizations that were concerned with the rights inherent in all people - even though the condition of the person was not recognized all human beings . No wonder that philosophy goes to the Middle Ages to identify St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine as representatives of the current calling jusnaturalist responsible for the conception of human rights as we understand today.

It is also true that history has shown that the social changes bring new demands on the construction of the concept of dignified life. Despite the strong idea of fundamental rights inherent to the human person - a condition which, today, at least in theory, to any human being can be denied - the content of human rights has been enriched over the past centuries. At the time of positivization, the focus was on protecting the individual from arbitrary actions before the state, ensuring that all were free to pursue their rights. Faced with the demands arising from extremely poor working conditions at the time of the industrial revolution, were added to human rights, labor rights, as well as the state's obligation to meet certain basic social demands, such as health and education. Today, human rights are even more robust, from the emergence of new demands, such as protecting the environment.

In our country, fighting in defense of human rights is intertwined with the struggle for democracy. In the military regime, the country experienced a long period of will, which guarantees fundamental rights were suspended and violated by the state.The Institutional Act 5 has become the hallmark of the period and a synonym for censorship and violence.

But the achievement of democracy ceases to Human Rights? No. Human Rights should be part of the legislative actions of Congress, basing discussions and reinforcing decisions aimed at ensuring the dignity and sovereignty of Brazil. This means do not treat as controversial topics that are controversial only to a minority. Our citizens do not consider the controversial issues that relate to ending violence against Brazilian - whose data pointed in the Violence Map of the Ministry of Justice are of concern. Our struggle is much broader. We have to deal with fundamental rights as the right to housing, urban mobility, education, health and work.

Some areas in particular require the presence of the state more forcefully. Specific actions to guarantee the dignity of young addicts, who are inhuman, they are urgent. Public policies to reduce the number of homicides among young Brazilians are also crucial. We need to give our young prospects and a good chance of development. It is therefore necessary to invest in education.