For me, freedom is a vague word because I have never experienced it. In fact if I speak about it, freedom for me is just a word because in Afghanistan, the place where I live, freedom has remained only an ideal. There are many reasons for this; from strict cultural and traditional practices to laws imposed by the Taliban. All of these have led to the deprivation of our right to freedom. In my opinion, individual freedom is one of the fundamental principles of human rights, which allows individuals the freedom to act in their personal, social, political, and economic lives. It is essential for maintaining human dignity. This essay explores freedom of expression, freedom of choice, and the right of privacy, all of which are part of individual freedom.
Freedom of expression is one of the most important individual rights that allows people to express their thoughts, beliefs, and viewpoints freely. This freedom means that individuals can express their opinions on various topics, including politics, religion, society, and culture, without any restrictions. Freedom of expression promotes dialogue, exchange of ideas, social progress, and constructive criticism. Ultimately, freedom of expression is not only important for protecting individual rights, but it also helps in building democratic societies.
Freedom of choice means every person has the right to make decisions according to their personal beliefs and values to shape their life. This includes deciding who they want to be and how they want to live. This freedom includes choosing a job, place of residence, identity, education, marriage, religion, clothing, and more. Freedom of choice encourages acceptance of diversity, personal and social growth, improvement in quality of life, and active participation in society.
Freedom of privacy means the individual’s right to protect their personal information and private life. No person or government has the right to interfere with or monitor the lives of others without consent. This applies to areas such as family relationships, correspondence, use of social media, and even the workplace. As a result, privacy must be seriously upheld and respected.
In conclusion, freedom is one of the crucial principles of human rights that shapes our individual, social, and political lives. Everyone should have the right to freedom of speech, freedom of choice, and the right to privacy in order to live in a just and democratic society. Only by upholding and respecting these rights can we create a better world for ourselves and future generations.
– Rahila
Letter received from our students participating in our Mentorship program. Name and text altered for protection of our students and for grammatical changes.
