Discrimination is ubiquitous in life it will hurt you unknowingly and make you feel hopeless. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) guarantees the right to dignity and equality of fundamental human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a valuable tool for explaining the discrimination against illegal immigrants depicted in the movie “Dirty Pretty Things” through the following articles: (article 3), (article 5), (article 11).
The director Frears created “Dirty Pretty Things” to reveal the idea of discrimination happened in London about three characters. In the beginning, Okwe and Senay live a precarious life, working in the hotel without a legal identity. After that, he accidentally found out that hotel owner Sneaky was doing illegal business. Meanwhile, Sneaky knows Okwe’s true identity and threatens Okwe to help him, or else report him. Finally, Senay and Sneaky do sex and human organ trades in hotel rooms. For the safety of Senay, Okwe asked him to do the surgery, in return and asked them to give them a new identity. Injustice treatment will not be forgiven by persons because their pain has been greatly traumatized.
The UDHR explains the discrimination against illegal immigrants depicted in the movie “Dirty Pretty Things” through the lack of security of the person in article 3. In more detail, the UDHR considers that humans rights should be getting safe without hurt. More specifically, people’s security and liberty are related, people should treat equally without any discrimination depends on sex, language, color. According to UDHR, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person” (United,1948). This indicates that under no circumstances should others be restricted or deprived of security personal. In the movie, however, Okwe found a human heart in the toilet. Reported to the boss Sneaky, but Sneaky feels absurd. Okwe wants to call the police but he has no identity. If the police know Okwe is illegal to stay here, he must go back home. The movie Sneaky says, “What's your full name aqua and you never told me where you’re from or even how come you're here in this beautiful country” (Seaward & Jones, 2002). Clearly, Okwe’s security is in the hands of others and cannot be escaped. This causes me to feel despondent because Okwe’s right to security cannot be controlled by himself. This theory justifies UDHR that the infringement of the right to personal security is shameful and does not fit the purpose of the UDHR. Thus, the discrimination against illegal immigrants in the movie “Dirty Pretty Things” reveals the lack of security of the person in article 3 with organ trafficking.
Article 5 of the UDHR expounds on human dignity in the movie and Senay suffers the insult. In the words, although a person is erring or not but everyone can not suffer the insult and perpetrate violence. According to article 5, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” (United,1948). It is clear that anybody does not allow unauthorized use of violence and insult others or the body. In contrast, in the movie, Senay clashed with immigration officials because Senay was a special refugee living in London and was unable to work for six months or rent out the house to others. she has to in the factory clothing work but she couldn’t get rid of the sexual harassment of the dirty and ugly fat boss of the clothing factory. Factory clothing fat boss says: “If you can't give me a good reason, I will call the immigration I’m good man Senay, I know where to draw the line, don’t want to take your virginity, Senay, I just want you to help him to relax” (Seaward & Jones, 2002). This reveals Senay suffers the body insult and does not fit the purpose of the UDHR. This reveals Senay suffers the body insult and does not fit the purpose of the UDHR. in the movie, Senay is a refugee and she suffers the factory clothing boss or country unfair treatment. in today’s society, this behavior should not appear. Therefore, the movie “Dirty Pretty Things” behavior contravention from the concept of the UDHR’s anybody can not suffer the insult and perpetrate violence in article 5.
The illegal rights of Sneaky highlights injustice through article 11 of the UDHR. More specifically, anybody can not have an illegal transaction to get the money. According to article 11 “No one shall be held guilty of any penal offense on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offense, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed” (United,1948). In other words, under law, anyone could not adopt illegal means to get to benefit themselves. In contrast, in the movie, Senay and Sneaky traded sex and human organs in hotel rooms and to gain a new identity. Besides, Sneaky found out that Okwe had been accused of a crime and had to abscond to London, and threatened Okwe to assist Sneaky in the illegal trade. Okwe says: “I will operate on her myself. I will do it. It is the only way I can be sure she will not die, in return, I want a passport a new identity” (Seaward & Jones, 2002). This means Okwe and Senay have been fed up with injustice constrain and not fit the purpose of the UDHR. In the movie, Sneaky makes money through selling organs and this phenomenon still exists in modern days. The government should do something to prevent those things happened. Hence, Sneaky behavior contravention from the concept of the UDHR’s legal rights in article 11.
In conclusion, the movie “Dirty Pretty Things” content of the exposition is not fit the purpose of the UDHR and it tells us to relate to race, gender, low status, discrimination against illegal immigrants depicted.