OPINION: Monkey see, monkey do

Every time a monkey went up the ladder, the scientists soaked the rest of the monkeys with cold water. 

After a while, everytime a monkey went up the ladder, the other ones beat the one on top of the ladder. 

After sometime, no monkey dared to go up the ladder regardless of the temptation.

Scientists then decided to substitute one of the monkeys. The first thing this monkey did was to go up the ladder. Immediately the other monkeys beat him up. 

After several beatings, the new member learned not to climb the ladder even though he never knew why.

The second monkey was substituted and the same occurred. The first monkey participated in the beating of the second monkey. The third monkey was changed and the same was repeated. The fourth was substituted and the beating was repeated and finally the fifth monkey was replaced. 

What was left was a group of five monkeys that even though never received a cold shower, continued to beat up any monkey who attempted to climb the ladder. 

Today is the anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, a set of rights that are the basic and minimum set of human rights for all citizens.

We have come far in the last 66 years, however the full envisioned universality by the Declaration has not been achieved. In all too many parts of the world, human rights are non-existent, even in Australia. 

Domestic violence is a human rights issue unresolved in today's society. 

Approximately one in three women have experienced physical violence and almost every week a woman is killed by her former or current partner, in Australia.

It is hard to believe that in 2014 this reprehensible behaviour is increasing.

It has become a circular trend, like the monkeys in a room. Like any lasting social change, it needs many advocates. A community to speak out and those with real power to enact and implement laws. To step in during an incident before it becomes a crisis. 

Human rights is about social change, learning from past experience, examining failures and building on good practices. 

It also means having the courage to implement new measures to address problems. 

After all, we are all animals and we could all use a cold shower every once in a while.