Buffalo Girls Response

 Buffalo Girls
     The short documentary Buffalo Girls suggests a human rights concern because of the danger to the girls's rights to health and education. Pet and Stam's parents do not know what they are doing neither do Pet and Stam.
     First of all, Pet and Stam 's are in danger physically because they are too young. They are both less than 10 years old and they should be still going through a growing stage(girls grow and develop rapidly from a young age compared to boys). Their bones, mental ability are too immature to take too much hit from fighting as it requires a lot of training and impact. Stam and Pet train day and night and have to fight occasionally. Pet has a stomach cramp during her fight but she still manages to keep fighting because their parents and she think they are safe to fight. According to article 25 in UNDR, everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health ad well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. Both Pet and Stam definitely do are not protected by most of it as they have bad health(they have heart problem and stomach cramp, not to mention more problems they are likely to have in the future)
     Their parents do not know what they are doing because they think fighting makes them strong. Also, as Stam's father mentions, he honestly wants to make money when he is asked why he wants her to fight. In other words, he values money rather than athlete spirit when he makes Stam keep fighting. Also, he wants Stam to fight for money instead of her better growth and development.
     Pet and Stam do not receive education they are supposed to get as they fight to support themselves in going to school. Both UNDR and UNCRC mention children are granted to receive education. however, if they do not fight in the first place, it is unlikely for them to receive education since they would not have been able to afford it.
     Stam and Pet have jobs in fighting as their fights are in large scales(many people gamble with a lot of money and they prepare for the fights a lot). It is clear that the UNCRC mentions that children should not work as labours but then Pet and Stam are even harmed physically, mentally(bear pain to fight), and do not receive granted education.
     Even though the UNCRC was implemented, Thailand ratified it in 1990. However, the UNCRC along with the UDHR certainly have the essence of defending human rights. Research has found that less than 5% people in the world know the UNDR exists not to mention the UNCRC because it must be even less well known due to its smaller scale(only children protected). In other words, UNDR and UNCRC themselves do not have not problems except they are not well-known enough.(only government officials are granted to know). If we educate and inform people around the world about these human rights rules, people around the world can make changes by organizing NGOs to exert burden on Thailand government. People in Thailand who do not hold as much authority as the officials can definitely put burden on the officials by protesting against the government. Ultimately, the government will feel the urge to respect human rights and may choose to agree with and obey the UNDR and UNCRC.
     P.S. One thing I do not like about the film is that the background music in at the end of the movie(after Stam wins the match) sounds glorious and too positive and it seems to confuse the audience about the film's approach(does it motivate children to fight or tell the audience that its exploiting children's rights?).