Every state in the European Union has a long history of war, revolution and development. However, as we all know, those who live it write history. Although it may seem as though Europe has moved into an era of peace and economic development, in truth, there is a hidden, dark layer, in European society, it is called racism and discrimination. After all the death and destruction in the worlds turbulent history, why does Europe continue to struggle with concepts of human rights for all? The answer lies between the lines of the maps of its continent.

Having a union of states in this part of the world is a significant achievement, but this union is more unstable than is understood by the average non-european. The borders of this region have disappeared, reappeared, and shifted in multiple directions at varying times. Therefore, the borders we recognize today are not legitimised by the people living within them. This fundamental conflict in the hearts and minds of many Europeans is causing strife and displeasure that those outside the union do not often see, if at all.

These borders are now being slowly taken away. Globalization, the European Union, and immigration, legal and illegal, are all eroding the concept of separate states. It is important to remember that each of these states has its own history, culture, and economy. The blood of each countries ancestors is all over these borders. This fact haunts its people, in the statues, memorials and museums that fill their cities, and reminds them that they need to protect their lands, as their ancestors did.

At the same time, the people of Europe are still grieving, mourning the death and destruction that has occurred for hundreds of years. They also mourn what they have been left with; borders that cut through their ancestral homelands, splitting ancient mountains, beautiful valleys, even right through some cities, and most importantly, the borders do not take into consideration racial/ethnic distinctions, and often split cultural groups up unnaturally.

There is also an economic factor that must be considered. While Europeans live between the borders set by kings and conquerors, they also earn their bread inside them. They are husbands and wives, sons and daughters, grandparents and grandchildren, all struggling to survive in this world. Central and Eastern Europe is still struggling to pull themselves up from the physical and economic destruction caused by their former rulers. They want their countries to succeed, to flourish, and show the world what they were once and will be once again capable of.

It is therefore not a surprise that Human Rights is such a large and complex issue here in Europe. The continent is making great strides in moving forward, peace and prosperity is on the march, moving eastward, now well into Central Europe and continuing eastward, into the Balkans. Kosovo’s new Constitution shows great promise. Human Rights organizations like the one I am interning at are getting more and more organized, and winning more and more cases in the European Court of Human Rights. I am confident before I grow old I will see a peaceful, prosperous, unified Europe.