Human Rights Flashcards
(27 cards)
What are human rights
Rights which belongs to us because we are human beings
What are norms
Basic moral minimums that are universally accepted
What is human rights intervention
Use of military force and humanitarian aids by a state or group of states in order to prevent or end human rights violations
Who could use human rights interventions
only UN Security Council can use the forces
Through military, NGO, peacekeeping
What is geopolitics
Study of how geographical factors influence political decisions, international relations, and distribution of power between nations
Example of how geopolitics influence human rights intervention
Uyghur in China, due to China’s geo-political power, and the US’s political relation with China, interventions are not carried out
Why are human rights complex issues
Universalism vs Cultural Relativism
What is Universalism
Believing that human rights belongs to everyone, regardless culture and background
E.g right to life
It is criticised for being:
Cultural imperialism- putting western values onto other culture as UNHR is from the UN
What is Cultural Relativism
Views of human rights should take into account of cultural differences
E.g FGM- female genitals mutilation- cultural tradition?
Freedom of Speech- people view community welfare over individuals
Current spatial patterns of forced labour
27.6 million in forced labour
6.3 million commercial sexual exploitations
N/S divide
Asia has the highest number of forced labour-15.1 million
Europe accounts for only 4%
Factors influencing global variation in forced labour
Economic vulnerability- 93% occur in developing countries
Lack of legal protection-e.g corruption
Gender inequalities- sexual exploitation
Discrimination- migrants and ethnic minorities
Conflicts
COVID-19
What is forced labour
Modern day slavery- people forced to work through violence or intimidation
What is maternal mortality rate
Number of deaths of women while pregnant per year per 100,000 live births
Current spatial pattern of maternal mortality rate
800 women die everyday from preventable causes related to pregnancy
99% in developing countries
N/S divide
-ACs- MMR is 8 per 100,000
-LIDCs- MMR is 786 per 100,000
48% in Sub Saharan Africa
Clear Rural Urban divide
Factors influencing global variation in maternal mortality rate
Lack of medical care- Ethiopia- 6% births attended by skilled professionals
Rurality- low personal mobility
Women’s Rights- no control over their reproductive heath, and teenage pregnancy
Current Spatial Pattern of Capital Punishment
N/S divide
US 43 deaths
China- more than 1000 deaths- more data hidden
Factors influencing global variation of capital punishment
Government system
-authoritarian government- higher levels
-politically unstable countries- use capital punishment to secure their power- Syria
Public Opinion- societal views towards crime and punishment
International Pressure- Amnesty International and UN
Crime Rates- higher crime rates, higher capital punishment rates
E.g using capital punishment for dealing with terrorism. Pakistan lifted a six year ban on executions
Factors explaining variation in pattern of gender inequalities- Economic
Education
-516 million illiterate women
- in LIDCs 45% women don’t have secondary education
-increases gender pay gap due to different qualifications
-less access to job market
Unemployment
-only 50% women in workforce
Poor Health
FGM- 125 million subjected to it- LIDCs have poor sanitation and lack of professionals
-high MMR of 400 per 100,000
-poor health means less competitive in workforce
Factors explaining variation in pattern of gender inequalities- Political
Political representatives
-% seats in parliament
-less laws relating to women- e.g pink tax, period poverty (miss out education and sports, health issues), upskirting
Politically Disempowered
-no voting rights
-government don’t have incentive to help women
- they usually do things to gain votes, women are not considered in this sense
Factors explaining variation in pattern of gender inequalities- Social
Patriarchal Society- low power in society
Dowry System- women’s family have to pay an allowance for marriage- perception of son over daughter
Health
-125 million subjected to FGM
-low contraceptive prevalence
Cultural Norms
-women should be raising children and taking care of family
Human right violation as a cause of conflict
genocide/ torture
Limited freedom
Denial of basic human needs
Oppressive government
Case study for human rights violation as a cause of conflict
Syria- Civil war started due to
-political oppression
-censorship of media and lack of freedom of speech
-state violence- executions of Arab Spring protestors- 500,000 people killed
Human right violation as a consequence of conflict
Ethnic Cleansing- Syria forcing Kosovo Albanians out of the country
Displacement of population- 11 million
Restricted access to food and water
Damage to property, hospitals, schools
Exploitation of women
Barrel Bombs- threat to life
Child Soldiers
Arbitrary detention- right to movement
Geopolitical intervention to address violation
NATO in Kosovo
- NATO launched a six week bombing campaign against Serbia- due to violations of human rights such as ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and violence- prevent further human rights violations
Serbia ultimately surrendered and Kosovo became independent
But 500 civilians were killed
It was controversial as it was not authorised by UN- as China and Russia were opposed to any intervention in Kosovo
