Human Rights Flashcards
(25 cards)
Human Rights
the rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled to. Applicable at all times and in all places. Protect everyone equally without discrimination.
Where does the understanding and knowledge of HR come from?
Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was adopted by the UN general Assembly in 1948
Example of human rights declaration
Article 2 - right to life
Article 4 - freedom from slavery and forced labor
how has trans-national integration and increased mobility led to contradictory impacts upon HR
- Positive = enhanced ability of civil society to work across borders and promote HR
- Negative = enabled some companies to gain power and perpetrate violations
Intervention
includes the use of military action by a state or group of states in foreign territory to end gross violation of human rights. Called humanitarian intervention when it is done with humanitarian objectives.
Benefits of intervention
- Effective in immediately stopping violation of HR
- Helps local communities
- improves socioeconomic development
- helps political stability
Issues of Intervention
- can actually increase the violation of human rights
loss of homes = increases population displacement
loss of life
Role of UN in intervention and protection of HR
- UN security Council is the only large body that can legally authorize use of military intervention
- Human rights workers will go into an area and promote and protect human rights, monitor situations and empower local people
- coordinates input from other organizations like NATO and OXFAM
Human Rights Norms
- Represent the ways of living which have been inculcated into a country’s culture over a long period of time
- Forms the basis of human rights
- UDHR was based off of norms and customs drawn from different cultures
- statements set out by UDHR are international human rights norms
Geopolitcs
global balance of politics and international relations
Gender inequality
- existence of unequal opportunities for people purely based on their gender
- where men and women don’t enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society
- closely linked to lack of womens rights
Global distribution of gender inequality
- large difference along the equator = African countries
- little gender inequality in Scandinavian countries
- Anomalies = Philippines
Causes of gender inequality - Access to education
Factors affecting girls access to education =
- costs may prohibit all children from a family to attend school
- lack of sanitation products
- household duties may fall on girls
- early pregnancy/marriage
UN has started Girls Education Initiative
Part of MDG
Causes of gender inequality - Access to reproductive healthcare
Factors affecting access =
- STD’s
- harmful practices - fgm
- sexual violence
- early marriage/pregnancy
- forced sterilization
Causes of gender inequality - Employment opportunities
- right of men and women to have equal access to employment opportunities
Factors affecting spatial variation = n - level of gov. support for childcare
- cultural beliefs and religious practices
social acceptance of women as income providers - level of discrimination
Strategies for global governance of HR
- attempts to change and modernist norms
- Role of UN peacekeeping missions in protecting and promoting HR
- work of NGOs, private organizations and human rights activists
How does violation of HR cause conflict?
- denial of HR including food, housing and limited education access
- discrimination and denial of freedom in an undemocratic society
- genocide and torture
How does conflict lead to violation of HR
- exploitation of women
- increased mortality rate
- damages to homes and infrastructure
Role of flows in governing HR
- exchange of ideas and information at the planning stage and during operation is jey to an effective intervention
Role of OHCHR in governance
provides education and training for civilian law enforcement
Role of NGOs in governance
E.G. Amnesty international publish info on the human rights abuses in each country to raise awareness
Role of technology in governance
social media is used to help flow of ideas - wide use of ICT e.g. remote sensing for surveillance
UN role in HR promotion
- intergovernmental organization with 193 member states that have to accept UN charter
- main aim to reaffirm faith in the fundamental HR
- office of high commission for human rights is the main governing body
- security council deals with grave HR violation often in conflict zones
NGOs role in HR promotion
- part of civil society
- work on the ground includes:
- monitoring and providing early warning for violence
- distribution of medical supplies
- modification of social norms using education
