Human rights and environmental GG - paper 3 Flashcards
(26 cards)
What are human rights, and when were they universally recognized?
- universal rights given to all people because they are human.
- universally recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Give examples of articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Article 1: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
What controversy arises from the violation of human rights?
- Violation of human rights can lead to humanitarian intervention, which can conflict with the principle of state sovereignty
What are the main sources of international law?
- Treaties (e.g., 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty)
- International custom (e.g., 1948 UDHR)
- Legal writings (actions illegal within states are also illegal between states)
- Judicial decisions (e.g., International Court of Justice rulings)
What is the International Court of Justice, and what is its role?
The ICJ is is the ‘world court’ of the UN. It settles disputes between states, such as territorial issues, and aims to promote harmony among nations.
What are some strengths and weaknesses of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?
STRENGTHS:
- Neutral platform for settling international disputes.
- Authoritative rulings on state conflicts, promoting global harmony.
- Binding decisions on states that have consented to ICJ jurisdiction.
WEAKNESSES:
- Lack of enforcement power; relies on states to implement rulings.
- Limited jurisdiction; only hears cases between states that consent to its authority.
- Political influence; some states may ignore or undermine rulings due to political interests.
What was the Nicaragua & Costa Rica dispute (2015)?
he dispute was over a patch of wetlands on the San Juan River. In 2015, the ICJ ruled in favor of Costa Rica, forcing Nicaragua to hand over the disputed territory.
What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?
- criminal court established in 2002
- prosecutes individuals for crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity.
- It is separate from the ICJ and is a court of last resort, intervening when states cannot or will not prosecute criminals.
What are some successes of the International Criminal Court (ICC)?
- Successfully prosecuted criminals, such as a Congolese warlord, sentenced to 12 years in prison for atrocities.
- Ongoing investigations in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, and Venezuela.
What are UN tribunals?
- established after major atrocities to prosecute war criminals.
- They pre-date the ICC and focus on crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity.
weaknesses of the ICC?
- States can withdraw from the ICC, which may lead to rulings being ignored (e.g., USA, China, Russia, India are not signatories).
- Perceived bias against African states, leading to withdrawals by some African countries.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the UN Tribunals (ICTY & ICTR)?
STRENGTHS:
- Provide justice for victims of major atrocities like genocide and war crimes.
- Set important precedents for international criminal law.
WEAKNESSES:
- Limited reach; not all perpetrators are tried
- Slow process and high costs.
- Limited impact on deterrence, as many war criminals remain unpunished or evade justice.
What is the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)?
- Promotes human rights, democracy, and rule of law.
- All European countries (except Belarus) signed the European Convention on Human Rights
- Allows individuals to appeal beyond national courts.
What is the controversy surrounding the ECHR?
- UK debates leaving to reduce migration. - – Criticized for interfering with national s-sovereignty, especially on issues like migration.
How does state sovereignty conflict with global governance?
- State sovereignty means control over internal policies
- Global governance may require intervention, challenging this sovereignty.
What is the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)?
- If a state fails to protect its citizens from atrocities, the international community has a duty to intervene
- Endorsed after Rwanda
What are the principles of Just War Theory?
- Just cause for war.
- Conduct of war.
- Responsibility after war.
What factors lead to humanitarian intervention?
- Instability
- global media pressure
- human rights violations
What is the UNFCCC?
- Established in 1992 to address climate change.
- Ratified by over 190 countries, with annual meetings to assess progress.
What are the successes and weaknesses of the UNFCCC?
Successes: Reduced emissions from developed countries.
Weaknesses: Non-binding goals. Emissions from developing countries, like China, increased.
What is the role of the IPCC?
- Provides impartial climate change assessments to inform policy.
- Focuses on science, impacts, and mitigation.
What are the successes and weaknesses of the IPCC?
Successes: Trusted source of climate info.
Weaknesses: Some reports understate climate impacts or have errors.
What were the outcomes of the Rio 1992 Earth Summit?
Established the UNFCCC. Focused on sustainable development, but lacked binding agreements and consensus.
What were the outcomes of the Paris 2015 climate conference?
First legally binding, universal climate deal. Goal to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. US withdrawal under Trump was a setback.
