2.2 e), f) Roles of non-legal bodies/measures in promoting/enforcing HR

Question 1

What do NGOs do to promote/enforce HR?

Answer 1

raise awareness of HR issues in the world community, placing pressure on regimes which may abuse HR and other nations that are perceived to be upholders of HR (Eg. US has death penalty still)

Question 2

What do humanitarian bodies like the Red Cross and World Vision do?

Answer 2

highlight humanitarian issues and encourage direct action by citizens through donations to alleviate HR issues.

Question 3

What does HR Watch (since approximately when) do?

Answer 3

approx. 1988:

produces detailed reports on HR abuses, compiles an annual report reporting HR abuses globally.

Question 4

What does HR Watch depend on?

Answer 4

more wealthy individual donors than Amnesty.

Question 5

What do NGOs play a huge role in?

Answer 5

protecting the interest of victims of HR violations, provide assistance, conduct research and lobby govs, incl. UN to consider legislation.

Question 6

Why are NGOs created?`

Answer 6

When interested individuals perceive a need which isn’t being met

Question 7

Why are NGOs so essential?

Answer 7

NGOs help ensure greater government compliance by investigating, researching, documenting and publicizing cases of human rights violations.

Question 8

When was Amnesty International formed and what does it do?

Answer 8

in 1961:

targets large countries where lots of info is available, ‘naming and shaming them’

Question 9

By Amnesty International’s targeting of large countries where lots of info is available what does it mean for smaller dictatorships and countries involved in civil war?

Answer 9

their abuses of rights are given less attention.

Amnesty admits this, but says they feel they can make a bigger difference in the countries they’re currently focused on.

Question 10

What could be a possible -ve to Amnesty International?

Answer 10

It targets nations/HR Abuses based on donor interest, meaning the WORST violations might not be addressed.

Question 11

What is Amnesty International’s strength?

Answer 11

Its numbers, has approx. 3 million members.

Question 12

Why have NGOs been effective in promoting and enforcing HR?

Answer 12

They can provide unbiased, independent information to the UN, in contrast to nations which may give biased info instead.

Question 13

What is a significant factor that affects the effectiveness of NGOs?

Answer 13

The info they report to the UN and international organisations has been informal, requires a more formal recognition to improve their positive impact.

Question 14

Why has there been an increase in the no. of NGOs overtime?

Answer 14

Due to the evolving concept of HR, more NGOs concerned with HR have increased.

Question 15

What were NGOs instrumental in establishing?

Answer 15

The UN charter and International Bill of Rights

Question 16

What does the media play an extremely important role in doing?

Answer 16

raising awareness of HR abuses around the world and rallying public and gov action to end these abuses.

Question 17

What has the increasing role of the media meant?

Answer 17

people have 24 access to global news, people are more exposed to HR abuses.

Question 18

How has the increasing role of the media been +ve?

Answer 18

They can quickly mobilise public action, calling govs and international bodies to uphold NGOs. NGOs can also use media, especially social media to bring the public’s attention to HR abuses and rally them to call for action.
+ also more publicity for issues—> greater awareness which overtime can lead to reform.

Question 19

What is an obvious -ve of NGOs and (the media)?

Answer 19

Whilst they are very effective promoters of HR, they don’t have any of the legal power to create lasting change and enforce laws protecting HR abuses.,
Therefore they’re largely ineffective enforcers.

Question 20

What is a +ve example of social media in bringing attention to current HR abuses?

Answer 20

Kony 2012 Campaign- a viral video which increased awareness of child soldiers, calling for prosecution of James Kony.

Question 21

How much publicity did Kony 2012 Campaign get?

Answer 21

100million views in 1st week
3.6 million pledges
58% young people knew about it

Question 22

What is the media/NGOs especially good for?

Answer 22

Bringing about change for issues that may not be seen as a concern by larger bodies, eg. the same sex marriage in the UN, IGOs, ICJ …

Question 23

How has 24 hr news impacted the effectiveness of the media in promoting HR?

Answer 23

Viewers can be fatigued by the horrors they’re constantly exposed to, thus their compassion to lobby for these issues may decrease as they become less sensitised to HR abuses.

Question 24

Whilst the news can give stories about HR abuses that create initial outcry, what can happen?

Answer 24

Story subsides, no action taken. Eg,

Question 25

Whilst the news can give stories about HR abuses that create initial outcry, what can happen?

Answer 25

Story subsides, no action taken. Eg, No continued reporting on child soldiers in Africa.

Question 26

What could be a criticism of the authenticity of the HR abuses promoted by the media through social media?

Answer 26

It largely doesn’t have deep coverage, so the public knows about the issue but not ‘why’.

Question 27

Which media is the world media dominated by and what can this affect?

Answer 27

By Fox, which means they can dictate the leading stories.
+The media can be biased in what it chooses to report and how they do so. They only publish what the reader wants to read.

Question 28

What is the media very influential in?

Answer 28

Raising consciousness and pressuring states into improving HR (enforcing)

Question 29

In some nations, however the influences of the media in promoting/enforcing HR is limited why?

Answer 29

Media is censored, often by totalitarian regimes

—> North Korea bans listening to foreign radio

Question 30

What is the media?

Answer 30

An agent of law reform and a provider of info

Question 31

How do NGOs, (Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International) use social media?

Answer 31

to communicate their ideas

Question 32

Despite enlightening the public and holding govs to account what else does the media provide?

Answer 32

A platform for discussion.

Question 33

As media can be used by interest groups to convey a certain message what does this mean?

Answer 33

Media can be misused and misinform public due to bias, an increasing problem on social media where most people esp young people get their news

Question 34

What is crucially important for sufferers of HR abuses to know and how does this impact journalists?

Answer 34

That their are mechanisms beyond borders which can help ease their suffering. Journalists can be put at great risk by uncovering the abuses-balibo 5

Question 35

How many journalists were killed in 2012 and how does this show the power of foreign media?

Answer 35

121 worldwide. IT shows the discomfort that HR abusing govs feel when such abuses are exposed, they are held accountable for their actions.

Question 36

What other forms of media can be effective in conveying a message to promote and ultimately enforce HR?

Answer 36

Movies (Hotel Rwanda), songs (Bowling for Columbine-US gun laws), novels

Question 37

How has social media contributed to the Jasmine Revolution?

Answer 37

It exposed people (esp young people) in nations where HR abuses were occurring to other forms of government and the living standards and conditions of other nations, enabling them to feel empowered and informed enough to take action.