3.a. Human rights violations can be a cause and consequence of conflict. Flashcards
Human rights violations are involved in every conflict; either as…
Human rights violations are involved in every conflict; either as a root cause or as a consequence.
What forms can conflict take?
(Violation of Human Rights as a Cause of conflict)
Peaceful protest, e.g. marches.
Forceful protests, e.g. strikes.
Uprising of social groups.
Violence, e.g. civil wars.
Outline denial of needs.
(Discrimination, the denial of human rights and how this leads to conflict: South Africa)
White only schools.
White only transport.
White only toilets.
White only public telephones.
Outline discrimination.
(Discrimination, the denial of human rights and how this leads to conflict: South Africa)
Segregation of blacks and whites in living spaces.
Only allowed relationships with the same race.
Black people have to use separate trains/ buses.
Black groups excluded from societal decisions.
Black people not allowed to compete within National sports teams.
Outline unrepresentative government.
(Discrimination, the denial of human rights and how this leads to conflict: South Africa)
Black people are arrested without evidence and tortured in custody. Beatings by white police, all covered up.
Black people were not allowed to vote - “no rights, no justice”.
Outline oppressive government.
(Discrimination, the denial of human rights and how this leads to conflict: South Africa)
Government threatens to clear all “black slums” and build houses for white wealthy people.
Black people imprisoned for speaking out at a campaign for equality/ freedom/ justice.
Outline conflict.
(Discrimination, the denial of human rights and how this leads to conflict: South Africa)
ANC - African National Congress; group that campaigns for equal rights.
Peaceful protests.
Rallying larger groups for ‘defiance campaign’ against white supremacy.
Outline the Sharpeville Massacre (1960)
(Discrimination, the denial of human rights and how this leads to conflict: South Africa)
21st March 1960, Sharpeville Township.
Black people protested against having to carry a ‘passbook’.
In response, white officers shot and killed 69 black protesters.
This was arguably the ‘trigger’ for white-black violence within South Africa: and the moment many fought fire with fire.
This is an example of violent conflict.
State 3 human rights violation that are either the initial cause of a conflict or a major contributory factor.
(How the violation of human rights can be a cause of conflict)
Denial of human needs such as food, housing, employment opportunity and limited access to education over long periods of time.
Discrimination and denial of freedom in an undemocratic society.
Unrepresentative government in which people are treated unequally or unjustly and excluded from decision-making.
Oppressive governments that do not respect the needs of all groups, including preservation of ethnic identity or discrimination on the basis of gender.
Genocide and torture.
State 3 ways in which conflict may have the effect of further human rights violation.
(How the violation of human rights can be a consequence of conflict and how this can be addressed through geopolitical intervention)
High incidence of mortality, of military involved in fighting and civilians in local communities nearby.
Damage to homes and other property.
Damage to infrastructure, including transport systems, hospitals, schools and tele-communications.
The impact on food and water supply.
Displacement of populations including the effects of internal and international refugee migration.
Exploitation of women and children.
Further so-called ‘ethnic cleansing’.
Intervention in emergency situations may involve what?
(How the violation of human rights can be a consequence of conflict and how this can be addressed through geopolitical intervention)
Military action with forces acting under UN mandate.
There have been a number of instances of humanitarian intervention given authority by the UN in order to prevent humanitarian crises. State and explain and example.
(How the violation of human rights can be a consequence of conflict and how this can be addressed through geopolitical intervention)
2011 military intervention in Libya:
Given UN mandate to prevent further violation of human rights such as bombing and starvation of civilians by the dictatorship.
This intervention was led by France and the UK, with 17 other countries involved, until NATO forces took over.
Invariably continued military presence is required to support all other forms of global governance in the ensuing period.
Outline the roles of flows of people and money in geopolitical intervention.
(The role of flows of people, money, ideas and technology in geopolitical intervention)
This includes aid workers such as NGO staff and the many uniformed personnel required for peacekeeping missions of the UN and regional organisations, e.g. NATO.
Funds to support these operations, often amounting to many millions of dollars, are provided by member states; overall the USA is the greatest contributor.
Outline the roles of flows of ideas in geopolitical intervention.
(The role of flows of people, money, ideas and technology in geopolitical intervention)
The exchange of ideas and information, at the planning stage and during its operation, is important for effective intervention.
In places where human rights abuses are perpetrated, the UNHRC employs experts, rapporteurs, special representatives and working groups to promote ideas and values.
In addition, the OHCHR provides education and training for civilian law enforcement and judicial officials to strengthen legal frameworks.
Many NGOs such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch help by publishing information on the human rights abuses in each country to increase awareness.
International organisations at their conferences share ideas and information on courses of action.
Outline the roles of flows of technology in geopolitical intervention.
(The role of flows of people, money, ideas and technology in geopolitical intervention)
Technologies such as social media and other online tools are being used increasingly to help the flow of ideas and information in the intervention process.
The widespread use of ICT including the internet and mobile phones are important in communications.
Technology e.g. remote sensing using satellite imagery and unmanned aircraft, are used for surveillance in areas that are too inaccessible or too dangerous for conventional observation.
