8.5a some states invoke human rights, others prioritise economic development

Question 1

THE USA

Answer 1

• ensured that the Council adopted a resolution on Yemen, to gather evidence about human rights violations and abuses there
• sponsored a resolution to focus on serious Syrian human rights abuses
• supported a resolution to investigate alleged violations and abuses of human rights in the country

Question 2

SINGAPORE

Answer 2

• the Singaporean government limits political and civil rights such as freedom of expression
• Singapore still employs the death penalty
• has one of the world’s highest execution rates per capita
• worries about the widespread exploitation of migrant workers and human trafficking

the Singaporean government argue that the relative disregard for human rights there has allowed Singapore to prosper since the 1970s