Case Studies for Unit 2

Question 1

BLM movement, US

Answer 1

Context:

• Founded in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin
• Movement against systemic racism and police brutality in the United States
• Grew into a global campaign advocating for racial justice and human rights

Systemic Violation of Human Rights

• Ongoing patterns of discrimination in policing, healthcare, housing, and education disproportionately impact Black communities

Justice and the Rule of Law

• BLM challenges failures in the justice system, including:
  ->Impunity for police officers
  ->Unequal enforcement of laws
  ->Lack of accountability in legal institutions

The Role of the State

• The state is both the main violator and essential protector of human rights:
  -> Violator: Through police brutality and systemic racism in public institutions
  -> Protector: Responsible for ensuring equal protection under the law and upholding rights through policy and reform

Question 2

LGBTQ+ rights, Uganda

Answer 2

Context:

• Uganda enforces some of the world’s harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including criminalizing same-sex relationships and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights
• Anti-Homosexuality Act (2013) increased prison sentences and criminalized “promotion of homosexuality.”
• 2015, Uganda’s Supreme Court challenged the procedures behind the parliamentary vote, rather than the content of the law
• The government responded by proposing new anti-LGBTQ+ legislation

Cultural Relativism vs. Universalism

• Cultural relativism: Ugandan officials often defend anti-LGBTQ+ laws as reflecting “traditional African values” and societal norms
• Universalism: Human rights activists argue that LGBTQ+ rights are universal—rooted in international human rights law and principles such as dignity, freedom, and non-discrimination

Equality

• LGBTQ+ Ugandans face systemic inequality, including:
  ->Legal discrimination (criminalization)
  ->Social exclusion and hate violence
  ->Lack of access to healthcare, justice, and education
• The movement advocates for equal rights, freedom from persecution, and protection under the law

Role of IGOs and NGOs

• NGOs (e.g., Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International):
  -> Provide legal aid, documentation, advocacy, and support services
  -> Raise global awareness and lobby governments to pressure Uganda
• IGOs (e.g., UN Human Rights Council, EU):
  -> Condemn discriminatory laws and encourage Uganda to align with international human rights norms
  -> Some countries and IGOs suspend aid or impose diplomatic pressure to influence change

Question 3

Migrant workers, Qatar

Answer 3

Context:

• Hosts millions of migrant workers (esp. from South Asia and Africa)
• Faced systemic rights abuses, especially during 2022 FIFA World Cup infrastructure development
• Kafala system: ties workers legal status to employers
  ->Restricts mobility
  -> Enables exploitation

Workers rights as human rights:

• Violations:
  ->Wage theft
  ->Poor living and working conditions
  ->Limited legal protections and access to justice
• Undermine rights to:
  ->Fair working conditions
  ->Freedom of movement
  -> Dignity/security of person
• Systemic violations:
  -> Not isolated abuses but embedded within legal and economic structures (kafala sponsorship system)
  -> States can protect and violate rights, depending on legal will and enforcement
• Justice and Rule of Law: Highlights the importance of not just having laws, but ensuring fair enforcement and access to remedies.

Question 4

Child labour (fashion), India

Answer 4

Context:

• Children (often from poor rural areas), work in cotton farming, embroidery, garment factories
• Driven by poverty, family pressure, lack of access to education
• Despite legal prohibitions (eg. Child Labour Prohibition Act): child labour persists due to weak enforcement and corruption

Children’s rights:

• Violates multiple provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC):
  -> Right to education (Article 28)
  -> Right to protection from economic exploitation (Article 32)
  -> Right to health and development (Articles 6 & 24)

Positive and negative rights:

• Positive rights violated:
  -> Right to education: many child labourers denied schooling due to work obligations
  -> Right to development and health: unsafe working conditions
• Negative rights violated:
  -> Freedom from slavery and exploitation
  -> Freedom from harmful work (interferes with dignity or education)

Role of NGOs and IGOs:

• NGOs (eg. Save the Children)
  -> Rescue operations, legal aid, rehabilitation, advocacy
• IGOs (eg. UNICEF)
  -> Push for global standards
  -> Track violations
  -> Promote ethical certifications, education initiatives
• Globalisation: Demonstrates how consumer behaviour and international business practices affect rights in developing countries.