EQ2 Flashcards
What is the UDHR?
Produced by the UN in 1948.
30 articles and two covenants specifying people’s rights.
Including freedom, justice, peace and no persecution in all countries.
Forms the basis of international laws.
Positives of the UDHR
-Inclusion of human rights in national culture and government policies.
-National and international protection for cultures and ethnic groups.
-Promotion of democracy
Negatives of the UDHR
-Some countries do not agree with all rights and are selective in applying the articles and covenants due to religious, political or economic reasons.
-Some believe human rights are placed above sovereignty.
Challenges of the UDHR
Executions still take place, slavery exists and gender issues persist.
-Not all countries have signed and ratified the UDHR, in 1990 Islamic countries devised their own version (Cairo declaration).
-Some countries have used human rights as a reason for military action.
Why did South Africa not sign the UDHR?
Because of the declaration’s potential to disrupt its practice of racial discrimination and segregation, known as apartheid. Lasted 1948-1994.
Why did Saudi Arabia not sign the UDHR?
Against the right to change religion.
conflicts with women’s rights who were only given the right to vote and drive in 2015
What is the ECHR?
Established in 1950 to maintain human rights and freedom across Europe as a whole, and is based on the UDHR.
- 47 signatory countries
-59 articles
What are the positives of the ECHR?
It helps national police and juries reach clearer verdicts.
-There are only a small number of cases for most countries.
Helps to indicate where human rights and improvements are needed
What are the negatives of ECHR?
Undermines national sovereignty
It takes the European court a long time to make decisions.
ECHR in the UK
Can be argued that the ECHR is undemocratic because it threatens British sovereignty (the rights of the British parliament to determine its own laws)
-In 2016, due to brexit occuring the British government wanted to scrap the ECHR and replace it with “British Bill of rights and responsibilities”
-This could erode human rights in Britain
What is the geneva convention?
International treaties that create rules for war situations, especially offering protection to civilians, medical workers, those wounded and prisoners.
Why is the geneva convention controversial?
-inconsistencies in dealing with breaches
-several countries are still using torture or causing genocide of minorities.
-the large numbers of refugees and asylum seekers -few cases actually coming into trial.
Why do differing countries have different priorities?
Some prioritize economic development whilst some prioritize human rights.
Why is there a divide between South and North Korea?
Just after the second world war, what had been a Japanese colony was divided into two states.
To the North lies the democratic people’s republic.
To the south lies the republic of korea
What is North Korea’s state?
a self reliant state.
They only involve one political party
A totalitarian state (only one political party which controls everything)
Ways North Korea is being isolated from the rest of global community
- People are forbidden to use the internet.
-no freedom of speech
What does North Korea spend most of their money on?
-military forces and defence.
The impacts of North Korea prioritising economic development and defences:
-food shortages, famines and malnutrition.
-feeding its people is a lower priority than the “defence” of the country.
What is south Korea’s state like?
Embraced capitalism and has transformed into a high-income advanced economy.
-Ranks among the highest in the world in terms of education, healthcare and ease of doing business.
Examples of two emerging superpower countries
China and India
How has China’s state changed?
Was a communist with one party gov after second world war.
However now known as a “socialist market economy”
What are some of China’s human rights abuses?
Re-education through labour
Suppresion of the internet and media freedom- hundreds of websites blocked.
Torture and ill-treatment of detainees.
Workers rights- trade unions are illegal. Workers are not allowed to protest about low wages, poor conditions.
Death penalty- China accounts for nearly 3/4 of the world’s executions.
What is India’s state like?
Democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government
What did the last election (2014) in India focus on?
- the stalled economy
-rising prices
-corruption
-security
-infrastructure
What are some of India’s human right issues?
- violence against religious minorities- muslims
-neglect of tribal communities
-sexual abuse and violence against women and children
What is the link between level of democracy and level of corruption?
Greater democracy brings less corruption.
How does corruption impact human rights?
-Loss of financial investment in education, health and welfare.
-Provokes public protests and benefits power elites. Trade unions may be removed.
Corruption in Myanmar
-the scale of the informal and illicit economy suggests strong links between the ruling elite and organised crime activities, such as drugs, human trafficking and illegal logging.
Corruption in Myanmar
-the scale of the informal and illicit economy suggests strong links between the ruling elite and organised crime activities, such as drugs, human trafficking and illegal logging.
Variations between rights (gender and ethnicity) in Rwanda
Mass slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority government.
There has always been disagreement between the majority Hutus and minorities tutsis.
The two ethnic groups are very similar- they speak the same language and same traditions.
The tutsis are taller and thinner than the hutus.
More than 20,000 tutsis were killed.
What percentage of the US population is made up from NA Indians and Alaskan natives?
-North American Indians and Alaskan natives comprise about 2% of the US population, with 78% of these living in tribal teritories.
Who provides the health and education of North American Indians?
The Indian health service ( IHS), which provides care for over 2 million.
Variations in health- North American Indians
THE IHS is underfunded with problems with sterilization equipment, errors in medical records and unqualified medical staff.
-Only less than half of the population has health insurance-restricting access to the US health care system.
-Their needs are greater than the US white population, high infant mortality, diabeties, sucidie and TB
Variations in education- North American Indians
In 2012, performance at all levels was about 10% below the white US population.
5% of indigenous children attend schools with a curriculum on “native ways of knowing”- these schools ran by Bureau of Indian Education have poor quality buildings and poor governance.
What did the Generation Indigenous initiative in 2015 focus on?
Programmes in education, health and nutrition, juvenile justice, housing and young engagement.
The 2016 US budget proposed $1.5 billion (8%) increase from 2015.
-5.1 billion for Indian Health service.
-In 2016, funding for BIE schools was $904 million.- to increase opportunities
-$59 million increase for buildings and infrastructure
Rates of progress for women in Afghanistan?
-During the 1980s and 90s, Taliban rule gradually reversed the rights of women and enforced their own version of the Sharia Law (only 14% of women are enrolled in secondary education)
-Women are not allowed to leave the house without a male chaperone.
-
Rates of progress for ethnic groups in Australia?
ATSI= Aboriginal and Torres straight Islander.
-Before 1967, ATSI were not considered to be Australian individuals, denying them the vote.
-Legally couldn’t own property until 1985.
ATSI have a life expectancy 10 years shorter, with high levels of drug and alcohol abuse.
-Unemployment and avoidable deaths 3 x higher among ATSI people.
-30% of ATSI adults lack basic literacy skills. However, this is improving as 54% aged 20-24 now have the Australian A-level equivalent.
-20% of school age children are not enrolled, and those that are, attendance is poor.
Rates of progress for women in Bolivia
-Gender inequality is still huge.
-Gender violence has caused more deaths than cancer or war.
-50% of women have been subject to physical abuse.
-Highest maternal mortality in South America.
-Lack of education means women cannot voice to improve human rights.
Rates of progress for ethnic groups Bolivia
Bolivia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Latin America.
-60% of Bolivia’s population are classified as Indigenous.
-30% are mestizo (mix of European and Amerindian descent).
There has been progress socially, politically and culturally however Indigenous people still remain marginalised.
