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