EQ2- Why Do Human Rights Vary From Place To Place

Question 1

Define the Universal declaration of human rights (UDHR)

Answer 1

Sets out 30 universal rights, adopted in 1948 after WW2. Believes in human rights and fundamental freedom

Question 2

Which countries have not signed the Universal declaration of human rights agreement and why

Answer 2

It can interrupt the countries economy and the way they choose to operate.

The Soviet union states have not signed the agreement as they are Communist of former dictatorships and the declaration would not suit the way they operate.

Saudi Arabia did not sign the agreement due to complications with women’s rights and the ability to freely change religion

Question 3

What did the Universal declaration of human rights aim to do

Answer 3

Provide a common understanding of the rights that every human being should be entitled to freedom, justice and peace protected by law

Although it is not legally binding, its forms a statement of intent and a framework for foreign policy statements to explain economic or military intervention

Question 4

Define the European convention on human rights

Answer 4

Was established in 1949 to establish better relationships between European countries following World War II. Now consists of 47 member states to protect human rights and is included in members national laws to allow people to live free and dignified lives

Question 5

What does the European convention on human rights include (4)

Answer 5

A right to life
The prohibition of slavery and torture
The right to a fair trial
Freedom of expression

Question 6

Explain the objections of the European convention on human rights

Answer 6

Despite agreement of human rights in the UK, some of those rights can be questioned by pressure groups.
They argue that the ECHR is undemocratic because it threatens British sovereignty and self determination of laws. British courts are bound by the ECHR.
Following Brexit, the government announced plans to scrap the ECHR, meaning it would no longer be able to overrule British court judgements.

Question 7

Define the Geneva convention

Answer 7

Was originally established in 1864, following the need for humanitarian protection arising from advances in weapons technology and changes to the nature of armed conflict

Question 8

Explain the aims of the Geneva convention

Answer 8

Originally it was concerned only with soldiers wounded on the battlefield.
Following the end of World War II the Geneva convention expanded to cover anyone caught up in conflict – civilians, medical workers and prisoners
Is used to determine what a war crime is

Question 9

Describe the participation in the Geneva convention

Answer 9

Has been almost universally ratified, with 196 countries signing up.

Now considered that the Geneva convention applies whether a nation has signed up or not

Question 10

Explain the trade off between human rights and economic development

Answer 10

There are few countries that give human rights precedence over economic growth
Most democratics are committed to the principles of human rights but there are occasions when a principle by a particular government does not fall in line with the international community.

Question 11

Explain North Korea in terms of human rights and economic development

Answer 11

Is a totalitarian authoritarian regime which holds elections that only involves one political party.
Lives in self imposed isolation from the rest of the world, it’s people are forbidden to use the internet and it frequently violates human rights.
There is no freedom of speech and people have been put in political prison camps for speaking out against the governments.
There are few economic statistics about North Korea, it spends a huge amount of its GDP on it’s military forces.
Suffers food shortages, malnutrition and severe famines, the last killed 2.5 million people.

Question 12

Explain South Korea in terms of human rights and economic development

Answer 12

Has embraced capitalism and has transformed itself from a war torn country to a high income advanced economy.
Its economic success is due to firm government, increasingly powerful high tech firms (LG and Samsung), a committed labour force, and a rich human resource of enterprise and innovation.
The democracy index ranks 2nd in Asia, large scale protests occur and it ranks amongst the highest in the world in terms of education, healthcare and ease of doing business.

Question 13

Explain the correlation between the corruption perception index and the democracy index

Examples

Answer 13

The general trend is that highly corrupt countries on the corruption perception index are the least democratic countries on the democracy index.

North Korea has a score of 0-9 on the CPI, making it a highly corrupt country, and a score of 1-2 on the democracy index, making it one of the least democratic countries

Question 14

Explain China in terms of it’s development

Answer 14

Modern China was founded as a communist country with a one party government following WW2.

Economic reforms introduced in 1970 has seen China become increasingly involved in the global economy and is described as a socialist market economy.

Has a increased willingness to trade with the capitalist world and is now rivalling USA as the world’s largest economy.

Has the 2nd largest GNI in the world, $10,069,180

Question 15

Explain China in terms of its human rights

Answer 15

Senior Chinese leaders reject the universality of human rights, regarding them as western ideas and a threat to power.

There is suppression of the internet and media freedom, with hundreds of websites blocked.

Has a history of unfair trials, torture (directed at people with particular political and religious beliefs) and the death penalty.

There are a lack of workers rights, with trade unions illegal as well as protests on low wages and poor working conditions.

Question 16

Explain China in terms of it’s democracy

Answer 16

Modern Chinese leaders state that they run a socialist democracy that acts in the interest of it’s people.

However foreign media outlets describe it as a totalitarian and surveillance state, ranking 2 of out of 10 on the democracy index

Question 17

Explain China in terms of it’s political freedom

Answer 17

The Chinese communist party has governed China since 1949 as a single party authoritarian state.

There are no general elections, with all candidates coming from one party.

Political power is concentrated in the hands of the president

The government has a scant regard for human rights, the human rights watch curtails freedom of expression, association, assembly and religion.

Question 18

Explain India in terms of its development

Answer 18

Has not performed as well as the Chinese economy in previous years

Has a GNI per capita of $13,130

Question 19

Explain India in terms of it’s human rights

Answer 19

Constitution dates from 1950 and consists of over 400 articles which include freedom of speech and religion

Is making significant progress in protecting human rights, although human rights watch states that it still has concerns over the treatment of minority groups and women’s rights

Question 20

Explain India in terms of it’s democracy

Answer 20

Has become the world’s largest democracy

In 1947, India became a free nation and declared itself a democratic and republic state with the adaption of the consultation

The consultation gave the citizens of India power to choose it’s own government

Question 21

Explain India in terms of it’s political freedom

Answer 21

The real power lies in the hands of Lok Sabha (house of Parliament) whose members decide who will be the country’s prime minister

Has a vigorous media and independent judicary, are important aspects of a free and democratic society

Has a parliamentary system of government including a union

Question 22

Explain Rwanda’s civil conflict in explaining the variation between the rights of different ethnic groups in post colonial states

Answer 22

Is an example of a difference in human rights between the ethnic groups of the Tutsi and the Hutu

Conflict occurred after the post colonisation of Rwanda from French rule , who put the Hutu group as the government majority.

There has always been disagreements between the groups

The genocide of the Tutsi group was sparked after the Hutu Rwandan presidents plane was shot down, blamed on the Tutsi’s but actually done by the Hutu’s as a reason to start conflict

An estimated 800,000 people were killed in a 124 day period as an attempt of ethnic cleansing

Question 23

Explain North American Indians in explaining how there differences in rights are reflected in health and education

Answer 23

Comprise of about 2% of the US population

Indian territories are subjective to treaties and federal laws

The health and education of tribes occurs through the Indian Health Service (IHS) which provides care for 2 million.

The IHS is underfunded with problems with sterilisation equipment, errors in medical records and unqualified medical staff

Less than half of the indigenous population has health insurance, healthcare is restricted even though their needs are high with a high prevalence of infant mortality, diabetes and suicide.

5% of indigenous children attend school however the building quality is poor and there is poor governance

Question 24

Explain South American tribes in explaining how differences in rights are reflected in education and health

Answer 24

Are around 46 million indigenous people living in South America

Represents a diversity of culture, religion, traditions and languages but are amongst the world’s most marginalised groups

Are poorer and less educated, more likely to commit suicide and are in worse health than the rest of the population

Governments do not invest in basic services meaning they have no access to healthcare, education, participation and are at risk of being denied identity documents

Question 25

Explain Women in Afghanistan in terms of how rates of progress differ for women

Answer 25

In 1919 women were given the right to vote and gender separation was abolished. Women were given equality and could stand in elections.

During the 1980’s and 90’s rights of women were abolished due to taliban rule, sharia law was enforced banning women from school, work or showing their skin in public.

In 2001 military coalition ousted the taliban and women’s rights were stored, however after they left taliban rule was restored in parts of the country.

Question 26

Explain Women and minority ethnic groups in Bolivia to explain how rates of progress differ

Answer 26

Is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in South America, with a 60% indigenous population.

Indigenous people are marginalised in economic terms, living in extreme poverty.

Lack of gender equality with gender violence causing more deaths than cancer and war.

50% of women have been subject to physical abuse and it has the highest maternal mortality rates in south America.

Women play a subordinate role in society and do not have a voice to call for their human rights

Question 27

Explain minority ethnic groups in Australia in explaining how rates of progress differ

Answer 27

Before 1967 aboriginals were not considered Australian citizens so could not vote or own property.

Australia started with a white only immigration policy.

Has a 2% indigenous population but it’s imprisonment rate is 15x higher, has a life expectancy rate 10 years lower and a unemployment rate 3x higher.