Health, Human Rights and Intervention EQ2 - Human rights

Question 1

What are human rights?

Answer 1

Moral principles which underlie standards of human behaviour.
Inalienable and fundamental rights to which every person is entitled to universally.

Question 2

What is the UDHR?

Answer 2

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Sets out 30 universal rights - vital strands in what is widely recognised as constituting human development

Question 3

What are the drawbacks of the UDHR?

Answer 3

Is a declaration only, not a treaty - therefore it is not legally binding as there are no signatories. Therefore articles are unenforceable.
Not every state has signed the declaration

Question 4

What is the significance of the UDHR?

Answer 4

Is a significant factor influencing foreign policies and international relationships.
Can be used as a justification for military or economic interventions. Aid can be promised as a lever to persuade other countries to improve human rights

Question 5

What is the ECHR?

Answer 5

The European Convention on Human Rights
Comprises of a number of articles setting out specific human rights. Response to human rights violations in WWII and post war spread of communism - has played an important role in developing an awareness of human rights in Europe.

Question 6

What are the controversies surrounding the ECHR?

Answer 6

Some countries view it as an erosion of national sovereignty - it ‘interferes’ in legal and parliamentary proceedings within countries and can overturn appeals within nations

Question 7

How has the UK integrated the ECHR?

Answer 7

Human rights act of 1998 - incorporates into UK law the rights contained in ECHR. Any breach of convention’s rights can be heard in UK courts, so don’t have to go to the European Court of Human Rights

Question 8

What is the Geneva convention?

Answer 8

A series of 4 treaties that establish international law for humanitarian treatment during war - to protect people not taking part in the conflict. It is almost universally ratified - 196 countries signed up.

Question 9

What are the drawbacks of the Geneva convention?

Answer 9

Few cases of violations of the Geneva Convention ever come to trial - 141 countries were still reported to use torture in 2014.

Question 10

What is a war crime?

Answer 10

Wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment that is not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully.

Question 11

What is a democracy?

Answer 11

Countries with a system of government in which power is either held by regularly elected representatives or directly by the people.

Question 12

How are human rights being affected by a desire to develop?

Answer 12

Pursuit of economic development and growth by emerging countries coupled with industrialisation associated with the global shift has led to the prioritisation of economic output over basic human rights

Question 13

What are democratic governments general approach to human rights, what issues can arise due to this?

Answer 13

Most democracies are committed to principles of human rights
However, there are inevitably occasions when the interpretation of one of the principles by government does not fall in line with the international community. For example - UK disagreement with ECHR for denying prisoners right to vote in 2015 General Election

Question 14

What is the spatial distribution of freedom around the world, and why?

Answer 14

Lack of freedom in much of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
This is due to political unrest prevailing or being firmly supressed. Often low GDP countries.
Whilst there is a polarised world - many developed or advanced countries have high levels of freedom - there are some exceptions of countries not necessarily renowned for economic wealth, e.g. Kiribati

Question 15

How are North and South Korea’s political/economic systems different?

Answer 15

North Korea - totalitarian regime controlled by the Kim Jong family. Lives in self imposed isolation from the rest of the world, frequent violations of human rights. World Democracy Audit ranked it as the most corrupt and least democratic country in the world in 2014
South Korea - embraced capitalism to become a high income advanced economy. Democracy Index ranks South Korea second in Asia, and also ranks among highest in the world in terms of education and health.

Question 16

How does the GDP of North and South Korea compare, what does this suggest?

Answer 16

Comparison of GDP per capita today shows South Korea ranked 40th whilst North Korea is 195th – speaking volumes for democracy and capitalism, and little for totalitarian regimes.

Question 17

How does the government approach human rights in China?

Answer 17

China = socialist market economy that is increasingly willing to trade with the capitalist world.
However, their economic success has been driven by a form of government with very little regard for human rights. Chinese government = highly authoritarian one party state: prohibits trade organisations, prohibits human rights organisations, obstructs domestic and international scrutiny of human rights record

Question 18

What are some of the human rights abuses in China?

Answer 18

• re-education through labour
• suppression of the internet and media freedom
• unfair trials
• torture
• death penalty

Question 19

How does the government approach human rights in India?

Answer 19

Democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government - free country, but still faces human rights issues such as sexual abuse, class based discrimination and violence against religious minorities

Question 20

How can China and India’s approach to human rights be compared in terms of their economic success?

Answer 20

The Indian economy has not performed as spectacularly as the Chinese economy.
This could be associated with government structure differences, and differing amounts of respect for human rights - does this hinder economic development?

Question 21

What is political corruption?

Answer 21

Political corruption is the misuse of public power for private benefit - where members of the political elite overtly abuse their power for personal accumulation of wealth

Question 22

Why are high levels of political corruption a threat to human rights?

Answer 22

The rule of law is often subverted - disregard for human rights as malpractice steers a country away from good government

Question 23

What can the impacts of political corruption be?

Answer 23

• brings countries to bankruptcy (e.g. Zimbabwe)
• high levels of organised crime activities (drugs and human trafficking)
• destruction of social systems/infrastructure (such as healthcare)

Question 24

What is the Global Corruption Index?

Answer 24

A measure produced annually since 1996, which ranks countries by perceived levels of corruption.
Ranks 176 countries on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (very corrupt)

Question 25

How has corruption impacted Myanmar (and human rights here)?

Answer 25

Ruled for 40+ years by an unelected military junta - high levels of political violence and systematic repression of democratic opposition
Impacts: country has never faced economic prosperity, huge informal/illicit economy - drug and human trafficking, illegal logging

Question 26

What are the 2 main reasons for discrimination in countries leading to differences/inequality globally?

Answer 26

• gender
• ethnicity

Question 27

Why is there ethnic inequality across the globe?

Answer 27

Large parts of world under colonial rule in first half of 20th century. After WW2, independence came, but in many cases led to internal conflict and division due to:
- lack of experience running a country
- opportunist insurgent groups vying for political power
- colonial borders not recognising importance of traditional ethnic and religious borders

Question 28

What are two key indicators in differences in rights due to gender and inequality?

Answer 28

Differences in levels of health and education

Question 29

How are differences in rights reflected in the health and education levels of the indigenous populations of the Americas?

Answer 29

Groups of indigenous people face serious discrimination and are amongst the world’s most marginalised people. ‘Paying the costs of development (mining, infrastructure building) without enjoying any of the benefits’
- Poorer and less educated
- Worse health than the rest of the population
Often live in remote rural areas where governments do not invest in basic social services - no access to education, healthcare etc.

Question 30

Why has there been limited progress for women’s rights in Afghanistan?

Answer 30

• Taliban rule from 1996-2001 implemented version of Sharia law which was extremely restrictive on women, preventing them from access to healthcare or education and made them prisoners in their own home
• Although US military led coalition entered country in 2001 and ousted Taliban, they have regained control in 2021
• Women still face routine persecution, discrimination and abuse

Question 31

How has Australia’s ethnic mix changed?

Answer 31

• Pre WW2: ‘whites only’ immigration policy to prevent Chinese miners and Pacific Island labourers from entering the country
• Post WW2: policy dropped, today immigration is still carefully controlled, governed by need for specific skills in its labour force
  Today = one of world’s most multicultural societies

Question 32

What are human rights like in Australia, what are the areas of concern currently?

Answer 32

Recognised as having one of best human rights records
Three areas for concern:
- treatment of asylum seekers and refugees
- need to do more to protect disabled people rights
- long running issues with Aboriginal people treatment

Question 33

How has ethnic equality progress been variable in Bolivia?

Answer 33

60% of population = indigenous
1990s onwards, strong move to recognise indigenous identity and culture and rights. Progress has been made socially, culturally and politically but NOT ECONOMICALLY - still marginalised and live in extreme poverty.

Question 34

What is gender equality like in Bolivia, why?

Answer 34

Very bad record with respect to gender equality. 50% of Bolivian women admit to being subject to physical abuse, highest rate of maternal mortality in South America.
Women have very little access to health services, and play a subordinate role in Bolivian society.
Due to their lack of education and limited role, they do not have the voice to call for human rights

Question 35

What are the factors causing variations in human rights across the world?

Answer 35

• type of government
• distribution of political power (corruption!)
• deeply rooted cultural tradition (colonial fragmentation)