Human Rights Flashcards
What are the conflicting human rights?
CCTV - is this an infringement on our privacy?
Comedians, such as Frankie Boyle, say extremely offensive things yet this is just his personal opinion
What does the Human Rights Act of 1998 allow?
Anyone who feels that their rights have been infringed or abused can appeal to the European Court of Human Rights
Are human rights always right? What is the biggest area of controversy?
The biggest area of controversy concerns national security and terrorism
Should suspected terrorists be entitled to human rights?
Some argue the Terrorism Acts of 2000 and 2006 abuse human rights by allowing police to arrest and detain suspected terrorists for long periods of time
Between 2001 and 2007, 1,228 people were arrested on terrorism offences, of which 224 were convicted and imprisoned, 114 awaiting trial and 890 were released without charge
How does the Declaration of Human Rights work in practice?
A UN Commission on Human Rights was set up after the Declaration was passed - the role of the Commission is to monitor countries for signs of human rights abuses — e.g. torture, use of the death penalty, sexual or racial discrimination
Once the Commission has evidence of human rights abuses it collects information to be reported to the UN
the Commission liaisons with governments and other interested groups to improve human rights worldwide
Amnesty international monitors human rights abuses and campaigns against them - it has over 10 million members worldwide
Has the Declaration been a success?
Undeniably made a difference in many countries
Political prisoners have been released in many countries such as Chile, Indonesia and the USSR (before it became Russia)
Pressure groups were able to point out breaches of human rights
There are still many human rights abuses - death penalty still exists in many countries, including the USA
Continuation of one party state in China — freedom of expression is restricted
How are human rights abuses dealt with?
Economic Sanctions
Unarmed observers on the ground
Military action
How are human rights abuses dealt with?: Economic Sanctions
Used against South Africa in the late 1980s because of its apartheid system - success
Sanctions force countries to uphold human rights or face economic penalties
Supporters argue countries must decide and act quickly
Opponents argue that those having their human rights abused are being affected
Article 25: Everyone has the right to standard living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and their family…including medical care
Medical care became restricted after sanctions were imposed on Iraq
Here sanctions were hurting and violating the human rights of those it was trying to protect
How are human rights abuses dealt with?: Unarmed observers on the ground
Unarmed observers were sent to Bosnia in the early 1990s
Observers have no real power to stop human rights abuses occurring
Observers may be taken hostage by participants in whatever conflict in occurring
How are human rights abuses dealt with?: Military action
Sends in troops or deploying aircraft to prevent further human rights abuses
Idea is to protect the right to life and security of innocent individuals
UN troops went to Cyprus with great success
In March 1999, a NATO force led by Americans and with British involvement subjected Serbian forces to a sustained air bombardment to prevent any further human rights abuses in Kosovo
NATO claims that it was ultimately successful as Serbians withdrew
Critics point out that the UN did not sanction this action and that many civilians lost their lives
