Human Rights Norms, Intervention And Geopolitics Flashcards
Define Human rights
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled.
Should protect all individuals, at all times, in all places.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the UN General Assembly in1948 in Paris.
With Human Rights ‘Violations’ occurring in several locations such as India, Honduras and Myanmar as well as developed nations such as the UK with a variety of scales
Development and Globalisation have both impacted Human Rights.
What are norms
Represent the ways of living that have been inculcated into the culture of a country or area over long periods of time.
Theses become the foundations for human rights
From drawing together a basis of all customs and norms from all cultures, religions and philosophies across the world that devised the UNHR.
Moral principles that underpin the universally accepted standard of human behaviour.
Non- binding resolution but are protected by international law through the signing of international treaties or convections. Once they treaty is signed, governments have to put in place domestic measures and legislation to comply.
Duty of states to respect,protect and fulfil international human rights.
For example, the UN Convention on the Rights of the child - designed to change the ways that children are viewed and treated. The embedded rights describe what a child requires in order to survive , grow and achieve potential and the responsibilities of adults and governments to ensure children can enjoy these rights everywhere. This forms the basis of UNICEF’S work today.
What is intervention
Humanitarian Intervention - by a state or group of states from foreign territory used to try and end human rights violations.
Military Intervention can only be legally authorised by the UN Security Council to use force and it is highly controversial.
It can leads to collateral damage with injuries and death of civilians,loss of homes and population displacement. It may potentially increase human rights abuses, further injustices and widen socio-economic injustices which exist within the country.
The presence of soldiers can generate an atmosphere that protects citizens from human rights abuse, with non-use of force except for self-defence.
Works in the area to protect and promote human rights with a task of monitoring the situation whilst
- empower populations to assert human rights
- enable governments to implement their human rights obligations
- strengthen the rule of the law
Inputs organisations such as REGIONAL : NATO OSCE ASEAN
NGO’s :
International committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC)
OxFam, Save the Children
- public - private partnerships eg, Gavi Alliance ( vaccines and immunisation
( look at Showbie PowerPoints 24th March 2021)
The UN can involvement can take many forms from peacekeeping, political and peace building missions with concern for human rights violations along with many other purposes.
International community can be called upon - UN Security Council establishes a mandate so workers and troops can be authorised from a wide variety of member states.
What is geopolitics
Global balance of political power and international relations
Closely related to economic power in germs of wealth and international trade strength of nations and groups of nations.
Geopolitical transitions include -
What is the importance of norms, intervention and geopolitics in appreciating the complexities of human rights
Global governance of human rights is complex and multi faced
Direct physical intervention and as well as the application of growing human rights norms, laws and treaties or conventions and the contribution from civil society.
Effectiveness is dependant on integration and co-ordination at all scales.
Intervention - wider non military sense?
Economic sanctions and the international prosecution of individuals responsible for the abuses.
Work of NGO’S, private enterprises and Human Rights Activists working with local community’s and national governments
