UDHR, United Nations, & Mass Genocides Flashcards
1
Q
UDHR
A
- established after WWII & Holocaust
- in response to bombings and civilian deaths
- adopted by UN in 1948
- 30 articles abt human rights that EVERYONE is entitled to
- establish that all humans are free and equal and prevent discrimination
2
Q
how has the UDHR not been upheld?
A
- some articles have just been blatantly ignored
- many times not upheld towards ppl who look different (i.e. redlining, unequal pay)
genocides/mass atrocities since 1948 (Syria), US-Mexico border, doesn’t mention anything abt same sex marriage, doesn’t provide adequate protection for everyone, countries shutting down media and public assembly, not everyone can receive education
3
Q
United Nations
A
general assembly – each country is equally represented w/ one vote per country
- works towards a better world
- allows for international discussions
- 193 countries represented
SECURTIY COUNCIL:
- works to resolve disputes peacefully but can take military action if needed
- 10 elected members and 5 permanent members (China, France, UK, US, Russia)
4
Q
genocide
A
- the targeting of specific groups, typically minorities, based on religion, ethnicity, race, etc., resulting in mass murders and/or massacres with the intent to wipe out that whole group or part of it
- strip people of their rights and value as human beings and turn them into “other” and a threat
- recognizing genocide is important to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and recognizing the early steps that lead up to genocide are even more important to prevent the genocide itself
- coined a term after Holocaust
- 10 steps
- UDHR written to prevent genocide
- i.e. Holocaust, Cambodia, Myanmar, Rwanda
5
Q
10 stages of genocide
A
- don’t have to go in order
- can be prevented
1. classification **- distinguishing by traits
2. symbolization ** - giving names or symbols to classifications
- discrimination
- denying rights of other groups
- dehumanization **
- deny their humanity
- propaganda
- animals, devils, etc.
- organization
- plans for genocidal killings usually by state
- polarization
- “us vs them”
- driving groups apart
- preparation
- gathering armed forced
- justifying killings as “purification,” making victims seem like threats
- persecution **
- victims identified and separated
- victims rights violated (i.e. property)
- segregation
- massacres begin
- extermination **
- mass killings (genocide) w/ goal of wiping out targeted group
- don’t believe victims to be fully human
- denial
- hide evidence
- what allows more genocides to happen
- distinguishing by traits
6
Q
ethnic cleansing
A
- forced removal of an ethnic group from a territory
- may result in genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes
7
Q
war crimes
A
- violations of international humanitarian law
- must take place in context of armed conflict, either international or non-international
i.e. willful killing, torture, unlawful deportations
8
Q
antisemitism
A
- prejudice against or hatred of Jews
- started outside of Germany and long before Nazi-Germany, where Jews were blamed for killing Jesus and Christians were viewed as superior to Jews, although Christianity stemmed from Judaism
- followed ten stages of genocide
- classified by nose shapes
- letter J on passports
- driven into ghettos
- scapegoated (i.e. Black Plague)
- demonized
- stores boycotted and burned
- Nuremburg laws to segregate
- started as discrimination, turned into genocide
9
Q
causes of WWI
A
- Militarism
- build up strong military to use at any point
- Alliances
- countries trust eachother, share resources, back one another up in fights, and make agreements
- Imperialism
- expanding industrial power (3G’s - God, Glory, Gold)
- Nationalism
- extreme patriotism
- valuing ones country over everyone else – fighting
- showing power & military
10
Q
causes of WWII
A
- WWI and treaty of Versailles
- Germany blamed for WWI
- lost land to surrounding nations
- reduction of military
- forced to pay War Reparations leaving them angry, embarrassed, and w/o military
- sent them into economic depression
- desperate ppl turned to desperate leaders (dictators)
- Appeasement = giving someone what they want to leave you alone
- nations trying to prevent war by going into isolation
- didn’t take notice to Hitler (& other leaders) taking over land
- appeasement showed Hitler that he could do whatever he wanted, demanding land that wasn’t Germany’s
- finally France and GBR declared war at Hitler’s invasion of Poland
- not only Hitler, also Mussolini and Tojo (formed alliance)
- Rise of Totalitarianism
- i.e. Hitler, Tojo, Mussolini, Stalin
- state and leader has TOTAL control
- seizing power by gaining trust and favor of citizens
- individuals not viewed as important as NEED OF THE NATION (no right to vote, no free speech, gov’t controlled economy, police state)
11
Q
Holocaust
A
WHO
- Jews
- disabled
- Roma
- Afro-Germans
- Homosexuals
- asocial
perps: Nazi’s
WHY
- seen as weak, inferior, and different to German public
HOW
- excluded from economic, social, and cultural life
- all 10 steps of genocide
AFTERMATH
- Jews moved to Israel
- rules placed on crimes against peace, humanity, and war crimes
- Germany divided
- UDHR written
- genocide coined a term
12
Q
Rwanda
A
WHO
- Tutsi minority
perps: Hutu extremists
WHY
- blamed them for country’s social, political, & economical pressures
- ongoing issues, unresolved from colonization/imperialism
HOW
- forced Tutsis to flee Rwanda
- civil war
- weaponize assassinations
- polarization, organization, extermination
AFTERMATH
- peace agreement signed
- violence continued bc Hutu extremists angry at agreement
- war crime trials convicted war criminals of genocide
13
Q
Cambodia
A
WHO
- everyone seen as against them, no specific category other than against Khmer Rouge
perps: Khmer Rouge
WHY
- demonstrate power
- establish control based in communist teachings
HOW
- forced Cambodians to work in labor camps
- stopped forms of self expression
- lack of clarity of groups targeted
AFTERMATH
- Vietnam invaded and installed a court to bring peace and resolution to victims
14
Q
Bosnia
A
WHO
- Bosniak and Croatian civilians
perps: Serbs
WHY
- tensions btwn groups in Yugoslavia (Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia)
- Bosnia declared independence from Yugoslavia, causing opposition from Bosnian Serbs
HOW
- result of civil unrest/civil war
- ethnic cleansing
- Serbs targeted Bosniak and Croatian civilians in areas under their control
- bombings, massacre, concentration camps
AFTERMATH
- Bosnian Serbs to negotiating table; peace agreement
15
Q
Syria
A
WHO
- Syrian civilians (generally Sunni muslims)
perps: gov’t - Assad, extremist groups (ISIS)
WHY
- didn’t like uprising from civilians – suppressed it
HOW
- bombings, starvation, diseases, lack of medical care, chemical weapon attacks
AFTERMATH
- thousands of deaths, millions of refugees
- refugee crises, especially in Middle East & Europe
