UNIT 2: Human rights Flashcards
What are HUMAN RIGHTS?
Basic entitlements that, many argue, one should be able to exercise simply by virtue of being a human being.
What is the UDHR?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN in 1948 is recognized as the beginning of the formal discussion of human rights around the world.
What is JUSTICE?
Firstly, associated with the idea of fairness and with individuals getting what they deserve (what one deserves is contested). Secondly, what individuals can legitimately expect of one another or of their government (human rights).
Which are the types of PERSPECTIVES regarding HUMAN RIGHTS?
Western perspectives or universalism: human rights are universal, constant, and should be equally applied to all individuals regardless of cultural, religious, or ethnic backgrounds.
Cultural relativism: interpretation of human rights are culturally dependent, not absolute, are informed by social, religious, and cultural contexts, and hence, should vary accordingly.
What does the UNIVERSALITY of HRs mean?
Applies to all human beings with no distinction.
What does the INALIENABILITY of HRs mean?
No one can be deprived of them.
What does the INDIVISIBLE of HRs mean?
All HR should be respected, they are interconnected.
What does the EQUALITY of HRs mean?
Everybody is entitled to the same rights
What does the JUSTICE of HRs mean?
HR should be guaranteed through legal enforcements
How do NGO’s promote HRs?
- Rising awareness by naming, shaming and exposing
- Monitoring HR situation
- Provide assistance to victims
- Educating populations on the need to demand enforcement of their rights
- Through PERSUASION not COERCION
How do IGO’s promote HRs?
- Mediating
- Military intervention
- Recommend actions or measures to take.
What was the GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE of the creation of the UDHR?
- Unprecedented Consensus: UDHR was adopted without any votes against, reflecting a rare global consensus.
- Inspirational Value, invigorating social movements and offering solace to those oppressed.
- Reference Point for international disputes or discussions on human rights.
- Embedded in National Systems, showcasing its direct influence on domestic legal structures.
ICC’s impact on HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLEMENTATION:
AIM: judges and prosecutes people committed for crimes against humanity, war or genocide crimes. They go against people with decision-making power.
- They open an investigation and present the evidence, which they use to condemn or not.
- Send a message to the leaders of the world to warn them → “importance of symbolic condemnation of perpetrators”
LIMITATION: they are not solving or mending HR violations they only serve to condemn people who have violated HR
What does INTERNALIZATION of HRs mean?
When states agree to ratify and to abide by international standards in their own territories
What does INTERNATIONALIZATION of HRs mean?
Creating a common framework internationally to prove a common objective.
INDIVIDUAL vs COLLECTIVE rights:
INDIVIDUAL rights: freedom of speech, religion, and the right to private property.
COLLECTIVE rights: rights to cultural preservation, land, and self-determination (emphasis on community).
Issue with HRs and Indigenous People:
IDEA 1) For some groups their identity and survival is immensely linked to their collective identity that the realization of HR pre
→ in the era of globalization, the advance of capitalism is putting at risk collectives, because their approach to life can’t be understood from an individualistic mindset
IDEA 2) In most countries, the indigenous populations were perceived as a threat to the consolidation of the state and as evidence of backwardness
–> Colonization expanded over indigenous territory and led to conflict → these people become invisible
–> Attempted ‘to solve’ through cultural assimilation → education
