Week 2 Flashcards
Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
What does the UDHR stand for and when was it adopted?
The UDHR stands for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948.
What are the main categories of rights outlined in the UDHR?
The main categories are Civil and Political Rights (Articles 3-21) and Social and Economic Rights (Articles 22-27).
What rights are included in Civil and Political Rights?
They include the right to life, liberty, security, freedom of expression, assembly, and participation in government.
What rights are included in Social and Economic Rights?
They affirm the right to work, education, social security, and an adequate standard of living.
What was the gap in the UDHR that led to the creation of binding covenants?
The UDHR lacked legal enforceability necessary to hold states accountable.
What are the two binding covenants created in 1966?
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
How are human rights understood historically?
They are principles developed over time to address injustices, placed within the context of power hierarchies and struggles against oppression.
What is a key quote from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
What historical documents influenced the concept of human rights?
The American Declaration of Independence (1776) and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789).
What is the difference in wording between the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen and the UDHR?
The former states, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights,” while the latter states, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
What principles were established by the American and French Revolutions?
They established that political change is possible and normal, and introduced the notion of popular sovereignty.
Who were considered citizens in the context of 18th-century rights?
Citizens were a small group, more than just the king or nobility, but still limited in scope.
What were the limitations of the ‘rights of man and citizen’?
They primarily excluded those without property, the colonized, the enslaved, religious minorities, and women.
What significant events occurred between 1776 and 1948 regarding human rights?
There was a long hiatus in the development of universal human rights.
How did the Industrial Era affect social and economic rights?
It brought profound changes, leading to labor movements and critiques of existing rights frameworks due to economic inequalities.
What were some rights struggles during the Industrial Era?
The Chartist Movement in England, the Paris Commune of 1871, and various labor laws.
What impact did WWII have on the concept of citizenship and rights?
WWII undermined trust in the nation-state and citizenship as the basis for rights and protection.
What shift occurred post-WWI regarding human rights?
The concept of human rights emerged, affirming that all people are entitled to basic rights regardless of nationality, race, gender, or birthplace.
What are collective rights in the context of human rights?
They refer to the entitlements of groups as distinct entities, such as the right to self-determination and the rights of Indigenous peoples.
How are collective rights viewed in relation to civil and political rights?
Collective rights are more contested and are not directly addressed in the UDHR.
What mechanisms has the UN used to recognize collective rights?
Through the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007).
