HURI - Short Answer Questions

Possible short answer questions that will be on the exam

According to the provided text on Indigenous rights, what are three key characteristics that define an Indigenous person within human rights law?

Three key characteristics defining an Indigenous person within human rights law are being distinct from the dominant society and self-identifying as Indigenous, having a unique connection to the land that is central to their culture and history, and asserting that they were the 'first in time' in the territory.

Explain the concept of self-determination as it is defined in international law, particularly noting its historical application.

Self-determination in international law refers to the right of peoples to determine their own political status and pursue their own economic, social, and cultural development. Up until recently, this right was primarily applied to peoples of countries under colonial rule.

What is the difference between consultation and consent in the context of Indigenous rights and development projects, according to UNDRIP and ILO 169?

Consultation, as guaranteed by ILO 169, involves a duty to discuss proposed development projects with Indigenous communities and provide them with information, but it does not equate to requiring their permission. In contrast, UNDRIP guarantees the right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), meaning projects should not proceed without the Indigenous community's agreement.

According to Mudar Kassis, what are two distinct versions of human rights, and which one does he argue was utilized by the Global South after WWII?

According to Kassis, there are two versions of human rights: one widely promoted and abused within a neoliberal framework, and an emancipatory version that aspires to ensure human dignity and freedom equally for all. He argues that the emancipatory version was utilized by the Global South in the decades after WWII.

Kassis identifies three important factors that have derailed human rights in Palestine from providing self-determination and equality. Briefly describe one of these factors.

One factor Kassis mentions is the systematic alteration of international law after the emergence of a unipolar world order, a process in which Israel played a pioneering role, leading to the discarding and reformulation of Palestinian rights.

What was the significance of the Istanbul Protocol, and what motivated its creation according to the lecture on torture?

The Istanbul Protocol, the first UN-endorsed manual for documenting torture, was created by Turkish human rights activists. It was a result of their resistance against the Turkish state's strategy of denial, including forensic manipulation, and their efforts to document injuries for international courts.

According to the lecture on the history of human rights, why are human rights considered a "recent invention" rather than innate?

Human rights are considered a recent invention because they are not seen as inherent but rather as principles that societies have developed over time to address specific injustices and power hierarchies. Their emergence is understood within the historical context of struggles against oppression and exploitation.

What are the two main categories of rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), as mentioned in the lecture on civil and political rights? Provide one example of a right within each category.

The two main categories of rights in the UDHR are civil and political rights (e.g., the right to life, liberty, and security) and social and economic rights (e.g., the right to work, education, and an adequate standard of living).

Briefly describe the "contradictory role of the state in human rights" as discussed in the lecture on democracy, civil society, and the state.

The state has a contradictory role in human rights as both a protector and a violator. It is responsible for upholding and ensuring human rights within its territory, but state sovereignty can also be used to justify or mask human rights violations.

According to the article on the "Chicago Boys" in Chile, what was the fundamental economic principle advocated by Milton Friedman and his followers?

The fundamental economic principle advocated by Friedman and his followers was that the only possible framework for economic development is one within which the private sector can freely operate and that private enterprise is the most efficient form of economic organization.