Human Rights Flashcards

Flashcards on Human Rights topics

Human Rights: Significance

Protection against abuses by our own governments, challenge of state sovereignty, global security threat

International Law

Places limits on how states treat their citizens.

First Generation Rights

Civil-Political rights such as freedom of speech, press, religion. Government must be limited.

Second Generation Rights

Economic-Social rights such as rights to food, clean water, health and education. Government must be expansive.

Universalism

The idea that rights apply to everyone, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, etc.

Realist Challenge to Human Rights Universalism

Self-interest and sovereignty take priority over protecting human rights abroad.

Relativism Challenge to Human Rights Universalism

Rights are defined by culture, religion and society.

Defending Universalism

Many traditions are represented in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and individualism is important to defend against abuses of institutions.

Geneva Conventions

Protects civilians in wars.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

“all human beings born free and equal”

Millennium Development Goals

Promotes economic and social rights.

UN Human Rights Council

Investigations, naming and shaming.

International Criminal Court

Prosecutes individuals for mass human rights abuses.

Progress

Millennium Development Goals, UN Human Rights Council, International Criminal Court

Regress

mass killings and genocide, food and water insecurity, and extreme poverty

humans rights violations against ugyhurs

unable to speak their language or express their culture, persecution for religious beliefs, mass detention and forced assimilation