Human rights

Wars

Doubled in the last 5 years

Fragile state: Countries experiencing ongoing conflict often see a significant decline in human rights protections, leading to increased vulnerability for their citizens. Furthermore, humanitarian crises exacerbate these conditions, resulting in widespread violations such as arbitrary detention, torture, and the suppression of free speech.

  • vulnerable to get into conflict

New things in conflicts:

  • Action of non-state actors

  • Climate change

  • More technology

One third of population lives under conflict

Geneva convention: A set of international treaties that establish standards for humanitarian treatment in war, aimed at protecting individuals who are not participating in hostilities.

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A foundational document adopted by the United Nations in 1948 that outlines the fundamental rights and freedoms entitled to every person, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion.

  • Human Rights Watch: An organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights issues worldwide, aiming to hold governments accountable for their actions.

  • Amnesty International: A global movement that campaigns for the protection of human rights and seeks to prevent abuses by lobbying governments and raising public awareness.

List of Rights and freedoms from geneva convention:

  • Right to life, liberty, and security of person

  • Freedom from torture and degrading treatment

  • Right to a fair trial

  • Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion

  • Right to privacy

  • Freedom of expression

  • Right to peaceful assembly and association

  • Right to work and education

  • Right to participate in government and public affairs.

Human rights vs international humanitarian law

SIMILARITIES between Human rights vs international humanitarian law:

  • Both frameworks aim to protect the dignity and worth of the individual.

  • They establish norms that govern the treatment of individuals, especially in times of conflict.

  • Both human rights law and international humanitarian law are rooted in the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

  • They provide mechanisms for accountability and seek to prevent abuses against individuals.

  • Give limitations in wartimes

  • Based on the same principles: dignity, wellbeing, respect for life

Differences between Human rights vs international humanitarian law:

  • Human rights law applies at all times, including peacetime, while international humanitarian law is specifically applicable during armed conflicts.

  • Human rights law focuses on the protection of individual rights, whereas international humanitarian law primarily addresses the conduct of hostilities and the protection of those not participating in the conflict. Just in conflicts.

International commite for aid to the wounded (Red Cross): Then the Geneva convention take place

IHL

  • Only in case of armed conflicts

  • It dies not jjustify the conflict

Examples of conflicts solved, but then currently started again include the Syrian Civil War, which saw a temporary ceasefire in 2016, but has since escalated again, and the ongoing tensions in the Israel-Palestine region, where periods of peace have often been followed by renewed violence.

  • The Korean War: Initially ceased in 1953 with an armistice, but tensions have persisted, leading to ongoing conflicts.

  • The Vietnam War: After the U.S. withdrawal in 1973, conflicts continued between North and South Vietnam until the fall of Saigon in 1975.

  • The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Multiple ceasefires have been established, yet hostilities have resumed repeatedly over the decades.

  • The Syrian Civil War: Officially began in 2011, with various ceasefires attempted, but violence has escalated again and again, resulting in a prolonged humanitarian crisis.

Crimes against humanity example:

  • Genocide in Rwanda (1994): The systematic extermination of the Tutsi population by the Hutu majority, resulting in the deaths of approximately 800,000 people in just 100 days.

  • The Rohingya Crisis in Myanmar: Beginning in 2017, the military's campaign against the Rohingya people led to widespread violence, displacement, and reports of ethnic cleansing, forcing over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.

  • The Uyghur Crisis in China: Ongoing since 2017, reports indicate that over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been detained in so-called "re-education camps," where they face forced labor, indoctrination, and severe human rights abuses.

Crimes against humanity during peace times examples:

  • The treatment of Indigenous peoples in various countries, where forced assimilation and cultural erasure have occurred, leading to significant loss of identity and rights.

  • The ongoing issue of police brutality in the United States, which disproportionately affects marginalized communities, raising concerns about systemic racism and the violation of civil rights.

  • The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, where individuals were forcibly relocated and confined in camps without due process or justification. The exploitation of migrant workers, who often face harsh working conditions, lack of legal protections, and limited access to basic services, highlighting the need for comprehensive labor rights.

Women rights:

  • gender gap doesnot have anything to do with high or low incom

Business and Human Rights

Nike: 2000’s begining explotation ofn workers in Malaysia led to significant backlash and calls for improved labor standards and ethical practices in the supply chain.

  • Do companies have ann obligation on HR?

    • Yes, companies have a responsibility to uphold human rights by ensuring fair labor practices, promoting equality, and preventing exploitation throughout their operations and supply chains.

    • HOWEVER, corporations often prioritize profit over ethical considerations, leading to ongoing challenges in enforcing human rights standards across various industries.

  • OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises: These guidelines provide recommendations for responsible business conduct in areas such as employment, human rights, and environmental impact, encouraging companies to integrate respect for human rights into their core operations and decision-making processes.

  • UN Global compact: This initiative urges companies to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, emphasizing the importance of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and anti-corruption measures.

  • Companies banned from UNGC

  • UN Guiding principles (2011)

  • These principles provide a framework for businesses to respect human rights and ensure accountability, thereby fostering a culture of integrity and ethical conduct within the corporate sector.

  • Green deal: An initiative aimed at promoting sustainable practices and addressing climate change, which emphasizes the importance of integrating human rights considerations into environmental policies. Paris agreement.

  • EU (CSDDD): The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive aims to hold companies accountable for human rights violations in their supply chains, ensuring that environmental and social governance is prioritized across all business operations.

Human Rights defenders: Individuals or organizations that work to protect and promote human rights, often facing significant risks and challenges in their efforts to advocate for justice and equality.

  • Always peaceful

  • The capture of democracy: this phenomenon refers to the gradual erosion of democratic principles and institutions, often through authoritarian practices that undermine civil liberties and the rule of law.

  • Against business investments

  • PATRIARCHIAL SYSTEM