Human Rights

1. Human Rights April 17, 2013 2013 – 1st semester Young Leaders & International Organizations Organized by Saori Kakihara

2. Overview • Human rights are the universal rights and freedoms that all human beings are equally and absolutely entitled to. • What are some of the basic human rights? • The right to life, to food and clean water, the right to a fair trial etc. • In 1948, the UN created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

3. Human rights • As seen in the UN Declaration, there are many different kinds of human rights. • Human rights can also be defined based on membership in a group, such as gender, race, age or social class. • Example: Women’s Rights • An important issue within this topic is the violation of human rights. There are countless situations across the world, both past and present where human rights are being violated. • Examples: Darfur, Burma, Human Trafficking

4. List of Human Rights Right to privacy Right to live, exist Right to have a family To own property Free Speech Safety from violence Equality of both males and females – Women’s rights Fair trial To be considered innocent until proven guilty To be a citizen of a country To be recognized as a person The right to express his or her sexual orientation To vote To seek asylum if a country treats you badly To think freely To believe and practice the religion a person wants Education Health care (medical care) To communicate through a language Not be forced into marriage Human Trafficking The right to love The right to work The right to express oneself

5. Women’s Rights Title IX - No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance This includes athletics, drama, band and any other extracurricular activities It applies to any educational institution that receives federal funds, whether the school is public or private. It does not necessarily require the same amount of money to be given to each, just the same benefits and equal quality, based on participation.

6. Women’s Rights • 1995 – 189 countries sign the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – an agenda for women’s empowerment • The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women • Signed by the US, but not ratified, the only developed country to not do so. • Unsigned: Iran, Nauru, Palau, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, and Tonga • Why Not? Some conservative, right-wing groups oppose ratification because it supports ”equal access to health care, including those related to family planning.” • Do you think the US should ratify or not?

7. Human Rights Violations Darfur Burma (Myanmar) Human Trafficking

8. Darfur – Overview(Human Rights Violations) Conflict in Darfur: The Sudanese military & the Janjaweed (Arab speaking, Black Africans) in conflict with rebel groups from Darfur (like The Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army-SLA and the Justice Equality Movement-JEM) February 2003 – rebellion began against the Sudanese government because the Darfuri felt neglected and oppressed The government responded by supporting and sending the Janjaweed to break the rebellion which has resulted in the killing, raping, looting and burning

9. Darfur(Human Rights Violations) Economic conflict-based on competition for resources like land and water, caused by drought, desertification and overpopulation Political conflict-some groups feel marginalized Ethnic conflict-certain ethnic groups, like non-Arab Africans are specifically being targeted

10. Darfur (Human Rights Violations) • Multiple attempts at peace talks, cease-fires and peace agreements • Estimated 400,000 killed • 2.5 million displaced • Possible 1 million deaths possible from starvation and disease • Discussion: • What should be done to help? • The United Nations? The United States? As individuals? • How does this situation compare to comparable situations from history like in Rwanda or during the Holocaust? How is it different?

11. Burma (Myanmar)Human Rights Violations Gained independence from Britain in 1948 1962 – General Ne win gained control and established Burmese socialism, impoverishing the country for 26 years 1987 – Ne win overthrown by Burmese Socialist Program Party Pro-democracy demonstrations held but were oppressed, thousands of demonstrators killed. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) was put in place until elections could be held National League for Democracy (NLD) won over the SLORC, but the results were overturned and the SLORC remained in power NLD members were imprisoned

12. Burma (Myanmar)Human Rights Violations • The SLORC, now renamed the State Peace and Development Council SPDC continues to rule • Known as one of the most repressive and abusive regimes, violating countless human rights including • Forced labor • Extra-judicial Killing, Summary or Arbitrary Execution • Arbitrary Detention • Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment • Deprivation of Livelihood

13. Burma (Myanmar) • Discussion: • Based on the human rights violations mentioned before, what is your opinion about the situation in Burma (Myanmar)?

14. Human TraffickingHuman Rights Violations The recruitment, transportation, harbouring, or receipt of people for the purposes of slavery, forced labor and servitude “Recruited” through force, deception and outright abduction The fastest growing criminal industry in the world Often the focus is on sex trafficking In the US, about 10,000 forced laborers, often in the domestic sector

15. Human Rights Discussion Questions: Is it really reasonable to try to give the same rights to everyone in the world? Why or why not? Which of the human rights do you personally think is the most important? Thank you!