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Why we need human rights…

Why we need human rights….

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Why we need human rights…

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  1. Why we need human rights…

  2. The horrors of the second World War,concentration and death camps etc, led to an international organisation being set up to protect the rights of humans.The United Nations adopted the ‘Universal Declaration on Human Rights’ which - although not legally binding - sought to establish basic rights including:

  3. UN Declaration (includes)… • The right to life • Freedom from torture or degrading treatment or punishment • Freedom from slavery, servitude and forced labour • Right to free movement • Right to food and shelter

  4. Europe - ECHR • Europe wanted a greater recognition of human • rights - so in 1950 established the ‘European • Convention on Human Rights’ - a treaty and a • Court of ECHR. • However, its impact was limited in the UK • because international treaties signed by Govt • Ministers do not automatically become part of • our domestic law (unlike say France).

  5. Europe ECHR … • From 1966 the Government allowed citizens to complain to the European Court of Human Rights - it was not until the Human Rights Act of 1998 (put into force in October 2000) that a British citizen could rely on the treaty in Court. • However, this Human Rights protection is only against the state - it is not related to private organisations (but Courts must interpret laws in accord with Human Rights).

  6. Criticisms … • Some Asian Leaders - Subarro and Lee Kuan Yew - have criticised the idea of universal human rights as being Eurocentric, I.e. ignoring the cultural and historical differences of other societies. Do you agree?

  7. Freedom of religion • Saudi Arabia objected to the 1948 UN declaration stating that it should be free to punish apostasy (the abandoning of religious faith). • Should countries - on religious grounds – be able to force women to cover up their bodies? Men to grow beards?

  8. Using business to affect humanrights • Possibly the best example of how citizens have used business pressures to force governments to respect human rights was that of South Africa (do not buy South African goods because of its Apartheid policy).

  9. UN Charter and torture … • Can you give examples of torture? • Does the UN Charter prevent it? • Does it help to prevent to discourage it? • How? • What does Amnesty International do? • How does Amnesty International relate to Global Citizenship?

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