Human Rights, Democracy and Globalization Social Studies 10-1 Chapter 13

Key Terms basic needs inalienable human trafficking equality before the law

What are Human Rights? "the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law.“ is the principle under which each individual is subject to the same laws, with no individual or group having special legal privileges

UN and Human Rights 1948, the United Nations created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights These rights include freedom of speech, the right to an education, and freedom to practice one’s religion

Views on Human Rights Do all human beings have the same rights? Some say that different cultures have different beliefs and traditions that must be taken into consideration. Others point out that the focus on individual freedoms in North American and European countries undermines important collective rights and values emphasized by other countries and Indigenous peoples So Who is Right?

How did Ideas of Human Rights Evolve? Inalienable rights are those which cannot be taken away Evolution of Rights European philosophers such as John Locke and Adam Smith were arguing that governments should exercise only limited control over citizen These ideas spread, they changed the political structure of many countries in Europe Britain’s American colonies to fight a war of independence and win freedom from British rule The invention of the printing press meant that books, pamphlets, and newspapers could be printed and distributed more cheaply and quickly

Early Ideas of Human Rights Cyrus, the king of Persia, describes on the Cyrus Cylinder, his conquest and then the just and tolerant way people would be treated In Ancient Greece any male citizen could vote Claudius of Ancient Rome protected sick slaves and allowed conquered people to become citizens In Ancient India, the Laws of Manu were written on how women and children and different castes should behave

Milestones The Great Law of Peace American Constitution The Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

The Great Law of Peace Created by the Haudenosaunee lived near the lower Great Lakes. Before the arrival of Europeans Five Haudenosaunee nations had formed the Iroquois Confederacy The Great Law of Peace set out a decision-making process in which elected representatives of each nation met to make decisions on issues that concerned the confederacy

The American Constitution The Constitution was created in 1787 by representatives of the 13 colonies that had formed the United States. This document established the Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and set out a decision-making process

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Developed by the UN in 1948 to prevent another war 6 Areas political rights (e.g., right to vote and to participate in government) civil rights (e.g., right to freedom of opinion and expression) equality rights (e.g., right to be free from discrimination) economic rights (e.g., right to fair wages and safe working conditions) social rights (e.g., right to education and adequate health care) cultural rights (e.g., right to speak one’s home language)

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was adopted in 1982 as part of the Constitution Act.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms fundamental freedoms (e.g., right to freedom of conscience and religion) democratic rights (e.g., right to vote) mobility rights (e.g., right to move from place to place within Canada) legal rights (e.g., right to life, liberty, and security of the person) equality rights (e.g., right to protection of the law without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or physical disability) language rights (e.g., the equality of the French and English languages in particular situations) minority-language education rights (e.g., provincial governments must provide certain language rights to English or French minorities, where numbers warrant)

Former Colonies Gain Independence During the 19th and 20th centuries, many colonies of European imperial powers gained independence This was either granted or they fought for control Canada for example, won the right to self-government in 1867 For many this decolonization did not bring peace but opened the doors for violence and human rights abuse

The Debate Do Forces of Globalization Spread Democracy and Human Rights? Daniel Griswold “For the past three decades, globalization, human rights, and democracy have been marching forward together, haltingly, not always and everywhere in step, but in a way that unmistakably shows they are interconnected.”

Ngugi Wa Thiong’o “Language carries culture, and culture carries, particularly through orature and literature, the entire body of values by which we perceive ourselves and our place in the world Language is thus inseparable from ourselves as a community of human beings with a specific form and character, a specific history, a specific relationship to the world.”

Trade and Transnationals Many transnationals move factories to countries or regions where labour costs are lower and environmental regulations are less strict. This practice has led to human rights violations and a growing grassroots movement protesting the practices of some transnationals. How much should the government control and how much should be in the hand of private companies? (Think about NAFTA and TPP)

Transportation Globalization has led to the freer movement of goods Transportation and movement of people is also an issue. They are trying to escape economic hardship, political violence, and human rights abuses human trafficking and is one of the tragedies of globalization Both illegal immigrants and victims of human trafficking are often exploited because they are not protected by their home country or their newly adopted country

The Media The media can be a powerful force in the fight for human rights For example, showing of American shows in India has helped to promote women’s rights This is called “Westernization”

Tank Man The Fight for Human Rights in China

Communication Technologies A powerful tool for Human Rights Groups Internet has been called a source of “information democracy” or “media democracy.” Activists can create large coalitions of people and organizations that otherwise would probably never have come together They can target transnational corporations and inform a worldwide audience about protests through mass e-mails, blogs, e-zines, eye-witness accounts, and online petitions

Response Journal #13 To what extent have democracy and human rights shaped — and been shaped by — globalization?