1. Chapter 14: Human Rights and Dignity PS130 World Politics Michael R. Baysdell Saginaw Valley State University

2. 2 The Nature of Human Rights Proscriptive Rights/Negative Rights – Freedom from specific abuses, restrictions, or discrimination – Things that the government cannot do to groups, such as discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, or other inherent demographic characteristics Prescriptive Rights/Positive Rights – Basic necessities that a society and its government are arguably prescribed (obligated) to try diligently to assure; certain qualitative standards of life for everyone in the community – Life, Liberty, Property in the United States for sure – Include adequate education, nutrition, housing, sanitation, health care? – Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs more expansive – Galtung: don’t forget well-being needs (sleep, sex, other biological wants) or identity needs (self-expression, establish and maintain emotional bonds with others, preserve cultural heritage) – Galtung a bit questionable—Washington, DC annihilation

3. 3 The Nature of Human Rights: Universal vs. Culturally Based Rights Universalists Human rights are derived from sources external to society, God-given. Belief in a single prevailing set of standards that are immutable Sources include theological or ideological doctrine Slavery was ALWAYS wrong Relativists Positivist approach claiming that rights are a product of a society’s contemporary values Belief that no single standard of human rights exists Rights are not timeless; they reflect changes in social norms Slavery OK in past, not now

4. 4 Applying Universalism and Relativism EX: Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Non-Western position (cultural relativism) criticizes the UDHR for promoting values, such as individualism and democracy, that are not a part of other cultures. Sees UDHR as cultural imperialism – Disputes among countries of similar heritage and even within countries Death penalty issues Abortion

5. 5 Human Rights: Problems and Progress Many countries are still highly oppressive, especially towards women or minorities Abuse in Iraq by U.S. forces shows even EDCs not immune Freedom House ratings the “gold standard”

6. Freedom House Ratings 1-14, 1= free 14= oppressive (Political Rights, Civil Liberties) 2= US, Canada, Britain, France (two 1s) 3=Japan 4=Mexico (Chiapas) 5=India 9=Nigeria (Ken Saro-Wiwa) 10=Russia (Chechnya) 11=Jordan 13=China (Uighers) 14=Cuba

7. Progress Made on Human Rights – Globalization has increased concern for and application of principles of human rights – United Nations has created OHCHR, UNCHR, ECOSOC – UDHR: not binding treaty, but creates norms – Important work done by NGOs – The Global Program Against Trafficking of Human Beings (GPAT) – Treaties: Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment – Domestic courts

8. 8 Barriers to Progress on Human Rights State claims to sovereignty Varying cultural standards Political selectivity Concern for human rights a low priority for most countries

9. 9 Women’s Rights Women are an economic-political-social minority Women are the largest of all minority groups Women's issues becoming more prominent – Compared with men, there are disparities in jobs, professional status, literacy, poverty rates Abuses sanctioned by law or ignored (de facto slavery, prostitution, genital mutilation) – Religious justifications in some Muslim societies (cultural relativism)

10. 10 Women: Political, Economic, and Social Discrimination Politically, women make up only about 16% of national legislatures Economically, women constitute approximately 70% of all those living below the poverty line in their respective countries Socially, women are less likely to be literate or to go on to secondary education

11. 11 Women, Armed Conflict, and Abuse Women experience war much differently and sometimes more violently than do men Women’s bodies are often a battleground Women and children make up a substantial majority of refugees

12. 12 Women, Society, and Abuse Prevalence of domestic violence in most societies Sex-selective abortions and the neglect of infant girls Female genital mutilation (FGM) Sex slaves and trafficking; abuse of domestic servants Pervasive economic, social, and political discrimination

13. 13 Women’s Rights: Progress High priority at UN International Decade for Women 1975–1985 UN Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Fourth World Conference on Women (WCW), Beijing 1995, Beijing+5 meeting in 2000 in New York International Criminal Court charter: pledges to stop crimes against humanity and includes a number of women's issues

14. 14 Children’s Rights No political or economic power Suffer from a range of abuses (inadequate nutrition and schooling, sexual exploitation) 8.4 million children involved in “unconditional worst forms of child labor” – Includes internationally trafficked children, forced and bonded labor, armed conflict, prostitution and pornography, and illicit activities, such as drug sales – Other child labor more relative (older children, sweatshops, working alongside parents)

15. 15 Children’s Rights: Progress International efforts have only recently begun United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Nationalism and parochialism impede international efforts

16. 16 Rights of Ethnic, Racial, and Religious Groups Oppression is pervasive – Examples: South Africa, Rwanda, former Yugoslavia, Darfur – Ethnic and racial identification are the key components of the tensions and conflict that make nationalism one of, in not the most, divisive elements of human politics “We-they complex” Racism, anti-Semitism

17. 17 Group Rights: Progress Case of South Africa—elimination of apartheid Series of international conferences – World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR), 2001 Specific international agreements – International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination – Rights are also included in major human rights documents

18. 18 The Rights of Indigenous Peoples Problems – The world’s 370 million indigenous people live in socioeconomic circumstances that are below those of the nonnative population of their country (for example, Mayas in Mexico) Progress – 1993, International Year of the Indigenous Peoples – 1995–2004, International Decade of the Indigenous Peoples – UN Economic and Social Council established the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

19. 19 Refugee and Migrant Workers’ Rights Problems – Driven from home by war, famine economic deprivation, or other disaster – 8.4 million refugees in 2006 according to UNHCR – Prejudice and anti-immigration sentiment Progress – Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951) Least widely ratified UN human rights treaty – UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – International Organization for Migration (IOM)

20. 20 Prescriptive Human Rights Often less recognized or enumerated in the legal structure of countries or in international law Involves preserving and enhancing human dignity by protecting and improving the physical condition of humans – Right to adequate nutrition – Right to a reasonable standard of health – Right to a basic education

21. 21 Adequate Nutrition Thomas Malthus – World’s population will eventually outpace the world’s agricultural carrying capacity Two basic food problems – Short-term food supply – Long-term adequacy of food supply Crop yields (green revolution)

22. 22 Causes of the Food Problem Population growth Maldistribution Inadequate nutritional content Political strife

23. 23 International Response to the Food Problem Emergency food aid – UN's World Food Programme (WFP) Specific nutritional needs Agricultural development – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) World food conferences – 1974 World Food Conference – 1996 World Food Summit

24. 24 Adequate Health Standards Issues of inadequate medical care in LDCs and LLDCs – High rates of infant mortality and disease among children World Health Organization (WHO) Successes of WHO (smallpox) – Problems and new threats: TB, Plague, SARs, West Nile, avian and swine flu The speed of global spread of disease— accelerated by globalization

25. 25 HIV/AIDS: Greatest Current Threat to Global Health Number of children and adults living with AIDS worldwide: 40 million (2005) Number of children and adults dying from AIDS worldwide: 3 million (2005) Number of people infected with HIV continues to grow each year. U.S.-fastest growing group: people OVER 50! ½ of Zambia’s copper miners HIV-positive Global spending on AIDS approaches $8.5 million Joint UN Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) $320 million budget to slow new HIV infections

26. 26 Basic Education Primarily a national responsibility UNESCO programs Gender gap in education Children receiving only a few years of primary school in developing countries

27. 27 In the end, how do you feel about rights? Think about the box: Is a Global Bill of Rights possible? Is it even desirable?

28. Chapter Objectives: Checklist After reading this chapter, students should be able to: 1. Discuss the basic idea of proscriptive and prescriptive human rights. 2. Analyze the claims of universalists and relativists and discuss the concepts of individualism and communitarianism. 3. Understand the problems and progress of proscriptive human rights. 4. Discuss the problems and progress of women’s rights. 5. Discuss the problems and progress of children’s rights. 6. Discuss the problems and progress of group rights. 7. Discuss the problems and progress of the rights of indigenous peoples. 8. Discuss the problems and progress of the rights of refugees and migrant workers. 9. Examine adequate nutrition as a prescriptive right. 10. Examine adequate health standards as a prescriptive right. 11. Examine basic education as a prescriptive right. 28