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Human Rights

Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 10.3.1

Human Rights

Human rights have become important aspects of both international law and international agreements.

What are human rights?

What are human rights?

  • Human rights are moral principles that give standards for human behaviour.
  • They are inherent in all human beings regardless of their nation, location, language, religion or ethnic origin.
  • They are universal in the sense of being applicable everywhere.
  • They are egalitarian in the sense of being the same for everyone.
Disregard for human rights

Disregard for human rights

  • A disregard for human rights has led to ‘barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind’ (UDHR).
  • E.g. The Holocaust during WW2.
  • E.g. Beheadings by IS jihadists in Syria.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an international agreement on human rights.

The UDHR background

The UDHR background

  • The UDHR was agreed in 1948 by 48 countries of the UN.
  • Some countries abstained at the time, including the Soviet Union, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
  • The UDHR sets out 30 universal rights ranging from freedom of speech and movement to education and justice.
  • Torture is also banned.
Legality

Legality

  • The UDHR is not legally binding.
  • It is a declaration, not a treaty.
  • Violations of the UDHR have been used to justify a number of military interventions.
  • The promise of economic aid has also been used as a lever to persuade countries to improve their human rights record.

Other Human Rights Agreements

Apart from the UDHR, there are other international agreements on human rights.

ECHR

ECHR

  • The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is similar to the UDHR, drafted by the Council of Europe.
  • Its aims were to prevent conflict such as that experienced twice in the 20th century within Europe (the world wars).
  • The principles of the ECHR were integrated into the UK by the Human Rights Act (HRA) in 1998.
  • The ECHR and HRA are both seen by some as an erosion of national sovereignty, especially during the recent Brexit debate in the UK.
The Geneva Convention

The Geneva Convention

  • The Geneva Convention forms a basis in international law for prosecuting individuals and organisations who commit war crimes.
  • It is endorsed by 196 countries.
  • But, few cases have ever come to trial.
  • Over 150 countries continue to engage in some form of torture.

Test yourself on Human Rights

  • Which of the following is an example of a breach of human rights?

  • How many countries agreed to the UDHR in 1948?

  • Which of the following countries abstained from the UDHR when it was agreed in 1948?

  • What is the HRA?

  • What forms a basis in international law for prosecuting individuals and organisations who commit war crimes?

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