The Washington Outsider


An overview world wide Human Rights violations

Previously published on April 17, 2008

The enforcement of human rights is a difficult challenge that started after World War Two with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Because the UN can generally only enforce international law through voluntary commitments or drastic military and economic interventions, the document exists to encourage all nations of the world community to recognize the significance of the human condition and all human life by ensuring all states view every individual as a significant and unique entity. The text accomplishes this by requiring government to provide equal treatment for all individuals without regard to personal differences or nationality. Moreover, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights largely serves as an inspirational text directing the intent of international law and the nations, which ratified the Declaration, to achieve governance that respects humanity.

As such, the thirty articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights accomplish at least two major objectives. Primarily, the text strives to establish the value of an individual human life by defining an individual in terms of social, economic, religious, and cultural aspects in an attempt to ensure every individual is viewed as a unique human life. To ensure every unique human life is regarded with equal value, governing bodies must provide consistent treatment and protection for all individuals. The text accomplishes this objective by requiring states to provide legal, economic, and social protections for all individuals without regard to race, gender, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, economic status, birth, or other status and hereditary differences.

Furthermore, the Declaration has an uncanny resemblance to the provisions afforded to the American citizen by the US Constitution while its expectations reflect the long held values of the America society. Western cultures are, therefore, able to adapt their governing styles to these expectations far more readily than non-Western cultures while cultural differences across the board lead to different interpretations of the Provisions each Article ensures. Because international law is generally a matter of voluntary compliance, nations must be able to integrate the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights while upholding the social and cultural burdens of their societies. In order to be respected and upheld by the majority of the international body, including those outside of the Western cultural hemisphere, the concept of Human Rights must be broadly defined in a manner that guarantees a majority of nations will value all individual humans.

Above all, the broader goal of protecting human rights is to stop the most grievous and blatant violations of human dignity and life, thus, bolstering the significance of the individual human life and the positive contributions of all nations to the international community. Should the world community seek to restrict the internal behavior of nations in terms of Western values, several governing bodies will be alienated as our expectations are limited by our views on human dignity and justice. Meanwhile, there are behaviors, which certain Western governments practice, that various states might view as violations of human rights. If the international body is to dictate what is considered unacceptable behavior in subjective terms from the perspective of American and European cultures, there will be several nations alienated by international law and interference in these cultures' affairs will lead to a destabilized international community. Therefore, determining a violation of human rights requires a broadly defined application of human rights concepts in order to halt the most grievous and blatant violations of human dignity and life.

In many Middle-Eastern nations, the treatment of women could be considered a human rights violation as discriminatory treatment based on gender is disallowed by Article Two. The international community requires governments to place women under the same set of governing principles as men, but cultural aspects of many Middle Eastern religions place different expectation on men and women while punishments for violating these expectations can be quite severe in the eyes of the West. On the other hand, certain European and Eastern nations protect or fail to halt prostitution though many individuals might considered the practice to be a violation of human rights as allowing the use of a person as a sex object devalues the human condition. Abortion is also an issue, which pushes the limits of human rights, because there is a need to respect a woman's right to choose her reproductive fate, social positive, and economic status while the rights of an unborn fetus must also be taken into consideration as the objective of international law is to value all human creatures.

Furthermore, many Western Nations also find the practice of capital punishment barbaric and would include any form of execution under any circumstances in the realm of human rights violation. However, anyone with a fair comprehension of human nature understands close spaces are extremely aversive conditions to most individuals, so a life sentence can be far crueler than a relatively painless death as provided by the US penal code. In some nations, age limits for life saving medical treatments present a situation that most people would clearly view as devaluing the elderly, thus, it is reasonable to question whether or not the practice is a human rights violation. Meanwhile, Article Sixteen dictates the right to marry is a fundamental social right. Although the Article does not mention homosexual marriage and most cultures view marriage as a religious institute between a man and woman, the issue tests the ability of law to reconcile the need for governments to respect social and cultural views while providing equal protecting for all individuals.

Moreover, there are expectations that cannot be fulfilled by all nations for practical reasons. Article Twenty-six requires all states to provide elementary and fundamental education free of charge for all citizens. There are plenty of nations that do not possess the economic resources or infrastructure necessary to meet this goal while educational standards may not be relevant to all societies. Article Twenty-Two through Twenty-Four guarantee basic economic freedoms that may not be feasible in a specific national economy. On the other hand, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does seem to concede to this reality in Article Twenty-Two; however, the concept of economic rights does demonstrate the issue of human rights is extremely ambiguous and difficult to objectively assess.

In order to define when human rights violations occur, the international community must seek to balance the obligations of human rights with the need to respect cultural views and the sovereignty of all nations. This means a broad interpretation of human rights must be applied when considering violations of human rights. Moreover, violations of human rights exist when a state does not consistently apply its laws to all its citizens, including those in power, or fails to protect citizens against degrading and inhumane treatment. In order to cut across cultural and political bias, which would limit and undermine the effort to support human rights, violations of human rights must be viewed in terms of a governing body's action or inaction failing to uphold the spirit and word of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This means a nation, which supports human rights, is one that strives to uphold the value of the individual human, as well as culture, through political, economic, legal, religious, educational, and other social forces.

In order to prevent human rights violations, the world community must build international law around this objective while member states must also strive to meet this goal when enforcing their laws, cultural expectations, and goals as a sovereign nation. Individuals can commit crimes and crimes against humanity while it is states that commit human rights violations by engaging in acts, which devalue an individual as a human entity, or by failing to react to the mistreatment of individuals. Above all, human rights violations are issues that the international community must define as a complete group; otherwise, nations will cease to work toward ending the most grievous acts against humanity.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a document that everyone needs to be aware of before they can truly understand what the international community regards as human rights. Meanwhile, all nations' laws must be reconciled with this document before further progress toward ending violations of human rights around the world can be achieved. As the text is largely available, especially on the internet, the address to the UN website is included below, so readers can review the document with the ideas included in this article guiding their interpretations of what counts as a human rights violations.

Resources:

United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/043/88/IMG/NR004388.pdf?OpenElement

http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/



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      • US Influence: The Value of American Citizenship Around the World
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        • Is Suicide a Cowardly Way Out?
      • Defense Against the Dark Arts of Manipulators
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        • How to Understand Abuse Victims
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      • The Role of Substitution in Decision Making
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      • Describing the Mind as Modes of Thought >
        • It’s Just Sex?
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      • Ending the need for government support and tackling poverty
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        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
        • Minimum Wage is Not the Problem
        • Responding to the "Blip"
        • Why Education Is Not The Civil Rights Issue Of The Twenty-First Century
      • Considering the Impact of the Capital Gains Tax Deduction
      • Embracing a Capitalist Mindset >
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        • The Negatives of Socialism
      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
      • Consumer and Investor Evolution in the Great Recession of 2008-09
      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
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      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
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      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
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      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • The Second Amendment: Not Outdated >
        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
  • For the record
    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
    • US Government >
      • America Needs to Focus on the Impending Fiscal Crisis
      • Reacting to the Bush Era-tax Cut Extension Deal
      • Quitting the Obama Revolution: The Fickle Nature of American Politics
      • John Boehner's Circus
      • Is the Fed Putting Itself in Jeopardy?
      • Wikileaks Goes After the US State Department
      • Discussing the Political Environment Surrounding the 2011 Budget Debate
      • What the Democrats Can Do to Ensure a GOP Year in 2012
      • What the 2010 Midterm Actually Said
      • Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper
      • Democrats Minus Nancy Pelosi Equals Opportunity
      • Terrorists Go Postal: The Terrorism Threat Reexamined
      • Victory in the 2008 Election: Reaction to Barack Obama'a Win >
        • Expectations for Barack Obama
      • President Obama's first one hundred days
      • John McCain's Negative Campaign
      • Reasons People did not Elect John Mccain
      • History judges the George W. Bush Administration
      • Should the next US President focus on domestic issues?
      • President Bush, should he resign or be impeached
      • Should the Ban on Government Sponsored Assassinations be Repealed
    • Off Topic >
      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
      • A Story About a Man Who Made the World a Better Place
      • Making the World a Better Place
      • The Bipolar Ethical Nature of Google
      • Learning Computer Plays Jeopardy
      • Verifying Medicine is the Real Thing
      • Taking a Practical Step Forward in Optical Computing Using Slow Light
      • Scientists Take a Closer Look at How Lithium Batteries Work
      • Remarking on the First Blizzard of the 2010-2011 Winter Season
      • Driving in the Snow: Acceleration is the Key
      • How People in Northwest PA Are Coping with the Increasing Cost of Oil
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