In this paper, you are asked to define human rights and human rights violations. You could start with your own understanding of these two extremely important issues. You should then explain how the readings we have done and videos we have watched have either modified or strengthened your own views.

Then you should address the following questions: Can different countries have different sets of human rights? Should antiquated customs and traditions weigh at all in assessing the criteria governing human rights, or should such customs and traditions be dispensed with if they infringe on human rights? In other words, are human rights natural rights—and therefore inalienable— or are they cultural (and possibly socio-political) constructs? Finally, explain why, in your view, we are still far from a world in which human rights are universally observed and respected, notwithstanding the fact that the Declaration of Human Rights was adopted  in 1948 (

https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/index.html

). In particular, has the West effectively promoted human rights, or have some of its practices hindered them?

                Feel free to explore these topics and come up with your own approach. Bring in concrete examples! There are many examples from history, past and present. We have already discussed a few of them and will talk about more. However, you can also choose different examples.        

                Don’t forget to refer to the readings as you write your essays; in other words, quote and paraphrase!

Suggested additional reading: Müllerson, Rein. “Human Rights Are Neither Universal Nor Natural,” Chinese Journal of International Law, Volume 17, Issue 4, December 2018, Pages 925–942. (PDF on Blackboard. Go to Course Documents –> Course Readings)

Requirements:

–You have to use at least two course readings and, optionally, one independently researched source.

–Do not use Wikipedia as one of your sources. You should feel free to read Wikipedia for information and ideas, but if you want to quote and/or paraphrase, you should go to the original source(s).

–The essay must be typed and double-spaced in 12-point font.

–Use MLA style. See

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

.

list of course readings (2 required):

Richard Peet_ From Eurocentrism to Americentrism

Partition of India_ The Human Dimension_ Introduction

The Historiography of India’s Partition_ Between Civilization and Modernity

Frantz Fanon_ Concerning Violence_ from _The Wretched of the Earth_long version

Frantz Fanon_ Concerning Violence_ from _The Wretched of the Earth_short version

Walter_Rodney_”The Coming of Imperialism and Colonialism.” _How Europe Underdeveloped Africa_

Rein Mullerson, “Human Rights Are Neither Universal nor Natural”

Amartya Sen_ Identity and Violence. The Illusion of Destiny

Chomsky, Noam, and Andre Vltchek. _On Western Terrorism: From Hiroshima to Drone Warfare_

James Gilligan, Violence, pages 6-8

“Shame, Guilt, and Violence” by James Gilligan

Toward a psychoanalytic theory of violence fundamentalism and terrorism_James Gilligan

Violence, Morality, and Religion_ James Gilliga

n

Abbas: 8

Simran Abbas

Professor Gulli

Writing 2

03/20/21

Human Rights and Human Rights Violation

Human rights are basic correct principles and freedoms that belong to every individual in the world. The rights apply regardless of a person’s culture, color, or ethnicity that a person originates. They include economic rights, social rights, cultural rights, and political rights. When these fundamental rights are not protected and not paid attention to, they are therefore violated. Human rights violation occurs when human beings are tortured, arrested without any evidence, or killed.

Human rights are essential to every person. They help an individual in various ways, such as

1. right to freedom of speech

2. right to acquire proper education

3. right to own property

4. right to live freely without mistreatment

5. right for a private life

The Universal Declaration of human rights was initiated in 1948 after the Second World War. More than 50 member states in the United Nations were allowed to contribute to the agreement. The declaration was the first time attempt to lay out human rights and freedom throughout the world. The fundamental right Act allowed the courts in the United States to hear out cases and delegate them forward. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) sets common standard attainment of all countries (United Nation). UDHR has been translated to over 500 languages for easy understanding of the Act. More than seventy treaties have been incorporated with UDHR promoting justice and peace in the world. Several articles involved in the UDHR document are that every person has the right to life, and security. Moreover, no person should be held in slavery, and the slave trade market should not be allowed. Additionally, human beings are entitled to a fair and accessible public hearing.

Several human rights treaties bodies signed documents and specify the rules to be followed. The treaty bodies include the Committee on migrating workers, who deal with the protection of rights at an immigrant level, the Committee the that is responsible for a child’s right, and the international convention on eliminating discrimination among the racist community.

The international human rights treaties govern the UDHR. The declaration points out the agreed ways and methods used in the ruling when human rights cases are involved. Some of the human rights treaties include:

1. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)- The treaty obligates equality and protection of all human rights, including the freedom of speech, equality, and religion.

2. International Convention On the Elimination of All the forms of Racial Discrimination(CERD) – the United State is bound to protect people from racial discrimination either on purpose or through the policy.

3. Convention Against Torture (CAT)- the treaty safeguards human beings against oppression from torture.

In the human rights treaties, the states have the responsibility of bearing the burden of encouraging and promoting human rights. When the United States government ratifies a treaty, the countries must respect and fulfill the right as expected. The government holds all the people accountable in the event of human rights violations.

Human beings are based on the universal virtue of all individuals in the world. Universalists believe that legal human rights enforcement laws should exist in every country. Fundamental rights are natural rights that people are born with , and no one can take them away. All rights have equal magnitude aiming at protecting the dignity of all people. The fundamental rights are shared on the grounds of fairness, equality, respect, and human dignity. Besides, human rights are all inalienable such that the holder cannot lose the fundamental rights temporarily or for good by lousy conduct. Someone who approves both human rights and imprisonment due to severe crimes committed, might be forbidden civil liberties but must be given the individual access to freedom of movement. Comment by Toshiba: not sure what this means…

Human beings are not universal, neither are they natural. The several differences of the human rights have mainly from those of the western world, which have treated them with an attitude of patronizing superiority. Human rights have been attributed to the centralized state nation’s historical communication in Medieval Europe, where the noble class level needed a tool that they would use to prevent the king from gaining more power. The use of human rights helped in the restoration of human wrongs. The fundamental rights give remedy to use on how to deal with the humane acts. Comment by Toshiba: ? Human beings ?!
Not sure what you mean here… Comment by Toshiba: this shoudl also be rephrased. It’s not very clear… Comment by Toshiba: This entire paragraph should be reorganized. The sentences are not really related to each other.

Human rights are considered to be natural rights in various respects. Firstly, human rights may be considered to be derived from natural rights since they are grounded in the natural laws (Mullerson, p 925). Natural rights emphasize the foundation of human nature. More grounded is done on Locke and Paine’s traditional thoughts, which strike a connection with the older ideas of the natural law. The right of man’s identity indicated that human beings are a source of rights. Fundamental rights suggest a more distinct way of obtaining the rights from a more complex moral way of human dignity. Comment by Toshiba: ? How can human beings be a source of rights? Comment by Toshiba: This should also be rephrased

Human rights are the central pillar used in the United States. The west has promoted good governance that ensures that all human rights are kept. Nurturing excellent governance creates a suitable environment for all people.

Additionally, the country has come up with multi-dimensional U.N. peace operation teams that ensure that all the human rights mandates are implemented. The aim of the team is:

1. To facilitate the protection and promotion of human rights through taking present or long-term action.

2. To empower citizens in claiming their rights as human beings.

3. To enable the state and other national institutions to uphold and observe the fundamental rights of individuals.

4. To prevent violation of human rights through the creation of awareness.

5. To ensure that human rights analysis are conducted and implemented accordingly.

The team headed by a senior human rights head of the mission, which provides expertise, regulation, and fundamental rights to the whole team. The team work in relation with other civilians and entities who aim at incorporating peace in the affected areas. Some of the awareness created by the team members to the population include protection of them civilians, a violation against civilians, security sector reform, prison system reform, and conflict-related sexual violence. Comment by Toshiba: this sentence is incomplete grammatically. What did the team do? You need a verb.

Moreover, the bill of rights in the United States and the constitution provide comprehensive protection of human rights. Many of the rights found in the UDHR are also present in the constitution, especially the political and civil liberties rights. The United States court has further provided the rights that are not necessarily stated in the constitution but helps remedy the individuals whose rights are violated. Some of these laws include the presumption of innocence in a criminal trial. Besides, the U.S. congress delegates laws that favor constitutional laws and provide relief to the people affected by human rights violation acts such as discrimination in terms of gender, religion, or disabilities.

Human rights violations started long before the declaration. In 1948, only fifty-six-membered states voted in the declaration, while about eight countries did not agree with the Act. Some of these countries violate human rights. The development of the Advocacy indicates some rights have been declined, limiting some groups from accessibility, such as ethnic minorities group, refugees, and the less privileged in society. Some of the human rights violation include:

I. Abuse of death penalty

The Islamic republic’s execution of children is one of the violations majorly affecting the people in Iran. The U.S. special investigator in Iran points out that people are harassed, detained, and forcefully executed.

II. Economic, social, and cultural rights violation

The right can be violated by forcing out people from their original settlement, hence violating adequate housing. Moreover, failure to provide alternative leave is a violation of the protection of the family.

III. Civil and political rights violation

When the people are subjected to torture and mass killing, the right is violated, especially during war times, conflicts, and arbitrary civil arrest. This violation can trigger the right of the individual as well as the freedom of expression right.

IV. Disrespect among people.

James Gilligan, an international journal writer, indicated that human rights are violated when people disrespect each other. In his journal, Gilligan points out a robbery incident that violated fundamental rights. The person who committed the robbery action claimed that he did so because he had been disrespected before in life “ he never got so much respect in life as he did when he pointed the gun at the person face” (Gilligan, p32). Comment by Toshiba: Gilligan
[check entire paper!]

Achieving a sustainable and effective method of promoting and protecting human rights is a problematic task that would take the world a lot of time to accomplish. People ought to recognize the beauty of individual differences and aim at getting on good terms with one another for an effective change to happen. Human beings should start visualizing the smaller steps like victims of rapes, political and cultural crises and help the people in rights awareness.

In conclusion, the United States supports most of the human rights treaties presented in the UDHR. The Act directs on the human rights violation remedies to maintain peace and justice among the countries. The development of state teams and constitutional bills is one method that the United Nations are using to promote justice and remedies on human rights violations.

Works Cited

Gilligan, James. “Shame, guilt, and violence.” Social Research: An International Quarterly 70.4 (2003): 1149-1180.

Müllerson, Rein. “Human Rights Are Neither Universal Nor Natural.” Chinese Journal of International Law 17.4 (2018): 925-942.

(United State) Human Right and Human Rights Violation Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

This is a thoughtful first draft—a good start—but there are several problems with mechanics and also with exposition. Some of the section should be rephrased, and several paragraphs should be reorganized.