Human Rights
Human rights recognise the inherent value of each person, regardless of background, where we live, what we look like, what we think or what we believe.
They are based on principles of dignity, equality and mutual respect, which are shared across cultures, religions and philosophies. They are about being treated fairly, treating others fairly and having the ability to make genuine choices in our daily lives.
Respect for human rights is the cornerstone of strong communities in which everyone can make a contribution and feel included.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations on 10 December 1948, sets out the basic rights and freedoms that apply to all people. Drafted in the aftermath of World War Two, it has become a foundation document that has inspired many legally-binding international human rights laws. (Australian Human Rights Commission, n.d.)
- United Nations Human Rights Council (2019). United nations human rights council. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/Home.aspx
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva. - Rupp, R.E. (2019). Human rights. In World Book Student. Retrieved from https://www.worldbookonline.com/student-new/#/article/home/ar709732Human rights are those rights that each person is entitled to simply because he or she is a human being. The concept of human rights is based on the idea that each person has worth and dignity, and so deserves certain basic freedoms. When these freedoms are recognized, each individual can enjoy safety, security, and the ability to make many decisions about his or her life. But defining and protecting human rights has been difficult, because there are many competing views as to the freedoms that make up human rights. Definitions of human rights continue to evolve.
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (n.d.). Human rights. Retrieved from https://dfat.gov.au/international-relations/themes/human-rights/Pages/human-rights.aspx
Australia is committed to advancing human rights globally. Men, women and children have the right to fundamental freedoms and to live their lives with dignity. Human rights underpin peace and prosperity. Australia’s commitment to human rights reflects our national values and is an underlying principle of Australia’s engagement with the international community.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages. (United Nations, n.d.)
Critical analysis
- Posner, E. (2014). The case against human rights . The Guardian Online. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/news/2014/dec/04/-sp-case-against-human-rightsMany believe that international human rights law is one of our greatest moral achievements. But there is little evidence that it is effective. A radically different approach is long overdue.
- Galloway, K. (2017). The empty platitudes of Australian human rights. Eureka Street, 27(21), 54–57. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=azh&AN=126320407&site=ehost-liveThe article offers information on the United Nations Human Rights Council joined by Australia. Topics discussed include criticism of Australia by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee for non-compliance with committee's recommendations, emergence of human rights in the post-world war two context of the UN's universal declaration, and human rights disregarded by Australian government.
Cases of Human Rights Injustice - Myanmar
- Pedersen, M. (2013). How to promote human rights in the world’s most repressive states: lessons from Myanmar. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 67(2), 190–202. https://doi-org.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/10.1080/10357718.2013.764581MYANMAR - For two decades, Myanmar sat at the top of the international human rights agenda. With recent political changes, this may now be a thing of the past, but the bad old days hold important lessons that should not be forgotten. This article draws on interviews conducted mainly inside Myanmar over a period of 15 years to evaluate, contrast and compare the impact of different international human rights policies on the ground.
- Human Rights Watch (2018). Myanmar: Events of 2018. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/burma
MYANMAR security forces continued to commit grave abuses against Rohingya Muslims throughout 2018, deepening the humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in Rakhine State.
Cases of Human Rights Injustice - Burundi
- Serious negotiations urged to prevent escalation of violence. (1996). United Nations Chronicle, 33(1), 11. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=azh&AN=9605261077&site=ehost-liveBURUNDI 1996 - Reports on the United Nations (UN) Security Council's call on UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to continue his consultations regarding contingency planning in Burundi. Support for comprehensive dialogue and rapid humanitarian response in the event of widespread violence or serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the country.
- UN report details human rights violations in Burundi ahead of 2020 elections. (2019, September 6). Legal Monitor Worldwide. Retrieved from https://link-gale-com.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/apps/doc/A598545475/HWRC?u=61wa_scotch&sid=HWRC&xid=46d24c0eBURUNDI 2019 - The Report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, released Wednesday, details human rights violations committed in Burundi since their last report in 2018. These violations include some international crimes and are mainly carried out by members of the youth league of the ruling party called the Imbonerakure.
Cases of Human Rights Injustice - Syria
- Getting priorities on human rights right in Syria. (2019, March 16). Sri Lanka Daily Mirror [Colombo, Sri Lanka]. Retrieved from https://link-gale-com.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/apps/doc/A578689969/GIC?u=61wa_scotch&sid=GIC&xid=93948d50SYRIA - The long war is almost over in Syria. Tyranny has won. Violence has won. Most have suffered, many unspeakably. For too long all sides were stalemated by each others' brutality. Now the government of Bashar Al-Assad has come out on top, aided by Russia and Iran.
Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Cases of Human Rights Injustice - Rwanda
- Human Rights Watch: The Genocide in Rwanda. (2019). In Gale Global Issues Online Collection. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. Retrieved from https://link-gale-com.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/apps/doc/KSUOFE377844642/GIC?u=61wa_scotch&sid=GIC&xid=11dd04d9RWANDA - For three and a half years, President Juvenal Habyarimana and his close colleagues worked to redefine the population of Rwanda into “Rwandans,” meaning those who backed the president, and the “ibyitso” or “accomplices of the enemy,” meaning the Tutsi minority and Hutu opposed to him.
Cases of Human Rights Injustice - Yemen
- Orkaby, A. (2017). Yemen’s Humanitarian Nightmare. Foreign Affairs, 96(6), 93–101. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.db.plcscotch.wa.edu.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=azh&AN=125600588&site=ehost-liveYEMEN - The article discusses the humanitarian disaster in Yemen resulting from the country's civil war, which involves the political movement the Houthis and Saudi Arabia's intervention in support of former Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The history of Yemen from 1962 through 2017, including the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990 and Saudi Arabia's relations with Yemen, is discussed. The U.S.'s support of Saudi Arabia in its intervention into Yemen's Civil War is also discussed.