2.2.3: Global Governance: Option C – Human
Rights
1.a There is global variation in human rights norms.
➢ What is meant by human rights?
• Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are
entitled.
• Applicable at all times, in all places, protect everyone equally without
discrimination.
• UN office states: “Human rights are inherent to all human beingings, whatever
our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour,
religion. Language. Or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our
human rights without discrimination”.
• Definitions and understanding are derived from the Universal Declaration of
Human rights (UDHR): https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-
of-human-rights
• Violation of human rights have occurred in many parts of the world
• Globalisation has both helped and hindered equal human rights
• Geographic patterns of socio-economic inequality are closely associated with
inequalities in human rights.
, ➢ Understand the terms of norms, intervention, and
geopolitics, and how they arere fundamental in
appreciating that human rights are a complex issue.
❖ Human rights norms
• This means how ways of living have been inculcated (instil, become a
habit), into a country a long time.
• Forms the foundation of human rights – “what is normal in that country?” –
this can be linked to cultures and religions.
• The human rights set out by the UDHR, are generally accepted as
international human rights norms. Human rights are protected by
international law.
• Governments who sign international treaties, therefore have an obligation
to put measures in place to ensure conditions of the treaty are met.
• There are an increasing number of human right norms and treaties etc.
• One example is the UN convention on the rights of the child
o Focusses on ensuring children’s rights.
o Even with conventions like this, which are signed by governments
worldwide, there are still significant variations in deaths in young
children.
o Big range in infant mortality rate.
o UN believes that if a country isn’t doing all it can to minimise infant
deaths, it is not meeting legal and moral obligations.
o IMR becomes a human rights concern.
❖ Intervention
• Intervening in countries to end violation of fundamental human
rights.
, • Can include military force.
• Can be referred to as “humanitarian intervention”.
• UN security council only body that can legally use force.
• Military intervention is controversial – positives and negatives.
• UN involvement takes many forms.
▪ Peacekeeping, political and peacebuilding missions
serve many purposes.
▪ UN human rights team work in an area to protect
human rights.
▪ Coordinates a wide range of agencies and
organisations.
• UN agencies e.g., UNHCR, WHO
• Regional organisations e.g., NATO
• NGOs e.g., Oxfam, red cross
• Public-private partnerships e.g., Gavi Alliance
❖ Geopolitics
• This refers to the global balance of political power and
international relations.
• Political power and economic power closely related.
▪ Relative wealth and trade strength
• Different countries have different influences globally.
• MNCs have significant influence.
• Interventions regarding human rights need to understand the
variations in geopolitical power and relations.
, 1.b. Patterns of human rights violations are influenced by a
range of factors.
➢ Current spatial patterns of human rights issues, including
forced labour, maternal mortality rates and capital
punishment
❖ Forced Labour
• International Labour Organisation (ILO) states that coercion into
forced labour “can take many forms, ranging from physical and
sexual violence or threats against family members, to more
subtle means such as withholding wages, retaining identity
documents, threats of dismissal and threats of denunciation to
authorities.
• Estimated 25 million people are victims of forced labour.
▪ 16 million in exploited in economic activities.
▪ 4.9 million in sexual exploitation
▪ 4.1 million in forced labour by state authorities
• Forced labour happens to all ages and sexes.
• Happens globally.
• More concentrated in SE Asia
• Examples: garment making in South Asian factories, working on
African mines, harvesting tomatoes on North American farms,
farm work in Latin America, begging in Europe, construction in
Gulf States.
Rights
1.a There is global variation in human rights norms.
➢ What is meant by human rights?
• Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are
entitled.
• Applicable at all times, in all places, protect everyone equally without
discrimination.
• UN office states: “Human rights are inherent to all human beingings, whatever
our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour,
religion. Language. Or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our
human rights without discrimination”.
• Definitions and understanding are derived from the Universal Declaration of
Human rights (UDHR): https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-
of-human-rights
• Violation of human rights have occurred in many parts of the world
• Globalisation has both helped and hindered equal human rights
• Geographic patterns of socio-economic inequality are closely associated with
inequalities in human rights.
, ➢ Understand the terms of norms, intervention, and
geopolitics, and how they arere fundamental in
appreciating that human rights are a complex issue.
❖ Human rights norms
• This means how ways of living have been inculcated (instil, become a
habit), into a country a long time.
• Forms the foundation of human rights – “what is normal in that country?” –
this can be linked to cultures and religions.
• The human rights set out by the UDHR, are generally accepted as
international human rights norms. Human rights are protected by
international law.
• Governments who sign international treaties, therefore have an obligation
to put measures in place to ensure conditions of the treaty are met.
• There are an increasing number of human right norms and treaties etc.
• One example is the UN convention on the rights of the child
o Focusses on ensuring children’s rights.
o Even with conventions like this, which are signed by governments
worldwide, there are still significant variations in deaths in young
children.
o Big range in infant mortality rate.
o UN believes that if a country isn’t doing all it can to minimise infant
deaths, it is not meeting legal and moral obligations.
o IMR becomes a human rights concern.
❖ Intervention
• Intervening in countries to end violation of fundamental human
rights.
, • Can include military force.
• Can be referred to as “humanitarian intervention”.
• UN security council only body that can legally use force.
• Military intervention is controversial – positives and negatives.
• UN involvement takes many forms.
▪ Peacekeeping, political and peacebuilding missions
serve many purposes.
▪ UN human rights team work in an area to protect
human rights.
▪ Coordinates a wide range of agencies and
organisations.
• UN agencies e.g., UNHCR, WHO
• Regional organisations e.g., NATO
• NGOs e.g., Oxfam, red cross
• Public-private partnerships e.g., Gavi Alliance
❖ Geopolitics
• This refers to the global balance of political power and
international relations.
• Political power and economic power closely related.
▪ Relative wealth and trade strength
• Different countries have different influences globally.
• MNCs have significant influence.
• Interventions regarding human rights need to understand the
variations in geopolitical power and relations.
, 1.b. Patterns of human rights violations are influenced by a
range of factors.
➢ Current spatial patterns of human rights issues, including
forced labour, maternal mortality rates and capital
punishment
❖ Forced Labour
• International Labour Organisation (ILO) states that coercion into
forced labour “can take many forms, ranging from physical and
sexual violence or threats against family members, to more
subtle means such as withholding wages, retaining identity
documents, threats of dismissal and threats of denunciation to
authorities.
• Estimated 25 million people are victims of forced labour.
▪ 16 million in exploited in economic activities.
▪ 4.9 million in sexual exploitation
▪ 4.1 million in forced labour by state authorities
• Forced labour happens to all ages and sexes.
• Happens globally.
• More concentrated in SE Asia
• Examples: garment making in South Asian factories, working on
African mines, harvesting tomatoes on North American farms,
farm work in Latin America, begging in Europe, construction in
Gulf States.
