Development of human rights
What are the 4 characteristics of human rights?
Indivisible
Inherited
Universal
inalienable
What was the driving force of the creation of the UDHR?
WW2
Who/what has state sovereignty?
All individual nations
Does Australia have a Bill of Rights?
No
When and why was the United Nations Created?
1948
To maintain international peace/Because of the tragedy that happened during WW2
Name a contemporary issue for Human rights
Answers could include:
Modern slavery
Child soldiers
Human trafficking
When was the UDHR signed and where?
1948 (December 10)
Paris, France
How is the UDHR different from other forms of human rights "protection".
It set an international standard and became the most comprehensive and universally agreed document of its nature to ever exist.
What's an example and explanation of Australia enforcing human rights through domestic law?
Examples could include:
Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth).
Established with the Australian Human Rights Commission, this act has the responsibility of investigating human rights abuses in Australia and reporting to the government.
What is the name of the Australian legislation that protects and promotes human rights in Australia?
The Australian Human Rights Commission
Name 2 NGO’s
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International
Anti-Slavery International
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins San Frontieres
Who is entitled to human rights and why?
Everyone, because we are human.
Name all the development areas of human rights:
Abolishment of Slavery
Universal Suffrage
Trade Unions
Universal Education
Self-determination
Peace rights
Environmental rights
What is hard law and what is soft law, how are they different?
- Hard law (often referred to as domestic law) refers to legally binding instruments, like legislation or treaties, that create enforceable obligations.
- Soft Law (often recalled as international law) are non legally binding agreements due to state sovereignty.
Describe an example where state sovereignty has been violated to defend human rights.
Answers could include:
Rwanda 1994 (UN troops deployed)
Serbia 1991 (UN air strikes)
Iraq & Syria 2014-15 (US intervention)
What is the AHRC, and list its purpose.
The Australian Human Rights Commission. The AHRC investigated complaints about human right breaches.
Name 3 IGO’s
Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Human Rights Council
United Nations Educational. Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
What are the 4 characteristics that define a Sovereign State?
Defined territory, permanent population, government that is not under another, independence in foreign relations with other sovereign states.
What country first allowed women to vote?
Universal Suffrage
New Zealand was the first country that allowed women to vote (1893)
Difference between signing and ratifying, give an example of how australia has ratified a signing.
- Signing: is the agreement to a treaty/convention.
- Ratifying: formal act in individual states that legally enforces the description of the treaty.
- example: Australia ratified the Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008 with the Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment act 2009.
What treaties was state sovereignty first recognised?
Treaties of Westphalia 1648
What is the name of the right that protects people from being forced to work against their will?
Freedom from slavery and forced labour
What is the difference between the ICC and the ICJ?
-The ICJ deals disputed brought to it by member nations
-The ICC does not deal with disputes between, nations, rather it deals with individuals or groups
How was the Rwandan genocide resolved?
By introducing the Gacaca courts and the ICTR to prosecute the suspects responsible
Name the specific convention and specific protocol against Human Trafficking and the year it was adopted.
The Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) or the Palermo Protocol (2000)
Expand these terms: UDHR, ICCPR and ICESCR. And identify their differences.
- Universal Declaration of HUman Rights
--> Sets out fundamental human rights.
- International covenant on civil and political rights
---> Expands upon specific civil and political rights and is legally biding to signatory nations (e.g. fair trial)
- International covenant on economic, social and cultural rights.
---> Specifically protects economic, social and cultural rights and is legally binding to signatory nations (e.g right to work).
What act was amended to ratify Australia's signator of CROC (Convention of the Rights of the Child)?
Family Law Act 1975 - Added an explanation of how the “best interests of the child” should be determined
What is Judicial Review?
Courts, especially the Supreme Court, where they examine if laws or other government actions are in line with the Constitution.
Name all 5 sections/arms of the United Nations
General Assembly
Secretariat
Economic and Social Council
Security Council
International court of justice (ICJ)
What does article 8 of the UNCCPR (1976) prohibit?
“Slavery and enforced servitude in all situations”