POLS 3320 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Alan Dershowitz, International Labour Organization, International Humanitarian Law
Document Summary
Humanitarianism and human rights: fundamental human rights. From discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation: other legal rights - fuzzy, not clear whether or not these are essential. Historical precedents: the magna carta, declaration of independence, the rights of man, us bill of rights, communist manifesto, international red cross and red crescent, international labour organization, us civil rights legislation. Human rights and the un: the un charter, the universal declaration on human rights, the covenant on civil and political rights, covenant on social, economic and cultural rights. What are human rights: human rights are fundamental entitlements of persons, constituting to the means to the end of minimal human dignity or social justice. The problem with human rights: enforcement. National sovereignty and international law: individuals vs groups, a 3rd freedom. And vice versa - freedom of speech vs freedom from hate and discrimination: cultural relativism.