Chapter 28.3Chapter 28.3

Democracy and Human RightsDemocracy and Human Rights

Standards for Human Standards for Human RightsRights Human rights are basic rights that Human rights are basic rights that

all people should enjoy, including all people should enjoy, including the right to safety, food and shelter. the right to safety, food and shelter. These rights lie at the heart of the These rights lie at the heart of the U.S. political system. Yet many U.S. political system. Yet many gov’ts still imprison and abuse gov’ts still imprison and abuse people for speaking their minds. people for speaking their minds. Other have been charged with Other have been charged with sponsoring terrorist acts outside sponsoring terrorist acts outside their borders.their borders.

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In 1948, the UN adopted the Universal In 1948, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It Declaration of Human Rights. It proclaims that “all human beings are proclaims that “all human beings are born equal in dignity and rights.” born equal in dignity and rights.” Articles 3 to 21 list many rights Articles 3 to 21 list many rights protected in the U.S. Constitution plus protected in the U.S. Constitution plus others, such as freedom of movement, others, such as freedom of movement, right to seek asylum, right to right to seek asylum, right to nationality, right to marry and right to nationality, right to marry and right to own property.own property.

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Articles 22 to 27 spell out Articles 22 to 27 spell out economic, social and civil rights, economic, social and civil rights, including the right to social including the right to social security, right to work, right to an security, right to work, right to an adequate standard of living and adequate standard of living and right to education. Articles 28 to right to education. Articles 28 to 30 state that all people should be 30 state that all people should be free to enjoy these rights.free to enjoy these rights.

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The UN High Commissioner for The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights oversees UN’s Human Rights oversees UN’s human rights programs. The human rights programs. The commission reports rights commission reports rights violations, hoping that drawing violations, hoping that drawing attention to these abuses will attention to these abuses will bring pressure to halt them.bring pressure to halt them.

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The UN has established The UN has established international tribunalsinternational tribunals to hear to hear cases about violations of cases about violations of international human rights law. international human rights law. Several military leaders and gov’t Several military leaders and gov’t officials have been found guilty officials have been found guilty and punished.and punished.

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In 1994, the Hutu-led Rwandan In 1994, the Hutu-led Rwandan gov’t battled Tutsi-led guerrillas. In gov’t battled Tutsi-led guerrillas. In a a genocidegenocide, or deliberate killing of , or deliberate killing of a racial or cultural group, Hutu a racial or cultural group, Hutu forces killed more than 500,000 forces killed more than 500,000 people. The International Criminal people. The International Criminal Tribunal Court for Rwanda began to Tribunal Court for Rwanda began to bring to justice people accused of bring to justice people accused of participating in the genocide.participating in the genocide.

Spread of Democracy Spread of Democracy and Libertyand Liberty Early in the 20Early in the 20thth century, about 12% of century, about 12% of

the world’s people lived in a democracy. the world’s people lived in a democracy. By 2001 democracy had spread to By 2001 democracy had spread to nearly 60% of the world’s people in 120 nearly 60% of the world’s people in 120 countries.countries.

To qualify as a democracy, a political To qualify as a democracy, a political system must at least allow the people to system must at least allow the people to choose their leaders freely from among choose their leaders freely from among competing groups and individuals not competing groups and individuals not chosen by the gov’t.chosen by the gov’t.

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The 86 countries considered “fully free” The 86 countries considered “fully free” democracies go beyond this standard. democracies go beyond this standard. They offer a broad range of human They offer a broad range of human rights, such as those stated in the rights, such as those stated in the Universal Declaration.Universal Declaration.

Of the 58 “partly free” countries, 34 met Of the 58 “partly free” countries, 34 met the minimal standard by holding free and the minimal standard by holding free and fair elections. The other 24 did not meet fair elections. The other 24 did not meet this minimal standard.this minimal standard.

In the 48 countries considered not free, In the 48 countries considered not free, the gov’ts often practiced or permitted the gov’ts often practiced or permitted terrible violations of human rights.terrible violations of human rights.

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White leaders of South Africa White leaders of South Africa legalized a policy of racial legalized a policy of racial separation between blacks and separation between blacks and whites called whites called apartheidapartheid. Blacks . Blacks could not vote or own property. could not vote or own property. They could be jailed indefinitely They could be jailed indefinitely without cause.without cause.

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The U.S. and European countries The U.S. and European countries ordered economic ordered economic sanctionssanctions, or , or coercive measures, against South coercive measures, against South Africa. U.S. businesses began to Africa. U.S. businesses began to withdraw investments. Pressures withdraw investments. Pressures from foreign countries and the from foreign countries and the anti-apartheid movement brought anti-apartheid movement brought a gradual end to apartheid.a gradual end to apartheid.

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Nelson Mandela, imprisoned in Nelson Mandela, imprisoned in 1962 on charges of treason, had 1962 on charges of treason, had become a symbol of the struggle become a symbol of the struggle for freedom in South Africa. In for freedom in South Africa. In 1994, South Africa held its first 1994, South Africa held its first election open to all races, electing election open to all races, electing Mandela as the first black Mandela as the first black president.president.

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The Taliban, a strict Islamic group The Taliban, a strict Islamic group that ruled Afghanistan, abused the that ruled Afghanistan, abused the human rights of women and others. human rights of women and others. In 2001 the U.S. accused the Taliban In 2001 the U.S. accused the Taliban of supporting terrorists and bombed of supporting terrorists and bombed Taliban forces. Since the collapse of Taliban forces. Since the collapse of the Taliban gov’t, the UN has been the Taliban gov’t, the UN has been working with the new leaders to working with the new leaders to create a climate that protects human create a climate that protects human rights.rights.

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During most of the 20During most of the 20thth century, century, spreading democracy was a main goal of spreading democracy was a main goal of the U.S. gov’t.the U.S. gov’t.

After WWII, the Soviet Union forced the After WWII, the Soviet Union forced the countries of Eastern Europe to become countries of Eastern Europe to become Soviet Soviet satellitessatellites – countries dominated – countries dominated or controlled by another more powerful or controlled by another more powerful country. The Soviets appeared bent on country. The Soviets appeared bent on expanding their power and influence.expanding their power and influence.

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Soon the world divided into two Soon the world divided into two hostile camps – free nations of hostile camps – free nations of the West and Communist nations. the West and Communist nations. The struggle between the two The struggle between the two sides became known as the sides became known as the Cold Cold WarWar because it involved the clash because it involved the clash of ideas more than a clash of of ideas more than a clash of arms.arms.

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After the collapse of Soviet After the collapse of Soviet totalitarianism, the U.S. promoted totalitarianism, the U.S. promoted democracy in the former Soviet Union democracy in the former Soviet Union and former satellite countries.and former satellite countries.

In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President Bush repeated America’s President Bush repeated America’s commitment to democracy around the commitment to democracy around the world.world.

Peace, prosperity and national security Peace, prosperity and national security have a better chance of taking hold in a have a better chance of taking hold in a free and democratic world.free and democratic world.