Political Globalization at Political Globalization at the Personal Levelthe Personal Level

Given priority of nation-states, the Given priority of nation-states, the world polity affirms citizenship world polity affirms citizenship statusstatus

The world polity also renders The world polity also renders persons as individuals with human persons as individuals with human rightsrights

Before Human Rights…Before Human Rights…

The Holocaust was justified by The Holocaust was justified by claiming that the victims were claiming that the victims were Untermenschen, or “subhumans,” who , or “subhumans,” who were biologically inferior and a threat were biologically inferior and a threat to the Aryan race. to the Aryan race.

To its perpetrators, the Holocaust To its perpetrators, the Holocaust promised to create a better race by promised to create a better race by eliminating the “unfit” (eugenics).eliminating the “unfit” (eugenics).

Before Human Rights…Before Human Rights… Yale Study of U.S. Eugenics PolicyYale Study of U.S. Eugenics Policy ( (Chicago TribChicago Trib 2/15/00 2/15/00 by D. Morgan) by D. Morgan)

U.S. doctors once believed that sterilization could U.S. doctors once believed that sterilization could help rid society of mental illness and crime. They help rid society of mental illness and crime. They launched a 20launched a 20thth-century eugenics movement that -century eugenics movement that in some ways paralleled Nazi policies.in some ways paralleled Nazi policies.

The eugenics movement aimed to improve The eugenics movement aimed to improve

society through selective breeding. Research society through selective breeding. Research indicates that state-authorized sterilizations were indicates that state-authorized sterilizations were carried out on a large scale over many decades carried out on a large scale over many decades in the U.S., beginning with the first state eugenics in the U.S., beginning with the first state eugenics law in Indiana in 1907. law in Indiana in 1907.

Before Human Rights…Before Human Rights… Eugenics in U.S.Eugenics in U.S.

Sterilization laws authorized the neutering Sterilization laws authorized the neutering of more than 40,000 “feebleminded” or of more than 40,000 “feebleminded” or “insane” people in the U.S. by 1944. “insane” people in the U.S. by 1944.

Another 22,000 were sterilized 1945-63, Another 22,000 were sterilized 1945-63, despite revelations of Nazi atrocities. despite revelations of Nazi atrocities.

Forced sterilization was legal in 18 states. Forced sterilization was legal in 18 states.

1948 Universal Declaration 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rightsof Human Rights

1. 1. All human beings are born free and equal in All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.another in a spirit of brotherhood.

2. 2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs….country or territory to which a person belongs….

Universal Declaration of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Civil)Human Rights (Civil)

3. 3. Everyone has the right to life, Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. liberty and security of person.

5. 5. No one shall be subjected to No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or degrading treatment or punishment.punishment.

Universal Declaration of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Political)Human Rights (Political)

21. 21. (1) Everyone has the right to take part in (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (2) through freely chosen representatives. (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. (3) The will of public service in his country. (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.by equivalent free voting procedures.

Universal Declaration of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Social)Human Rights (Social)

25. 25. (1) Everyone has the right to a (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and and necessary social services, and the right to security in… the right to security in… unemployment, sickness, disability, unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond livelihood in circumstances beyond his control….his control….

Amnesty Int’l – Human Rights Amnesty Int’l – Human Rights Action Appeals (8/09-10/09)Action Appeals (8/09-10/09)

-Demand justice for killing of journalist in Mexico-Demand justice for killing of journalist in Mexico-Call on chemical company to address the -Call on chemical company to address the

legacy of Bhopallegacy of Bhopal-Upholding human rights while confronting -Upholding human rights while confronting

climate changeclimate change-Denied protection in Turkey - refugees -Denied protection in Turkey - refugees

unlawfully detainedunlawfully detained-Seven more ratifications needed for Enforced -Seven more ratifications needed for Enforced

Disappearance Convention to enter into forceDisappearance Convention to enter into force-Sudanese authorities must abolish the -Sudanese authorities must abolish the

punishment of flogging and repeal punishment of flogging and repeal discriminatory lawsdiscriminatory laws