Lecture 16: International Relations and Human Rights

1
Lecture 16 International Relations and Human
Rights

• An international human rights regime is
• Opposed to classical conceptions of sovereignty
• Opposed to main tenet of realism
• Core principles UNs Universal Declaration of
  Human Rights (1948), Convention Against Genocide
  (1948)
• Some principles have a meaning that is
  uncontroversial, in others, there is room for
  relativism
• Bedrock principles emerged in connection with
  Rwanda and former Yugoslavia. But what about
  principles beyond the core?

2

• Womens Rights
• Common theme
• Common problems (their cultural and economic
  roots)
• 1979 Convention on Elimination of All Forms of
  Discrimination Against Women (US has not
  ratified).
• International Criminal Court
• (precedents of Nuremberg. Rwanda, and Yugoslavia
• Rome Statute 1998
• US, China, Russia have not ratified
• Convention on the Rights of Children (1989)
• US and Somalia not ratified.

3

• Convention Against Torture (1984)
• Progress mixed
• Issue of cultural and ethical relativism
• (how do you handle this?)