The Right of Leaders upon Their Nations - Essay Example

Failed, please revise; ends Oct. 30, 2007 Thanks!! The provides plausible and comprehensive discussions of two examples demonstrating conflicts over the issue of human rights. However, the task needs to be revised. The author needs to provide a logical analysis explaining how the concepts of human rights and sovereignty influenced the stances and decisions each country in Part A, i.e. how these countries used the concept of sovereignty to support their actions. Abstract: The International Law has set certain standards regarding Leaders and their leadership modes within their countries. The international Law tends to recognize the right of leaders upon their nations to govern them in a manner they want to. Also in the manner the leaders think is most suitable to their nations. Human rights are an embodiment of the pursuit of freedom and equality, and the values and dignity of human beings. Values, such as freedom, equality and human dignity, are relevant to all societies and all times, but differ in their forms of manifestation and their roles in society. The term 'human rights' was born of Western cultural and historical traditions, but with the passage of time it has transcended the Western cultural boundary and become a universal symbol of human values. As a concentrated expression of diverse positive values, human rights enjoy unprecedented popularity today. However, each nation or culture has its own system and ways to achieve these values. People have different understandings of what human rights entail and what the approaches are to achieve them. These differences call for international cooperation and coordinated efforts of nations to promote human rights the world over. "Dialogue on human rights is a sensible means to surmount differences and reach consensuses." (Yunlong, 2006) Part A: During the last two years, one major 'human right' issue of conflict; was that of the Lebanese-Israeli conflict which initiated on July 12, 2006 .It had ignited loud criticisms. These criticisms were basically regarding the conflicts that had occurred because of the violations of the International Humanitarian Law. The international armed conflict and the laws which governed it were a major cause of debate. The issue was twofold: The relation of Hezbollah, the guerilla group, to the international humanitarian law, the treatment of the prisoners of war, the protection of the civilian's indiscriminate attacks and access to humanitarian relief. On July 12, 2006, Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite armed group, launched an attack on Israeli positions, captured two Israeli soldiers on the other side of the Blue Line (the United Nation embarked line after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon on May 25, 2000). Nine Israeli soldiers were also killed. In response, Israel launched a large scale operation on Lebanon. The death toll of the ongoing conflict from August 1, 2000 has climbed up to 800 killed Lebanese civilians and 51 Israeli killed civilians. The Israeli army has been accused of disproportionate and indiscriminate assaults in its operations toward Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces said that they were doing 'everything to minimize' civilian casualties in Lebanon. The Hezbollah on the other hand launched its rockets randomly on targets within Israel and has been accused targeting civilians and civilian objects within Israel. The actions from the Hezbollah, as also from the Israel Defense Forces are reflecting the current opposing conflict between them, as they are also considered international humanitarian law violations. The second conflict in violation of the humanitarian law took place in Azerbaijan, which accused neighboring Armenia of breaching a ceasefire, regarding the dispute about the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, causing the death of an Azeri soldier. In this latest round of feuding between these two rivals, Armenia quickly denied the charge and responded with a counter-accusation that Azeri troops had killed an Armenian soldier. When these two former Soviet republics became independent, the fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory has claimed approximately 25,000 lives and displaced hundreds. In a ceasefire in 1994 with Armenian forces in control, most of the commune and its seven surrounding Azerbaijani regions have been resolved, except the Nagorno-Karabakh status, which remains unresolved. The Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said that the last conversations and discussions about the Nagorno-Karabakh commune have brought no results and have come to an end. He not only signaled that his country Azerbaijan should prepare for another war with Armenia, he also stated that he believes that the Armenian side was stalling for time. Part B: The basic concept of human rights and sovereignty need to be explored here. The Importance of drawing attention to the human component of human rights is to introduce a core concept that of a right holder. A right holder is very simply the person who has the right in .Part of the distinctiveness of the human rights idea is the belief that all human beings have or hold human rights. For the longest time a person was considered a right holder only if possessed of certain select characteristics, like being an able bodied, land owning adult male. The contemporary human rights idea by contrast suggests that by every human being a man or a woman, rich or poor, adult or child, healthy or sick , educated or not holds human rights .( Orend 2002 ) The basic concept of sovereignty is that of total independence of a nation or a state in terms, of its existence, laws, policies, society, etc. The international humanitarian law follows regulations and standards. For instance, all parties involved in any conflict, such as war, have to allow a quick passage for humanitarian relief organizations for civilians in need. This humanitarian relief for civilians, often performed by the Red Cross, is unprejudiced in character and conducted without any fault-finding, distinction, or subject for the right of control. However, regardless of discussions and debates on governmental humanitarian level and in despite of the Israeli Government's agreement to grant the Red Cross passage to aid the Lebanese civilians in need, the south of Lebanon remained unapproachable for humanitarian aid and relief. Israel breached the agreement with the United Nation Emergency coordinator for a 3 days truce for humanitarian purposes. Thousand of Lebanese were enthralled in their villages that the passage of humanitarian relief has been granted. The outcry of Israel's injustice has not only been heard by the international community, the international community and the United Nation (UN) has reprimanded Israel and requested aid for the conquered South Lebanon civilians. However, Israel was under the legal obligation to follow the international humanitarian law of the Geneva constitution to allow the Red Cross for humanitarian relief in South Lebanon. Another known case of injustice are coming from the ex soviet republics Azerbaijan and Armenia; both states do not seem to follow the international humanitarian law regulations of the Geneva Conventions. There are continuous violations being reported on both the sides. In regards to both the conflicts highlighted above, it seems that both the countries have distorted their rights of sovereignty and power that each possessed. Because of the fact that the respective countries understood what were the rights they possessed as an independent country, in regards to sovereignty and human rights issues. That they distorted it. Acting in a manner which clearly violates the international human rights ground , implies the fact that these independent countries are taking their sovereign power for granted and do not consider it vital to follow these international human rights policies . This also implies the fact that nations might become independent with time or in other words attain sovereignty. But as far as decisions in regards to sovereignty, power and human rights are considered; they cannot set their own rules or break them likewise. This act should be condemned and thus all nations, independent countries should follow the international laws laid down for the same. Instead of manipulating them according to their own personal views, grudges etc. In regards to both the conflict issues. The countries seem to be acting independent enough to decide when and how many to kill Let alone the fact that humanitarian laws are not being considered or thought about. Neither the fact that they are distorting their individual concepts of sovereignty is being considered. References: American Society of International Law (1908). The American Journal of international law: Convention for the adaptation of the principles of the Geneva Convention to maritime warfare (1906). Received August 6, 2007, from http://books.google.com/booksid=v2INAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA295&lpg=RA1-PA295&dq=geneva+con&source=web&ots=QpIw2zMKJl&sig=dpY-CfWuZmhkHPiJi-lYC9Evq0Y Cordesman H.A. (2006). Preliminary "lessons" of the Hezbollah war. Working draft for outside comment. Second ed. Center for strategic & international studies (CSIS). Retrieved September 21, 2007 from http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/060911_isr_hez_lessons.pdf Weiner M. (1996). Bad neighbors, bad neighbor hoods: An inquiry into causes of refugee flows. International security: Vol. 21, Nr.1, pp. 5-42. Received August 10, 2007, from http://links.jstor.org/sicisici=0162-2889(199622)21%3A1%3C5%3ABNBNAI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 Scott J.B. (1920). The Proceedings of the Hague peace conferences: translation of the official text. The conference from 1907, volume 1, plenary meetings of the conference. New York, Oxford university press. Received August 8, 2007, from http://books.google.com/booksid=QokwAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA338&lpg=PA338&dq=geneva+con&source=web&ots=W2aE4Y_6pj&sig=eNSmjawCz9V4bZG1OURIJFNf7FY#PPR3,M1 Yunlong L. (2006). By human rights: Dialogue and international cooperation. China society for human rights studies magazine. Received September 21, 2007, from http://211.167.236.236/zt/magazine/200402007417132123.htm Orend Brian (2002)" Human Rights: Concept and Context" From: http://books.google.com.pk/booksid=yfSgCvlyTaoC&dq=concept+of+human+rights.htm Read More