Current Issues in Human Rights - Literature review Example

Current Issues in Human Rights - War, Genocide, Mass Human Rights Violations Introduction Genocide and humanrights violation began immediately after the Second World War and this led to the introduction of the international convention on the punishment and prevention of genocide. This organization has remained at the forefront at preventing and punishing perpetrators of genocide in different parts of the world. Review of articles on genocide and human rights violation The convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide was ratified by member states to the United Nations in 1948 as a demonstration of their commitment to end genocide and abuse of human rights. As captured in United Nations (1948), this document has provided a blueprint for the development of various international laws and criminal courts against individuals who have the high genocide responsibilities. Countries such as Serbia, Guatemala, the former Soviet Union and even Rwanda have experienced genocide in the 20th century and such crimes have been punished based on the provisions of this convention. The convention has various articles which highlight the level of responsibility of each and every country’s leadership in ensuring that genocide and crimes against humanity are prevented at all costs. For example, chapter 4 states that every individual, state or non-state actor shall be held individually responsible for abetting, financing, directly and indirectly participating and being complacent in genocide activities. Such provisions have assisted in ensuring that individuals are brought to book for allowing and participating in activities that are equivalent to genocide in different parts of the world. The international tribunal for Kosovo and Rwanda were all constituted on the premise of the genocide convention to try various cases of genocide against religious and tribal groups. This document is a conclusive documentation of the articles of the convention that has defined genocide and abuse of human rights as we know it today. Though changes have been done to the convention, the United Nations (1948) is an important document that has informed the decision of other international bodies and help in reducing incidence of abuse of human rights in the presence or absence of crisis. In the study of human rights and genocide, the United Nations (1948) provides an accurate historical encounter of how a convention that has defined international behavior of those in power was developed. This document has significantly contributed to the development of various tribunals aimed at providing justice to victims of genocide in countries such as Rwanda Kosovo where rampant human rights violations were reported during the last century. In Fein (2005), a lecture on the modern day genocide and state murders have been provided based on the existing evidence and literature on genocides in different parts of the world. As a former employee of the United States holocaust memorial museum, Fein acquired significant information on various aspects of genocide and the role of governments in the abuse of human rights. Though most speakers have ignored to explore the devastations caused by genocides in different parts of the world including Rwanda and Kosovo, Fein provides an in depth description of politically instigated crimes against humanity in different parts of the world (Tracey, 2013). The 20th century has witnessed significant cases of violence and murder targeting defenseless and innocent civilians in developing and developed countries. This century goes into history as a century of state sponsored murder which at times uses non state actors in order to achieve the end term goal of political leaders. Fein (1995) defines this category of genocide as demoded and indicate that over 169 million lives have been lost from such ill motives since the beginning of the 20th century. Politicides and mass murder of individuals or groups associated with wrong political inclination was also a common phenomenon in the 20th century according to Fein (1995). Just like stone (2005), Fein (1995) attributes the emergence of the genocide phenomena to the works of Raphael Lemkin whose previous studies and documentations contributed to the development of the United Nations convention on genocide. However, Fein identify some shortcomings of Lemkin contribution to the development of genocide concept during the mid-20th century which is more inclined to murders and atrocities committed during war and preparation for war as opposed to the absence of war. The genocide convention has been revised severally and today covers genocide cases committed during peace and war against foreigners or even members of the same state. Fein (1995) also addresses the lack of agreement on the presence of crimes that reach the genocide threshold as a number of cynics have questioned the rationale for considering a crime genocidal. This can be attributed to the fact that the actual discussion on genocide has been diminished in various public debates which have been focused on portraying this concept on different light as compared to the genocide convention (Tracey, 2013). Fein (1995) has included new evidence of modern day genocide and wanton abuse of human rights of helpless and ignorant members of the public. For example, the author points out the adoption of school integration and segregation programs, the development of programs, which allow involuntary abortion and the introduction of policies that, tolerate drug addiction in some parts of the country dominated by a certain religious or ethnic group. Cynics in the country have also labeled actions and policies such as birth control, family planning or even suburbanization as genocidal as a way of watering down the entire concept of genocide. Fein discusses various instances of genocides in different parts of the world to support her position of modern day genocide and the role played by governments. For example, every continent has today participated in one way or the other in genocidal activities in disregard to societal and economic development in such countries. From the time when the world war ended to the end of the cold war, genocide has occurred in different continents including Europe, Asia and South America. Countries such as Soviet Union, Paraguay and Guatemala stand accused of abetting genocide and abuse of human rights laws against specific ethnic groups during this period (United Nations, n.d). Based on the evaluation of this article, it is evident that the writer has conclusively done research on genocide during this period and presents actual and supported information. Most of the claims made in this article are supported by views of known historians based in different parts of the world to demonstrate the accuracy of her information. This article can therefore be used to form the basis of historically documenting evidence of human rights violation and genocide in different parts of the world including Asia, south American, Europe and Africa 1. Fein (2005) provides an empirical view of the 20th century genocides which claimed over 150 million lives during the course of the year. The authors arguments has been clearly presented and supported by facts from various sources, which makes it a reliable, and evidence based document. Though some questions have not been conclusively discussed, Fein provides a more pragmatic description of the events that characterized the last century which are considered as genocide and abuse of human rights (United Nations, n.d). Stone (2005) discusses the role of Lemkin in the development of the genocide convention and other international laws on the prevention of genocide and human rights abuses. Lemkin is post Second World War historian who described the atrocities committed during the war and helps define the development of convention and treaties to avoid a repeat of the same. Lemkin coined the word genocide during the United Nations meeting that led to the development and ratification of the genocide convention. In Stone (2005), his contribution has been critically evaluated and critiqued in equal measure to highlight the journey that the fight against genocide and abuse of human rights has taken over the years. This article has adopted a professional critique approach in which it lauds the contribution of Lemkin and criticizes his deficiencies through facts and information that is available for readers to understand. This article therefore fulfills a historical research document that can be relied upon to document the historical journey that genocide has taken from the 20th century to fate (United Nations, n.d). Stone is more of bibliographical document that discusses the contribution of Lemkin in the development of genocide convention and other laws aimed at preventing abuse of human rights. Though the arguments does not capture modern day genocide cases as Fein (1995), the author has attempted to demonstrate that previous historical events contributed to the development of more rigid and strong rules on leaders who are found guilty of promoting abuse of human rights. Mass human rights violation in the 21st century have also been documented in other publication sponsored by the United Nations and other human rights watch groups. Human rights violation has reached an all-time high in various parts of the world including developed democracies where divergent views and opinions are attacked. However, countries in the Middle East and Africa have reported the highest cases of mass human rights abuses, which target individuals with divergent views and opinions on the way the government is operated. Egypt and Syria have been ranked high based on a report recently released by amnesty international, an organization that monitors human rights violation in different countries. References Fein, H., 1995. Genocide and other State Murders in the Twentieth Century, lecture at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C. Stone D., 2005. Raphael Lemkin on the Holocaust, Journal of Genocide Research, 7(4), 539-550. Tracey, S., 2013, UN genocide commemoration, transnational scenes of mourning and the global project of learning from atrocity, British Journal of Sociolog(64) 3, 501-525. United Nations 1948, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, the United Nations. [Online] Available at:  http://www.hrweb.org/legal/genocide.html [accessed 04 Feb. 2015] United Nations, n.d, United Nations Security Council Recognises Mass Human Rights Violations, 2014, Gov. Australia Live. Read More