Career Prospects in National and International Human Rights - Assignment Example

Career prospects in national and international human rights of the of the 4 February Career prospects in national and international human rights Part A: Description of the topic A career in national and international human rights has become quite challenging with the rapid increase of human rights violations worldwide. Similarly, being a human rights defender would enable one to stand with the oppressed to preserve their rights. This has prompted me to choose my career prospects in national and international human rights whereby I can promote and protect human rights. Human rights defenders all over the world “seek the promotion and protection of civil and political rights as well as the promotion, protection and realization of economic, social and cultural rights” (Human Rights Defenders, p. 2). A major role of a human rights defender is to support the victims of human rights violation while propagating messages favouring the preservation of human rights at all levels. Human rights activists have a pivotal role in pressurising governmental policies and prompting governmental agencies to fulfil their human rights obligations. All these factors motivated me to search for career opportunities in human rights and Pickles’ article offered me a long list of the various human rights career opportunities for aspiring graduates and post graduates in four major categories: Multilaterals; NGOs; Law and Research (Pickles, 2006, p. 2). My next thought was how to prepare for a career in human rights and Haugen’s article was instrumental in convincing me of the educational and professional qualifications required of a career in international human rights. Apartr from the professional skills of investigation, intervention and cross-cultural experiences Haugen advises academic disciplines related to government, international relations, politics, history, public relations, social work, foreign languages, litigation and criminal laws as desirable requirements for a position in international human rights. However, I am also aware that the career of a human rights activist involves many challenges such as harassment, threatening, torture, arrested, detention, conviction, kidnapping and even execution. Part B: Annotated bibliography Donnelly, J. (2013). Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Cornell University Press. Published in 2013 Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice is a seminal book that deals with almost every issue associated with human rights preservation. The book encompasses major recent developments with regards to human rights and the author regards human rights as universal rights. The book provides one with a comprehensive outlook of the theory and practice in human rights. The book throws light on such aspects as the special features of human rights, the relationship between human nature and human rights, human rights related practices, international human rights, the universal declaration of human rights, the universality and relativity of human rights, and so on. Similarly, the book also addresses such issues as ethical concerns and values associated with human rights. The relationships among social, economic and human rights are also dealt with. The author identifies humanitarian interventions and non-discrimination for all as the twin underlying principles for the preservation of human rights. The book also shows how human rights concerns are still prevalent in democratic, socialist, capitalist and liberal societies in one form or another. Another major contribution of the book is that it exposes how foreign policies and international politics shape perspectives on human rights issues worldwide. Haugen, Gary. (2005). Preparing for a career in international human rights. International Justice Mission 2005. Retrieved 3 February 2014, from http://www.ijm.ca/resources/ijm/PDFs/PREPARING_FOR_A_CAREER_IN_HUMAN_RIGHTS___By_Gary_Haugen.pdf Haugen’s article is extremely beneficial for anyone who wishes to mould a career in the field of international human rights as it offers one a number of practical guidelines on securing a job in international human rights. The article emphasises that the duty of a human rights activist is to seek justice for the oppressed and the downtrodden. The author exhorts human rights defenders to have the professional skills of investigation and intervention through which they can protect the victims. The article also throws light on the educational and professional qualifications required of a career in international human rights. Haugen makes it clear that academic disciplines of government, international relations, politics and history offer a desirable foundation for a human rights defender. Similarly, academic qualifications and excellence in public relations, social work, and foreign languages are also useful for building up a career in international human rights. Proficiency in the legal field and exposure to litigation and criminal law are added advantages in an international human rights career. The author advises prospective human rights activists to choose available courses on litigation, civil and criminal procedure, constitutional law, administrative law, government relations, legislative process, public policy, and international and human rights law. Another major requirement highlighted in the article is the need to have cross-cultural experience that equips the human rights aspirant to apply his educational and professional skills in a cross-cultural, developing world context. Human Rights Defenders: protecting the right to defend human rights. United Nations Fact sheet no. 29. Retrieved 3 February 2014, from http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FactSheet29en.pdf Published by the United Nations the document deals with various aspects of defending human rights. The fact sheet exhorts everyone to become human rights defenders and throws light on the various activities undertaken by human rights defenders. The article also describes the goals, duties and responsibilities of human rights defenders. The fact sheet clearly demonstrates how and in what manner human rights defenders function at the local, regional, national, and international levels against all sorts of human rights violations varying from torture, discrimination, arbitrary arrest and detention, violence against women to ruthless execution and massacre. The factsheet is significant for the current essay as it convinces one of the role of a human rights defender in supporting the victims of human rights violation, propagating preservation of human rights, influencing governmental policies, pressurising governments to fulfil their human rights obligations, offering human rights education, mobilising public opinion in favour of human rights victims, implementing international human rights treaties , and securing accountability for human rights violation of all sorts. The article also states that the career of a human rights activist involves many challenges as there have been many human rights defenders who were harassed, threatened, tortured, arbitrarily arrested, detained, convicted, prosecuted, and kidnapped. The document also provides a detailed list of the perpetrators of human rights activists consisting of state authorities, armed groups, transnational corporations and individuals. The document also shows a prospective human rights activist how the United Nations protect human rights defenders and support their efforts through its declaration on human rights. Human Rights Watch. (2012). World report 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2014, from http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/wr2012.pdf The Human Rights Watch world report offers a concise summary of the human rights violations in more than 90 countries worldwide and as such the report is very much significant for the essay. Every human rights activist needs to be aware of the human rights violations that take place around the world and this report offers one the unique opportunity to know how human rights defending efforts are at work globally. The report cites a number of instances for human rights violations from such nations as Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria. The report also shows how factors such as international ambivalence and international political coalitions prompt the international community to tolerate human rights violations as well as international actions on nations like Libya. The report assumes significance as it throws light on many instances where anti-government protests were brutally suppressed and freedom of expression was negated to the victims as in the case of Angola in 2011. Similarly, the report pinpoints that there are instances of human rights violations due to ongoing armed conflicts and brutal attack on civilians as in the case of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). One can also see how human rights violations are at wok due to skewed justice, military atrocities, torture and arbitrary detentions, terrorism and anti-terrorism, migration, discrimination in the workplace, negation of women’s and girls’ rights, child abuses and child labour. The report is significant for the current essay as this would help one to identify potential areas where a human rights activist can actively get involved. Pickles, Sophia. (2006). Human rights opportunities. SOAS careers service 2006. Retrieved 3 February 2014, from http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/files/pdf/SOASHumanRights.pdf Published in 2006 the article provides a long list of the various human rights career opportunities for aspiring graduates and post graduates in four major categories: Multilaterals; NGOs; Law and Research. The article throws light on the various UN agencies that offer internship and career opportunities for aspiring job seekers. The major multilateral UN agencies specialising in human rights issues are the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the UN High Commission for Human Rights (OCHCR) and the UN Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The article also deals with human rights career opportunities within the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), Court of Justice of the European Communities, and the Global Policy Forum. Similarly, Pickles provides a list of the major NGOs where one can develop an internship in human rights career- Amnesty International, Aide à Toute Détresse (ATD) Fourth World, Article 19: Global Campaign for Free Expression, Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), Centre for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), CAFOD, International Alert, Medecin sans Frontiers/Doctors without Borders (MSF), Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, The International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), and so on. Besides, it offers useful tips on the legally related work within the field of human rights consisting of such organizations as the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), The Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa, and the Centre for Justice and International Law (CEJIL). The article is also useful for the essay as it provides a clear guideline regarding the various organizations providing research opportunities and fellowships in human rights. Read More