scholarly journals Human Dignity, Human Rights, and Political Regimes

1986 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 801-817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhoda E. Howard ◽  
Jack Donnelly
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Political Regimes ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Cultural Traditions ◽  
The Social ◽  
International Human ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Human Rights Standards

It is often argued that internationally recognized human rights are common to all cultural traditions and adaptable to a great variety of social structures and political regimes. Such arguments confuse human rights with human dignity. All societies possess conceptions of human dignity, but the conception of human dignity underlying international human rights standards requires a particular type of “liberal” regime. This conclusion is reached through a comparison of the social structures of ideal type liberal, minimal, traditional, communist, corporatist and developmental regimes and their impact on autonomy, equality, privacy, social conflict, and the definition of societal membership.

scholarly journals ‘Non-Religion’ as Part of the ‘Religion’ Category in International Human Rights

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Alan G. Nixon
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Religious People ◽  
International Human ◽  
Civil And Political Rights ◽  
Human Rights Standards

‘Religion’ still occupies and maintains a position of formal and informal privilege in many current societies. It retains these privileges despite the increasing numbers of people who label themselves ‘non-religious’. There is also evidence that overtly non-religious people are being persecuted due to the continuation of these privileges. This paper will examine such treatment of the non-religious in the context of human rights instruments and laws. It lays out the international law case for the rights of the non-religious. It also discusses the extent to which state actors have or have not ignored human rights standards in their persecution or deprivileging of non-religious people. This paper will proceed through a three-step analysis. Step 1 is to examine the aspirational Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in relation to the non-religious. The relevant sections of the UDHR and interpretations that they have received will be discussed. Step 2 is to do the same with the binding International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Finally, Step 3 is to give examples of lower-level and local laws, where I shall examine the extent to which individual countries’ laws and practices toward non-religious people support or contradict the treaty commitments that those countries have made. The continuation in coercion/persecution cases suggests that something is amiss with human rights protections being provided to the non-religious. If we are to create social structures that are more inclusive of the non-religious and to advocate for non-religious rights, it is necessary to examine the societal power and privilege still held by ‘religion’. It is hoped that this article can inform and encourage further similar engagements among sociologists, religious studies scholars, activists and lay-people interested in the treatment of non-religious peoples.

scholarly journals Exploring Children’s Understanding of the Legal Rights of Suspects in England and Wales

Youth Justice ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 147322542110305
Author(s):  
Vicky Kemp ◽  
Dawn Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Young People ◽  
Legal Rights ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Research Interviews ◽  
International Human ◽  
Points Of View ◽  
Human Rights Standards

While studies have explored adult suspects’ understanding of their legal rights, seldom are the experiences of children and young people taken into account. In this article, we discuss findings arising out of research interviews conducted with 61 children and young people; many of whom have experience of being suspects. From listening to their points-of-view, we find that children and young people fundamentally lack understanding of the rights of suspects, and especially the inalienable nature of those rights. We argue this is not surprising when children are being dealt with in an adult-centred punitive system of justice, which is contrary to international human rights standards.

Lois Mémorielles in Post-Genocide Societies: The Rwandan Law on Genocide Ideology under International Human Rights Law Scrutiny

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
PIETRO SULLO
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Transitional Justice ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
European Countries ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Human Rights Law ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
International Human ◽  
The Law ◽  
Human Rights Standards

AbstractThis article discusses the Rwandan Law 18/2008 on genocide ideology in the light of international human rights standards. In order to put the genocide ideology law into context, it sketches a brief overview of the post-genocide scenario. Because of the influence that provisions restricting freedom of expression aimed at fighting negationism might exert on testimonies during genocide trials, it pays particular attention to the transitional justice strategies adopted in Rwanda. Finally, it assesses the law on the genocide ideology against the background provided by the measures implemented in some European countries to deal with the phenomenon of negationism.

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