Health & Human Rights
- Created by: carlajokic
- Created on: 20-04-18 13:28
Health - Development indicators
Development: the advancement & enrichment of human wellbeing through:
- Improving lives people lead (rather than assuming economic wealth leads to greater wellbeing)
- Giving people opportunities to develop abilities e.g. higher education
- Giving people choices e.g. through education
why is money not the best development indicator for a place as a whole?
- informal economy does not declare cash so it is not counted (including subsidence farming)
- wealth only shows one dimension of a nation
- money for heating is included, so colder countries may appear wealthier
Environmental quality, life expectancy & education
Modernisation Theory: in order for economic development to continue, these things must improve:
- Environmental quality e.g. air and water
- Health & life expectancy of the poorest
- Human rights e.g. rights for women
Interdependence of growth loops:
-show the inerdependence among growth of consumption, the economy & resource depletion
-purchases increase GDP which creates jobs & financial wellbeing
Development laws - Case Studies
What influences differences in perception of development?
-beliefs (ideology). -Morals -Values -Ethnicity
Sharia Law: the law of Islam, derived from Prophet Muhammad & the Qu'ran
-Sharia is seen as nurturing & freeing humanity to realise individual potential
-five necessities; preservation of religion, life, intellect, lineage & wealth
-sharia is an intrusive & strict rule, particularly regarding women
-countries that use the law include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Afghanistan & Sudan
Bolivia under Evo Morales
-Morales rationalised oil & gas industries & used the revenue to fund poverty fighting projects
-extreme poverty fell by 43%, however still remains one of S.America's poorest nations & relies on natural resources for economic growth
Factors that accelerate development
why is education vital?
-allows people to know their rights -creates a skilled workforce for employment
-people develop an understanding of health & hygiene & ways to control family size
hygiene & healthcare - better health, longer lives, less infant mortality
culture - appreciation of culture leads to less social disparity
human rights - less corruption, people can vote, have a voice
skilled workforce - strengthens the economy, more trade
family size - less strain on healthcare, less mortality of infants
factors that prevent access to education :
-wealth -gender -social class -ethnicity -physical/mental disability
The role of government & IGO's
social progress: what societies can do to improve economic, political & social structure to meet basic needs, improve wellbeing & creating opportunities for people
this can be slow but accelerated by:
-government intervention -social enterprise -social activism
Different types of governments have different priorities for development
democracy: UK communist state: Cuba
totalitarian: North Korea dictatorship: Saudi Arabia
promoters of economic growth: (Bretton woods institutions)
-promote global development with a focus on economy, free trade, neo-liberalism
promoters to improve quality of life: (OECD, UN, UNESCO)
focuses on human rights, quality of life
IGOs
free trade: trade without tariffs, quotas or restrictions
neo-liberalism: modified form of liberalism tending to favour free-market capitalism
deregulation of financial markets: chaging regulation from government control to influence from outside investors
why are so many countries in debt?
late 19th century many countries were ruled by colonies, in 1970s they fought for independence
in 1970s OPEC raised oil prices which increased member earnings & they invested into western banks
banks then lent money to developing countries
in 1980s, interest rates doubled, debt repayments increased, many countries could not afford this and banks grew nervous
structural adjustment programmes were created which had negative effects on the poor
governance
socialist state
single-party socialist states, building socialism
democracy
countries with a government in which power is regularly elected as a result of votes by the people
authoritarian government
strong central power & limited political freedom
economic development, governance and human rights
-many countries prioritise economic wealth over human rights
-countries often dispute over what 'human rights' are
-this can cause tensions between nations
-the UN created the R2P (Responsibility to Protect) which allows countries to gain cooperation through sanctions
North and South Korea
north: dictatorship, not pro economic development, no freedom of speech or movement
south: democratic government, pro economic development, corruption & gender inequality
Human rights VS economic development
sweatshops:
Do economic benefits of sweatshops outweigh human rights cost?
-sweatshops provide higher paid jobs in relation to the rest on offer
-people choose to work in sweatshops therefore still retain freedom of choice
-without sweatshops, unemployment would rise and poverty would remain an issue
-it is better to do something towards the global economy than nothing at all
negatives:
-workers are often submitted to unsafe conditions, long hours, poor wages, lack of breaks and late pay
-workers are stopped from joining unions to protect their rights
Political corruption & human rights
political corruption: abuse of entrusted power for private gain
this includes: election rigging, diverting foreign aid to private pockets - the movement of political corruption often leads to serious threats towards human rights
most corrupt: Somalia, North Korea least corrupt: Denmark, Finland
reasons for corruption: type of political regime, lack of education, lack of development
how high levels of corruption threaten human rights:
-governments violate human rights obligations
-corruption leads to services such as health & education suffer
-lack of freedom of speech
-corruption often infiltrates the judicial system meaning safety of people is threatened
Gender, Ethnicity & Human rights
-colonialsm has created a tense environment between different ethnic groups
-when countries became independent, they had little knowledge of how to cope which lead to insurgent groups rising & violence ensuing
-colonial border failed to realise the importance of ethnic & religious borders and often cut across previously existing borders, causing huge tensions and conflict
gender inequality - women
-pay gaps in same roles, secondary & tertiary jobs taken by women
-women own less land, 1/3 are homeless or living in inadequate facilities
-more women are inflicted with STD's worldwide
-less girls in education, less literate women globally
-1 in 3 women subject to violence, 1 in 5 will be victims of **** or attempted ****
gender inequality - cont
reasons women are unequal in developing countries:
-they have a lower social value
-religion
why gender equality is important for development:
-promotes economic growth
-less population growth
-benefits households
-better governance
-improves health
forms of geopolitical intervention in defence of h
geopolitical intervention: the exercise of a country's power in order to influence events outside its borders
Humanitarian - development aid to the poorest countries to protect human rights & encourage education & healthcare
Mutual Benefit - strengthening security & stability, promoting trade, accessing resources, encouraging inward investment
Self-seeking - providing military support, increasing global influence
motivations for geopolitical intervention:
-protection of human rights -encouraging health & education
-strengthening security & stability -protecting international trade routes
-providing military support -offering aid & development to poorest countries
intervention cont.
are geopolitical interventions justified?
often contencious as organisations may have different perspectives or aims
-opposing views about whether anything positive will be achieved
-concern over power of a country
national sovereignty: the idea that each nation has the right to govern itself without interference from other countries
responsibility to protect (R2P): each state has the responsibility to protect its population from war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing & crimes against humanity
4 main NGO's involved with geopolitical intervention:
Amnesty International Human Rights Watch
Oxfam Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
aid & the environment
countries receiving the most aid from the USA:
Israel - allies with US Egypt - strategic position Afghanistan- restructuring after invasion
key reasons countries give aid:
-human rights
-governance & political unrest
Britain giving aid to India
FOR- they have nuclear weaponry, to maintain a relationship, huge levels of poverty, to make up for colonial exploitation
AGAINST- India is the 10th richest country in the world, one of the fastest growing economies, aid maintains the colonial relationship, aid money is used for corrupt measures
players in development aid
National Governments
NGO's e.g. Oxfam, Save the Children
IGO's e.g. World Bank, OECD
Private foundations e.g. Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
TNC's
Individual donations
Military aid & intervention
military intervention is often seen as contencious as:
it must be seen as justified and proportionate, otherwise it may be a threat to security
reasons for military intervention:
-defence of human rights
-providing military aid
-fighting the 'war on terror'
military aid: often given by superpowers to maintain relationships e.g.
US aid to Pakistan helped to deal with Afghanistan & the Taliban
top 5 recipients of US military aid: Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan & Pakistan
extraordinary rendition: secret transfer of a terror suspect without legal process for interrogation, often including torture
indicators to measure the success of intervention
-raised life expectancy -improved GNI and GDP
-more freedom of speech -improved gender equality
democracy as a measure of success:
introduction of democracy is important as it brings about freedom of expression
-US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was to bring about democracy
-this is based on the belief that democratic institutions are the building blocks for more secure & economically prosperous societies
-democracy brings social & political stability, women's rights, better relationships between nations
democracy aid: focuses on; supporting crucial processes e.g. fair elections
-strengthening & reforming government institutions e.g. parliament & judiciary
-supporting civil society e.g. freedom of expression
success of intervention cont.
democracy & freedom of expression:
-the right to express oneself freely is a fundamental right of the UDHR
This guarantees the right to:
-speak & write openly -protest against injustice -criticise governments & leaders
China:
has often prioritised economic growth over human rights
-e.g. economic liberalisation but still no democracy
-restrictions on political freedom, harassment of human rights activists & detention of journalists
-the Chinese communist party (CCP) continues to control economic reforms and the internet
measuring the success of military intervention
military intervention: using military means to exert force & change a situation within a region
non-military intervention: bringing development using measures such as diplomacy
direct military intervention: sending troops & equipment
indirect intervention: providing military assistance without troops
non-intervention: not becoming involved at all with another country
what options does the global community have when faced with a crisis?
turn a blind eye- huge risks and unfavourable
limited military intervention - short term and creates long term problems
extended intervention - long term and is often seen as the answer to significant crisis'
examples of military intervention
Afghanistan 2001-2014
US invasion following 9/11, to counteract the Taliban
Syria 2011-
democratic uprising in response to the Assad regime
Libya 2011
civil war and civilian casualties
Ukraine 2014-
Russian annexation of Crimea as a strategic location & to 'protect ethnic Russian minority'
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