Activity 1 - Why are HRs politicised?

Activity Tasks
  1. Read - Read pages 68-69 of Kirsch, M. (2017). Oxford IB Diploma Programme: Global Politics Course Companion and pages 42-44 of Murphy, R. & Gleek, C. (2016). Pearson Baccalaureate: Global Politics and then answer these questions:
    1. What has caused human rights to become politicised?
    2. How has the UN-led human rights regime become distrusted?
    3. How has economic inequality led to politicisation of human rights?
    4. How is the power of a state linked to human rights enforcement?
    5. How has politicisation at the global level affected human rights?
  2. Watch - Examine this video from TeleSUR about the politicisation of human rights. TeleSUR is a media channel funded by the Venezuelan, Cuban and Nicaraguan governments. What arguments do they make about the reasons why human rights in Latin America are politicised? Who do they blame for undermining human rights?
  3. Examine - This video from CGTN explores whether human rights have been politicised and who is to blame for that. CGTN is owned and funded by the Chinese government. What arguments are made in this video about the reasons for politicisation of human rights?
  4. Evaluate - This video from the New York Times explores why the present global human rights regime is failing. The New York Times is a US media organisation. Who does Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein blame for the politicisation and failure of human rights enforcement?

Activity 2 - Do sanctions politicise HRs?

Activity Tasks
  1. Identify - What are economic sanctions? Examine this article and this video and write your own definition of economic sanctions.
  2. Examine - Are sanctions a breach of human rights? Read this article and watch this video before summarising the arguments that sanctions are a breach of human rights. 
  3. Evaluate - Get into three groups. Each group will explore a different case study to examine whether sanctions are a breach of human rights or not. Use this worksheet to record your findings from researching these sources:
    1. Syria and Iran
      1. Syria  Sanctions - Chilling effects on basic human rights
      2. US Iran Sanctions: 'The US doesn't care for human rights' 
      3. US Sanctions on Iran in 2020 
    2. North Korea
      1. Sanctions on North Korea may hurt citizens' rights: U.N. expert
      2. Will latest UN sanctions have any effect on North Korea?
      3. 'Too many soldiers to feed': North Koreans fear more sanctions as drought threatens famine
      4. What to Know About Sanctions on North Korea    
    3. Venezuela
      1. What Do We Talk About When We Talk About U.S. Sanctions in Venezuela?
      2. Sanctions can’t spark regime change
      3. Economist Jeffrey Sachs: U.S. Sanctions Have Devastated Venezuela & Killed Over 40,000
  4. Discuss - Present your findings back to the class. Overall, are sanctions a breach of human rights? Or are they effective in enforcing human rights compliance?

Activity 3 - Why is R2P so controversial?

Activity Tasks
  1. Identify - What is Responsibility to Protect? Examine and make notes from this article and this video about what R2P is and how it works. 
  2. Consider - Examine this list of UN statements and resolutions that have evoked R2P. What patterns or trends can you see in terms of the human rights breaches and targets?
  3. Research - Was NATO intervention in Libya a just humanitarian intervention or a politicisation of human rights? Research using the following sources:
    1. How Qaddafi's Fall Vindicated Obama and R2P
    2. Was Intervention in Libya a Humanitarian Intervention? 
    3. What is the responsibility to protect (R2P)?
    4. Inside Story - NATO's intervention in Libya
  4. Write - Write an extended paragraph outlining your perspective on whether NATO intervention in Libya was a just use of the R2P principle to protect human rights, or whether it was an unjust politicisation.

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Murphy, R. & Gleek, C. (2016). Pearson Baccalaureate: Global Politics, pp. 42-44
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
  1. Heywood, A. (2011), Global Politics, pp. 312-315

Y7-9 MYP

Y7 Humanities
Y8 Humanities
Y9 Explorations

Y10-11 IGCSE

IGCSE Global Perspectives
Global Politics & Debate
MUN

Y12-13 IBDP