Global justice perspectives examine human rights and development in a worldwide context. This topic explores international frameworks like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets standards for civil, political, economic, and social rights for all people.

The discussion covers sustainable development goals, globalization's impacts on inequality, and debates around humanitarian intervention. It also highlights the role of global civil society in promoting human rights and social justice across borders.

International Human Rights Frameworks

Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Economic Rights

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted by the United Nations in 1948 establishes a common standard of fundamental human rights for all peoples and nations
• UDHR consists of 30 articles covering civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights considered inherent to all human beings regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status
• Economic rights in the UDHR include the right to work, free choice of employment, just and favorable working conditions, protection against unemployment, equal pay for equal work, and the right to form and join trade unions
• UDHR also recognizes the right to an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond one's control

Social Rights and Cultural Relativism

• Social rights in the UDHR encompass the right to education, which shall be free and compulsory at the elementary stages, and equally accessible at higher levels based on merit
• UDHR affirms the right to participate freely in the cultural life of the community, enjoy the arts, and share in scientific advancement and its benefits
• Cultural relativism poses a challenge to the universality of human rights, arguing that moral and ethical norms are relative to the cultural context from which they derive
• Proponents of cultural relativism maintain that human rights should be interpreted and applied differently across cultures, taking into account diverse cultural, historical, and religious backgrounds (Islamic countries, Asian values debate)

Global Development and Inequality

Sustainable Development Goals and Globalization

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015 provide a shared blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030
• SDGs consist of 17 interconnected goals addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice
• Globalization refers to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of countries through the expansion of international trade, investment, communication, and cultural exchange
• Globalization has led to economic growth and poverty reduction in some regions (East Asia) but has also contributed to widening inequalities within and between countries (global North-South divide)

Global Inequality and Environmental Justice

• Global inequality encompasses disparities in income, wealth, and access to opportunities and resources between individuals and countries
• Despite overall reductions in extreme poverty, the gap between the richest and poorest countries has widened, with the richest 1% owning more than twice as much wealth as 6.9 billion people
• Environmental justice seeks to address the disproportionate environmental burdens (pollution, resource depletion) borne by marginalized communities and countries
• Climate change disproportionately affects developing countries and vulnerable populations (small island states, sub-Saharan Africa) who have contributed least to greenhouse gas emissions

Global Actors and Intervention

Humanitarian Intervention and Global Civil Society

• Humanitarian intervention refers to the use of military force by external actors to address human rights violations, mass atrocities, or humanitarian crises within a sovereign state
• Debates surrounding humanitarian intervention center on questions of state sovereignty, international law, responsibility to protect (R2P), and the potential for abuse or unintended consequences (Iraq, Libya)
• Global civil society encompasses a wide range of non-state actors, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social movements, advocacy groups, and citizen networks that operate across national borders
• Global civil society plays a crucial role in promoting human rights, sustainable development, and social justice by raising awareness, mobilizing public opinion, and holding governments and corporations accountable (Amnesty International, Greenpeace)