Human rights are fundamental principles that protect the dignity and worth of all individuals. They're rooted in philosophical ideas like natural rights and social contracts, and legally established through international declarations and covenants.

Global human rights issues span civil, political, economic, and social realms. Violations include torture, discrimination, and lack of access to education and healthcare. Debates around humanitarian intervention and the effectiveness of rights mechanisms highlight ongoing challenges in protecting human rights worldwide.

Foundations and Issues in Human Rights

Foundations of human rights

• Concept of human rights rooted in universal, inalienable, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated principles upholding inherent dignity and worth of all human beings
• Philosophical foundations draw from natural rights theory emphasizing innate human entitlements, social contract theory positing rights as societal agreements, and utilitarianism considering greatest good for most people
• Legal foundations established in international law through Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) setting global standards, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) protecting individual freedoms, and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) ensuring basic needs
• Key principles in human rights law include non-discrimination prohibiting unfair treatment, equality ensuring equal protection, and universality applying rights to all humans regardless of status

Global human rights issues

• Civil and political rights violations encompass torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, arbitrary detention without due process, and restrictions on freedom of expression (censorship)
• Economic, social, and cultural rights violations manifest in lack of access to education particularly in developing countries, inadequate healthcare leading to preventable deaths, and forced evictions displacing communities
• Discrimination and inequality persist through gender-based discrimination limiting women's opportunities, racial and ethnic discrimination perpetuating systemic inequalities, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals restricting rights and freedoms
• Conflict-related human rights abuses include war crimes violating international humanitarian law, crimes against humanity targeting civilian populations, and genocide attempting to destroy specific groups
• Environmental and climate justice issues involve displacement due to climate change forcing migration, and limited access to clean water and sanitation affecting health and livelihoods

Humanitarian intervention debate

• Concept of humanitarian intervention involves using military force to protect human rights in another state, challenging traditional notions of sovereignty
• Arguments favoring intervention cite Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine emphasizing international community's duty, and prevention of mass atrocities saving lives
• Arguments against intervention highlight violation of state sovereignty undermining international order, and risk of escalating conflicts potentially worsening situations
• Criteria for justifying intervention include just cause requiring grave human rights violations, right intention ensuring intervention isn't for self-interest, and last resort exhausting peaceful options
• Case studies of humanitarian interventions include Kosovo (1999) NATO intervention and Libya (2011) UN-authorized action
• Challenges and criticisms involve selective application favoring geopolitical interests, and unintended consequences potentially destabilizing regions

Effectiveness of rights mechanisms

• United Nations human rights system operates through Human Rights Council reviewing state practices, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights promoting rights globally, and Special Procedures investigating specific issues
• Treaty-based bodies like Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Committee Against Torture monitor state compliance with specific conventions
• Regional human rights systems include European Court of Human Rights adjudicating cases, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights promoting rights in Americas, and African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights addressing continental issues
• International Criminal Court (ICC) exercises jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes when national courts are unwilling or unable
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch conduct research, advocacy, and campaigns
• Challenges in enforcement stem from lack of binding authority over sovereign states, state non-compliance with recommendations, and resource limitations hampering effectiveness
• Successes include norm-setting establishing global standards, monitoring and reporting increasing transparency, while limitations involve limited ability to compel state action in absence of enforcement mechanisms