<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2745.2800" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT
size=5><FONT face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT
size=5><FONT face="Times New Roman">Human Rights Reader
89<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText2 style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt"><STRONG><FONT size=5><FONT
face="Times New Roman">UNFORTUNATELY, HUMAN (PEOPLE’S) RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DO NOT
CALL FOR CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL
SANCTIONS.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">1. In international law, a
violation of human rights (HR) is deemed to be an offence, not only against the
state, but also against all members of the international community. But
unfortunately, this does not necessarily imply an international crime, so that
many HR violations do not actually call for public/worldwide action.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ergo, force and sanctions cannot be used
in the case of despondency towards poverty alleviation, low and unfair pricing
of commodities (food included) and against the inequitable provision of health
care and educational services. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">2. The question is: Does
the international community have the responsibility to intervene legally in
cases of clear violations of the right to food or to health, or to
education?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In a utopian world,
perhaps yes. However, the direction in which HR ‘soft laws’ are applied, the
inherent responsibility is vaguely given to international development
organizations instead.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">3. This vagueness in the
language of international law is problematic, because it allows for the
manipulation of this inexactly-defined-body-of-laws. There is an urgent need for
further codification of this body of international law related to HR. But, in
today’s world, the codification of international law is a reality we can only
dream about. The US, for example, is consistently disrespecting international
law by not ratifying treaties it has signed. The US will certainly veto any
codification of international law that may hold it responsible for its actions,
both domestically (e.g., CO2 emissions) and overseas (e.g., the International
Court of Crimes Against Humanity). This begs the question: If there is no
codification and no means of enforcing it, what is the point of this
international law? <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">From unenforceable laws
come no rights!<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">4. International law is
primitive and subject to individual countries’ recognition of each norm as being
a legally binding norm. Because the international community lacks a central
authority, the creation of international law is consensual through treaties.
Treaties are documents often bilaterally or multilaterally signed that are
agreements by governments who consent to be bound by their contents. Treaties
fall into the category of ‘soft law’ (documents that are not directly
enforceable in courts and tribunals, but that nonetheless, have an impact on
international relations). Many such international agreements may prove useful
and may serve as a basis for future legally binding agreements.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">5. However, the name given
to these laws (‘soft laws’) is inherently problematic, because soft law is not
law at all. Essentially, soft law is comprised of declarations of principles,
codes of practice or conduct, recommendations, guidelines, standards, charters
and resolutions. These instruments have no legal authority, but there is an
expectation they will be respected and followed by those countries and
governments who have signed them. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">6. One problem with
non-legal instruments is that countries can sign on to them without the fear of
having to be held accountable --legally.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Pressure comes (or is supposed to come) from the international community.
But it is only an assumption that, if a treaty is signed, a country will do
everything in its power to maintain the integrity of the
contract.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">7. While the analogy is
only approximate --because there actually is enforceability and punishment for
people driving too fast-- there are some parallels between the importance of
international law and the importance of signs marking the speed limit in a
highway. When the speed limit is 100 km/hr, one can assume that traffic will be
moving at an average of 105-110 km/hr. So, if the speed limit is 100, why do
people drive 5-10 km/hr faster? The answer is simple: If there were no speed
limit signs, people would drive at 120 or more km/hr. The speed limit signs work
as a limit of what is acceptable. People cross that line all the time, but they
measure their breaking of the law according to the line. Treaties signed by
governments put forth by the international community serve as the line
equivalent to the speed limit sign, in a way serving the same
purpose.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Claudio Schuftan, Ho Chi
Minh City<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><A
href="mailto:claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">-------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Mostly
taken from a 2004 course term paper by Noah Levinson, <A
href="mailto:gbnl@aol.com">gbnl@aol.com</A> .</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>