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International Human Rights. Early history. 1865 Confederate soldiers executed for executing prisoners 1915 Allied Powers charge govt of Turkey with “crimes against humanity”. Geneva Conventions. A series of 4 conventions beginning in 1860s, and in force since 1949
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Early history • 1865 Confederate soldiers executed for executing prisoners • 1915 Allied Powers charge govt of Turkey with “crimes against humanity”
Geneva Conventions • A series of 4 conventions beginning in 1860s, and in force since 1949 • Article 3 prohibits mistreatment of prisoners, including torture and “degrading and humiliating treatment” • Treatment of non-signatories?
1948--Universal Declaration of Human Rights • personal, social, legal, and political rights • followed by dozens of other international conventions
After WWII, War Crimes Tribunals established in Tokyo and Nuremburg • Following orders no defense • Crimes were attacking countries at peace
Genocide • 1949 Convention passed GA against “Genocide” after Armenian and Jewish genocides • Extermination in whole or in part • Preventing reproduction • Transferring children • obligates international action • 1986 Senate ratifies convention
Genocide • Cambodia • Yugoslavia • Rwanda • and now http://video.on.nytimes.com/ifr_main.jsp?nsid=a3f1beb18:10c2bb17bbd:27dd&fr_story=c2019d50a4479b0245dddf3b513daa7eba46cd9e&st=1151792575888&mp=FLV&cpf=false&fr=070106_062146_3f1beb18x10c2bb17bbdx2746&rdm=720432.7126377582 • Sudan • weak UN or international responses
Also National laws • American, Belgian, and other national laws allow prosecutions of crimes committed elsewhere • American law--even non-citizens can sue people who have entered the US for crimes committed elsewhere
International Courts • In the 90’s, tribunals for war crimes committed in Yugoslavia and Rwanda • establishing precedent of holding leaders accountable
ICC • 2002 permanent International Criminal Court established • US refuses to ratify
Pinochet • 1998 arrested in England for extradition to Spain • British court held no immunity for head of state • Released due to failing health • Currently under investigation in Chile for murder and fraud
Saddam Hussein • Is held by American military, but tried by Iraqi special tribunal
Charles Taylor • Is being tried in special Sierra Leone Court, organized by UN, take place at ICC in Hague • Serve sentence in Britain (if convicted)
Special case before ICJ (World Court) • Bosnia suing Serbia
Ending conflicts • South Africa’s “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” • Also in many other countries: Argentina, Algeria, Chile, El Salvador, Liberia, East Timor, US, etc
Rights of Women • http://video.on.nytimes.com/ifr_main.jsp?nsid=a3f1beb18:10c2bb17bbd:27dd&fr_story=c2019d50a4479b0245dddf3b513daa7eba46cd9e&st=1151792575888&mp=FLV&cpf=false&fr=070106_062146_3f1beb18x10c2bb17bbdx2746&rdm=720432.7126377582 • http://select.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2006/01/22/opinion/20060122_KRISTOF_VIDEO.html