Unit 2 - Rights and Justice

Unit 2 in big book

Unit 4 in course campanion

 

 

 

Case studies:

Asean Cultural Relativity in clause 7 of their Human Rights Declaration → all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated, yet it simultaneously dictates that the realization of these rights must be considered within regional and national contexts, taking into account political, economic, legal, social, cultural, historical, and religious backgrounds

 

China - Hong Kong

China has significantly tightened control over Hong Kong, effectively dismantling its democratic opposition and restricting political freedoms through a series of legal and institutional changes, most notably the 2020 National Security Law (NSL). These measures, largely imposed following 2019 pro-democracy protests, have resulted in a "patriots only" government, the suppression of free speech, and the elimination of key civil society groups

National Security Law (NSL) (2020): Imposed by Beijing on June 30, 2020, this law criminalizes "secession," "subversion," "terrorism," and "collusion with foreign forces," with penalties up to life in prison. Its ambiguous wording has been used to target pro-democracy activists, politicians, and journalists

 

UNESCO - Rwanda (similar case study in peace and conflict)

UNESCO's Community-Based Genocide Memorialization in Rwanda: In Rwanda, UNESCO works with local partners to maintain genocide memorial sites by empowering local community voices in educational efforts rather than imposing an entirely external, standardized model of transitional justice. This approach respects local mourning and reconciliation processes, strengthening social cohesion in times of crisis.