Beginning and development of law-international cooperation in the field of human rights

 

Throughout the history there were some efforts of the mankind to maintain the human rights by international action – the conclusion of international treaties. It can be traced back to the 17th century, when the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) first established the principle of equal rights for different religions (the Catholics and Protestants in Germany).

In the 19th century, the universal prohibition of the slave trade was an object of international concern which expressed in various treaty arrangements. In 1926 the Assembly of the League of Nations approved the International Slavery Convention leading to complete abolition of slavery in all forms.

It was also in the second half of the 19th century that the conclusion of treaties on the protection of the rights of victims of war began. The Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in the Time of War provided that military wounded and sick of any side must be cared for and captured wounded must be sent home if they are incapable of military service (1864).

In some of the peace treaties and in declarations created after World War I, a number of states of Europe and one state in the Middle East (Iraq) were made to accept the obligations toward their racial, linguistic, and religious minorities: all of their nationals were to be equal before the law and wereto enjoy the same political and civil rights. The result of the Treaty of Versailles (1919) was organizing the League of Nations which was of great importance for the development of international law, and also the protection of the particular rights of minorities.

The Treaty of Versailles also established the International Labour Organization (1919) which after World War II became a specialized agency of the United Nations and contributed to the promotion of such human rights as the abolishing of forced labour, the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation, freedom of association, etc.

At the end of World War II, the victorious powers established the International Military Tribunal for the Trial of German Major War Criminals. Under its charter, the tribunal had jurisdiction to try not only crimes against peace and war crimes but also “crimes against humanity” committed against any civilian population.

The United Nations Organization was organized in 1945, and proclaimed protection of human rights as one of its leading principles.

In 1946, the United Nations set up the Commission on Human Rights as part of the Economic and Social Council. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved by all member countries of the UN General Assembly in 1948. This declaration expressed the hope that people would learn to respect the rights and dignity of others.

In 1966 two very important documents on human rights were adopted by the UN – the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Within Europe, there are also some documents on protection of human rights such as the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the European Social Charter.

The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms creates the effective mechanism of human rights protection – the European Court of Human Rights which decisions are final and binding upon all parties involved.

 

II. COMPREHENSION

Give the definitions for the following terms and expressions or explain in other words.

1. to maintain rights

2. international concern

3. to be binding upon all parties involved

4. minority

5. declaration

6. slave trade

2. Answer the following questions using the information from the text:

1.What was the final treaty concerning complete abolition of slavery?

2. How were the rights of victims of war defended in the19th century?

3. What obligations were accepted by some countries towards minorities?

4. How did the International Labour Organization took part in the protection of human rights?

5. What kinds of crimes did the International Military Tribunal try?

6. When was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights approved?

 

3. Complete the following sentences according to the information from the text:

1.The Treaty of Westphalia (1648) first established…

2. In the 19th century, an object of international concern was…

3. The captured wounded must be…

4. After World War I, a number of states were made to accept the obligations…

5. The International Military Tribunal had jurisdiction to try…

6. The decisions of the European Court of Human Rights are…

 

III. VOCABULARY STUDY

Substitute the words in italics with the words from the active vocabulary.

1. The victorious countries are responsible for protection of rights of those people who suffered from war.

2. Nobody has a right to wound self-respect of any person.

3. The countries which are members of the European Union accepted the treaty.

4. Total prohibition of selling people as cheap workers is very important for protection of human rights.

5. The world attention toward the problem of human rights protection is great.

6. All people in the world must have the same rights.

7. This world agreement truly supports the rights of minorities.

 

Complete the sentences with the words of the active vocabulary.

1. In order to maintain human rights several … were concluded.

2. The … of discrimination in employment is the aim of labour organizations.

3. … means working against will.

4. The International Slavery Convention declares … of slavery in all forms.

5... is the essence of work of humanitarian organizations throughout the world.

6. … was established to try the crimes of German major war criminals.

Choose the correct preposition in brackets according to the contents of the sentences (toward, against, by, of, upon, on).

1. Human rights are sometimes maintained … international action.

2. The conclusion of treaties … the protection of the right s began.

3.These states mustaccept the obligations … their racial, linguistic, and religious minorities.

4. People should learn to respect the rights and dignity … others.

5. The decisions of the European Court of Human Rights are final and binding … all parties involved.

6. He is accused of crimes committed … civilian population.

 

The verbs below can all be used to form nouns. Find in the text nouns derived from these verbs and make up your own sentences with them.

Example: to hear – hearing (n.) e.g. The hearing of this case will take place tomorrow.

to conclude, to prohibit, to abolish, to protect, to declare, to discriminate.

 

Translate Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations, 1948) into Ukrainian and compare your variant with the translation given by Ukrainian Legal Foundation. Find and right down all the differences in two variants of the translation.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political and other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, nonself-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Стаття 2

Кожній людині надаються всі права і всі свободи, проголошені цією Декларацією, незалежно від раси, кольору шкіри, статі, мови, релігії, політичних або інших переконань, національного, соціального чи станового походження, майнового або іншого стану.

Крім того, не повинно проводитися жодного розрізнення людей залежно від політичного, правного чи міжнародного статусу країни або території, до якої вони належать, незважаючи на те, є ця територія незалежною чи підопічною, не самоврядною або іншим чином обмеженою у своєму суверенітеті.

 

6. Give the English equivalents for the following word combinations:

підтримувати права людини, міжнародний договір, встановлювати принцип рівних прав, міжнародна увага, захист прав жертв війни, нездатний до військової служби, приймати зобов’язання, расові та релігійні меншості, відміна примусової праці, проводити розслідування, злочини проти цивільного населення, Комісія з прав людини, бути обов’язковим для всіх сторін.

 

7. Complete the words using definitions:

An agreement made between some states - r - - t-

Attention paid to some aspect c - - c- - -

A specialized military court - r - - u - a -

To agree to fulfil obligations a - - e - t

Liquidation of some event e - - m - - a - - - n

 

 

IV. GRAMMAR FOCUS