Does Human Rights Matter in Relationships Between States Today?

Purpose 

Human rights are at the core of bilateral, multilateral, and other states' relations in the current global dispensation. In the society that we live in, an injustice or negation of human rights to one person is taken to mean injustice to the entire global population (Smith, 2020). Civil and human rights activist groups have piled pressure on the governments of the day to be sensitive and active in making human rights part of the political and social discussion that dictates how a nation interacts with another. The purpose of this discussion is to illustrate how rights determine the relationships between states in a global society. 

Background 

In the days before the advent of civilization, each person's belief, idea, and virtue is entitled to certain protected human rights was a mirage. The idea of humanity and observed human rights came in as a fairly new idea with the arrival of civilization and industrialization. It took the Second World War for the rigid and adamant nations to believe and be compelled that human rights exist and should be entrenched and protected from the local to the global stage (Wettstein, 2015). The suffrage of the pioneer human and civil rights activists, some of whom paid the ultimate price, was not in vain. It exerted the necessary pressure to propel human rights to international standards for the current society to enjoy. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights marked the hallmark of establishing strong foundations of international human rights law that were ratified and adopted in 1948 (Duranti, 2016). All the member nations that party of the declaration was to conduct their internal and external affairs in strict observance with international human rights laws for both the locals and foreigners (immigrants or asylum seekers in their respective nations. Any country that went contrary or was in contravention of international human rights suffered dire consequences that led to strained or no relationship with other compliant nations.  

The sanctions on countries that contravened that violated the international human rights were dire that regional trade, which is a big catalyst to economic growth and development, was halted, which would lead to the collapse of the economies of contravening nations. This, therefore, sets the agenda that human rights issues are basic to the relations between nations today. The protection and entrenchment of human rights are legally binding aspects of international relations. It becomes paramount that each progressive developing and developed nations focus their attention on making their nations the best place where human rights are observed. This attracts local and international investors, hence spurring economic growth and good global relations. The most demographic and progressive nations have achieved much success and recognition due to their zeal and inspiration to address human rights injustices that even happened many years ago by setting the standards for efficient, fair, and firm they resolve human rights abuses (Mowbray, 2015). Global campaigns by human and civil rights movements that champion and advocate for the universal enjoyment of human rights have played a critical role in educating and raising awareness on why human rights are important. 

The universal recognition of the basic human rights, fundamental freedoms, and privileges is anchored in the respective constitution of the nations led by the principles of democracy. In the recent past, nations have been forced to make adjustments in their foreign policies on dealing with other nations. Each nation's conduct on promoting international human rights has been featured prominently in such policy documents (Oberman,2016). Human rights are the single most important component that makes human beings equal irrespective of their race, gender, religious and political affiliations, and the international human rights laws make these rights inalienable and equally applicable to all people regardless of their geographical boundaries. 

The birth of the United Nations is anchored on ratification and observance of international human rights by all the member states. The UN's formation is anchored on the premise of commitment to human rights in fostering international relations and cooperation among the member states. The translation of the commitment into international treaties, regional agreements, general principles, and domestic law into long-lasting economic cooperation and collaboration has been guaranteed by bodies such as the UN exerting their pressure and dominance in the human rights agenda. The specialized focus and attention on human rights issues have made nations that were previously reluctant about embracing a culture of social justice in human rights interaction change their tact and make it one of the priority items in their laws and constitutional order (Chatty, 2016). The protection of the minority and marginalized sections of people locally, regionally, and internationally has been revolutionized through making international human rights and laws mandatory. The International Bill of Human Rights has captured human rights' growth and evolution to global standards. Through the International Bill of Human rights, pertinent issues of racial discrimination, human trafficking, enforced disappearances, and torture, such as migrants' rights, minorities, women, children, and indigenous people have been addressed, and justice has been served. 

Current Situation 

One of the major developments regarding whether human rights matter in relationships between states today is the influence or right to development and its correlation to human rights. The fundamental understanding that economic development cannot occur when measures to observe and protect human rights and laws is among the global public domain debates. The development calls for massive stakeholder involvement and engagement where every human being's participation is required. This cannot take place in the absence of strict adherence to human rights. Social, cultural, economic, and political development in the current society is anchored on the exercise and protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights (Mowbray, 2015). Its benevolence determines the full realization of society's potential to accomplish major milestones in guaranteeing a fair and enabling environment where all enjoy human and social justice. 

The recently crafted Millennium Development Goals MDGs are a classic example of the relationships between development and human rights. It is essential to note that development in the current society is part of human rights. Therefore, it should not be perceived as a favor or privilege by the governments of the day to its people since people's taxes contribute to the development of kitty. At the UN millennium summit in 2000 and the successive years that followed, world leaders have, over the years, agreed on setting development targets on eradicating some of the pertinent issues in society through protecting and exercising the highest quality standards of human rights (Smith, 2020). The pertinent issues affecting the global society that require the incorporation of international human rights for successful outcomes are hunger, disease, illiteracy, poverty, discrimination against women, and environmental degradation. The pursuance of essential human development has, by extension, increased the enjoyment and awareness of human rights since the two complemented each other hence one cannot occur in the absence of another. Therefore, such implies that the quality and standard of life are some of the current issues witnessed as human rights development and recognition products. 

Increased focus and emphasis on human rights-based approaches and interventions resulting from strengthening the development agenda have been emerging issues in the progressive and democratic society. Massive people sensitization on some of the human rights that they were not used to before as the right to education, clean environment, equitable distribution of wealth and resources, and the best attainable healthcare has helped to bring up a progressive and enlightened society to steer themselves into a bright future for themselves and generations after them. The human rights approach to cooperation and development envisioned accomplishing some milestones in the MDGs before 2015, and great strides have been to steer some of these set goals forward (Duranti, 2016). Major milestones and working in progress in nations that embraced and protected international human rights have been achieved in achieving universal primary education, empowerment of women to promote equality between men and women. Others include reducing infant and maternal mortality by three quarters, establishing global economic partnership targeted on trade, debt relief, and development. The environmental protection and sustainability plan, reducing extreme hunger and poverty and reversing the spread of killer diseases such as Malaria and HIV/AIDS, has been an ongoing process that has achieved major successes through prioritizing international human rights and laws. 

Peace, democracy, and good governance in the nations that have dedicated their time and resources to promoting international human rights have been witnessed and enjoyed by its citizens. The democratic space and health in nations that have embraced and nurtured international human rights and laws have been impressive. Such has led to improved economic and political governance among the nations pursuing the same human rights agenda where improved bilateral and multilateral trade agreements and treaties have been signed and implemented. Nations around that are adamant in protecting and recognizing international human rights have faced hostility and negative global attention that has threatened their interactions with the rest of the nations that believe in humanity, equality, and social justice (Chatty, 2016). Well-established societies have a deep sense of regard to social equity and justice, which cannot be achieved without making human rights a non-negotiable priority. Setting human commissions, agencies, and departments within the government structures are some of the measures that the political system has taken to entrench human rights into the governance structures. The government's cooperation with pressure groups like human and civil rights inclined non-governmental organizations has been a formidable force in entrenching and protecting basic human freedoms and privileges. International human rights and laws open new frontiers for furthering diplomatic ties that led to regional cooperation that enhances the economic bargaining power for recognized regional blocks such as the European Union. 

Analysis 

The liberalism theory has been essential in understanding the influence of human rights on international relations. Liberalism is characterized by freedom and democracy, where nations are defined by protecting human rights, civil liberties, privileges, the rule of law, fair, credible, and transparent election (Wettstein, 2015). The relations between two or more nations that subscribe to liberalism are anchored on the entrenchment and protection of human rights, among other basic issues of democracy and good governance mentioned above. A nation may be reluctant or unwillingly to interact with another nation that openly and without due recourse violates human rights and freedom by placing sanctions on such nations. Countries with the most atrocious and massive cases of human rights violation tend to have poor governance structures and systems, controlled by a few elite people with vested and they rank poorly on the quality of life of their citizens and countries that ascribe their foreign policy on liberalism do not want to be associated with them. 

   Liberalism makes a better and compelling argument on human rights and international relations compared to realism and economic structuralism. Liberalism is more inclined to human interest issues than economic structuralism anchored in financial alignments that may often be reclusive for a selected few among many deserving. Realism in international relations creates a competitive situation that may often lead to disagreements and conflicts among the various parties and stakeholders (Duranti, 2016). These conflicts and disagreements may escalate and lead to contravention of basic human rights and freedoms against international human rights and laws. Liberalism creates a favorable for thriving international human rights, good political governance, and adequate democratic space. Therefore, such make liberalism more appealing to human rights and its influence on international relations. 

Re ferences 

Chatty, D. (2016). Refugee voices: Exploring the border zones between states and state bureaucracies.  Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees ,  32 (1), 3-6. file:///C:/Users/USER/Downloads/40378-Article%20Text-50602-2-10-20180709.pdf 

Duranti, M. (2016).  The conservative human rights revolution: European identity, transnational politics, and the origins of the European convention . Oxford University Press. DOI:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199811380.003.0001 

Mowbray, A. (2015). Subsidiarity and the European Convention on Human Rights.  Human Rights Law Review ,  15 (2), 313-341. https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/preview/749871/Subsidiarity%20and%20the%20European%20Convention%20on%20Human%20Rights-%20Final.pdf 

Oberman, K. (2016). Immigration as a human right.  Migration in political theory: The ethics of movement and membership ,  109 , 32. https://philpapers.org/archive/OBEIAA.pdf 

Smith, R. (2020).  International human rights law . Oxford University Press, USA. http://equalitymyanmar.org/burmese/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/OUP-Rhona-Smith_-IHRL_Final-print_MM.pdf 

Wettstein, F. (2015). Normativity, ethics, and the UN guiding principles on business and human rights: A critical assessment.  Journal of Human Rights ,  14 (2), 162-182. https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/242858/1/Wettstein%20-%20Normativity,%20Ethics%20and%20UN%20GPs_JHR.pdf