War crimes are not only acts conducted during wars violating
accepted international rules of war, but also include immense misuse and
abduction of human rights. Human rights comprise basic rights of life including
the right to live freely, right to
practice whichever religion, right of speech, marriage etc.
During wars, these rights are violated in a very brutal
manner leading to large scale abuse of human rights due to difficulty in
imposition of international law because of
the chaotic and disastrous situation prevailing. Example of such war crimes could be the
massacre of millions of Jews ordered by Hitler during the German war which is
considered as one of the most significant instances of violation of human
rights till the present day.
Before World War II, there was no structured approach to
handle and prevent occurrence of heinous war crimes like mutilation, murder,
rape, sex slavery etc. However attitudes changed after World War II and many NGOs
and international organizations like the UN (United Nations organization) have
been working towards devising a suitable solution and prevention methods for
such barbaric acts.
3 comments:
This post raises important points. It prompts my thoughts in the direction of current crimes against humanity being done in China, that too by the state machinery itself. China's one-child policy, although carrying its own economic benefits, is an example of state oppression through forcing the direction of choices families have a right to make for themselves. More important than the policy itself in a discussion of human rights violations are the methods which have been employed to meet these ends. Forced abortions, unwanted sterilisations and social marginalisation of dissenting individuals and families present a grave reality of state pervasion in citizens' lives.
an article discussing the Chinese situation: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/06/chinas-barbaric-one-child-policy
Why only focus on China? What about crimes being committed by Pakistan in say Baluchistan and FATA? Also, the one-child policy is no longer on the books.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/15/china-one-child-policy-relaxed-reforms
And I have to be up in a couple of hours, so you have no excuse for not being in class on time Arsalaan!
During wars, these rights you have mentioned absolutely are violated. The UN acts as a fine line between these rights and the violation of these rights. The UN "supposedly" acts as a fine line. As one of the political cartoons shown to us in class, the UN is rather useless in acting upon its fundamentals reasons for existence due to the self interests of the Big 5 of the UN. The UN acts upon the prevention of such heinous crimes not for humanity but for the humanity of the self interest of these big powers.
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