Day 58 – Q 3.Should global institutions interfere in the internal affairs of a country if there are allegations of human rights violations? Substantiate your viewpoint.

3. Should global institutions interfere in the internal affairs of a country if there are allegations of human rights violations? Substantiate your viewpoint. 

यदि मानवाधिकारों के उल्लंघन के आरोप हैं, तो क्या वैश्विक संस्थानों को किसी देश के आंतरिक मामलों में हस्तक्षेप करना चाहिए? अपने दृष्टिकोण का सारगर्भित कीजिये।

Introduction:

Humanity & human rights must be at the ultimate end of any international relation. Here ethics comes into play. International ethics offers understandings into how nations and global institutions treat other nations and their people.  

Body: 

Yes, the international institution must interfere, especially:

• When national/local government fail to protect human rights.
• When an independent institution and the court is failing to safeguard human rights.
• When there is ethnic cleansing and minority are being prosecuted
• When majoritarianism prevails over rule of law. 
• When a basic and fundamental right is subverted.

The various tools are: 

• UNSC action
• UN peacekeeping force.
• International Criminal Court.

International institution must interfere because: 

• Every individual is a global citizen.
• It has global ramifications.
• If not acted it will erode the credibility of international institutions.
• Every Country is under an international obligation to protect the Human Rights of its citizen. This is known as “Sovereign Responsibility”. However, when the state fails to protect its citizen’s rights, the international community can take steps to protect them. Ex. Rohingya Ethnic cleansing and refugee crisis, Rwanda Tutsi genocide, Syrian Crisis.
• The international community cannot say that it is internal matters, specifically when the internal system and state, itself is involved in Human Rights violation.
• Global institutions provide aid and support in times of crisis. Ex. UN peacekeeping forces in Sudan.
• The transnational nature of the crime. Ex. Human right violation due to Trafficking of humans, especially women and child, is a serious issue.

Example: Countries at G7 meeting raised voice against the prevailing situation in Hong Kong and Amazon fire, where indigenous people are dying due to state inactions.

But, in every case of alleged Human Rights violation global institutions should not interfere, especially when:

• The country has a strong Human Rights institution.
• And independent court to protect Human Rights and Fundamental Rights.
• Where civil society is active and free.
• Where there is a mechanism to deal with such a situation.

Example: The accusations of alleged Human Rights violation in JK levelled by Pakistan did not get international supports, as India has a good record of Human Rights protection, it has a functional democracy, independent judiciary and Shimla agreement with Pakistan to deal any such issue bilaterally.

However, certain challenges are there like:

• Selective intervention: Human Rights are Universal in nature. Hence Black lives are as much important as White Lives. 

• UNSC lack of consensus.
• No proactive response.
• No clear cut demarcation.
• Human Rights boundaries transcend Political boundaries.
• The sovereignty of the country is generally violated.

Conclusion:

To tackle violation of Human rights, countries in their sovereign limits and world communities should place humanity above all other small interests and immediate gains. International organizations should have a proactive response and should not breach the sovereignty of the countries in protecting human rights. The world should cooperate to prevent the violation of human rights.