PS531, The International Law of Human Rights
Fall Semester 2004
Study Guide for Week 8
Civil and Political Rights
Reading Assignment:
Symonides, chapter 3
Power, prologue, chapters 1, 8 (my suggestion is to read chapter 8 first, then the prologue and chapter 1 if you have time)
Websites to check:
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Freedom House (see in particular the 2001-2002 Survey on Freedom: the Democracy Gap)
Community of Democracies (see also)
US Department of State: Human Rights, Democracy, and Labor
International Foundation for Electoral Systems
ACE Project of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
Questions to consider in reading the Nowak article (chapter 3 in Symonides)
1. What is the distinction between political and civil rights?
2. What are the principal global and regional treaties that express political and civil rights?
3. To what extent are civil and political rights absolute or subject to limiting clauses? Which rights are considered to be absolute?
4. In a general sense, what responsibilities do states (governments) have to ensure civil and political rights?
5. What issues have arisen in regard to the following categories of civil and political rights? (some of the other ones we will be discussing in future weeks)
right to life
liberty and security of person
procedural guarantees in civil and criminal trials
freedom of movement and protection against arbitrary expulsion
political freedoms and political rights
Questions to consider in reading Power, chapter 8
6. According to Power, has China been improving its record on human rights over the past two decades? Over the past few years?
7. What types of human rights abuses have been occurring in China?
8. How have recent American administrations and the UN Commission on Human Rights been dealing with China?
Questions to consider in reading Power, prologue
9. What role has Amnesty International played in promoting human rights in Nigeria?
Questions to consider in reading Power, chapter 1
10. What types of human rights violations have been occurring in Guatemala over the past several decades?
11. Why has it been especially difficult for Amnesty International to investigate human rights violations in Guatemala?