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Unhrc Study Guide Correction Final
Unhrc Study Guide Correction Final
UNHRC
STUDY GUIDE
United Nations Human Rights Council Sri Lanka Model United Nations 2019
With the passing of resolution A/RES/60/251, the United Nations Human Rights
Council (UNHRC) was introduced as a subsidiary organ of the United Nations.
Responsible for the strengthening and protection of human rights across the
globe, the UNHRC looks into a number of important rights, such as the freedom
of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and
religion, women rights, LGBT rights as well as the rights of racial and ethnic
minorities. In addition, the council also receives thematic and country specific
reports through special procedures, as well as from the office of the High
Commissioner of Human Rights. From introducing the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in 1948, a range of distinguished international documents,
including the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as the
International Bill of Human Rights, recognizes the importance of upholding the
principles of the UNHRC. With a total number of 47 members, out of which
includes, 13 African, 13 Asian, 6 East European, 8 Latin American and the
Caribbean, as well as, 7 Western European and Other Group (WEOG) countries,
each nation hold their respective seat for a term of 3 years and may go on to
occupy their seat for a second term.
When looking at the strengths of the UNHRC, it is understood that the committee
is efficient in its operations with counterpart authorities, responsible in its
iterative planning as well as local planning, and is also a committee that
recognizes the importance of maintaining general sensitivity when delegating. In
short, there is little to compare the quality of UNHRC’s local resource
management system and its capacity to gather information and plan for
community basic need provision. While its core strength is, its individual
commitment and professional capacity of its field staff, this is also the very
weakness of the organization. The reason for this is because, though the
committee is successful in building relationships with the local community, they
have struggled to involve those who could help in an institutional capacity.
In addition, the UNHCR has proved to be an excellent quick response unit, as it
is an international fire brigade of personal and professional courage and integrity.
United Nations Human Rights Council Sri Lanka Model United Nations 2019
The Agenda
Introduction:
According to ‘Encyclopedia Britannica’, retributive justice is the response of
one’s criminal behavior that focuses on the punishment of lawbreakers and the
compensation of victims. In other words, the punishment given to an offender is
given according to one’s wrong doing, thereby providing a fair sentence that is
proportionate to the amount of harm caused by the offense. While forms of
retributive justice differs from country to country, in general, retribution doesn’t
involve individuals who are intellectually disabled or suffers from mental illness,
and also, does not apply to crimes committed by a child under 18. The purpose
of doing this act is to firstly, bring justice to the victims affected by the crime,
secondly, to prevent others from taking the law to their own hands and execute it,
as well as, thirdly, to help society understand what is wrong and the consequences
that one will have to face after. It is however important to note, that punishment
can only be imposed if Actus reus (a guilty act) and Mens rea (a guilty state of
mind) is presented in the crime done by the individual. Despite this, in the current
world, there have been numerous acts done by the government that has violated
one’s rights. Not only are people now convicted due to political reasons, but also
suffers from heavier sentences than the committed offense. In addition, the
imprisonment and abuse of children detained in certain countries, and the
treatment of the mentally ill, are some examples of the rights violated today.
United Nations Human Rights Council Sri Lanka Model United Nations 2019
Delegates are not to only focus on instances where the offender is charged
guilty without sufficient evidence, but also look in to instances where the
offender is violated of his/her rights while facing their term of punishment.
Today, there are instances where the judicial system of certain countries fail to
recognize intellectually disabled people. As a result, instead of being put to a
metal rehabilitation center, the mental condition of such an individual would only
stress out that person more. Hence, each government needs to follow a set
procedure to clarify the mental condition of a person during the trail, as early as
possible.
The non-elite class is also regularly discriminated during times of being granted
bail, or when the two parties agree to settle. Rather than fixing a sum that a person
is able to afford, the rich and the poor classes are given the same high fee which
the poor obviously cannot afford.
In conclusion, the above facts underline few of the existing infringements of one’s
rights in terms of justice. As a large population in the world face ill treatment,
now, more than ever, we must look into solve the issues of retributive justice.
Introduction
United Nations Human Rights Council Sri Lanka Model United Nations 2019
By now surveillance has been developed to a point where one can be monitored
via a computer or the closest electronic device that we possess; “a mobile phone”.
This is typically done through e-mail tracking, internet surveillance, and remote
PC surveillance methods. The means of surveillance are expanding by the day.
Certain bodies in power tend to share this sensitive information with other
governmental and non-governmental parties. Sharing surveillance intelligence
greatly exacerbates the interference with personal privacy. It might not just be
your own government that holds sensitive information about you, but potentially
many other governments all over the world.
United Nations Human Rights Council Sri Lanka Model United Nations 2019
Mass surveillance has often been cited as necessary to fight terrorism, prevent
crime and social unrest, protect national security, and control the population but
on the contrary it has equally often been used for violating privacy rights, limiting
civil and political rights and freedoms.
The fear of exposure arising from mass surveillance has resulted in numerous
individuals not taking part in productive social discourse thereby reducing the
input they would’ve given if it weren’t for the surveillance by the state.
It has come to a point where anyone who uses a smartphone or a computer in the
world is exposed to surveillance.
In 2013, the practice of mass surveillance by world governments was called into
question after Edward Snowden’’s 2013 global surveillance disclosure. Reporting
based on documents Snowden leaked to various media outlets triggered a debate
about civil liberties and the right to privacy in the Digital Age. Mass surveillance
is considered a global issue.
Even though it is not the most recent Counter Intelligence Program was a very
good example for State Surveillance. Counter Intelligence Program
(COINTELPRO) was a series of covert, and at times illegal, projects conducted
by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aimed at surveilling,
infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting domestic political organizations.
The act of surveillance creates an insecure space for every individual in the
society which in turn harms many civil liberties including Freedom of
Expression.
For example try to place yourself in a country like the United States of America,
In April 2015, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 28/16 at its twenty-
eighth session, deciding to appoint for a period of three years a Special
Rapporteur on the right to privacy. The resolution directed the Special
Rapporteur, amongst other responsibilities, to report on alleged violations of the
right to privacy including in connection with the challenges arising from new
technologies. States were called upon to cooperate fully and assist the Special
Rapporteur.
Right to Privacy
Freedom of Expression
Cyber Security
Protection against cyber bullying
United Nations Human Rights Council Sri Lanka Model United Nations 2019
Right to Privacy
· Delegates are required to explore practical methods to strengthen online
privacy.
· Taking measures to ensure the protection of privacy on an online platform.
· Demarcating the extent to which Right to Privacy can be exercised.
· Introducing restrictions & mechanisms to regulate the use of Private Data
gathered by Tech Giants.
· Rules and regulations governing cyber bullying.
Freedom of Expression on Social Media Platforms
· Introducing a set of viable rules to govern online freedom of expression.
· Protection against online hate speech, discrimination.
Further Reading
https://www.ohchr.org/en/issues/digitalage/pages/digitalageindex.aspx
https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2018/11/how_surveillanc_1.html
https://www.britannica.com/technology/electronic-eavesdropping