04) INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS

People’s Voice Editorial

    In a world where “might makes right” usually seems to prevail, it is highly instructive to remember that international law contains important protections for the rights of both human beings and sovereign states. For example, the term “a crime against peace” refers to "planning, preparation, initiation, or waging of wars of aggression...” Those who advocate escalated bombing of Syria should recall that the US-led war of occupation against Iraq in 2003 was not only the worst political and humanitarian disaster of the 21st century; it is also widely considered to be such a crime, the most serious violation of international law which a state can commit.

    International law also requires states to protect basic human rights. The historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed by the General Assembly on December 10, 1948. The year 2016 will mark the 50th anniversary of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which expands further upon the responsibilities of governments to protect a wide range of human rights, such as: free public education for all, “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,” adequate food, clothing and housing, the right of unions to function freely and to strike, safe and healthy working conditions, the rights to take part in cultural live and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress, and much more.  

    These remarkable documents were signed by Canada and the other leading capitalist countries. There is no international legal requirement to fight wars of aggression or to drive people into poverty for the sake of corporate profits. There are, however, binding legal obligations to ensure that people can live in peace and to have food, shelter, clothing and education. December 10th, International Human Rights Day, is an important occasion to demand that governments uphold those obligations.        

(The above article is from the December 1-31, 2015, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)