Introduction
International human rights protection, one of the critical pillars of the world that respects the dignity and freedom of people, is beyond a doubt. Nevertheless, there are enormous numbers of international treaties and organizations that are responsible for monitoring human rights. However, some hurdles are typical that halt them from practical application. This paper explores the multifaceted obstacles facing international human rights enforcement. It delves into some of the most pressing challenges today: politicized interference in the decisions, the legal policy that fails to enforce it, and the issue of cultural relativism in this field.
Challenges of International Human Rights Protection
Political Interference
The need for national independence to ensure respect for human rights in the global community hinders protecting a wide range of human rights. The political interest of some governments can also cause the breach of human rights declarations for the sake of strategic geopolitical gains, and it can be a factor in undermining the international efforts to promote universal human rights standards worldwide. In other words, some countries that are more influential in international relations may use their influence to stop people from looking critically at their and their allies’ human rights records. The imperious practice of selective enforcement of already agreed-upon human rights standards in line with political alliances contradicts the international legitimacy of premier human rights organs like the United Nations Human Rights Council (Isa,2006). For instance, nations, especially those of great strategic value and real centrism of finance, can always escape the condemnation of the sanctioning of human rights abuses just like it is in the double standard of human rights enforcement.
Lack of Enforceability of International Laws
The basis of the international human rights legal standard is more than enough; however, it is problematic because most of it cannot become enforceable. For instance, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) are based on state ratification and willingness by that state to comply with the entry clauses. Nonetheless, no global overarching authoritative body could easily assure countries’ commitments toward treaty provisions(Isa,2006). To the extent the diplomatic pressure or sanctions from other countries and international institutions are not obliging, they are unlikely to deter non-compliance. In addition, when states are held accountable for human rights-related offenses, it is not the global trend to punish the states fairly and equally, which has created a ray of doubt toward international law.
Cultural Relativism
Traditionalism in culture has become one of the most complex and complicated dilemmas of the law regarding human rights on a global scale. It involves the idea that the place where a person belongs, even by association, is considered when individuals engage and express themselves. This frequently draws a vertical line between the worldwide errorlessness of human rights principles and what an individual culture considers a human right. To illustrate, acts including female genital mutilation (FGM), practiced among certain cultural groups, are called traditional ceremonies, but they fall under violations of human rights by international authorities (Ramcharan,2021). The issue regarding the universality of human rights versus cultural dogmas continues unabated. It raises several difficulties in applying international human rights standards, with the possibility of the approach being considered cultural imperialism.
The task of enabling human rights at the international level can be viewed as a problem with crystallized character. In my opinion, some of the most significant challenges we face concerning human rights include:
Erosion of Human Rights in Democratic Nations: A somber part of this story worries about the decline of traditional democratic principles in many states that have long been defenders of human rights. Imposition of policies that prioritize security affairs, on the one hand, and those that hinge the right to privacy, expression, and free speech on the other, are increasingly becoming norms in states that were previously seen as torchbearers of only freedom and justice (Ramcharan,2021). It paints a wrong picture, thus is the basis of a pitiable precedent, and erodes an international advocacy for human rights. For instance, the secret passage of laws that increase surveillance on citizens, arguing them for national security, can diminution the right to privacy and the freedom of speech.
Impact of Technology on Privacy and Information: The digital era has created previously unimagined difficulties related to protecting personal privacy and controlling various false information. With the deployment of techs for surveillance quicker than the establishment of privacy laws, governments and non-state actors can now watch individuals’ behavior and even monitor their own (Kälin,2019). Similarly, social media provides an avenue that harbors and disturbs democracy, including inhumane actions like violence inspired by hate speech or wrong information.
Refugee and Migrant Rights: The questions of refugee rights and issues for migrants remain high stakes in a globalized world. The rise in the number of the person who are dispossessed by conflicts, persecution, or climate-related problems creates a surge in human rights violations, which are lacking access to suitable housing, education as well and health facilities (Kälin,2019). The international community, as a rule, does not have enough means to tackle refugee problems successfully, which results in veritable chaos in camps and violation of human rights at borders.
Systemic Racism and Discrimination: With decades of struggle for progress, built-in racism and discrimination are not just widespread but also deeply rooted in societies everywhere. This is not only reflected in the crimes that are being taken to the judicial system but also in the policies in education, healthcare, and housing that differentially impact the lives of ethnic and other minorities (Kälin,2019). The solution to these problems should begin with addressing the deep-rooted systemic gaps that face intense pushback from those who hold power.
Corporate Responsibility and Labor Rights: The world’s economy has at the forefront the issue of international labor violations in the manufacturing process, which comprises child labor, dangerous working conditions, and unfair wages. The complexion is how to guarantee the adherence to human rights standards by transnational corporations and calls for developing more strict regulations and enforcement systems not only at the national stage but also at the international level.
Conclusion
The multifaceted international human rights protection problems are of a systemic nature and are not only confined within the scope of global governance but also reach the social and cultural sphere. Mass political intervention, non-binding international law, and the complications from cultural relativism are problematized in the modern era by the decline of human rights, technological indifferences on individual rights, and systems injustices. These are urgent matters that society must be able to tackle through diplomacy, law, and grassroots perspectives. To prevent human rights abuses worldwide, we need to increase the number of international mechanisms that reflect each country’s national characteristics, wholeheartedly hold people in authority accountable, and promote our collective care for human dignity. Solving these problems is crucial for those who suffered human rights infringements and for preserving the stability and moral standing of the international community.
References
Isa, F. G., & De Feyter, K. (Eds.). (2006). International protection of human rights: Achievements and challenges.
Ramcharan, B. G. (2021). The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: The Challenges of International Protection (Vol. 71). BRILL.
Kälin, W., & Künzli, J. (2019). The law of international human rights protection. Oxford University Press, USA.
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