Good Governance and Human Rights

Two futures for Africa are possible-one with a democratic and stable Nigeria, and one with a Nigeria stricken by autocratic rule, corruption, and intermittent coups. An entire continent awaits the result of the Nigerian experiment with democracy. Nigeria has the resources and can provide leadership to foster greater regional and international cooperation, leadership that many of Nigeria's neighbors need. A successful Nigerian democracy would provide hope for many of Africa's other burgeoning democracies.

In both history and present day, many human rights violations have occurred in countries residing within the UN. Despite the attempts that international influence created through the UN, many countries such as the Soviet Union conducted serious human rights violations through attempts to quell uprisings or anti-government movements. Even in the present day, countries such as North Korea and China have been committing drastic human rights violations, despite existing within the United Nations. Because of these facts, it can be concluded that international influence does not necessarily create better human

Rhonda L. Callaway’s article explores the idea that Western orientated human rights are not suited to Eastern Asian societies. Callaway discusses how Asian societies prefer to follow a less individualistic approach to life, instead focusing on the family and community, placing them in a position opposed to Western customs and rights. Yet, criticisms of the notion of ‘Asian Values’ are also included, one such criticism labelling it an excuse for the state to repress rights.

The past continues to influence our world today through many things relating to the rights of humans as a nation. In spite of the idea of mankind's privileges may be abstract, how it is connected needs to be regulated with respect to every day term overall. Millions had endured law violations against mankind. A huge number that's only the tip of the iceberg work done reinforced work. In a decade alone, dictator standard need precluded common and political liberties to billions. An ornament sizeable structure is being developed. Governments are struggle to dormant mortal claim domestically and out, and are partnering with organizations to do so. An excise on the go and decentralized screeching of civil-society bent is additionally to involved in the effort. The basic to furnish individuals with sufficient general human services is emphatically installed over the globe, and considerable assets have been committed to the test. The privilege to flexibility from subjection and constrained work has additionally been incorporated into universal and national organizations, and has profited from prominent weight to battle constrained work. At last, the relentless collection of human rights related traditions has urged most states to accomplish more to execute restricting enactment in their rights. In the long haul, reinforcing the human rights administration will require a widened and lifted United Nations rights design. A relentless coalition between the world to blend political and monetary rights inside fair establishments will likewise be important. Meanwhile, provincial associations and other institutions must assume a bigger part from the base up, and rising forces must accomplish more to lead. Together, these progressions are the world's best seek after strong and general delight in human

laws in compliance with the cosmopolitan norms of human rights. In the example of counter-terrorism measures in the United States and United Kingdom, courts have repeatedly judged legislation intended to allow arbitrary detention unlawful. In any case, governments remain unwilling to respect well-established international human rights norms (Nash 2009, 99). As elected representatives, politicians are often unwilling to risk appearing soft on those who are perceived to threaten the state’s safety. This broad trend in contemporary politics shows that even in democratic societies there are contexts in which human rights are simply not popular (Nash 2009, 99). As one can note, it is thus impossible to separate the world into “good democratic states” that protect human rights and “bad authoritarian states” that are the biggest violators (Posner 2014, 121).

Globalization, when considered in relation to human rights, can restore one’s belief that it really is worth it. Much has been agreed. Much has been achieved. Much, however, is still in the process of turning from words and ideas to real outcomes for real people.

In a growing westernized society built on the principles of freedom, it important to note that the rest of the world is not as privileged as civilization has not always been this way. The idea of state sovereignty, the legal authority of a government over its population, has evolved and adapted throughout history. Post World War II, the world was is an utter shock of what humanity was capable of. Moving forward, a variety of political institutions and documents were created in order to protect global human rights. However many of these institutions were mostly composed of western ideologies and European norms, that by imposing them on the rest of the world can be seen as cultural imperialism (Calhoun, p.15-17). Due to different social, political,

Human rights are universal, inherent, inalienable and equal. These are entitlements held simply by virtue of being born as a human being, they are natural in the sense that their source is natural law and human nature (Donnelly 1982). It has developed throughout history due to oppressed people across the world pushing for change. In global politics the role of individual states or governments are crucial in upholding human rights through laws and legislations. However, due to economic and political factors, such as a lack of money or tension between governing bodies, some states do not have the power or resources to uphold human rights. This is where the media, the people, NGOs, and individuals, such as celebrities who have a powerful standing & audience, help in upholding and protecting the rights of people.

The ending of the Cold War brought about optimism and feelings of hope after independence, but violence and political issues were still a major problem that persisted to exist in large areas of Africa towards the end of the 20th Century. So what factors played a part for the economic and political collapse of African states since independence? Robert Bates, When Things Fell Apart, attempts to answer why Africa was not able to be as successful as European nations. Bates attempts to analyze state breakdown, developmental failure and the instability of their democracy in his latest book.

However, human rights cannot be seen as universal due to the reluctance of many non-western countries to acknowledge an inconvertible, and permanently valid set of human rights. This is due to a number of reasons, each of which are different depending on the country in questions. One of these reasons is due to the vast cultural differences between these countries, and western countries. These are countries that see human rights a threat to their very identity, or view their “traditional values” as antithetical to the values of human rights (Franck, 2001). Saudi Arabia is one of these non-western countries whose deep cultural ties restrict its ability to effectively implement human rights. With a score of 10/100 in the Freedom in the World survey

Since the initiation of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000, securing democratic freedoms in developing countries has become a major global-political concern. As a result, various donor nations have implemented good governance conditionalities in their financial aid policies, emphasising the establishment of fair democratic elections in recipient countries. However, efforts to reinforce legitimate democratic governments in developing states have been largely unsuccessful. In the book Wars, Guns, and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places, economist Paul Collier examines how the international community’s obsession with democracy and elections has hindered the developmental process in what he has termed as the bottom billion countries. By

Across all nations and cultures, the enduring pursuit of equality in life seems global and timeless. Some would believe that their own country has achieved a true democracy with no residual inequalities of which to speak, while others know they are at the other end of the spectrum, enduring unjust laws that should not be bestowed on any human. Through the course of history many countries have fought for that democracy and all the equality that it implies. While some believe they have reached that goal, others continue to fight for the most basic human rights, even in this time of enlightenment. The journey each country takes on its road to that place may vary by origination, length, severity and outcome, but the goal seems to be the

Human rights are universal rights that we are entitled to. It is a freedom that is guaranteed based on the principle of respect for an individual. As mentioned in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights are a “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all member of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world” (Kent, page 80). When asked what our rights are, we tend to get different answers and meanings. Some people recite the rights that they know; but let’s face it, not everyone knows all of the rights that they truly have. The rights we have consist of many things such as the right of having an adequate food supply. The right to

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” These opening words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights express a concept of man which underpins the framework of human rights embodied in the Universal Declaration and the two international covenants of Human Rights. Western political traditions is a concept that it derives from, is in harmony with moral and social teachings to be found in many other traditions and patterns of belief.

Human Rights is a set of moral and legal guidelines that promote and protect a recognition of our values, our identity and ability to ensure an adequate standard of living (AHRC, 2017). They are designed to be enjoyed by everyone regardless of factors such as race, sex or disability. In Australia, this includes the right to feel safe, to have food, shelter and water, to be provided with education, employment and health care, to have an opinion and the ability to defend yourself, and to be not discriminate by religion and religion. Other than Victoria and the ACT, there is no State or Territory that has legislation for human rights, however some legislation reflects the human rights principle (AHRC, 2015). These rights are currently