Listening 1
PRE-VIEWING QUESTIONS
- What, to your knowledge, are the main human rights principles?
- Are any of them controversial, in your educated opinion?
VIEWING TASK
Watch the video and fill in the table below.
| HR principles | |
| Freedoms | |
| Civil and Political Rights | |
| Social, Economic, and Cultural Rights | |
| Points of Contention |
Speak Up
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Do you think the criticisms of the modern human rights concept are justified?
- In your opinion, what are the possible directions of the evolution of human rights?
Listening 2
PRE-VIEWING QUESTIONS
- What do you know about the work of the UN Human Rights Council?
- Are the decisions and resolutions of the body legally binding?
VIEWING TASK
Watch the video about the UN Human Rights Council and fill in the table below.
| Responsibilities | |
| Challenges | |
| Accomplishments | |
| Capacity for improvement |
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Do you think all countries including those with dismal human rights records should be members of the Human Rights Council?
- Do you consider the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council effective? What, in your opinion, can enhance the efforts of the body?
Listening 3
PRE-VIEWING QUESTIONS
Do you think state sovereignty and international protection of human rights are compatible? If not, which of them should take precedence?
VOCABULARY
To fetter — to restrict someone’s freedom and prevent them from doing what they want
VIEWING TASK
Watch the video and answer the question posed in the title of the video in one sentence.
Speak Up
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- In your view, are international organizations gradually eroding state sovereignty?
- How far do you think the power of international community should go?
Listening 4
PRE-VIEWING QUESTION
- Do you know what the principle “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P) implies?
- Can you recall the cases when R2P was implemented?
VOCABULARY
To take a hit — to be badly affected in some way
To redeem oneself — to do something that compensates for poor past performance or behaviour
VIEWING TASK
Watch the video and explain why:
- The USA chose to ignore the atrocities in Rwanda in 1994.
- The UN Security Council did not intervene in Rwanda to stop the genocide.
- The NATO intervention in Kosovo was illegal but legitimate.
- R2P does not guarantee that the UN will respond to mass atrocities in a failing state.
- R2P is still a debatable doctrine.