Question

What steps has the international community taken to address humanitarian crises throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including human rights abuses? Evaluate the effectiveness of the international response to at least two human rights issues. Then, explain one way in which citizens like you can help.

Answer 1

Rawanda- The United Nations sent a peacekeeping force in order to try to limit the fallout from the civil war and genocide taking place in the country. They were somewhat ineffective, due to few troops on the ground, limited authorization for using force, and the overwhelming amount of violence occurring.

Tienanmen Square- The international community condemned China for its brutal use of force against student protesters in the country. Sanctions were also employed, and China found itself briefly exiled from the diplomatic community. Ultimately, China was too important an economic and security partner for the world to shun. Little has changed in terms of human rights in the country following the incident.   

Citizens like me can read and become informed. We in the United States are able to choose our leaders, an incredible privilege and globally important responsibility, due to our nation's status in the world. Given this fact, we should be the most informed citizens in the world; we are not. A more informed citizenry would elect leaders whose ideas are at least based on intimate knowledge of the issues, regardless of whether or not everyone agrees with those ideas.