Human rights in Europe: Difference between revisions

Unlike its member states, the [[European Union]] itself has not yet joined the [[Convention on Human Rights]] as of 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/1028391-guido-strack-downfall-whistleblower|title=Guido Strack – the downfall of a whistleblower|newspaper=Press Europe|location=Munich|date=6 October 2011|first=Sebastian|last=Beck}}</ref>

 

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The history of human rights in Europe is marked by a contradictory combination of legislative and intellectual progress and violations of fundamental human rights in both Europe and its [[European colonial empires|colonies]].

 

* 1215: [[Magna Carta]]

* 1222: [[Golden Bull of 1222]] of Hungary defines the first time the rights of the nobility.

* 1933–1945: [[The Holocaust]]

 

* 1954–1956: Britain tortures and kills at least 50,000 [[Kenya]]ns in the [[Mau Mau Rebellion]]

* 1954–62: Both France and the [[FLN (Algeria)|FLN]] use torture in the [[Algerian War of Independence]]

* 1978: [[European Court of Human Rights]] rules that torture by the British government of suspect [[Irish Republican Army|IRA]] members constitutes "cruel and inhuman treatment"

 

The states of the EU, as well as [[Iceland]], Norway, Switzerland, and the [[European microstates]], generally have clean human rights records. The prospect of EU membership (which also entails subscription to the [[European Convention on Human Rights]]){{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} has encouraged several European states, most notably [[Croatia]] and [[Turkey]], to improve their human rights, especially on freedom of speech and banning the [[death penalty]]. However, certain laws passed in the wake of the [[War on Terrorism]] have been condemned for encroaching on human rights. There has been criticism of the [[French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools]] and the French legislation for protecting the public against certain cults. In the UK, a new [[Proposed British Bill of Rights|British Bill of Rights]] has been advocated to: protect wider range of economic, political, judicial, communication, and personal rights and freedoms; extend normal rights and freedoms to presently unprivileged business-economic minority classes; strengthen and extend the liberal social order; and establish a new independent [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]] with the power to strike down government laws and policies that violate basic rights and freedoms.

 

Following the collapse and break-up of the [[Soviet Union]], its history of severe human right abuses were laid in the open. The situation has since improved in the majority of formerly communist states of Europe, especially of those in Central Europe. These Central European states have aligned themselves with the EU (most of them becoming members in 2004) and have undergone a rigorous reform of human rights laws, most notably regarding freedom of speech and religion and the protection of minorities, particularly of the [[Romani people|Romani]]. However, the former USSR states have made slower progress. Despite all but Belarus becoming members of the [[Council of Europe]], constant conflict between minority group separatists in the [[Caucasus]] has led these states to pass strict laws with the aim of limiting rebellions.

 

[[2008 Armenian presidential election protests|A series of mass protests]] were held in [[Armenia]] in the wake of the [[Armenian presidential election, 2008|Armenian presidential election]] of 19 February 2008. Mass protests against alleged electoral fraud were held in the capital city of [[Yerevan]] and organised by supporters of the unsuccessful presidential candidate and first President of the Republic of Armenia, [[Levon Ter-Petrosyan]]. After nine days of peaceful protests at the Opera Square, the national police and military forces tried to disperse the protesters on 1 March.<ref name="COEReportMar20">[https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1265025&Site=CommDH&BackColorInternet=FEC65B&BackColorIntranet=FEC65B&BackColorLogged=FFC679 "Report by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Thomas Hammarberg, on his special mission to Armenia, 12 – 15 march 2008"], Council of Europe, March 20, 2008.</ref> The protests began on February 20, lasted for 10 days in [[Freedom Square, Yerevan|Yerevan's Freedom Square]], and involved tens of thousands of demonstrators during the day and hundreds camping out overnight. As a result, 10 people were killed. Despite the urges of the government to stop the demonstrations, the protests continued until March 1. On the morning of March 1, police and army units dispersed the 700–1,000 persons who remained overnight, beating them with truncheons and [[Electroshock weapon|electric-shock devices]].<ref name="ArmNowMar1Noon">[http://www.armenianow.com "Protestor on scene tells of melee"], ArmeniaNow.com, March 1, 2008</ref><ref name="HRW1">[http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/03/02/armeni18189.htm "Armenia: Police Beat Peaceful Protesters in Yerevan"], [[Human Rights Watch]] (NY), March 2, 2008.</ref><ref name="ArmLibMar1a">[http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/FFAB3C6D-A75D-4E48-B0D6-5D3A83069160.ASP Ter-Petrosyan ‘Under House Arrest,’ Rally Broken Up], [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]], March 1, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123052730/http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/FFAB3C6D-A75D-4E48-B0D6-5D3A83069160.ASP |date=November 23, 2008 }}</ref> As of March 4, many protesters are still missing.<ref name="ArmLibMar4b">[http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/D816B1BC-CAE4-47EF-9A5B-E55169ADE4BC.ASP "Human Rights Watch Demands Probe Into Armenian Crackdown"], Armenia Liberty ([[RFE/RL]]), March 4, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412005838/http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/03/D816B1BC-CAE4-47EF-9A5B-E55169ADE4BC.ASP |date=April 12, 2009 }}</ref> Since March 1, Ter-Petrosyan was placed under ''de facto'' house arrest.<ref name="COEReportMar20"/><ref name="ArmLibMar1a"/><ref>[http://www.eurasianet.org/armenia08/news/030108.shtml "Armenia: At Least 2 Dead in Yerevan Violence, as Kocharian Declares State of Emergency"], Armenia: Vote 2008 (EurasiaNet.org), March 1, 2008.</ref>

 

However, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia retain questionable rights records, the former entirely governed under [[UN Mandate]], as is a part of the latter (Kosovo).{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}{{update after|reason=Kososvo is now its own country|2012|5}} Bosnia-Herzegovina is the most ethnically diverse of the former Yugoslavian states, with large groups of [[Bosniaks]], [[Croats]], and [[Serbs]], making peace difficult to attain. Both Bosnia and Serbia are classified as democracies by ''The Economist'', with the former being a "hybrid regime and the latter a "flawed democracy".<ref name="economist.com"/>

 

Universal suffrage was introduced in European countries during the following years:

* 1906: [[Finland]]<ref group=note>Finland was the first country in the world to give full parliamentary rights to women. New Zealand had granted women suffrage before Finland, but not the right to stand as candidates in elections.</ref>

* 1984: [[Liechtenstein]]

 

 

{{main article|Human trafficking in Europe}}

The end of communism, the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, and easier global travel have contributed to an increase in human trafficking, with many victims being forced into prostitution, hard labour, agriculture, and domestic service.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3979725.stm | newspaper=BBC News | title=A modern slave's brutal odyssey | date=3 November 2004 | accessdate=4 May 2010}}</ref> The conflicts in the former Yugoslavia have also been a key factor in the increase of [[human trafficking in Europe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/campaigns/stop-violence-against-women/issues/implementation-existing-laws/trafficking|publisher=Amnesty International|title=Trafficking of Women and Girls|date=19 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,1211214,00.html | newspaper=The Guardian | location=London | title=Nato force 'feeds Kosovo sex trade' | first=Ian | last=Traynor | date=7 May 2004 | accessdate=4 May 2010}}</ref> The problem is particularly severe in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Turkey; these countries, along with [[Thailand]], Japan, Israel and the United States are listed by the [[UNODC]] as top destinations for victims of human trafficking.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6497799.stm | newspaper=BBC News | title=UN highlights human trafficking | date=26 March 2007 | accessdate=4 May 2010}}</ref>

Amnesty International has called on European states to sign and ratify the convention as part of the fight against human trafficking.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/IOR61/001/2005|publisher=Amnesty International|title=Council of Europe: Recommendations to Strengthen the December 2004 Draft European Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings|date=1 January 2005}}</ref>

 

{{main article|Council of Europe}}

 

The [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] is responsible for promoting and protecting the human rights defined in international human rights treaties in Europe. In late 2009, the High Commissioner opened a Regional Office for Europe<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europe.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx|title=Regional Office for Europe|publisher=United Nations Human Rights: Officer of the High Commissioner for Human Rights}}</ref> which is mandated to promote and protect human rights in 40 European countries, including member states, candidate states, and potential candidate (the Balkans, Iceland, Norway and Turkey).

 

{{Portal|Human rights|Europe}}

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[[Category:Human rights by region]]