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This lesson examines specific patterns and case studies of human rights violations, including restrictions on freedom of speech and press, gender-based violence, child labour, political corruption, authoritarian governance and ethnic persecution. It addresses the Edexcel Enquiry Question: "What are human rights and how do they promote development?" by illustrating the consequences when rights are denied. Each violation is examined through detailed case studies with specific data, enabling you to write evidence-rich exam answers.
Article 19 of the UDHR guarantees the right to "freedom of opinion and expression" including the freedom to "seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media."
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) publishes an annual World Press Freedom Index ranking 180 countries. In 2024:
In 2023, 521 journalists were detained globally and 45 were killed. The deadliest countries for journalists include Mexico (organised crime), Ukraine (conflict), Gaza/Israel (conflict), Myanmar (military junta) and Haiti (gang violence).
China operates the world's most sophisticated system of internet censorship, known informally as the "Great Firewall":
Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has progressively eliminated independent media:
Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most widespread human rights violations globally:
Domestic violence occurs in every country and across all social classes, but prevalence and legal protections vary enormously:
| Region | Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence (women aged 15–49) |
|---|---|
| Oceania (exc. Australia/NZ) | 51% |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 33% |
| South Asia | 35% |
| Europe (Western) | 16% |
| Australia/NZ | 13% |
In 49 countries, there are no laws specifically criminalising domestic violence. In many countries with laws, enforcement is weak and cultural norms discourage women from reporting.
Sexual violence is systematically used as a weapon of war in many conflicts:
Article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child protects children from economic exploitation. Despite this, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 160 million children aged 5–17 are engaged in child labour globally (2020), of whom 79 million are in hazardous work that directly endangers their health, safety or morals.
| Region | Number of Children in Child Labour | % of Children Aged 5–17 |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 86.6 million | 23.9% |
| Central and Southern Asia | 26.3 million | 5.5% |
| East and Southeast Asia | 24.3 million | 4.2% |
| Americas | 8.2 million | 3.6% |
| Europe and Central Asia | 6.0 million | 2.7% |
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