Description

Answer the questions:

1. Why has the official legal definition of genocide been deemed unsatisfactory? Discuss. (150-200 words)
2. What did Jeremy Bentham mean by his description of natural rights as “nonsense upon stilts”? Discuss. (150-200 words)
3. How have international courts approached the issue of child soldiers in conflict? Discuss (150-200 words)
4. The landlocked country of Pilaustan, located to the north of India, is presided over by President Jameson Fraternity. He has been governing a multi-ethnic tribal state for almost two decades, but fears he is losing appeal and support among the local populace. Fearing a coup, he declares martial law, suspends the constitution, and begins jailing political opponents. Some of them belong to the Harry Holt clan, a tribal minority living in Pilaustan. Fraternity issues instructions to prison authorities to use “extensive interrogation techniques” on captured Harry Holt members, including the possibility of waterboarding. “I want to have advance notice of any potential terrorist attacks in the country.”

President Fraternity also begins a program of forced sterilization of members of the Harry Holt clan, claiming that such “vermin” should never reproduce. He also insists that the third child of each family of the Harry Holt clan serve in the Pilaustan military to put down any possible internal conflict in the country. “I am sure the UN will have no problems with me using child soldiers against my enemies.”

In any case, he feels that, as President, he is immune from prosecution in international law. He is also convinced that the UN, or any state, will have no interest in intervening in the affairs of Pilaustan, being sick of that old “trick” of humanitarian intervention. “Sovereignty,” he has often said in speeches to the UN, “counts.”

The UN Secretary General, Percival Tosswallop, is particularly concerned about human rights violations in the country. He is wondering about possible avenues he might use to halt President Fraternity’s actions. Discuss what Percival might do with reference to principles of international human rights law, and any violations in this scenario. (500-600 words)