Human Rights Violations Essay Example For Students

Human Rights Violations Essay Throughout the history of humankind, man has always been hateful and prejudice towards a race or religion different from his or her own. In the early twentieth century itself, we faced atrocities such as the Armenian Massacre, the rape of Nanking and many more. One such crime against the human race that can overthrow all of them is, the Nazi Holocaust led by Adolf Hitler. After World War I, Germany was in a condition of total chaos. The Weimar Republic that was set up by the League of Nations was not holding much water and the citizens of Germany were looking for some authority to put every thing back into order. Through the years, world attention focused on South Africa. In 1973, the UN General Assemble declared apartheid a crime against humanity. And in 1977, the UN Security Council embargoed arms exports to South Africa.Throughout the 1980s, many nations enforced economic sanctions against South Africa. These economic sanctions, along with other statutes, led to Nelson Mandel being released from prison in 1990. During the next four years, newly elected president of South Africa Frederick de Klerk, along with Nelson Mandela, dismantled the system of apartheid. In 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected as the first black present of South Africa, in the first all-race election (Document 3). Another infringement of human rights occurred in Cambodia in the 1970s. During this time, Pol Pot and the Khmer Rough took control of Cambodia. During his rule, Pol Pot attempted to create an agrarian society. The Khmer Rouge executed any former government officials, army personnel and intellectuals. The Khmer Rouge also killed many Cambodians by using forced labor, and drove people from the cities and settled them in the country. Countless families were torn apart, and educational and religious practices were forbidden. Numerous bodies were deposited in mass graves, called the killing fields. From 1975 to 1978, between one and three million Cambodians, out of a population on seven million, were killed by the Khmer Rouge (Document 4). During the 1980s and 1990s, violations of rights occurred in China. Deng Xiaoping introduced the Four Modernizations in the 1970s, which gave more political freedom to citizens. Although these freedoms were granted, some Chinese wanted more freedom. On June 4, 1989, Chinese students held a peaceful demonstration in Tiananmen Square for greater personal freedoms. When the students refused to clear out, tanks rolled through Tiananmen Square, shooting at the heads and chests of the students. Newspapers, such as the San Francisco Chronicle, gave information on the rights violations in China. It also stated how students felt it was worth sacrificing their lives for the sake of progress and democracy in China. The Chinese government has since made very little changes in the amount of freedom it allows (Document 5). Human rights violations have continued in the post-World War II era. These violations have occurred in South Africa, Cambodia and China, as well as in other nations. During this era, the UN, NATO and Amnesty International have made efforts to eradicate human rights violations. As a result of their efforts, the public has been more aware of what occurs, and can further aid in ending human rights violations.