Human rights received only a brief mention -- by Governor Romney -- in
the presidential debate on foreign policy, despite having often been
claimed a top international priority. But in fact, the Obama
administration's human rights policies deserve careful scrutiny and
discussion.
America has been exceptional in the family of nations for prioritizing civil and political human rights over social and economic rights. But over the past four years, America's human-rights engagement has ceased to be exceptional in this regard, as the country's policies and actions have moved into the mainstream of the international community, where all human rights are seen as equal.
During the Cold War, when human rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were codified into international legal covenants, the United States resisted efforts by totalitarian countries to diminish the importance of political freedom by the claim that their centralized state social services honored human rights. US diplomats have generally termed "social rights" as goals that states should aim for following democratic decisions, and that social rights were not judiciable in the same way as civil and political rights, and thus not the proper focus of a legally-binding treaty.
Particularly since the end of the Cold War, international institutions and nongovernmental organizations have increasingly promoted social and economic rights, leading to the dilution of attention to the most egregious abuses by dictators. But America still staunchly and often stridently defended those seeking political freedom. American presidents have made it a point to meet with and voice support for dissidents against oppressive regimes.
America has been exceptional in the family of nations for prioritizing civil and political human rights over social and economic rights. But over the past four years, America's human-rights engagement has ceased to be exceptional in this regard, as the country's policies and actions have moved into the mainstream of the international community, where all human rights are seen as equal.
During the Cold War, when human rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were codified into international legal covenants, the United States resisted efforts by totalitarian countries to diminish the importance of political freedom by the claim that their centralized state social services honored human rights. US diplomats have generally termed "social rights" as goals that states should aim for following democratic decisions, and that social rights were not judiciable in the same way as civil and political rights, and thus not the proper focus of a legally-binding treaty.
Particularly since the end of the Cold War, international institutions and nongovernmental organizations have increasingly promoted social and economic rights, leading to the dilution of attention to the most egregious abuses by dictators. But America still staunchly and often stridently defended those seeking political freedom. American presidents have made it a point to meet with and voice support for dissidents against oppressive regimes.
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