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What are the Consequences of a Human Rights Violation?

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

A human rights violation is an unlawful deprivation of individual rights considered inherent to all humans. There are many different enumerations of these rights, from governmental declarations to philosophical musings. Violating individual human rights may break laws and subject the perpetrator to prosecution. On a wider scale, large instances of human rights violations, such as genocide, may theoretically be used as a means for international consequences such as sanctions or war.

There are several difficulties in defining the consequences for a human rights violation. First, while there are many documents and statements about human rights, there is no truly universal agreement on what exactly defines a human right. Second, violating human rights usually results in legal consequences only when the violation is also subject to a specific, prosecutable law. Third, while large multinational organizations may despair in what they consider human rights violations in both member and non-member states, taking action in consequence can put the world on the brink of war, and require the commitment of peace-keeping troops from member nations that may not have any desire to get involved.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines the rights listed in the charter of the United Nations.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines the rights listed in the charter of the United Nations.

In certain cases, the presence and repercussion of a human rights violation is so extreme that world leaders hang protocol and choose to administer legal consequences, regardless of jurisdiction. The Nuremberg Trials, held by Allied officials following the end of World War II, were largely a reaction to the incredible violence perpetrated by Nazi officials during the war. These trials, which may or may not have been legitimate based on international law, resulted in the execution of many high-ranking Nazi officials and the imprisonment of many more.

The rights to life, privacy, property ownership, and due process of the law are all widely considered to be human rights.
The rights to life, privacy, property ownership, and due process of the law are all widely considered to be human rights.

There are some mechanisms on an international level that are meant to prevent and stop human rights violations. The United Nations Security Council is considered the supreme instrument of protecting human rights around the globe, but is frequently criticized for failing to act on clear violations of rights stated in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other UN-sanctioned documents on the matter. The Security Council does hold the right to take deterrent measures, such as trade sanctions, in the case of a perceived or proved human rights violation. In rare cases, military action by UN troops may be permitted.

One group prosecuted for violating human rights were Nazi officials, who saw that millions of Jewish people and others were forced into extermination camps during World War II.
One group prosecuted for violating human rights were Nazi officials, who saw that millions of Jewish people and others were forced into extermination camps during World War II.

Legal systems do not generally have criminal statutes that fall under the heading of “human rights violation,” but many laws are based on the principles of these rights. For instance, the rights to life, privacy, property ownership, and due process of the law are all widely considered to be human rights. Enjoying these rights is usually protected by strong legal statutes that declare crimes like murder, theft, unlawful search, and conviction without a trial to be unlawful.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a MyLawQuestions writer.

Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a MyLawQuestions writer.

Learn more...
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Discussion Comments

pleonasm

@croydon - Crime is often simply the result of poverty. Most of the time people who aren't desperate don't commit crimes. So putting people in prison and treating them badly until they feel even more desperate just doesn't make sense.

But I personally think allowing poverty in general is a human right abuse. Children who grow up in poverty are basically affected by it for life. That's just not fair and it's not right.

croydon

@indigomoth - It's not always that black and white though. I mean, I saw a headline recently about a prisoner in one of those countries in Europe who get treated much better than they would in the US, threatening to go on hunger strike unless his Playstation 2 was upgraded to the latest model.

I mean, really? At what point do you draw the line? If it isn't a punishment, then what is the deterrent from crime?

I mean, there are current human rights issues in countries where people are being held in prison because they said the wrong thing, or looked at a politician the wrong way. That is disgusting. But if someone is guilty of harming others, they shouldn't expect to be treated with kid gloves.

indigomoth

It really disgusts me when I hear about government mandated human rights violations in the United States. I'd say that many prisons are guilty of these, as well as detention areas for illegal immigrants and, of course, the infamous torture of prisoners of war.

The thing that really makes me angry is that there is no logical justification for these violations. I mean, I still wouldn't agree to it even if there were, but intelligence gained under torture is completely unreliable. Prisoners who are treated badly in prison are far more likely to re-offend.

Treating people with compassion and empathy isn't just the right thing to do according to morality, it's usually the right thing to do in order to get the best possible outcome for everyone.

And we know this. So why aren't we doing it?

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    • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines the rights listed in the charter of the United Nations.
      By: Touch
      The Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines the rights listed in the charter of the United Nations.
    • The rights to life, privacy, property ownership, and due process of the law are all widely considered to be human rights.
      By: Andrii Salivon
      The rights to life, privacy, property ownership, and due process of the law are all widely considered to be human rights.
    • One group prosecuted for violating human rights were Nazi officials, who saw that millions of Jewish people and others were forced into extermination camps during World War II.
      By: Nejron Photo
      One group prosecuted for violating human rights were Nazi officials, who saw that millions of Jewish people and others were forced into extermination camps during World War II.