Human Rights Violations and International Legal Frameworks: Analysis

This essay provides an overview of human rights violations around the world, referencing the concerns raised by the UN Secretary-General and the growing hostility towards human rights defenders. It examines specific cases, including Russia's actions in Crimea and Venezuela's human rights record, highlighting the role of international bodies like the UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in monitoring and addressing these issues. The essay also discusses the US's stance on human rights violations, including the imposition of sanctions against individuals and entities involved in such activities. Furthermore, it touches upon limitations on freedom of expression, which constitute another violation of human rights registered in different countries. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing these violations through international cooperation and legal frameworks.

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Human Rights
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Introduction
In the world there is growing hostility towards human rights and those who defend them. This
is stated in the message of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, dedicated to the
International Human Rights Day. There is a growing hostility towards human rights and to
those who defend them, on the part of people who want to benefit from exploitation and
disunity, we see hatred, intolerance, extreme cruelty and other crimes. The UN has decided to
place sanctions to individuals and countries violating human rights. For example , there are
sanctions placed on Russia for violation of human rights in the Crimea region (Haerens,
2011).
The resolution, in particular, calls on Russia to comply with the ruling of the International
Court of Justice on April 19, 2017, which approved measures against Ukraine against Russia
for the protection of national minorities in the occupied Crimea.
The Russian Federation must take all necessary measures to immediately put an end to
violations and infringements of human rights against the inhabitants of the Crimea, as well as
to respect the laws that existed in the Crimea before the occupation, the document says
(Serrano & Weiss, n.d.).
In addition, the resolution stresses the need for immediate release of Ukrainian citizens who
were illegally detained and convicted in the Russian Federation, Interfax-Ukraine notes.
On December 19, 2016, the UN General Assembly adopted the first resolution on human
rights in the Crimea and Sevastopol. In the document, for the first time, Russia was called the
state-occupant, and the Crimea was temporarily occupied territory (Soliz, 2007).

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On November 14, 2017, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with
social, humanitarian and cultural issues, supported the text of the new resolution. The U.S
being a superpower supports the UN in sactioning for human rights violations.
The US Treasury announced the introduction of a new sanctions regime for human rights
violators and corrupt officials from around the world. US President Donald Trump on
Thursday signed a decree on the imposition of a state of emergency on serious violations of
human rights and corruption around the world, providing for the imposition of sanctions
against persons involved in such activities (Coomans & Kamminga, 2004). The appendix to
the decree lists 13 persons who have been sanctioned. In addition, the Office of Foreign
Assets Control of the US Treasury, after consulting with the US Secretary of State and the
Attorney General, imposed sanctions against 39 more individuals and legal entities.
"Today, the United States is taking a tough stance on human rights abuses and corruption
around the world, closing these unscrupulous individuals with access to the American
financial system. The Ministry of Finance freezes their assets and publicly condemns the
gross violations committed by them, demonstrating that such actions will have to be paid a
high price, "Finance Minister Stephen Muchin said. "Following the direction of President
Trump, the Ministry of Finance and our interdepartmental partners will continue to take
decisive and effective measures to hold accountable those who commit human rights
violations, participate in corruption and undermine American ideals (Genser & Stagno
Ugarte, n.d.).
Human rights

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The United Nations does not draw up a blacklist of countries where human rights are most
violated (HR). But the reports of this organization and those of non-governmental groups
contribute to the configuration of a global map. At present, some countries - including
Venezuela - are being examined by the Committee on Economic, Social and Political Rights
of the UN. But they are not, by far, the only ones targeted by the violations of fundamental
rights.
In Latin America there is an annual report of the Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights (CIDH). In its latest version and in chapter IV - which is known as the "black list" -
two countries were highlighted: Cuba and Venezuela.
In the Venezuelan case, the IACHR noted "legal and administrative restrictions" in the area
of human rights, such as the lack of independence and autonomy of the judiciary in the face
of political power, one of the weakest points of Venezuelan democracy (Verdirame, 2011).
He stressed that there are links between organized crime and the authorities, which is why
that country is "a cruel example of how criminal violence can threaten democratic gains
achieved with effort.In total, on that occasion Al Hussein reported that there are human rights
violations in 38 countries around the globe.
In some of these nations there are violations due to wars or armed conflicts. This is the case
in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Yemen or Somalia, where terrorist groups are developing.

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There are also where the US acts, according to reports of methods of torture used in the war
against terrorism. "The fact that a country that believes so strongly in human rights has
abandoned its foundations in times of crisis is as shocking as deplorable.
Less democracy
Some countries were identified by the high commissioner as "nations that worry about the
context of reducing the democratic space". Among these are from Venezuela and Colombia
Special concern is generated by Saudi Arabia, where there are corporal punishments for
activists and the death penalty is in force. Following the practice of this penalty is that the UN
is targeting seven countries: Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, China, Iran, Iraq and the US
(Grünfeld, Vermeulen & Krommendijk, 2014) .
Conclusion
Limitations on freedom of expression constitute another violation of human rights and are
registered in different countries and in different forms. In some, such as Burundi or the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are restrictions on the press. In others like China,
Vietnam or Bangladesh, there is persecution against social actors.

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References
Coomans, F., & Kamminga, M. (2004). Extraterritorial application of human rights treaties.
Antwerp: Intersentia.
Genser, J., & Stagno Ugarte, B. The United Nations Security Council in the Age of Human
Rights.
Grünfeld, F., Vermeulen, W., & Krommendijk, J. (2014). Failure to prevent gross human
rights violations in Darfur. Leiden: Brill Nijhoff.
Haerens, M. (2011). Human rights. Detroit, Mich.: Greenhaven Press.
Serrano, M., & Weiss, T. The international politics of human rights.
Soliz, A. (2007). Human rights. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press/Thomson Gale.
Verdirame, G. (2011). The UN and human rights. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University
Press.