North Korea and Crimes against Humanity
North Korea has long proven unable and unwilling to protect its citizens. Currently, North Korea faces a deteriorating situation marked by chronic humanitarian disasters and human rights violations within the state’s political detention camp system. The inhumane treatment of citizens inside these camps, as well as violations during the sentencing and deportation process, has become a symbol of North Korea’s crimes against humanity. The international community should address North Korea’s human rights abuses within the context of ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P). The R2P doctrine affirms that each state has the responsibility to protect its population from four mass atrocity crimes including ‘crimes against humanity’. As such, this article focuses on North Korea’s fundamental responsibility to protect its citizens from crimes against humanity, and the international community’s commitment to assist North Korea in fulfilling this obligation. In considering a policy option to improve North Korea’s human rights conditions within the context of R2P, the international community needs to assist the North Korean government to bring an end to further instances of crimes against humanity.
The Biggest Match of All
The world’s most popular sport is football (soccer). In recent times, the infectious disease to receive the most attention from the world has been HIV/AIDS. The world community has brought together a widespread campaign built on the cooperation and partnership of international organizations, governments, private groups, and individuals to slow, stop, and rollback the spread of HIV Among the many strategies and tactics being used, football has become an important player. The struggle takes place on many levels and in many ways and some quite unique tactics have been developed. This essay analyzes the interactions between football and HIV/AIDS as an example of the world community in action against a common enemy. In this complicated picture several things stand out. First is the great number of organizations involved. Second is the multilevel nature of this network, ranging from the actions of individuals; to NGOs and community-based organizations; to businesses, governments, and international organizations; and to major funding sources. Third is the powerful role of partnering that links these organizations across the various levels at which they exist. And, fourth, although not formally organized or structured, this multiplicity of organizations is an example of the interconnectedness of today’s world. There is a world community that comes to action in regard to certain focal points, in this case the international struggle to prevent and overcome HIV/AIDS, a significant threat to health faced by all peoples and countries.
Religious Ethics and Active Euthanasia in a Pluralistic Society
This article sets out a descriptive typology of religious perspectives on legalized euthanasia—political advocacy, individual conscience, silence, embedded opposition, and formal public opposition—and then examines the normative basis for these perspectives through the themes of sovereignty, stewardship, and the self. It also explores the public relevance of these religious perspectives for debates over legalized euthanasia, particularly in the realm of public policy. Ironically, the moral discourse of religious traditions on euthanasia may gain public relevance at the expense of its religious content. Nonetheless, religious traditions can provide a context of ultimacy and meaning to this debate, which is a condition for genuine pluralism. A table setting out the views of various denominations with regard to euthanasia is included.