How should the United Nations be reformed, and what should be its role in global politics?

MayCaesar

The UN should actually require that its members abide by all the signed agreements and remove the members that systematically fail to do so. For example, all UN members agree that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right - yet most of the UN members severely infringe on this freedom within their borders. The UN should kick them out, just like a company kicks out employees that do not show up at work. Of course, since the UN mostly consists of those very members, it will never happen.

This is a fundamental problem with all intergovernmental formations: since the governments running them are the only ones capable of enforcing the rules, the rules will necessarily be enforced selectively, in the way that benefits the majority of the governments. And what benefits governments rarely overlaps with what benefits individual citizens.

I do not think that an organization that claims to promote human rights in the world, yet has Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and North Korea as members, has any reason to exist.

Bogan

Freedom of expression is not, never has been, and never will be, a human right.

JulesKorngold

Argument Topic: Human Rights

Bogan said:

Freedom of expression is not, never has been, and never will be, a human right.

Totally wrong.  Freedom of expression is protected by national and international law.  It is specifically stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

Other basic human rights:

1. Right to life: This includes the right to live a life free from violence, abuse, and exploitation.

2. Right to liberty and security of person: This includes the right to be free from arbitrary detention or imprisonment and the right to be protected from harm.

3. Right to a fair trial: This includes the right to a fair, impartial, and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, as well as the right to an effective remedy for any violation of one's rights.

4. Right to privacy: This includes the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, as well as the right to the protection of one's personal information and data.

5. Right to education: This includes the right to access education that is inclusive, equitable, and of good quality.

6. Right to work: This includes the right to work freely and to choose one's employment, as well as the right to just and favorable conditions of work.

7. Right to an adequate standard of living: This includes the right to access food, clothing, housing, and healthcare of an adequate standard.

8. Right to participate in government: This includes the right to participate in the political process, either directly or through freely chosen representatives, and the right to access information about government activities.

9. Right to freedom of movement: This includes the right to move freely within one's own country and to enter, leave, and return to one's own country.