International Human Rights in a World of Swings: Navigating Whataboutism, Wokeness, and “Modern Slavery”

Abstract

Establishing a better reality is a crucial goal of international law. An important part of the task is a true understanding of realities. Human rights are properly expressed in international treaties, yet we are also in cohabitation with a permanent danger and a lasting trend to perceive human rights principles as phrases, and to divorce them from realities. Patterns of slogan-oriented thinking, born in ideologies, may survive the ideology itself. Positive inspirations might also turn into a swing detached from realities. There are strong trends aiming to push truly important topics (like affirmative action, the woke movement, or modern slavery) to one or other side of ideological controversy.

Threats to human rights are changing, and solutions can only be crafted after rightful confrontation with present threats. It is critically important to create a true perception of human rights, including rights of minorities and rights of socially unequal people. The phenomenon of modern slavery that has gained some ground must not be disregarded. Attempts towards protection of human rights can only function if our efforts are focusing on present menaces.