What are the dangers of politicising human rights?

Politicising human rights can lead to selective enforcement, manipulation, and potential erosion of universal principles.

When human rights are politicised, they can be used as a tool for political gain rather than a universal standard of justice. This can lead to selective enforcement, where rights are only upheld when it is politically convenient. For instance, a government might condemn human rights abuses in a rival country while ignoring similar issues within its own borders or among its allies. This selective enforcement undermines the universality of human rights and can lead to a perception that these rights are not inherent, but rather subject to political whims.

Moreover, politicisation can lead to the manipulation of human rights discourse. Politicians might use human rights rhetoric to justify actions that are not genuinely aimed at promoting these rights. For instance, a government might use the language of human rights to justify military intervention in another country, even if the primary motivation is strategic or economic gain. This manipulation can erode trust in human rights discourse and make it harder for genuine human rights advocates to gain support for their causes.

Furthermore, the politicisation of human rights can lead to a potential erosion of universal principles. When human rights are seen as a political issue, they can become a subject of negotiation and compromise. This can lead to a situation where the fundamental principles of human rights – such as their universality, inalienability, and indivisibility – are undermined. For example, a government might agree to respect certain rights in exchange for political concessions, effectively treating these rights as bargaining chips rather than inviolable principles.

In conclusion, the politicisation of human rights can have serious negative consequences. It can lead to selective enforcement, manipulation of discourse, and potential erosion of universal principles. Therefore, it is crucial to uphold the universality and inalienability of human rights, and to resist attempts to politicise these rights for short-term political gain.