International Covenant On Civil And Political Rights

Ellie Smith Final Exam Question December 16, 2015 Issue 1. After recognizing the seriousness and significance of Biff’s plea for help, it can be determined that human rights violations occurred in the case of Biff and the rest of the elves at the factory in the North Pole. In his letter, Biff describes being forced into labor, receiving little pay, and being confined to the factory each day. The conditions described by Biff do not reflect standard or acceptable labor practices, and it is evident that Santa Claus’s factory did not follow peremptory norms or the conditions presented in certain human rights conventions that the North Pole is a party to. Article 8 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states†¦show more content†¦Article 24 states that â€Å"everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.† The elves are allegedly given no holidays or leisure time. If the sweatshop is state-owned, then it is absolutely in violation of the human rights described previously. However, even if it is privately owned, the toy factory business needs to adhere to the principles laid out in the ICCPR and the UDHR. The obligations of private business to respect these treaties is customary international law, but also implied in the preamble of both treaties. The preamble to the ICCPR states that the basis for the treaty is â€Å"recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and unalienable rights of all members of the human family.† The preamble of the UDHR makes the implied obligation more clear, stating â€Å"every individual and every organ of society† must observe human rights. Private businesses should not be considered as an exception to these treaties. Issue 2. Working within the United Nations system, it would be in Biff’s best interest to bring his case to the attention of a United Nations committee. The most appropriate committees to deal with