Question

1. on july 22, 2002, omar khadr, a fifteen - year - old canadian citizen, was wounded in a battle between u.s. soldiers and members of the taliban in afghanistan. one u.s soldier was killed and five were wounded. khadr was also badly wounded. he was operated on by u.s. military doctors and then held prisoner at bagram prison in afghanistan. a prison medic has testified that he found khadr crying, with his arms handcuffed above his head to the cell wall and a hood over his head. his interrogator told him that unless he cooperated, he would be taken to a u.s. prison where he would be raped by other men. in october 2002, khadr was transferred to guantanamo bay prison camp, where he was interrogated by u.s. and canadian officials about connections to the terrorist group al qaeda. in 2007, he was charged with murdering a u.s. soldier in violation of the laws of war in the 2002 battle in afghanistan. in october 2010, he pleaded guilty to murdering the u.s. soldier and was sentenced to eight more years in prison. as part of the agreement, he was to serve the last seven years of his sentence in canada, but remained at guantanamo as late as may 2012.

a. what human right(s), if any, are highlighted in this case?

b. has this persons human rights been violated? explain.

c. who should be responsible for protecting this right(s)?

Explanation:

a. The human - rights highlighted include the right to be free from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment (e.g., being handcuffed in an uncomfortable position, threatened with sexual assault), and the rights of the child (as he was a minor at the time).
b. His human rights were likely violated. He was a minor and subjected to harsh treatment, including physical restraint in an uncomfortable way and threats. These actions go against international standards for the treatment of prisoners and minors.
c. The international community, including the United Nations and its human - rights bodies, as well as the governments of Canada (his home country) and the United States (the detaining country), have a responsibility to protect human rights. The United Nations has mechanisms to monitor and enforce human - rights standards, and the governments are bound by international human - rights treaties.

Answer:

a. Right to be free from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment; rights of the child.
b. Yes, due to harsh treatment as a minor and threats.
c. International community (e.g., United Nations), Canadian government, and U.S. government.