000166-XXX 1
China's One-Child Policy: an Infringement
of Human Rights
Extended Essay: Human Rights
School: Seoul Foreign School
Name: XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
Candidate Code: 000166-XXX
May 2012
Word Count: 3,835
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Abstract
On January 1st 1979, the Chinese communist government implemented a policy
of birth-control. This is referred to as the 'One-Child Policy' which limits each couple to
having just one child. The policy aimed at modernizing China by promoting social
reconstruction and economic prosperity. However it also implies and results in a sacrifice of
rights for the Chinese population who no longer have the freedom of choice regarding their
family planning.
This paper attempts to analyze and evaluate the question "To what extent can
China's one-child policy be seen as an infringement of human rights, and how can it be
justified?". This is done by considering both the cultural relativist theory and the Universalist
approach regarding the implementation of Human rights to understand the different
interpretations. Furthermore, and most importantly, focus is placed on the foundation and
execution of the policy, in regards to emphasize the notion that the right to family, life,
security and liberty is denied as a result of the policy. Although the Chinese government
claims that the policy is merely an advocated guideline which has gained mass support, the
reality is that consequences of not complying to the policy results in punishments such as
forced sterilization and abortions, or overwhelming fines. In addition, the consequences of the
policy are discussed including the inequality of the gender ratio, along with the development
of a hidden population, as these aspects trigger further infringements upon human rights.
Although the policy may be justified through an economic and political aspect,
it is a clear infringement of human rights and cannot be justified through a human rights
perspective, hence...