Practice Rights and justice with authentic IB Global Politics exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 structure, covering key topics like power and sovereignty, human rights, and global governance. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Paper
Level
Question 1
SL & HLPaper 1
Source A
Source B
Adapted from “Racism and discrimination”, a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), www.ohchr.org (2023).
Racial discrimination is a direct violation of Article 1 and Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which state that all human beings are equal in dignity and rights and are entitled to equal protection under the law.
Despite these principles, racial injustice remains widespread around the world. According to the UN Human Rights Office, people of African descent, Indigenous peoples, and ethnic minorities face systemic inequality in areas such as education, employment, housing, policing, and political representation. In some countries, these communities are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement and overrepresented in prisons.
High-profile incidents of racially motivated violence, such as the killing of George Floyd in the United States, have drawn international attention to the ways in which racism is embedded in institutions. These events have sparked global protests and renewed calls for justice, accountability, and reform.
The UN emphasizes that combating racial discrimination is not only a moral imperative but a legal obligation under international human rights law.
Source C
Adapted from: UN Human Rights Council, “Combating Racism: A Global Imperative” (2023)
Racial discrimination undermines the core principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), particularly Articles 1 and 7, which affirm that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and are entitled to equal protection under the law. Despite decades of international efforts, racism persists in both overt and systemic forms across the globe.
Victims of racial discrimination often face barriers to education, employment, healthcare, and political participation. In many countries, racialized communities are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement, subjected to harsher punishments, and denied justice. The UN stresses that racism is not just a social issue but a violation of international human rights law.
Global events such as the killing of George Floyd and the rise of far-right movements have reignited debates about racial injustice and accountability. The UN has called for stronger legal frameworks, reparations, and the dismantling of systemic racism. States are reminded that tolerance and diversity are not optional, they are obligations. Addressing racial discrimination is therefore central to realizing equality, justice, and human dignity for all.
Source D
Adapted from: Human Rights Watch, “Racism and the Right to Equality” (2022)
Racism is a human rights issue because it denies people equal treatment, access, and protection. It creates social hierarchies that exclude certain racial or ethnic groups from opportunities and dignity. Whether through racial profiling, exclusionary citizenship laws, or hate speech, racial discrimination harms both individuals and society as a whole.
Human Rights Watch reports that in countries such as Brazil, the United States, France, and India, people from racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to experience police brutality, poverty, and political marginalization. In some cases, these outcomes are reinforced by laws and policies that have discriminatory effects, even if not explicitly racist.
The report also highlights how global movements like Black Lives Matter and Indigenous rights campaigns have brought attention to racial injustice and challenged state inaction. However, it warns that many states pay lip service to equality while failing to make meaningful change.
Human Rights Watch urges governments to move beyond symbolic gestures and adopt structural reforms, such as anti-discrimination legislation, equitable public investment, and data collection on racial disparities. Combatting racial discrimination is not only a legal requirement under international human rights treaties but also a moral and social necessity.
1.[3]
Using Source A, identify what the cartoon suggests about the relationship between state narratives and human rights realities.
2.[4]
With explicit reference to Source B and to one example you have studied, suggest why racial discrimination is considered a serious human rights issue.
3.[8]
Compare and contrast the perspectives on the seriousness of racial discrimination in Sources C and D.
4.[10]
“Racial discrimination is not just a social problem, it is a violation of human rights.” Examine this claim using all sources and your own knowledge.
Question 2
SL & HLPaper 1
Source A
Source B
Adapted from “What gender inequality looks like in Latin America”, Johanna Mendelson Forman, The Huffington Post (2014)
Gender inequality in Latin America is deeply rooted in cultural norms, prejudices, and persistent discrimination, as shown by the alarming wage gap between women and men. According to a UN report, women’s experiences and prospects are highly influenced by ethnicity, age, geography, migration status, and motherhood. For example, indigenous or Afro-descendant women, those living in rural areas, or women with children often face compounded barriers to advancement. Economic obstacles such as limited access to higher education prevent many women from attaining better jobs, and women remain concentrated in low-income, precarious work.
Organizations like the Inter-American Program on the Promotion of Women’s Human Rights and Gender Equity have called for full, equal access for women to work and resources. Some progress has been made—such as the Brasilia Consensus, which recognizes the value of unpaid domestic work—but much remains to be done. Persistent stereotypes about women’s roles in society, combined with insufficient government action, continue to limit women’s autonomy, participation, and rights. The report argues that unless structural barriers are dismantled and women’s unpaid labor is formally acknowledged, Latin America will continue to face stark gender inequalities with serious social and economic consequences.
Source C
Adapted from “Violence and women in Brazil: What happens indoors stays indoors”, Sandra Andrade, The Independent (2013)
Brazil has one of the world’s highest rates of violence against women, with over 92,000 women killed in their homes in the past three decades. Despite recent legal advances, including new laws recognizing violence against both men and women, the fight for women’s safety faces cultural and institutional resistance. Many cases of domestic abuse go unreported due to stigma, a culture of silence, and lack of effective response by authorities. The phrase “what happens indoors stays indoors” reflects widespread reluctance to speak out, both among victims and the wider community.
Efforts by activists, including the Anglican Service of Diakonia and Development (SADD), aim to break this silence by encouraging churches and communities to confront violence. However, ingrained machismo—the cultural ideal of strong, dominant masculinity—creates resistance from law enforcement and society at large. Campaigners highlight that ending violence requires not only legal change but also social transformation, particularly in challenging the normalization of abuse. Ultimately, the article calls for collective action and open dialogue, warning that ignoring the problem only perpetuates harm and undermines progress toward gender equality and basic human rights.
Source D
Adapted from “International Women’s Day and gender equality in Brazil”, Americas Quarterly (2013)
In Brazil, women’s activism has a long history, dating back to the struggle against dictatorship in the 1980s, when women helped lay the foundation for democracy. The Movement of Rural Women Workers (MMTR), founded by teenage girls in southern Brazil, targeted one of the most resistant spaces: the home. By demanding an equal voice and urging men to share household labor, these activists challenged deep-seated gender norms and pushed for legal and economic equality.
Over 25 years, these efforts have led to significant reforms, including laws promoting gender equality in the constitution and social security benefits for rural women. Yet, progress remains incomplete. Many women continue to leave school early for domestic work, and achieving formal equality has not eradicated discrimination or changed all social attitudes. The article emphasizes that speaking out for rights is only the beginning; true transformation requires sustained activism and accountability. The persistence of inequality, even after decades of struggle, highlights the difficulty of reforming gender roles. The piece concludes by stressing that, despite legislative gains, the battle for women’s rights and genuine equality is ongoing, both in Brazil and globally.
1.[3]
With specific reference to Source A, identify how expectations of women might impact on their human rights.
2.[4]
Using Source B and one example you have studied, explain the impact of gender inequality.
3.[8]
Compare the obstacles to women’s equality as described in Source C and Source D.
4.[10]
“Women’s rights are the same as human rights.” Discuss this claim, using all the sources and your own knowledge.
Question 3
SL & HLPaper 2
1.[25]
“The evolution of human rights since 1948 has undermined the effectiveness of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” To what extent do you agree with this claim?