The UN and Human Rights
Who Guards the Guardians?

This books asks, can the UN violate human rights, and if so, how can it be held accountable?

Guglielmo Verdirame (Author)

9780521841900, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 September 2011

512 pages
23.6 x 15.7 x 2.9 cm, 0.92 kg

'Verdirame has produced an excellent and sophisticated study of a complex issue, passionately defending the need to protect individuals from human rights violations by international organizations but acknowledging that organizations need to be left some leeway as well in dealing with policy dilemmas.' Jan Klabbers, International Organizations Law Review

Through an analysis of UN operations including international territorial administration, refugee camps, peacekeeping, the implementation of sanctions and the provision of humanitarian aid, this book shows that the powers exercised by the UN carry a serious risk of human rights abuse. The International Law Commission has codified and developed the law of institutional responsibility, but, while indispensable, these principles and rules cannot on their own ensure compliance and accountability. The 'liberty deficit' of the UN and of other international organisations thus remains an urgent legal and political problem. Some solutions may be available; indeed, recent state and institutional practice offers interesting examples in this respect. But at a fundamental level we need to ask ourselves whether, judged on the basis of the principle of liberty, the power shift from states to international organisations is always beneficial.

1. Introduction
2. Concepts and definitions
3. Human rights obligations of international organisations
4. International institutional responsibility
5. UN relief and development operations
6. UN peacekeeping
7. International administrations
8. Implementation of UN sanctions
9. Accountability
10. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: International humanitarian law [LBBS], Human rights [JPVH], United Nations & UN agencies [JPSN1], International relations [JPS]