The United Nations Security Council in the Age of Human Rights

The first comprehensive look at the human rights dimensions of the work of the only UN body capable of compelling action by its member states.

Jared Genser (Edited by), Bruno Stagno Ugarte (Edited by)

9781107040076, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 June 2014

544 pages, 1 b/w illus. 2 maps
22.9 x 15.2 x 3 cm, 0.89 kg

'During the last twenty years, the UN Security Council has embraced the protection of individual rights as a matter of international peace and security. That said, progress has been uneven and there have been both great strides forward and terrible setbacks. This timely and important book provides the first comprehensive assessment of how the Security Council works to address major human-rights challenges around the world and recommends ways it can do so more effectively.' Luis Moreno Ocampo, First Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (2003–2012)

This is the first comprehensive look at the human rights dimensions of the work of the only body within the United Nations system capable of compelling action by its member states. Known popularly for its failure to prevent mass atrocities in Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and Syria, the breadth and depth of the Security Council's work on human rights in recent decades is much broader. This book examines questions including: how is the Security Council dealing with human rights concerns? What does it see as the place of human rights in conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacekeeping? And how does it address the quest for justice in the face of gross violations of human rights? Written by leading practitioners, scholars and experts, this book provides a broad perspective that describes, explains and evaluates the contribution of the Security Council to the promotion of human rights and how it might more effectively achieve its goals.

Part I. The Security Council and Human Rights: 1. Evolution of the security council's engagement on human rights Bruno Stagno Ugarte and Jared Genser
Part II. Thematic Work of the Security Council: 2. Civilians and armed conflict Rosa Brooks
3. Women, peace, and security Janet Benshoof
4. Children and armed conflict Shamala Kandiah Thompson
Part III. Securing, Maintaining, and Building Peace: 5. UN peacekeeping and human rights Mari Katayanagi
6. Coordination with other UN organs Bertrand G. Ramcharan
Part IV. Law and Justice: 7. Accountability for international crimes – special tribunals and referrals to the international criminal court William Schabas
8. Enhancing rule of law Axel Marschik
Part V. Case Studies: 9. Rwanda Roméo A. Dallaire and Krystal Carrier
10. Bosnia-Herzegovina Geoffrey Nice and Nena Tromp
11. Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta and Benedict Rogers
12. Sudan (Darfur) Bruno Stagno Ugarte
13. Democratic Republic of Congo Anthony W. Gambino
14. Kosovo Søren Jessen-Petersen
15. Libya Philippe Kirsch and Mohamed Helal
16. Syria Richard Gowan and Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro
Part V. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: International human rights law [LBBR], Public international law [LBB], Law [L], Human rights [JPVH], International relations [JPS]