United Nations Day is held on October 24th every year. It commemorates the start of the UN Charter in 1945, reinforcing its founding principles of stopping war and honouring human rights.
Fulfilling the Charter’s aims of promoting global peace and security is needed today more than ever.
This day provokes reflection on the role of the United Nations, its scope, and its limitations. It’s an opportunity to ask uncomfortable questions. Does the United Nations have the power to effect change in today’s landscape?
While the United Nations Human Rights Council seeks to protect human rights and address violations, how effective is it in a time of war, genocide, and oppressive regimes? We’ll discuss these questions right here. Table of Contents:
Human Rights and the United Nations' Responsibilities
The United Nations draws on an arsenal of tools and bodies to help protect human rights around the world, especially in time of humanitarian crisis.
Regulatory tools include:
Bodies and resources include:
But while the UN is well-equipped, it faces significant challenges in carrying out its purpose.
The United Nations at times lacks concrete powers to enforce decisions, even if they apply to member states. For example, a report into activities in Ethiopia found that the military had committed acts of violence against civilians in the Tigray conflict (2020 and 2022). An update report subsequently found 594 instances of human rights violations since the previous one was published, which seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
This illustrates the urgent need for reform of the tools used to address oppressive regimes and human rights violations.
UN Sanctions and Their Effectiveness
United Nations sanctions are defined as the interruption of communication, economic activity, or international relations. They can include travel bans, asset freezing, and arms embargoes.
One well-documented example of successful sanctions are the arms and economic sanctions applied to the former Yugoslavia between 1992 and 1995, as a response to the Croatian War and Bosnian War. The sanctions were a catalyst in the signing of the Dayton Agreement, to end the Bosnian War.
A current example involves the recently extended sanctions (asset freezes, arms embargo, and travel bans) against Sudan, in response to human rights violations in Darfur.
Here's how UN sanctions work:
The Security Council starts an investigation. They may deem that sanctions are necessary.
They may then adopt a resolution establishing sanctions and defining their exact nature.
Sanctions committees help implement and monitor sanctions.
However, sanctions have limitations. They rely on their subjects to comply with conditions. Compliance is unlikely in the case of an oppressive regime. And some member states may not enforce conditions.
It’s time for stronger sanctions or alternative actions to be considered. A united front and stronger international cooperation are required to make sanctions effective.
We’ve seen the start at the September 27 UN General Assembly walkout, when Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu started speaking. It’s this spirit of unity against human rights violations that must be captured.
UN Security Council: Challenges and Reform
The primary role of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security via peace operations, one of the UN human rights mechanisms.
It investigates areas of concern around the world and establishes a peace operation if deemed appropriate, via a Security Council resolution.
If the resolution is passed, UN enforcement mechanisms include sending peacekeeping troops to the area and imposing sanctions, including arms embargoes.
However, these resolutions may be blocked by veto. The right to veto is held by the five permanent members — Russia, China, France, the US, and the UK. If any one of them votes “no”, the resolution cannot proceed. This is a significant concern if any one of those members is allies with an oppressive regime.
The right to veto is a major stumbling block when it comes to addressing human rights violations. If there is endless proof that a regime is committing genocide, why should a veto be valued? If it is proven that a member state is benefiting from the genocide of a people, again, why should a veto be honoured?
Stronger, enforceable sanctions are needed now to address oppressive regimes, their abuse of power, complete disregard for international law, and their use of violence for profit.
Holding Oppressive Governments Accountable
To achieve a sense of justice, oppressive governments must be held accountable. This is possible through a joint effort, from international organizations such as the United Nations down to grassroots level.
The UN and individual governments can impose sanctions to stop economic growth or halt the supply of arms. Other measures, such as diplomatic isolation and strong condemnation of oppressive regimes, may also be used.
Corporate responsibility and transparency may also be applied. Take the example of oil companies BP and Adnoc, who shelved plans to buy a 50% share in Israel's energy partnership, NewMed Energy.
Companies and political leaders who benefit from oppressive regimes can be “named and shamed” and boycotted too.
Civil disobedience and advocacy also has a part to play in holding tyrannical governments accountable. Global activism and civil society movements are just a few of the ways the ordinary citizen can demand accountability and UN action.
Meanwhile, protests against Israeli action in Gaza have spread from the Arab world to all four corners of the globe, some involving a few hundred protestors and others up to hundreds of thousands in total, demonstrating the depth of feeling on this topic.
Add Your Voice
Today is United Nations Day, let’s be clear about the UN’s role in promoting global peace and human rights and let's keep them accountable by reminding them of their power and duty, and doing what we can to ensure they use it. It is not the time to be complacent. Every minute people are being murdered, land is being stolen, and lives are being disregarded as if they hold lesser value than others. To make human rights a reality and morality a foundational principle amongst leaders, strong actions and enhanced enforcement mechanisms are needed.
Mark this day by supporting reforms that make the UN more effective in holding oppressive governments accountable.
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