The United Nations Security Council in the Age of Human Rights

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 Romeo A. Dallaire and Krystal Carrier; 10. Bosnia-Herzegovina Geoffrey Nice and Nena Tromp; 11. Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta and Benedict Rogers; 12. Sudan (Darfur) Bruno Stagno Ugarte; 13. Democratic Republic of Congo Anthony W. Gambino; 14. Kosovo Soren Jessen-Petersen; 15. Libya Philippe Kirsch and Mohamed Helal; 16. Syria Richard Gowan and Paulo Sergio Pinheiro; Part V. Conclusion.