United Nations and International Human Rights Essay

United Nations and International Human Rights - Essay Example The protection of these rights by the UN however has been criticized as inadequate and inefficient, especially with reports of human rights violations by international as well as private actors and parties. This paper shall discuss the effectiveness of the UN in the protection of human rights. Specifically, the UN’s effectiveness in ensuring the people’s freedom from torture and oppression shall be evaluated in this paper, with particular reference to relevant case and incidents in the international scene. Body The United Nations was established in 1945 in order to establish and ensure international cooperation and coordination in the resolution of economic, political, social, as well as humanitarian issues; it was also established to ensure that respect is allocated for human rights and that freedom of all individuals regardless of their race, gender, religion, and language is protected1. In order to specifically establish the principles in the protection of human righ ts, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted in 1948. Through this declaration, various standards and norms for the protection of human rights norms have been established2. However, even with these declarations, serious human rights violations have been seen in various parts of the globe. ... In 2006, the Human Rights Council replaced the Commission of Human Rights4. This council as well as the treaty passed established obligations for states to implement in their own lands in order to support the international mandates. From such show of support, the first steps towards the effective implementation of these treaties were already considered. The Rwanda Genocide in 1994 led to the deaths of 800,000 Rwandans in the span of 100 days5. Years of conflict between the Hutu tribes and the Tutsi population in Rwanda culminated into 100 days of torture and killing in the country. The country was plunged into a political and economic crisis upon the death of the Hutu President Habyarimana in 1994 and his death served as the spur for the killing of Tutsis by the Hutus6. The Tutsis were targeted in an effort to cleanse the Rwandan population7. In the midst of the civilian killings, the UN withdrew its forces from Rwanda, thereby allowing the genocide and human rights violations to per sist8. The UN was in the perfect position to protect the human rights of the Rwandans, but it did not protect such position. It seemed to appear that the UN was more concerned about suffering another failed attempt at peacekeeping, considering its recent experience of failure in Somalia9. As a result of its prudence, hundreds more would die in Rwanda. Freedom from torture and cruel treatment is considered an absolute right, one which is protected by moral laws and unspoken mandates10. Barnett argues further that the UN bears the responsibility of the Rwandan Genocide11. The UN was in the right position to manage the Rwandan crisis in a way that would have made it possible for the Security Council to consider intervention and entry into the