The Responsibility to Protect Turns Ten

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex J. Bellamy
Keyword(s):  
International Society ◽  
Responsibility To Protect ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
International Norm ◽  
State Practice ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
Widespread View ◽  
The Way

Ten years since its adoption by the UN General Assembly, the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) has become an established international norm associated with positive changes to the way that international society responds to genocide and mass atrocities. In its first decade, RtoP has moved from being a controversial and indeterminate concept seldom utilized by international society to a norm utilized almost habitually. This is an assessment that stands in contrast to the widespread view that RtoP is associated with “growing controversy,” but is one that rests on evidence of state practice.

The Work of the International Law Commission, 2007–2011: Progress and Prospects

2012 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald McRae
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
The Law ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Transboundary Aquifers ◽  
Law Commission ◽  
The Way

On November 17, 2011, the UN General Assembly elected the members of the International Law Commission for the next five years. In the course of the quinquennium that was completed in August 2011 with the end of the sixty-third session, the Commission concluded four major topics on its agenda: the law of transboundary aquifers, the responsibility of international organizations, the effect of armed conflicts on treaties, and reservations to treaties. It was by any standard a substantial output. The beginning of a new quinquennium now provides an opportunity to assess what the Commission has achieved, to consider the way it operates, and to reflect on what lies ahead for it.

The Choice of a Treaty

2019 ◽  
pp. 100-118
Author(s):  
Alan Boyle
Keyword(s):  
International Organizations ◽  
Codes Of Conduct ◽  
Soft Law ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Legal Effect ◽  
State Practice ◽  
Rules And Principles ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
International Legal System ◽  
Multilateral Treaty

From a lawmaking perspective “soft law” is simply a convenient description for a variety of non-binding normatively worded instruments used in contemporary international relations by states and international organizations. Examples include UN conference declarations, appropriately worded resolutions and declarations adopted by the UN General Assembly or one of its subsidiary organs or specialized agencies, or codes of conduct, guidelines, and principles adopted by any of these UN organs. The main advantage of adopting rules and principles in soft-law form is that the process is simpler, faster, and potentially more inclusive than a multilateral treaty. The UN has pioneered the use of soft law, most obviously through the adoption of General Assembly resolutions that, inter alia, interpret and amplify the UN Charter, codify and progressively develop international law, provide evidence of opinio juris on new norms and general principles, or legitimize state practice. The functions of soft law in the international legal system—and in UN practice—are diverse, but it would be wrong to see the choice of instrument—treaty or soft law—in either/or terms. Non-binding soft law sometimes presents alternatives to lawmaking by treaty; at other times it complements and amplifies treaties while also providing different ways of understanding the legal effect of different kinds of treaties. But it is inconceivable that modern treaty regimes or international organizations such as the UN could function successfully without resort to soft law.

Elements of Nordic Practice 2005–2006: Finland

2008 ◽  
Vol 77 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 141-161
Author(s):  
Juha Rainne
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
International Law ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
The European Union ◽  
State Practice ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
International Tribunals ◽  
International Sanctions

AbstractThis report includes selected parts of Finnish state practice in the field of international law in 2005 and 2006. The activities during this period were dominated by Finland's Presidency of the European Union (EU) in the second half of 2006. The report comprises state practice related, inter alia, to humanitarian law, international tribunals, international sanctions, measures to combat terrorism and the work of the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly. Special attention is paid to the activities that took place in the field of international law during the Finnish EU Presidency.

UN General Assembly Dialogues on the Responsibility to Protect and the Use of Force for Humanitarian Purposes

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-332
Author(s):  
Pınar Gözen Ercan
Keyword(s):  
Humanitarian Intervention ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
First Century ◽  
Responsibility To Protect ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Member States ◽  
The Future ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
Twenty First Century

Bringing into focus the two formal debates on the Responsibility to Protect that took place in 2009 and 2018, this article identifies the approaches of member states towards the humanitarian use of force by locating it in the UN’s deliberations on R2P. To this end, the article compares and contrasts country statements in order to trace states’ general approach towards humanitarian intervention on the basis of their reflections on R2P. Following from this, the article examines whether or not states’ approaches to humanitarian intervention have been transforming in the twenty-first century, and evaluates how the humanitarian use of force is perceived in relation to the R2P framework that was embraced by the member states of the UN General Assembly in 2005, and how this affects the future of R2P.

Re-examining States’ External Obligations to Implement Economic and Social Rights of Children

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Wabwile
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Social Rights ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Legal Basis ◽  
Economic Rights ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
State Practice ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
Social And Economic Rights

International law on the protection and promotion of social and economic rights of the child binds states parties to respect, protect and secure these rights both in their own territories as well as to contribute to the programmes for such fulfilment in other countries in a strategy aiming at global implementation of these rights. This paper explores the legal basis for states‘ external obligations to support fulfilment of social and economic rights. It surveys inter alia the relevant treaty texts, explanatory resolutions of the UN General Assembly and statements in reports submitted by states parties to the UN monitoring committees, and argues that recent state practice and interpretation of human rights obligations confirms the extraterritorial obligations to support fulfilment of these rights. Since these are obligations to fulfil the rights of human beings in other countries rather than obligations to third states, they can be referred to as ‘diagonal obligations‘ to distinguish them from inter-state horizontal responsibility.

scholarly journals PRINSIP RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT (R2P) DALAM KONFLIK ISRAEL- PALESTINA: BAGAIMANA SIKAP INDONESIA?

Arena Hukum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 314-327
Author(s):  
Setyo Widagdo ◽  
Rika Kurniaty
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Gaza Strip ◽  
International Community ◽  
Responsibility To Protect ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Legal Research ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Humanitarian Crisis ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
The Gaza Strip

This article aims to discuss the Principles of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) that may be applied to the conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestine. This normative legal research using a conceptual approach and a case approach indicates that the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict needs to be the focus of the international community, and the R2P principle may be applied as an alternative solution. Although the R2P principle is not a legal formulation, R2P plays an important role. It is recognized as an emerging norm or an obligation with a legal significance. R2P has been agreed upon and accepted by most countries globally that are members of the United Nations through UN General Assembly Resolutions. R2P assigns responsibility to the international community to help parties protect populations from the crime of genocide. Ultimately, R2P is expected to encourage states to fulfill their legal responsibilities and obligations, help build capacity to protect populations, and provide assistance to states in emergencies.

scholarly journals The Relationship between the Un Security Council and General Assembly in Matters of International Peace and Security

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel D. White
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Security Council ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
Responsibility To Protect ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
International Peace ◽  
Un Security Council ◽  
Peace And Security ◽  
Un General Assembly ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter examines the division of competence between the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly concerning matters of international peace and security but placed within the context of the prohibition on the use of force. Although the Security Council can authorize the use of force by states, what is not clear is whether the General Assembly can recommend that states take military action. The chapter considers the conundrum faced by the United Nations with respect to an imminent and catastrophic use of force or act of egregious violence, when the UN Security Council is deadlocked because of the lack of agreement between the permanent members. It discusses the debate over the legality of the (in)famous Uniting for Peace Resolution of 1950 within the context of the emerging principle of a Responsibility to Protect (R2P) as well as within existing principles of international law.

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