ECH 2300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Secretary-General Of The United Nations, Office Of The United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights
21 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Module 5
The enforcement spectrum
-Progression of action by the UN (from least intrusive to most intrusive on state
sovereignty)
-Dialogue; persuasion; criticism; investigation;; punishment; use of force
-Dialogue: between state and UN; simple recommendations (universal periodic review)
-Persuasion: state is legally required (ratifying treaties) to report or engage on human
rights (such as UN treaty body)
-Criticism: singling out the state by other member states (HRC expresses human rights
abuses)
-Investigation: Rare for specific investigations; potential criminal punishment
-Punishment: force a state to comply with obligations (sanctions such as travel bans,
financing); investigation too
-Use of force: UN Security Council uses military force to put an end to mass atrocities
(very controversial)
-States are more likely to comply with least intrusive procedures
-Not a measure of effectiveness – depends on context!
-Simply a range of techniques that the UN uses to protect human rights
The creation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHCR)
-Human Rights Council = made up of UN states
-Committee on Torture = experts
-OHCHR (civil service arm) approved by UNSG
-Prior, there was the Centre of Human Rights – but no capacity for independent action
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Progression of action by the un (from least intrusive to most intrusive on state sovereignty) Dialogue; persuasion; criticism; investigation;; punishment; use of force. Dialogue: between state and un; simple recommendations (universal periodic review) Persuasion: state is legally required (ratifying treaties) to report or engage on human rights (such as un treaty body) Criticism: singling out the state by other member states (hrc expresses human rights abuses) Investigation: rare for specific investigations; potential criminal punishment. Punishment: force a state to comply with obligations (sanctions such as travel bans, financing); investigation too. Use of force: un security council uses military force to put an end to mass atrocities (very controversial) States are more likely to comply with least intrusive procedures. Not a measure of effectiveness depends on context! Simply a range of techniques that the un uses to protect human rights. The creation of the office of the united nations high commissioner for human rights (ochcr)
