Tag Archives: UN
13 August 2013
The UN Secretary-General published his fifth report on the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) entitled ‘Responsibility to protect: State responsibility and prevention’. The term state responsibility refers to primary legal and moral obligations, including both national efforts and international efforts to assist other states.
The report offers an overview of risk factors and considers how states can increase their capacity to prevent by offering different policy options, such as the establishment of partnerships for prevention. In the conclusion, the Secretary-General refers to the ‘collective failure to prevent atrocity crimes in the Syrian Arab Republic’ and the moral burden this places on the UN and member states, ‘in particular those who have primary responsibility for international peace and security’.
Source: Responsibility to protect: State responsibility and prevention | Report of the Secretary-General | A/67/929–S/2013/399 | 9 July 2013
8 August 2013
A report released on 6 August by researchers at Yale University documents how UN negligence caused the cholera epidemic in Haiti, and argues that the UN therefore has legal and moral obligations to remedy the harm caused.
The report also calls for setting up a claims commission, as referred to in the MINUSTAH Status of Forces Agreement, and recommends the Organisation to issue a public apology, direct aid to the victims and comply with its contractual and international law obligations. The report comes after the UN Office of Legal Affairs determined in February that the claims of the victims were not receivable pursuant to Section 29 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nation.
Source: Yale Law School News | New Report Holds U.N. Responsible for Haitian Cholera Epidemic
Source: UN Department of Public Information | Haiti Cholera Victims’ Compensation Claims ‘Not Receivable’ under Immunities and Privileges Convention, United Nations Tells Their Representatives | 21 February 2013
Source: Agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Haiti concerning the status of the United Nations Operation in Haiti | 9 July 2004
8 August 2013
In a UN Security Council debate held on 6 August, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emphasised the importance of increasing cooperation among regional and sub-regional organisations and the UN in order to address challenges in maintaining international peace and security.
The Secretary General stated that these organisations have unique insights that are critical for mediation, planning a peacekeeping operation, and building lasting peace. He also encouraged states to examine how they can expand cooperation in pursuit of international peace and security. “Only through cooperation will we meet our shared aspirations for a more peaceful world,” the Secretary General said.
Source: UN News Centre | Regional organizations must expand cooperation to tackle global challenges – Ban
14 June 2013
The US is going to provide direct military aid to the Syrian opposition, the White House announced on Thursday 13 June after having concluded that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons. The announcement comes after repeated statements by the Obama administration that the use of chemical weapons would cross a red line and violate international norms.
The details of the aid to be provided were not revealed, but officials were reported saying small arms, ammunition and anti-tank weapons could be included. According to the deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes, the US is going to proceed on its own timeline but will take up the issue with allies in next week’s G8 summit. The US has previously said it preferred an endorsement by the UN on further action, but has suggested it’s decision would not depend on it.
Source: BBC | US says it will give military aid to Syria rebels
Source: The Guardian | US says it will arm Syrian rebels following chemical weapons tests
Source: Al Jazeera | US offers 'military support' to Syrian rebels
Source: El País | EE UU anuncia ayuda militar para los rebeldes sirios
2013
This short article sheds some light on the difficulties inherent in the application of international responsibility mechanisms to situations of authorized regional uses of force. It shows the extent to which the double institutional veil that characterizes these situations comes … Read more