Abstract

The Rwanda genocide during the 1990s showed the failure of the international community to prevent mass atrocities and save civilians’ lives. The current movement toward advancing the Responsibility to Protect Resolution has grown out of recognition of the global community’s insufficient response to the 20th century mass atrocities. As a result the concept of R2P was born during that time in order to save people from crimes against humanity and genocide. However, since the 1990s until today crimes and violence against civilians continue to occur. For example, the situation in several Arab countries and the attacks against civilians such as Libya and Syria lead us to question concepts such as the responsibility to protect and humanitarian intervention. This thesis explores the concept of R2P within the UN system. This paper argues that R2P resolution should be done within the UN as it is an international organization which should have the authority to apply the concept of R2P. The problem is that within the UN Security Council the five permanent members maintain undue control because of their veto power. All countries in the UN should participate in deciding whether it is urgent and useful to intervene in a country to save its civilians or not. The thesis mainly evaluates the Uniting for Peace Resolution as a way to overcome the 5 Permanent members veto power.

Department

Law Department

Degree Name

MA in International Human Rights Law

Graduation Date

6-1-2013

Submission Date

February 2013

First Advisor

Sayed, Hani

Committee Member 1

Beckett, Jason

Committee Member 2

Skouteris, Thomas

Extent

64 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Responsibility to protect (Intertiol law)

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

United tions. Security Council.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

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