Read more
The book makes the case that existing legal obligations constrain how the UN Security Council permanent members use their veto. Through the lens of atrocities occurring in Syria, Myanmar, Darfur, and elsewhere, the book outlines the parameters international law creates in situations of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
List of contents
Foreword Richard J. Goldstone; Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1. The origins and history of the veto and its use; 2. Acting in the face of atrocity crimes humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to protect; 3. Initiatives to voluntarily restrain veto use in the face of atrocity crimes; 4. Questioning the legality of veto use in the face of genocide, crimes against humanity, and/or war crimes; 5. Case studies veto use related to the situation in Syria and veto threats related to the situation in Darfur; Index.
About the author
Jennifer Trahan is Clinical Professor at New York University's Center for Global Affairs. She is a prolific scholar in the field of international justice. She has written scores of law review articles, book chapters, and comprehensive digests on the case law of the Yugoslav and Rwanda Tribunals.
Summary
In this book, the author outlines three independent bases for the existence of legal limits to the veto by UN Security Council permanent members while atrocity crimes are occurring. The provisions of the UN Charter creating the veto cannot override the UN's 'Purposes and Principles', nor jus cogens (peremptory norms of international law). There are also positive obligations imposed by the Geneva and Genocide Conventions in situations of war crimes and genocide - conventions to which all permanent members are parties. The author demonstrates how vetoes and veto threats have blocked the Security Council from pursuing measures that could have prevented or alleviated atrocity crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes) in places such as Myanmar, Darfur, Syria, and elsewhere. As the practice continues despite regular condemnation by other UN member states and repeated voluntary veto restraint initiatives, the book explores how the legality of this practice could be challenged.
Foreword
The book outlines legal limits to the veto power of UN Security Council permanent members while atrocity crimes are occurring.
