The Necessity of a Role for the ECOSOC in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security

摘要

The maintenance of international peace and security and the promotion and protection of human rights are two of the objectives of the United Nations enshrined in the Charter. These objectives have existed largely side by side and the contributing role of human rights violations to conflict creation as well as the significance of their protection to securing conflict resolution has been somewhat overlooked. In this article, particular focus is placed upon the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) given that it is the UN body from which much of that organisation's human rights standards have emanated. However, human rights are also forming an ever-increasing aspect of Security Council deliberations on the maintenance of international peace and security. Recent humanitarian interventions demonstrate that the Security Council has a mandate to act in the face of massive human rights violations, and such interventions have been justified on the basis that such violations constitute a threat to international peace and security.