The United Nations Security Council in the Age of Human Rights

Jared Genser · Bruno Stagno Ugarte

Jun 2014 · Cambridge University Press

About this ebook

This is the first comprehensive look at the human rights dimensions of the work of the only body within the United Nations system capable of compelling action by its member states. Known popularly for its failure to prevent mass atrocities in Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and Syria, the breadth and depth of the Security Council's work on human rights in recent decades is much broader. This book examines questions including: how is the Security Council dealing with human rights concerns? What does it see as the place of human rights in conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacekeeping? And how does it address the quest for justice in the face of gross violations of human rights? Written by leading practitioners, scholars and experts, this book provides a broad perspective that describes, explains and evaluates the contribution of the Security Council to the promotion of human rights and how it might more effectively achieve its goals.

About the author

Jared Genser is Managing Director of Perseus Strategies, a law and consulting firm that focuses on human rights, humanitarian and corporate social responsibility projects. Previously, Genser was a partner in the government affairs practice of DLA Piper LLP and a management consultant with McKinsey and Company. His pro bono clients have included former Czech Republic President Vaclav Havel and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Aung San Suu Kyi, Liu Xiaobo, Desmond Tutu and Elie Wiesel. He is author of The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention: Commentary and Guide to Practice (2014) and co-editor of The Responsibility to Protect: The Promise of Stopping Mass Atrocities in our Times (2011). He is a recipient of the American Bar Association's International Human Rights Award and the Charles Bronfman Prize. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Bruno Stagno Ugarte is Executive Director of the Security Council Report. Most recently, he was Foreign Minister of Costa Rica (2006–10) while the country served a two-year term on the Security Council (2008–9). Previously, Stagno Ugarte served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2002–6), Chief of Staff of the Foreign Ministry (1998–2000), Advisor to the Foreign Minister (1998) and Minister Counselor and Consul General in the Embassy in Paris (1994–8). Stagno Ugarte has also served as President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court (2005–8), Co-President of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Conferences (2007–9), Co-President of the UN 2005 Summit Outcome Document (2005) and Vice-President of the UN Commission of Sustainable Development (2002–4). He is a graduate of Georgetown University, Washington DC, Université de la Sorbonne-Paris III-IHEAL and Princeton University, New Jersey.