Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the United Nations (UN) has become more central to the lives of more people than ever before. Through our work in development, peacekeeping, the environment, and health, we are helping nations and communities to build a better, freer, more prosperous future. Above all, however, we have committed ourselves to the idea that no individualregardless of gender, ethnicity, or race—shall have his or her human rights abused or ignored. This idea is enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is the source of our greatest inspiration and the impulse for our greatest efforts. Today we know more than ever that without respect for the rights of the individual, no nation, no community, no society can be truly free. Whether our task centers on advancing development, or emphasizing the importance of preventive action, or interveningeven within the boundaries of a state—to stop gross and systematic violations of human rights, the individual has been the focus of our concerns.