Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
SpringerLink
Log in

The UN Security Council and Human Rights

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
International Human Rights Institutions, Tribunals, and Courts

Part of the book series: International Human Rights ((IHR))

  • 173 Accesses

Abstract

The UN Security Council and Human Rights examines the relationship between peace and security and human rights and the role human rights have played in the thinking and action of the Security Council when addressing conflicts worldwide. Human rights feature prominently in the Charter of the United Nations. For decades, however, human rights were seen as being largely outside the scope of the Security Council. Over the past quarter of a century or so, the Security Council has indeed significantly changed its attitude to human rights. This chapter examines the evolution of the Security Council’s approach to human rights, including in relation to peace operations, visiting missions, and sanctions regimes. It also examines the relationship between the Security Council and the parts of the UN system specifically focused on human rights, in particular the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This close examination suggests that the Security Council’s resort to the different tools available and its follow-up has been uneven in relation to human rights. A conclusion reached is that meaningful human rights results on the ground in conflict situations are achieved when there is burden sharing both within the Security Council and among the different parts of the UN, maximizing all resources. Related to this conclusion is that human rights improvements are never just the success of one actor and that the different actors can reinforce each other’s contribution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

Security Council Resolutions

  • S/RES/1012 (1995) Established an international commission of inquiry into the 1993 coup attempt in Burundi and into the massacres that followed

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/120 (1956) Referred the situation in Hungary to the General Assembly

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1267 (1999) Established the Al-Qaida and Taliban committee and its sanctions mandate

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1272 (1999) Established UNTAET in East Timor

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1315 (2000) Requested the Secretary-General to negotiate an agreement to create the Special Court for Sierra Leone

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1410 (2002) Established the UN Mission of Support in East Timor and stressed the importance of ensuring that those who committed serious crimes should be brought to justice

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1564 (2004) Established the International Commission of Inquiry to investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in Darfur

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1591 (2005) Created a committee and panel of experts and additional individually targeting measures

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1593 (2005) Referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/161 (1961) Was on the situation in the Congo following the killings of Congolese leaders Patrice Lumumba, Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1690 (2006) Extended the UN Office in Timor-Leste (UNOTIL) until 20 August and requested a report with recommendations for a future UN presence by 7 August

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1698 (2006) Extended sanctions to individuals recruiting or targeting children in situations of armed conflict, expressed the intention to consider measures over natural resources, and renewed the sanctions regime and the mandate of the Group of Experts until 31 July 2007

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1807 (2008) Extended the sanctions regime on the DRC until 31 December 2008

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/181 (1963) Called on South Africa to abandon the policies of apartheid and discrimination

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/182 (1963) Called on South Africa to comply with resolution 181

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/190 (1964) Urged South Africa to cease prosecution of the opponents of apartheid policy

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/191 (1964) Related to the policies of apartheid by the Government of South Africa

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/1970 (2011) Referred the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court, imposed an arms embargo and targeted sanctions (assets freeze and travel ban) and established a sanctions committee

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/2002 (2011) Extended the mandate of the monitoring group on Somalia and Eritrea for 12 months and expanded the criteria for targeted sanctions to include recruitment and use of children in armed conflict and targeting of civilians

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/203 (1965) Was a resolution on the situation in the Dominican Republic

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/2127 (2013) Asked the Secretary-General to establish an international commission of inquiry in order to investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law, international human rights law and abuses of human rights in CAR

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/2140 (2014) Expressed the Council’s strong support for the next steps of the political transition and established sanctions against those threatening the peace, security or stability of Yemen

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/2171 (2014) Requested the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Council on actions taken to “promote and strengthen conflict prevention tools within the United Nations system” by 31 August 2015

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/2206 (2015) Established a sanctions regime for South Sudan

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/253 (1968) Established the first Council sanctions committee to monitor the implementation of the sanctions measures in Southern Rhodesia

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/418 (1977) Imposed a mandatory ban on all states from engaging in “any cooperation with South Africa in the manufacture and development of nuclear weapons”

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/693 (1991) Mandated the UN Observer Mission in El Salvador to monitor the human rights situation in El Salvador

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/745 (1992) Established UNTA

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/780 (1992) Asked the Secretary-General to appoint an international commission to provide recommendations on how to address the situation in the former Yugoslavia

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/824 (1993) Established safe areas in Bosnia and related UNPROFOR responsibilities

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/827 (1993) Established the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/841 (1993) Imposed sanctions in connection with Haiti

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/872 (1993) Established UNAMIR in Rwanda

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/925 (1994) Extended the mandate of UNAMIR (Rwanda) for additional six months

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/935 (1994) Requested the Secretary-General to establish a commission of experts to obtain information regarding grave violations of international law in Rwanda

    Google Scholar 

  • S/RES/955 (1994) Established the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

    Google Scholar 

Security Council Presidential Statements

  • S/23500 (1992) Was adopted following the first Security Council meeting on the level of heads of state on 31 January 1992

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PRST/1994/60 (1994) Was on the situation in Burundi

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PRST/2004/17 (2004) Asked the Secretary-General to establish an international commission of inquiry to investigate all human rights violations committed in Côte d’Ivoire since 19 September 2002 and determine responsibility

    Google Scholar 

Security Council Reports

  • S/1996/682 (1996) Was a report of international commission of inquiry into the 1993 coup attempt in Burundi and into the massacres that followed established through Security Council resolution 1012 of 28 August 1995

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2005/60 (2005) Was the report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur to the Secretary-General

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2006/822 (2006) Was a report of the Independent Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-Leste

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2014/276 (2014) Was a letter to the Council from Australia, France and the US transmitting the report of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the DPRK

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2014/928 (2014) Was the final report of the CAR Commission of Inquiry

    Google Scholar 

Security Council Letters

  • S/2014/501 (2014) Was from Australia, France and the US summarising the Council’s Arria-formula meeting on the CoI report on human rights in DPRK

    Google Scholar 

  • S/24393 (1992) Was from Belgium requesting that the Security Council invite the CHR Special Rapporteur on Iraq, Max van der Stoel, to address the Council

    Google Scholar 

  • S/24394 (1992) Was from France requesting that the Security Council invite the CHR Special Rapporteur on Iraq, Max van der Stoel, to address the Council

    Google Scholar 

  • S/24395 (1992) Was from the UK requesting that the Council invite the CHR Special Rapporteur on Iraq, Max van der Stoel, to address the Council

    Google Scholar 

  • S/24396 (1992) Was from the US requesting that the Security Council invite the CHR Special Rapporteur on Iraq, Max van der Stoel to address the Council

    Google Scholar 

Security Council Meeting Records

  • S/PV.3046 (1992) Was the first Security Council meeting held at the level of heads of state

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.3105 (1992) The Council decided for the first time to invite a Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights (Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iraq Max Van der Stoel) to address the body during a meeting on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.3134 (1992) Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the former Yugoslavia, Tadeusz Mazowiecki, was invited to address the Council during its consideration of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.3139 (1992) The Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iraq, Max Van der Stoel, was invited to address the Council on the situation in between Kuwait and Iraq

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.4046 (1999) Was semi-annual debate on the protection of civilians during which the High Commissioner for Human Right (Mary Robinson at the time) addressed the Security Council for the first time

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.4143 and Resumption 1 (2000) Was an open debate on the DRC following the Council’s visit to the country from 3 to 8 May

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.5005 (2004) Was an open debate on the Security Council visiting mission to West Africa from 20 to 29 June 2004

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.5581 (2006) Was on the report of the Council visiting mission to Afghanistan

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.6351 (2010) Was on Afghanistan

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.7289 (2014) Was the annual open debate on women, peace and security during which Chaloka Beyani, HRC Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, was among the briefers

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.7898 (2017) Was an open debate on trafficking in persons in conflict situations during which Urmila Bhoola, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, was among the briefers

    Google Scholar 

  • S/PV.7926 (2017) Was the first formal Security Council meeting with a stated focus on human rights

    Google Scholar 

Other

  • S/1994/1039 (1994) Was the report of the Security Council’s fact-finding mission to Burundi, on 13 and 14 August 1994

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2006/391 (2006) Was an 8 June 2006 request by Timor Leste to the Council asking it to establish an independent commission of inquiry into violent events that resulted in mass displacement of civilians earlier in the year

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2007/14 (2007) Was a draft resolution on the situation in Myanmar which was vetoed by China and Russia

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2008/447 (2008) Was a draft resolution on the situation in Zimbabwe

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2009/243 (2009) Was a letter containing the terms of reference for the Security Council mission to Africa in May 2009

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2011/612 (2011) Was a vetoed draft Security Council resolution condemning the Syrian crackdown on protestors. Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution and Brazil, India, Lebanon and South Africa abstained

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2012/538/Rev.2 (n.d.) Was a draft resolution on Syria that did not pass

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2014/189 (2014) Was a draft resolution on Ukraine that was not adopted due to a veto by Russia

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2014/348 (2014) Was a draft resolution referring situation in Syria to the ICC

    Google Scholar 

  • S/2015/508 (2015) Was a draft resolution to commemorate the anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide that was vetoed by Russia and Angola. China, Nigeria and Venezuela abstained

    Google Scholar 

  • S/25700 (1993) Was the report of the Security Council visiting mission to former Yugoslavia, including Sarajevo and Srebrenica

    Google Scholar 

UN Human Rights Council/Commission on Human Rights

  • 1992/S-1/1 (1992) Was a resolution adopted at the first special session of the CHS which requested the appointment of the Special Rapporteur to investigate the human rights situation on the territory of former Yugoslavia

    Google Scholar 

  • A/HRC/RES/15/15 (2010) Was a Human Rights Council resolution extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

    Google Scholar 

  • A/HRC/RES/25/25 (2014) Was a Human Rights Council resolution which welcomed the report of HRC commission of inquiry on human rights in DPRK and recommended that the General Assembly submit the report of the commission of inquiry to the Security Council

    Google Scholar 

  • A/HRC/RES/27/16 (2014) Was Human Rights Council resolution on the human rights situation in Syria

    Google Scholar 

  • A/HRC/RES/28/20 (2015) Was a Human Rights Council resolution on human rights and the humanitarian situation in Syria

    Google Scholar 

  • A/HRC/RES/30/10 (2015) Was a Human Rights Council resolution on human rights and the humanitarian situation in Syria

    Google Scholar 

  • E/CN.4/1994/7/Add/1 (1993) Was a report by the CHR Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions regarding the situation in Rwanda

    Google Scholar 

General Assembly

  • A/RES/3/217 A (1948) Was Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    Google Scholar 

  • A/RES/48/141 (1993) Was a resolution that created the post of High Commissioner for Human Rights

    Google Scholar 

  • A/RES/60/251 (2006) Was a resolution that established the Human Rights Council

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Security Council Report, New York, NY, USA

    Joanna Weschler & Lindiwe Knutson

Authors
  1. Joanna Weschler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lindiwe Knutson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joanna Weschler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst für Völkerreicht & Int'l Beziehung, Karl Franzens Universität Graz Inst für Völkerreicht & Int'l Beziehung, Graz, Austria

    Gerd Oberleitner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Weschler, J., Knutson, L. (2018). The UN Security Council and Human Rights. In: Oberleitner, G. (eds) International Human Rights Institutions, Tribunals, and Courts. International Human Rights. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4516-5_9-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4516-5_9-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-4516-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-4516-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Law and CriminologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation