Cambridge University Press The UN and Human Rights: Who Guards the Guardians?: 82 (Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law, Series Number 82)

Through an analysis of UN operations including international territorial administration, refugee camps, peacekeeping, the implementation of sanctions and the provision of humanitarian aid, this book shows that the powers exercised by the UN carry a serious risk of human rights abuse. The International Law Commission has codified and developed the law of institutional responsibility, but, while indispensable, these principles and rules cannot on their own ensure compliance and accountability. The 'liberty deficit' of the UN and of other international organisations thus remains an urgent legal and political problem. Some solutions may be available; indeed, recent state and institutional practice offers interesting examples in this respect. But at a fundamental level we need to ask ourselves whether, judged on the basis of the principle of liberty, the power shift from states to international organisations is always beneficial. Review '… this book deserves to be highly commended for highlighting an important problem - the lack of accountability of the UN - and systematically looking at the practice of the organisation and the obligations involved.' Tiina Pajuste, British Yearbook of International Law'Verdirame has produced an excellent and sophisticated study of a complex issue, passionately defending the need to protect individuals from human rights violations by international organizations but acknowledging that organizations need to be left some leeway as well in dealing with policy dilemmas.' Jan Klabbers, International Organizations Law Review Book Description This books asks, can the UN violate human rights, and if so, how can it be held accountable? About the Author Guglielmo Verdirame is Professor of International Law at the Department of War Studies and the School of Law at King's College London. Before taking on this position, he was a Lecturer at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law. His main areas of research and teaching are public international law, and legal and political philosophy. He is a barrister at 20 Essex Street chambers, London.