The United Nations is the principal international organisation for the maintenance of world order and the prevention and resolution of global conflict. It holds the responsibility for almost every aspect of international affairs however this responsibility is not easily enforceable resulting in many questions the effectiveness of the organisation. This essay will outline the primary aims of the United Nations before exploring the key reasons the United Nations may be deemed ineffective; these being hesitation to intervene, lack of money and manpower, enforceability and state sovereignty and finally the Security Council. In order to contextualise these ideas, this paper will primarily focus on the Rwandan Genocide.
The United Nations (UN) …show more content…
Chapter 7, Article 39 of the UN Charter states, “The Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations or decide what measures shall be taken…to maintain or restore international peace and security” whilst Article 40 states that the Security Council should, “call upon the parties concerned to comply with such provisional measures as it deems necessary or desirable.” before making recommendations as outlined in Article 39. The Rwandan Genocide is a clear example of the failure of the Security Council to effectively meet these guidelines, recognising that one of their biggest failures was the actions or rather the lack of action concerning the Rwandan Genocide; a conflict that perhaps could 've been avoided if it were not for the delay in intervention and a subsequent lack of sufficient communication and understanding. In an investigative report commissioned by Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the UN, it was demonstrated, “Rwanda [was] doomed from the start by an insufficient mandate and later destroyed by the Security Council 's refusal to strengthen it once the killings began.” (Winfield, 1999) Despite this recognition, many have debated why the Rwandan genocide was such a systematic failure. Arguing that it was hesitation from the Security Council that began the long list of wrongful actions. Following their past failure in Somalia in 1992, the UN chose to wait for the Rwandan government to ask for their help before intervening, despite various reports raising the possibility that a genocide may occur; including that of Canadian Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire. Whilst it has since been proven that reports did not reach the Security Council, the reliance on the Rwandan government was in itself a crucial mistake, as not only was it made up of the Hutu tribe but it was also the body who proceeded to officiate the slaughter of 800,000 Tutsi
The United Nations (UN) …show more content…
Chapter 7, Article 39 of the UN Charter states, “The Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations or decide what measures shall be taken…to maintain or restore international peace and security” whilst Article 40 states that the Security Council should, “call upon the parties concerned to comply with such provisional measures as it deems necessary or desirable.” before making recommendations as outlined in Article 39. The Rwandan Genocide is a clear example of the failure of the Security Council to effectively meet these guidelines, recognising that one of their biggest failures was the actions or rather the lack of action concerning the Rwandan Genocide; a conflict that perhaps could 've been avoided if it were not for the delay in intervention and a subsequent lack of sufficient communication and understanding. In an investigative report commissioned by Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the UN, it was demonstrated, “Rwanda [was] doomed from the start by an insufficient mandate and later destroyed by the Security Council 's refusal to strengthen it once the killings began.” (Winfield, 1999) Despite this recognition, many have debated why the Rwandan genocide was such a systematic failure. Arguing that it was hesitation from the Security Council that began the long list of wrongful actions. Following their past failure in Somalia in 1992, the UN chose to wait for the Rwandan government to ask for their help before intervening, despite various reports raising the possibility that a genocide may occur; including that of Canadian Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire. Whilst it has since been proven that reports did not reach the Security Council, the reliance on the Rwandan government was in itself a crucial mistake, as not only was it made up of the Hutu tribe but it was also the body who proceeded to officiate the slaughter of 800,000 Tutsi