In United Nations Peace Operations and Human Rights: Normativity and Compliance Sylvia Maus offers a comprehensive account of the human rights obligations of United Nations peace operations with a dual focus on the applicability and the content of UN peace operationsâ human rights obligations. Selected case studies show a triad of human rights gaps: a protection gap, an accountability gap and a remedy gap.
Going further than purely legal studies on the subject, Maus makes use of international relations theory and addresses considerations of reputation and legitimacy as reasons for (non-)compliance with human rights by the UN. Based on this interdisciplinary approach, she convincingly proposes ways for enhancing human rights compliance in UN peace operations.
Sylvia Maus, Dr. jur. (2018), Technische Universität Dresden, is a post-doctoral researcher and scientific coordinator at the UNESCO Chair in International Relations. She has published several articles and book chapters on UN peace operations, human rights, sustainable development and culture, and compliance with international law.
Acknowledgements List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1 Human Rights in UN Peace Operations: the Institutional Perspective
IâUnited Nations Peace Operations
â1âDefinition, Legal Basis and Status
â2âA (short) History of Peace Operations
â3âPeacekeeping â Peacebuilding â Peace Enforcement
â4âRelevant Actors Relating to Human Rights in Peacekeeping Operations
IIâThe Relationship between Human Rights and Peace
â1âThe Point of Departure:Â Human Rights and Peace as Two Distinct Fields
â2âAn Ever-Closer Union:Â Growing Interrelatedness between Human Rights and Peace
IIIâHuman Rights in UN Peacekeeping Operations
â1âSecurity Council:Â Strategic Framework for Human Rights in Peacekeeping Operations
â2âHuman Rights in Secretary-General Reports on Peace Operations:Â Doctrine
â3âDepartment of Peace Operations:Â Operationalisation and Management
â4âOffice of the High Commissioner of Human Rights: Implementation in the Field
â5âCritical Evaluation:Â Framework, Doctrine, Implementation
2 Human Rights Obligations of UN Peace Operations: the Legal Framework
IâObligations under General International Law
â1âThe UN as a Bearer of Rights and Duties under International Law
â2âObligations Arising from International Human Rights Treaties
â3âObligations Arising from Customary International Law
â4âObligations Arising from General Principles of Law â5âResult
IIâThe Charter as Constituent Treaty of the UN
â1âProgrammatic Values or Binding Obligations? â2âThe Purpose of Promoting Human Rights â3âInterpretation of the Charter by Way of Subsequent Practice â4âResult
IIIâObligations Arising from Unilateral Acts by the UN
â1âInternal Law â2âUnilateral Declarations â3âResult
IVâStumbling Blocs:Â the âspecial statusâ of the Security Council
â1âThe Security Council as a Political Organ:Â Legibus Solutus? â2âLimitations under Article 103 UN Charter â3âDerogation from International Law When Acting under Chapter vii â4âResult
VâObligations of Peace Operations
â1âHuman Rights Obligations in Mandates â2âExtraterritorial Application of Human Rights Treaties â3âHuman Rights Obligations Derived from Peace Agreements â4âThe Role of Human Rights Obligations of the Host State â5âSelf-Commitment by the Peace Operation VIâFindings
3 Consequences of Human Rights Violations in Peace Operations IâResponsibility for Human Rights Violations
â1âAttribution of Conduct â2âCircumstances Precluding Wrongfulness â3âLegal Consequences of an Internationally Wrongful Act:Â Responsibility â4âInvocation of Responsibility
IIâAccountability for Violations of International Human Rights Law
â1âInternal Mechanisms â2âLitigation
IIIâNo Responsibility, Little Accountability
4 Human Rights in UN Peace Operations Practice IâHuman Rights in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo
â1âAbout the Mission â2âunmik Human Rights Mandate and Structures â3âPotential Human Rights Violations â4âReactions and (lack of) Consequences â5âResults
IIâHuman Rights in the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
â1âAbout the Mission â2âuntaet Human Rights Mandate and Structure â3âPotential Human Rights Violations â4âReactions and Consequences â5âResults
IIIâHuman Rights in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
â1âAbout the Mission â2âminustah Human Rights Mandate and Structure â3âPotential Human Rights Violations â4âReactions and Consequences â5âResults
IVâThe Three Gaps
â1âThe Protection Gap â2âThe Accountability Gap â3âThe Remedy Gap
5 Considerations beyond Lex Lata IâThe Meaning of Compliance
IIâExplaining (non-)Compliance â1âEnforcement Theories â1âLiberal Theories â1âConstructivist Theories â1âThe Particular Case of Human Rights Compliance
IIIâUN Compliance
â1âReputation as a Factor of IO Compliance â2âMember Statesâ Interest in Compliance during and after Peace Operations â3âThe UNâs Reputation in the Context of Peace Operations â4âAssessing the Reputational Impact of Human Rights Violations in Peace Operations
IVâA Case for Discourse
Findings and Conclusions IâFindings
â1âThe Institutional Framework â2âThe Legal Framework â3âResponsibility and Accountability â4âPractice:Â the Protection Gap, the Accountability Gap, and the Remedy Gap â5âExplaining (non-)Compliance
IIâConclusions and the Way Ahead
â1âNorm Clarification through Mandates Issued by the Security Council â2âA Peacekeeping Bill of Rights 355 â3âSecretariat Policy Documents â4âCourts and Quasi-Juridical Bodies â5âNon-State Actors and the Academic Community
Bibliography Documents Decisions of International Courts and Tribunals Index
Scholars and researchers in the field of international law, in particular human rights law and international institutional law, as well as persons working on human rights in UN missions.