issues in world order

Contemporary Issues in World Order

Contemporary Issues in World Order1. The principle of “responsibility to protect”

2.regional and global situations that threatenpeace and security

3.the success of global cooperation in achievingworld order

4. rules regarding the conduct of hostilities`

1. The principle of “responsibility to protect”

2.regional and global situations that threatenpeace and security

3.the success of global cooperation in achievingworld order

4. rules regarding the conduct of hostilities`

1.“Responsibility to Protect”

new international security and human rights norm (R2P)

This norm derived from the need to have ‘humanitarian intervention’ in the conflicts of Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo

This issue challenges the concept of state sovereignty

Legal Responses

onus is placed on nation states and international organisations

also includes the ‘responsibility to warn’ for nation states

designed to prevent mass atrocity crimes

Obama and Libya

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Non-Legal Responses

NGO’s are at the forefront of this principle (ICG). They have been involved in:

strengthening the acceptance of R2P

building NGO skills to apply pressure to governments

dealing with country specific situations

The International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRTOP) was raised by NGO’s

Conclusion

Two contradictory aspects of the UN charter are developed

the non-interference principle in relation to state sovereignty

obligation of UN members to act against human rights violations

Priorities for R2P

correct labelling of R2P conflicts

prevention not military action

The UNSC needs to develop specific guidelines when force is used (Libya 2011)

More power given to IGO’s

2. Regional and global situations that threaten peace

and security: The Nuclear Threat

Nuclear Weapons is the greatest threat to peace and security globally

There has been a reduction of nuclear weapons. However, the detonation of only a few hundred would cause massive ecological and humanitarian disasters

Legal Responses

Bilateral Treaties have been established to disarm nation states

1983-USA and USSR talks

1991 - They sign START 1 which reduces their arsenals of warheads

2002 - SORT Treaty signed - criticism was made because many nuclear arms were simply stored

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USA-Russia Relations

Multilateral treaties

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) 1968 - reducing countries that possessed nuclear weaponry

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) by 1996. 182 signatories and 153 ratifications. The United States has not ratified the treaty

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Conference 2010



UNSC and Nuclear Disarmament

Tug of war between the Cold War years

UNSC has strived to work on a case by case basis with countries of interest

Case 1: IraqResolution 687 in 1991 - destruction of all chemical, ballistic and biological weapons by Saddam Hussein

Comply to rigorous UNSC weapons inspections

Still today there have been no weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have been found in Iraq

Case 2: North KoreaIn the early nineties, North Korea began developing nuclear weapons that were known to the worlds powers

Agreements were made with the USA but in 2003 N. Korea withdrew from the NPT

2006 it detonated a nuclear bomb (as a test apparently), followed by UNSC pressure, which still remains today

Obama’s warning to Iran



UN sanctions placed on North Korea 2009



UNSC Resolution 1887 - Maintenance of international peace and security: Nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament

all 15 members of the UNSC voted yes

Strong support for NPT

Pressure was applied to non signatories such as India, Pakistan and Israel

Non-Legal Responses

International Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission

Begun in 2003 - President Hans Blix

The International Commission on Nuclear Non Proliferation and Disarmament

The NPT Review

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)

3.The success in achieving world order:

East TimorIn comparison to previous interventions, East Timor is considered a success

Issues involved

Indonesia’s Illegal occupation in 1975

Mass atrocity crimes during their occupation of 25 years

Violence occurred during the 1999 crisis

Indonesian Invasion

Portugese left East Timor so Indonesia decided to invade

The United Nations never accepted this act of aggression by Indonesia

Australia never openly disagreed with Indonesia’s actions but during the 1990s, growing concerns developed, including the mass atrocity crimes in Dili in 1991

Legal Responses

UNSC and Resolution 1246 -Ballot to Decide on Special Autonomy for East Timor

UN established the United Nations mission in East Timor (UNAMET)

Robust action was taken by the UN but the enforcement agencies were still weak in their intervention

The forces were limited by the right that Indonesia still had to agree to the actions (State Sovereignty was still held)

In 1999, a UNAMET observed ballot was taken. 78.5% of East Timorese voted for Independence

Violence eventuated, the TNI – Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian army) invaded and destroyed 70% of infrastructure and killed between 1000 and 2000 people

UNSC Resolution 1264

Established INTERFET - (International Force for East Timor) peacekeeping force under Australian command

Humanitarian assistance was given and eventually violence stopped, giving success to the resolution

UN Transitional Administration in East Timor

replaced INTERFET

To lead East Timor to statehood and help to build the foundation for democracy.

East Timor, now known as Timor-Leste, became an independent country on 20 May 2002

Australia and East Timor



Success for the UN in East Timor

Deemed a success due to the willingness of Australia providing military assistance

The final outcomes has been a new independent state, this may have not been possible without UN intervention

Kofi Annan - speech on East Timor

Independence Day



Non-Legal Responses

The Media - Live footage was displayed around the world which led to strong opposition against the Indonesian government

Diplomatic pressure - pressure was placed through negotiations with the Indonesian government

Balibo 5 - Movie Trailer



NGO expertise - provides assistance on health, education and basic needs with East Timor during all events

Australian Aid - a range of statistics can be sourced from the textbook

4. Rules regarding the conduct of hostilities: International

humanitarian lawInternational humanitarian law (IHL) refers to the body of treaties and humanitarian principles that regulate the conduct of armed conflict and seek to limit its effects

Treaties include:

The Hague Conventions 1899 and 1907

The four Geneva Conventions 1864, 1949

The Geneva Protocol 1977

In 1863 the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded was established

Before this time period, the treatment of people injured in war was random. There were no international standards for the conduct of war

Henri Dunant - Founded the ICRC

Henri Dunant - Founded the ICRC

Legal Responses

Today, all nation states know the standards of decent conduct in war

the Geneva Conventions are the most signed and ratified set of treaties in the world, with 194 signatories.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) becomes a legal response due to its incorporation in treaties

The Four Geneva Conventions 1864, 1949, 1977

1864 - 12 nations agree, establishing a neutrality of war and the use of the red cross flag

1949 - first GC updated and 3 conventions added. Protection of civilians and other non fighting parties

1977 - Two additional protocols were supplemented dealing with torture and inhuman treatment

The First Geneva Convention (1949) protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war

The Second Geneva Convention (1949) protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked personnel at sea during war.

The Third Geneva Convention (1949) protects prisoners of war

The Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) protects civilians, including those in occupied territory.

Article 3 of all Geneva conventions covers situations of intra-state armed conflict

prisoners of war

The Hague Conventions 1899 and 1907

1899 was to prohibit the use of certain types of technology in war, including chemical weapons and hollow point bullets

1907 focused on naval warfare

Signatories to the Hague Conventions

Courts

The ICRC was instrumental in the creation of the International Criminal Court

In 1945–46 the Nuremberg Trials put top Nazi leaders on trial for war crimes and set a precedent of holding leaders accountable for their actions

In the 1990s, the UN Security Council established ad hoc international tribunals in response to the mass killings

2002 the GC entered into force and the International Criminal Court came into being. The ICC finally gave teeth to the Geneva Conventions

Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo

Breaches of the GC by the USA

USA labelled alleged terrorists as ‘unlawful combatants’ therefore outside the protection of the GC

Additionally, the military made it difficult for the Red Cross to visit

Finally, Guantanamo prison was established to ignore domestic law within the USA

Iraqi victims being tortured in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq were released to the media

Other allied countries were dismayed that the USA were using such tactics

In 2009 President Obama announced that Guantanamo Bay prison facilities would be closed

Non-Legal Responses

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plays a significant role

acts as a neutral party and helps people on all sides in a conflict

visits prison camps, internment camps or labour camps of both sides

evaluating the conditions of prisoners of war held in detention

David Hicks and John Howard Q&A 2010

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issues in world order

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