Review Of The United Nations Charter

Recent resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, notably those resulting in the freezing of assets of individuals and organisations suspected of involvement in international terrorism, have had far-reaching consequences for member states and individuals. In addition, they might conflict with international human rights standards that are binding on the Security Council itself. In light of the limited possibility for reviewing the legality of these resolutions on the international level, individuals have recently begun to challenge their implementation on the national and regional level. This emerging practice raises the question whether states and regional organisations such as the EU can engage in such review and, if so, to what extent.

The Charter of the United Nations was signed in 1945 by 51 countries representing all continents, paving the way for the creation of the United Nations on 24 October 1945. The Statute of the International Court of Justice forms part of the Charter. The aim of the Charter is to save humanity from war; to reaffirm human rights and the dignity and worth of the human person; to proclaim the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small; and to promote the prosperity of all humankind. The Charter is the foundation of international peace and security.

This volume contains the full text of the United Nations Charter and the Statute of the International Court of Justice, as well as related historical documents. They are accompanied by ten original essays on the Charter and its legacy by distinguished scholars and former high-level UN officials. The commentaries illuminate the early and ongoing roles of the United Nations in responding to international crises, debates about the UN’s architecture and its reform, and its role in global governance, climate change, peacekeeping, and development. A concise and accessible introduction to the UN for students, this collection also offers important new scholarship that will be of interest to experts.