DOI: 10.46340/eppd.2024.11.4.2
Volodymyr Lysyk, PhD in Law
Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
Khrystyna Shperun
Kherson State University, Ukraine
How to cite: Lysyk, V., & Shperun, K. (2024). UN Practice in Protecting Human Rights During Armed Conflicts. Evropský politický a právní diskurz, 11, 4, 16-26. https://doi.org/10.46340/eppd.2024.11.4.2
Abstract
This article examines the critical role of the United Nations (UN) in shaping the mechanisms for protecting human rights during armed conflicts, focusing on three interconnected aspects. First, it explores the UN’s influence on the evolution of international legal frameworks, particularly the development of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL). These frameworks have been crucial in addressing the complexities of human rights protection amidst the chaos of warfare. The UN’s involvement has not only helped establish these norms but also promoted their implementation in various conflict scenarios, thereby contributing to a more humane conduct of hostilities. On the other hand, the UN’s approach to this issue has given rise to a number of problems and raised questions that have not been resolved to date.
The article also pays considerable attention to examining UN practice on the issue of the interrelation between IHL and IHRL. It analyzes the ongoing debate regarding the applicability and precedence of these legal frameworks in UN practice. The article as well discusses the differing views on whether IHL, as the lex specialis, should override IHRL during armed conflicts, or whether both should be applied complementarily. This discussion highlights the challenges in ensuring that human rights are upheld even in the dire circumstances of war, where the balance between military necessity and humanitarian considerations is constantly tested.
In addition, the article addresses the responsibility of armed groups that commit massive human rights violations during armed conflicts, particularly when these groups are under the control of a state. It examines the legal implications of state responsibility for the actions of such groups, as outlined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and other bodies of UN. The article also considers the challenges in holding states accountable, given the complex nature of modern armed conflicts where non-state actors play a significant role.
Focusing on these three aspects, the authors argue that in recent decades there has been a clear trend of convergence between IHL and IHRL in the field of human rights protection during armed conflicts, and this has been largely facilitated by the practice of the UN and especially the International Court of Justice.
Keywords: International Human Rights Law, IHRL, International Humanitarian Law, IHL, human rights, armed conflict, International Court of Justice, strict control, effective control.
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