Architectural Clarity or Creative Ambiguity? The Place of the Human Rights Council in the Institutional Structure of the United Nations
Series
Oxford Scholarship Online
ISBN
978-0-19-172527-2
Type
book section
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Fastenrath, Ulrich
Abstract
The creation of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in 2006 can be seen as the most important change in the institutional structure of the United Nations (UN) since its inception. This statement is perhaps somewhat surprising because the Council was not established with ease. It was a child of both widespread discontent (with the work of the Commission on Human Rights) and of compromise (between those with higher aspirations for a new UN human rights body and those who wished to maintain the status quo, if not in form then in substance). This chapter takes a closer look at the institutional structure of the UN as it emerged from the creation of the HRC. Do we really see ‘architectural clarity’, or rather creative ambiguity? And which of the two is better in this case? Special attention is given to the legal and the working relationship between the Council and the principal organs of the UN.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
No
Book title
From Bilateralism to Community Interest : Essays in Honour of Judge Bruno Simma
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publisher place
Oxford
Start page
443
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
234706