The Role of the Security Council in Strengthening a Rules-Based International System
In 2004-08, the Permanent Mission of Austria to the UN, together with the Institute for International Justice at the New York University School of Law, convened a series of panel discussions on various aspects of the central theme. A major report, prepared by Simon Chesterman, was issued in 2008 as a United Nations document: UN Security Council and the Rule of Law. The discussions among leading diplomats, UN senior staff, and international law academics provided a refreshingly frank exchange on the role and function of the Security Council. During Austia’s term on the Security Council 2009-10, further initiatives are under consideration.
Reports from some of the panel discussions are available here:
- Overview of the first six panels 2004-07
- Panel 1: The Security Council as World Legislator? Theoretical and practical aspects of law-making by the Security Council (November 4, 2004)
- Panel 2: Who Needs Rules? The Prospects of a Rules-Based International System (May 5, 2005)
- Panel 3: The Security Council as World Judge? The Powers and Limits of the UN Security Council in Relation to Judicial Functions (October 27, 2005)
- Panel 4: The Security Council as World Executive? – The implementation and enforcement of rules by the Security Council (October 26, 2006)
- Panel 5: The Security Council and the Individual – Rights and Responsibilities (March 27, 2007). Topics discussed included Targeted Financial Sanctions, the Responsibility to Protect (including military and non-military measures), and Accountability for Actions taken in the Name of the Security Council.
- Alpbach Retreat: The Security Council and the Rule of Law (Alpbach, Austria, August 25-27, 2007)
- Panel 6: The Security Council and the Rule of Law (November 1, 2007)
In addition, the following scholarly papers have been produced on the topic:
- Simon Chestrerman, An Interntional Rule of Law?, draft article
- Working Paper 2005/18: Axel Marschik, Security Council as World Legislator?: Theory, Practice & Consequences of an Expanding World Power