The United Nations of the Future. What role for international law?

1. Sir Hersch Lauterpacht Memorial Lectures 2010-11 The United Nations of the Future. What role for international law? Professor Nico Schrijver Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Leiden University

2. Sir Hersch Lauterpacht Memorial Lectures 2010-11 The role of international law in UN reform Lauterpacht Lecture II Wednesday 23 February 2011

3. International law • Concept of reform • Formal amendments (Art. 108) • General Review Conference (Art. 109) • Informal Reform

4. Formal reform - Art. 108 • Has been put to use • Two phased approach • Role of permanent members • Delicate balance of power • Two thirds majority needed for both adoption and ratification • Consent permanent powers only for ratification and entry into force

5. Formal Charter amendments • Security Council • Amendment 1963, from 11 to 15 members • ECOSOC • Amendment of 1963, from 18 to 27 members • Amendment of 1971, from 27 to 54 members

6. General Review Conference -Art 109 • Upon decision by 2/3 majority UNGA and 9 out of 15 Security Council members • Aim is comprehensive review and alteration of the Charter • Never convened • Art 109 (3) is dead wood

7. Advantages informal reform and factual modifications Pragmatic Flexible Accommodating reform But potentially somewhat controversial

8. Applying and interpreting the UN Charter (I) • Voting procedure Security Council and position PRC and Russia • Expansion powers General Assembly • Uniting for peace procedure: contra legem? • Collective diplomacy and peacekeeping • The concept of “threat to the peace”

9. Applying and interpreting the UN Charter (II) New objectives Decolonization Development cooperation Environmental conservation Post-conflict peace building

10. Applying and interpreting the UN Charter (III) • Authorisation for the use of force (Art. 42) • Re-interpreting the right to self-defence (Art. 51) • Expansion of Security Council powers • Emergence of “responsibility to protect”

11. Legal instruments for pursuing informal reform (I) • New rules customary international law • GA resolutions • Interpretative • Permissive • ‘Programmatory’ • SC resolutions

12. Legal instruments for pursuing informal reform (II) Interpretation and consolidation by the International Court of Justice • Advisory Opinions • Contentious cases

13. Landmark Advisory Opinions • Reparation for Injuries (1949) • Certain Expenses of the UN (1962) • Namibia Case (1971) • Nuclear Weapons in Armed Conflict (1996) • 2 opinions, request WHO and GA • Israeli Wall (2004)

14. Sample of leading ICJ cases for interpretation UN law • Corfu Channel (1949) • Tehran Hostages (1980) • Nicaragua case (1986) • Oil Platforms (2003) • Armed Activities on Territory Congo (2005) • Application of Genocide Convention (2007)

15. Legal instruments for pursuing informal reform (III) Establishment of new organs • UNCTAD • UNEP • Peacebuilding Commission • Human Rights Council • Sanctions Committees • Ad hoc international criminal tribunals

16. Legal instruments for pursuing informal reform (IV) Innovative compliance mechanisms • Peace-keeping • Post-conflict peacebuilding • International technical assistance • Special human rights procedures • Quasi-legislative role Security Council in counter-terrorism • International criminal jurisdiction