Dr. Musa Yerro Gassama

Academic Course Module

The Human Rights Agenda in United Nations Led Peacekeeping Field Missions

A Practitioner Approach

Showcasing UN Peacekeeping Missions in Central African Republic and South Sudan

Download Lecture Slides Download Course Agenda

Module Rationale & Academic Purpose

The lecture aims to provide stories that depict the successes and opportunities as well as the threats to the multilateral system by highlighting and demonstrating how the system is tested at field level by individual member states and by ordinary people, far beyond the conference halls of New York and Geneva and on a daily basis.

This lecture could be of interest to any student at tertiary level with intellectual curiosity, including students undertaking social science and behavioral science studies, including on Public Policy and Administration, Law, Diplomacy, International Affairs, International Relations, Conflict Management and Resolution, Organizational and Global Leadership studies.

It is hoped that the sharing of a wealth of knowledge and lived experiences could not only empower students but also inspire and empower them to contribute to social change. By helping students to understand the unique role that the UN-led Multilateral system plays, they can use the system to better contribute to the values of international solidarity, cooperation and partnership in global affairs and could affect positive social change.

Background Note

Contemporary challenges, though could be matters of internal country affairs, could also trigger or pose threats beyond country political boundaries with dire consequences to regional and global security. This situation calls for regional and global interventions, including the use of multilateral mechanisms.

The United Nations (UN) Charter, adopted in 1945 defines the foundation, the purpose of the global multilateral system, the values that the system cherishes, the global issues it aims to address, and the mechanisms, processes and institutions to sustain the system. The UN Charter also defines the human rights agenda of the multilateral system especially in addressing peace and security agenda.

Beyond the UN Charter, the multilateral system has developed declarations, conventions, and other instruments that are politically and/or legally binding, requiring member states to adhere to human rights principles, standards, norms, and practice.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1
Understand the global and geopolitical context of human rights in UN peacekeeping missions
2
Comprehend the human rights architecture of the United Nations led multilateral system
3
Analyze the mainstreaming and integration of human rights agenda in UN peacekeeping field missions
4
Evaluate the application of international human rights norms at field level
5
Identify challenges and threats to the multilateral system in addressing human rights
6
Propose solutions for enhancing the use of the UN-led multilateral system to address human rights issues

Module Structure

The module is structured into 7 comprehensive slides, each building upon the previous content.

01

Introduction and Context

  • Briefing on the global and geopolitical context and impact at
  • Briefing on the regional context and impact at
  • The local context and impact at community level
  • Contemporary challenges, though could be matters of internal country affairs, could also trigger or pose threats beyond country political boundaries with dire consequences to regional and global security.
  • This situation calls for regional and global interventions, including the use of multilateral mechanisms.
  • Role of the Practitioner:
02

The Human Rights Architecture of the United Nations led Multilateral System

The UN human rights architecture is one of the main tools in addressing threats to global peace and security by the at global, regional and s, especially through the peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peace building mechanisms and programs of the UN Secretariat, headed by the UN Secretary General.

  • The UN Charter: adopted in 1945, defines the purpose of the global multilateral system, the values that the system cherishes, the global issues it aims to address, and the mechanisms, processes and institutions to sustain the system.
  • The UN Charter: a rule-based and value-based system that brings every state or country/nation into its folder or framework.
  • The UN Charter also defines the human rights agenda of the multilateral system especially in addressing peace and security agenda.
  • Declarations and Conventions: declarations, conventions, politically and or legally binding member states to adhere to human rights principles, standards, norms, and practice.
  • UN Security Council Mandate, Structures, Composition, Processes-Decision-making, and Dynamics
  • UN General Assembly Mandate, Structures, Composition, Processes-Decision-making, and Dynamics
  • UN Human Rights Council Mandate, Structures, Composition, Processes-Decision-making, and Dynamics
  • Mandate Implementing Organs: UN Secretariat Mandate, Structures, Composition, Processes-Decision-making, and Dynamics
  • Other UN Special Mechanisms on Human Rights
  • Connections with regional mechanisms
  • Connections with national-level Human Rights Architectures
03

The Action: Mainstreaming/Integration of Human Rights Agenda in UN Peacekeeping Field Missions

  • Central African Republic
  • South Sudan
04

Application of International Human Rights Norms at

  • Human Rights Mandate Implementation (Human Rights Components in Peacekeeping Field Missions)
  • Methodology and Techniques and Approaches
  • Evidence-Based/Data Driven Early Warning for the Protection of Civilians
  • Technical Assistance, Advisory Services, and Capacity Building
  • Other related Issues- Sanctions on Arms Embargo
05

Challenges/Threats and weaknesses of the Multilateral System

  • Geopolitical Dynamics
  • Regional Dynamics
  • Security dynamics
  • Political dynamics
  • Nationallevel dynamics
  • Local level dynamics
  • State and non-state Actors Dynamics
06

Addressing the Challenges:

  • Suggestions on Enhancing the Use of the United Nations led Multilateral System to Address Human Rights Issues in conflict Situations
07

List of Sources/References for In-depth Research

Please refer to the Reading List section below for detailed references and sources.

Reading List

Comprehensive reading materials for in-depth research on human rights in UN peacekeeping missions

UN Documents and Official Sources

United Nations Charter
Adopted in San Francisco on 26 June 1945
View Online →
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948
View Online →
UN Security Council Resolutions on Peacekeeping
Various resolutions establishing and renewing peacekeeping mission mandates
View Online →

Academic and Research Publications

Human Rights in Peacekeeping Operations
Various academic journals and publications on peacekeeping and human rights
Recommended databases: JSTOR, HeinOnline, UN Digital Library

Mission-Specific Resources

MINUSCA Reports
United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic - Official Reports
Visit Website →
UNMISS Reports
United Nations Mission in South Sudan - Official Reports
Visit Website →

Additional Resources

UN Peacekeeping Official Website

Comprehensive information on UN peacekeeping operations

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

UN human rights mechanisms and resources

UN General Assembly

Resolutions and documents on human rights and peacekeeping

UN Security Council

Mandates and resolutions on peacekeeping missions