International studies, Vol. III No. 1, 2003.
Other
Humanitarian Intervention - A Topical Question Again
Anton Grizold
; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Defense Minister of the Republic of Slovenia
Abstract
Forming the basis for the re-emerged dilemmas of humanitarian intervention are two interconnected concepts: the concept of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the concept of security The question arises, whether the international community should ensure solely the security of states or should it ensure the security of their individuals as well? Do examples of supreme humanitarian emergencies as genocide, slavery and mass torture justify humanitarian intervention or should the international community rather fully submit to the principle of non-intervention into internal affairs of states? Within the concept of humanitarian intervention, the relationship between legality and morality is highly problematic. Acknowledging the existence of a doctrine of humanitarian intervention would mean endangering the principle of sovereignty and non-intervention in a world, where the consensus on which moral principles are to guide humanitarian intervention, does not exist. However, the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention is in the current international system given by its goal: protecting fundamental human rights in the case of genocide, slavery, torture, murders and other grave violations, which cross the line of being limited and become massive.
Keywords
humanitarian intervention; universal human rights and fundamental freedoms; security; sovereignty
Hrčak ID:
289931
URI
Publication date:
15.4.2003.
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