ETHNIC-CONFLICT AND THE UNITED-NATIONS

The United Nations [UN] is an organization of states. As such it can expected to represent the interests of its members and uphold a view of international politics. For this reason it has suggested that the organization cannot respond positively to ethnic conflicts within states, or across state borders. However, since such ethnic conflicts can be a threat to international peace and security and internationally accepted norms of behaviour, the UN cannot remain indifferent. In fact, it has become involved in ethnic conflicts in several ways. It has dispatched peace-keeping operations to Cyprus and Lebanon, which try to keep apart the warring factions. The UN has involved in peace-making in ethnic conflicts through mediation Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. It has also in peace-building, which involves efforts to change both socio- conditions and the mutually hostile attitudes of the parties to ethnic conflict. Finally, even though the UN, unlike the League Nations, has not been prepared to adopt a system of minority-rights protection, it has been involved in the issue of group rights in at least three areas. These are the Genocide Convention, the work of the Sub- Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities, and the issue of the right of national self-determination. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.