International Mechanisms: How Effective in Preventing Violations of Human Rights?

Widespread violation of human rights under various governments across the world is generally considered one of the most important issues and major concerns of the international community in the first t decade of the 21st century. Following the end of the Second World War and the establishment of the United Nations various international measures and mechanisms have been adopted to prevent the violation of human rights or reducing its scope. These measures and mechanisms consist of articulation of international instruments; public promotion of human rights principles and concepts; encouraging states to ratify the adopted instruments;, promotion of commitment through the adoption of enforcement instruments; and finally, the establishment of monitoring bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court. Except for the International Criminal Court which can make enforceable decisions with actual deterrent force, the decisions made by other monitoring bodies and mechanisms are not obligatory. Even the International Criminal Court, despite its important status and duties,, has not in actuality played the needed deterrent function against the violations of human rights by states on a global scale. Notwithstanding, this generally gloomy atmosphere, the author believes that genuine defenders and proponents of human rights should continue their efforts for promoting human rights, and its principles and norms.