Permament members on UN Security Council shouldn't use veto powers on human rights violations matters: Jurist
During an open session of the security council on Wednesday night, South African ambassador to the UN - Mathu Joyini - said the UN could not claim the importance of international law in some cases, and not in others.
South Africa will ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 11 January 2024 to consider an immediate ceasefire to the fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Picture: Pexels
CAPE TOWN - Eminent South African jurist Navi Pillay says she doesn’t believe permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council should be allowed to use their veto power on matters of human rights violations.
During an open session of the security council on Wednesday night, South African ambassador to the UN - Mathu Joyini - said the UN could not claim the importance of international law in some cases, and not in others.
Pillay - who is the chair of the UN’s commission of inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory - says she supports the call for reform at the UN to avoid crimes against humanity.
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The former UN commissioner for human rights - Pillay - says it’s problematic that three of the UN Security Council’s five permanent members - are not signatories to the Rome Statute on genocide and war crimes.
“You have a mandate for peace and security and there are human rights violations going on, how can you use a veto?”
Pillay says she was surprised by Ugandan judge - Julia Sebutinde - disagreeing with provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last Friday - to protect the rights of Palestinians.
Pillay and Sebutinde both supported interim measures in the genocide case against Myanmar.
“I fully expected that she will adhere to her previous order. I was very intrigued to say let’s see what reasons she gives.”
Uganda has distanced itself from Sebutinde’s view - saying it doesn’t represent the views of its government.
On Wednesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor said Uganda is among countries that have pledged to support South Africa’s genocide case at the ICJ.