Over 100 countries have signed a “code of conduct” at the United Nations pledging not to vote against credible Security Council resolutions that seek to prevent or end genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.
France and Britain, both permanent members of the UN Security Council signed up to the pledge, but the other 2 members – Russia, China and the United States – did not.
Liechtenstein's Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick, who launched the initiative, said the code was "a catalyst for a culture of zero tolerance for atrocity crimes within the council."
Richard Dicker, the director of international justice at Human Rights Watch, also praised the initiative, stating it "could increase the political costs of voting against a credible Security Council resolution in situations of mass atrocity crimes."
"It may provide a challenge to the misuse of the veto by some permanent members, a misuse that rightly offends so many UN member states," he added.
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France and Britain, both permanent members of the UN Security Council signed up to the pledge, but the other 2 members – Russia, China and the United States – did not.
Liechtenstein's Foreign Minister Aurelia Frick, who launched the initiative, said the code was "a catalyst for a culture of zero tolerance for atrocity crimes within the council."
Richard Dicker, the director of international justice at Human Rights Watch, also praised the initiative, stating it "could increase the political costs of voting against a credible Security Council resolution in situations of mass atrocity crimes."
"It may provide a challenge to the misuse of the veto by some permanent members, a misuse that rightly offends so many UN member states," he added.
See more from AP here.