9- Humanitarian Intervention

Question 1

What is humanitarian intervention?

Answer 1

Where a state is entitled to use force for humanitarian reasons

Question 2

What is an example of humanitarian intervention?

Answer 2

NATO’s intervention in Yugoslavia in 1999 to compel Serbia to stop committing astrocities against Kosovo

Question 3

Why is humanitarian intervention controversial?

Answer 3

It is open to large scale abuse and promotes violence

Question 4

What is the general position on humanitarian intervention?

Answer 4

It is prohibited BUT if it occurs and seems morally justified or legitimate then the world community grudgingly accepts it

Question 5

What is the UN’s approach to humanitarian intervention?

Answer 5

If a national authority is unable or unwilling to protect their citizens then it is up to the international community to help protect the human rights and wellbeings of the citizens

Question 6

What is the UK’s approach to humanitarian intervention?

Answer 6

If action in the security council is blocked then the position of the government is that it is permitted under international law to take exceptional measures in order to avert a humanitarian catastrophe