Human rights set new standards

Lung-chu Chen

Recently, the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London released its annual report that stressed that, along with the evolution of international law and the international new order, human rights are gradually superseding traditional national sovereignty.

The report argued that the evolution of international law in favor of humanitarianism and human right protection has been demonstrated by NATO's humanitarian intervention in Kosovo, the UN's intervention in East Timor and lawsuits filed against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in London. Totalitarian dictators can no longer rely on national sovereignty as a basis for immunity when they engage in such acts as torture, ethnic cleansing or genocide.

In an increasingly inter-depen-dent world, international interactions fluctuate constantly. International law is not simply a set of fixed rules, but a rapidly evolving decision-making process. Through this process, members of the international community clarify, define and materialize their mutual interests -- security of the most fundamental world order, protection of international peace and security, pursuit of optimal world order, promotion of human right, political, economical, social and cultural development and sharing of values.

When states were the principle actors, national sovereignty was the focus of international law. Today, people have gradually become the new principle actors and human rights have gradually become the mainstream values. Contemporary international law stresses the central position of people in international interactions and the fundamental values and integrity of people.

The Nazi's encroachment of human rights led to a declaration by the Nuremberg Court that individuals must be responsible for breaching peace, war crimes and other crimes in violation of human rights, so that the principles of international law may be implemented. At the same time, the declaration made people understand that human rights and peace are inseparable.

Large-scale human right violations, if not stopped in time, will not only bring destruction to individuals and groups, but also threaten international peace and security. Therefore, the UN Charter, in recognition of human dignity, declares that the protection of human rights is a principle objective of the organization, and that all UN members are obligated to protect human rights.

Today, the UN Security Council continues to rely on the authorities granted by the UN Charter to protect individual rights. A permanent international criminal court will soon be established to prosecute and punish international crimes.

National leaders and government officials who violate human rights will no longer be able to rely on excuses such as "national sovereignty" or "compliance with orders from superiors." Government officials should be responsible for their acts. The new international law demands it.

Chen Lung-chu is the chairman of Chen Lung-chu New Century Foundation.