THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW ON HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION A CASE STUDY OF UN ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS 2015-2024.

This study examines the impact of international law on human rights protection, focusing on United Nations (UN) enforcement mechanisms from 2015 to 2024. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, it analyzes key crises, including the Syrian civil war, the global refugee crisis, and the Rohingya genocide, to assess the role, effectiveness, challenges, and potential solutions for UN human rights enforcement. Grounded in liberal institutionalism, the research highlights the UN’s role in fostering cooperation through treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and peacekeeping operations. Findings reveal that while these mechanisms establish global norms and facilitate accountability, their effectiveness is limited by non-binding recommendations, Security Council vetoes, state sovereignty, resource constraints, and geopolitical interference. The study identifies political authoritarianism, economic inequality, and weak enforcement mechanisms as key drivers of human rights violations. Proposed solutions include strengthening legal authority, reforming HRC composition, increasing funding, protecting human rights defenders, and enhancing inter-agency coordination to improve the UN’s capacity to protect human rights globally.