Horst Fischer – författare

In 2004, the Report of the Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change emphasised the linkages between economic development, security and human rights, and the imperative in the twenty-first century of collective action and cooperation between States. In a world deeply divided by differences of power, wealth, culture and ideology, central questions today in international law and organisation are whether reaffirmation of the concept of collective security and a workable consensus on the means of its realisation are possible. In addressing these questions, this book considers the three key documents in the recent UN reform process: the High-Level Panel report, the Secretary-General's In Larger Freedom report and the 2005 World Summit Outcome document. The chapters examine the responsibilities, commitments, strategies and institutions necessary for collective security to function both in practice and as a normative ideal in international law and relations between state and non-state actors alike.

New Realities and Working Differently to Overcome Delivery Challenges.

Milestones, particularly those as special as the twin-birth of a new century and millenium,lendthemselvestorhapsodyandtheurgetosaysomethingpositiveand forward-looking. The Yearbook is not merely succumbing to this tendency, however, when it observes that, in some important respects, 2000 proved itself an auspiciousopening. Therewasaflurryofactivityamongstatestoimplementint- national humanitarian law (IHL), most of it a consequence of states ratifying the several humanitarian law treaties that were concluded in the late-Nineties. States are starting to indicate that they are taking humanitarian law, and parti- larlyitspenalprovisions,moreseriouslythanhitherto. Agrowingnumberofstates are amending their penal codes (or examining the need to do so) to criminalise 3 serious breaches of humanitarian law. A major incentive is the need for states wishingtoenterintotheInternationalCriminalCourt(ICC)regime,andtotakefull advantage of the principle of complementarity, to adjust their national law to the requirements of the Rome Statute. This can be a one, two or several step process, and the legal and constitutional obstacles and challenges vary widely from state to state. Particularly encouraging are early signs that some states have been prepared togobeyondthesubstantivelawaslaiddownintheStatuteto,forinstance,provide 4 broader definitions of crimes. Ratification and implementation of the ICC Statute presents a unique opportunity for states to contribute to the progressive develop- 5 mentofcustomaryinternationalcriminallaw. Giventhefactthatratificationofthe Statute has been proceeding apace, and that it is expected to come into force in 2002, much more activity in this sphere can be expected in the next few years. We may then see the emergence of layers or parallel systems of criminal enforcement of humanitarian law: by ad hoc international courts, the ICC and by states.