A Path to be Forged: Enabling peace through human rights in UN peace operations

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) regularly declares that human rights are an essential part of establishing peace, however the nexus between the two concepts remains unclear. Speaking to this gap, I examine the potential for human rights to contribute to establishing peace within the context of UN peace operations. Asking what it means for something to be capable of establishing peace; how human rights understandings can support the desired objectives of establishing peace; and whether these human rights understandings can, in practice, be implemented— I advance the position that in order for human rights to be capable of contributing to the establishment of peace it must operate as a culture. That is, human rights understandings must lead to cultural change within societies in a manner that prevents the reoccurrence of violence. I propose that human rights can contribute to peace by promoting a collective identity, based in human dignity, which acts to transform peaceful relations. An internalisation of this human rights belief and practice across society allows for the establishment of peace without reliance on a central authority. While human rights have the potential in theory to contribute to peace, the implementation of human rights, in practice, faces a number of barriers in peace operation settings. Ultimately, human rights as a cultural idea cannot lead to peace if those in peace operation settings do not adopt human rights as a cultural practice. I conclude by stating that—while human rights may not offer a clear path towards stability—the path can be carefully and consciously forged through individual social relationships.