Weaknesses of international law

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The actions of the president of the United States of America in ordering the invasion of Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, is just the latest in a series, where powerful countries violate international law with impunity.

The irony is that international law is often dictated by the powerful, ostensibly to maintain international order, prevent wars and ensure a rules-based environment where justice is guaranteed without regard for the economic or military strength of the nations involved.

It is now increasingly apparent, if there was any doubt, that adherence to international law is only required of nations that are economically and militarily weak. This reality is more pronounced if the nation is situated in Africa, Latin America or the Caribbean.

The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a body designed to prevent another world war, selectively enforce international law or condemn violations thereof. The reality of today’s world is, if a nation has the backing of any one of the five permanent members, they do not have to abide by international law.

The veto power enjoyed by the permanent members of the UNSC has made the council powerless to impartially enforce international law and has relegated it to the passing of resolutions that the permanent members and those they protect simply ignore.

The UNSC is in urgent need of reform. When the United Nations was founded in 1945, the five permanent members were allies and victors of the World War II. Today, they are rivals competing for dominance and spheres of influence.

Actions of the permanent members of the UNSC are no longer based on principles, if they ever were, but on expedience, and small, militarily weak nations are vulnerable to the whims of the powerful unless they enjoy their protection.

Another UN body that suffers from the factionalisation of the UNSC is the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC appears to be only empowered to prosecute past and present leaders of black African countries, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Leaders under the protection of the permanent members of the UNSC can commit any number of crimes against humanity, secure in the knowledge they will never face justice at the ICC.

The current arrangements for enforcement of international law offer no protection to economically and militarily weak countries. Dare we hope that the powerful will design an international system where all countries are held to the same standards?

WAYNE PLUMMER

Greater Portmore