iNews24 · UN Reform and the Future
Justice, the Rule of Law, and Accountability in the UN: Rule of Law or Rule of Power?
English reading note on the article by Dr. Eun-Ju Kim.
The article begins with a principle of Korean administrative law: an authority cannot dispense with procedural safeguards simply because it believes its objective is justified. Dr. Kim asks how the same principle can be upheld in international organizations that are generally outside the jurisdiction of national courts.
The ILO Administrative Tribunal gives staff of organizations that recognize its jurisdiction a means to challenge administrative decisions. Its judgments can correct individual wrongs, but accountability also depends on whether organizations implement the judgments, address the causes of recurring problems, and ensure that investigations can proceed independently.
Dr. Kim calls on Member States to oversee these safeguards even when allegations concern elected leaders. Transparent follow-up and controls against conflicts of interest matter because trust in an organization’s internal conduct supports its ability to lead on shared global problems.