In the last decade there have been numerous examples of the UN failing to prevent the death of millions of people throughout the world. Maybe the most significant example is Rwanda; there was a general trend among the Security Council members to limit the commitment of national troops for a consistent UN presence in Kigali. The arguments against a humanitarian intervention to stop the fighting between the Hutu and Tutsi revolved around the implications such actions might have had on the neighboring countries and their undermining of authority in the region, as well as the on the inability to assure security for the UN personnel. (Graybill, 2002) Taking into consideration the failure of the UNSOM I and UNSOM II and the difficult financial crisis of the organization which was dealing with serious lack of funds for the ongoing peace operations, the decision was not to send combat troops in the region. This in turn led to a humanitarian crisis which is visible even today. Recent developments in areas such as Sudan's Darfour region indicate a slight change in approach concerning genocide. Apparently, because of the continuous public pressure, countries seem more wiling to deploy troops in areas which are not economic targets, but rather conflict disrupted societies. Therefore, despite the limited presence of the UN troops in Darfour, the world organization is diplomatically and politically supporting the African Union mission for stabilizing...

Moreover, "In July 2004, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution labeling Darfur" (Strauss, 2005). Therefore, the support of the U.S. may be of great importance to enacting any solution viable for the region. This could attract the involvement of the entire international community to address the current crisis in Sudan.
All in all, the changes that occurred on the international scene in the last decades demand for a reorientation of the principles of international law. Accordingly, the crime of genocide has become strictly related to the notion of humanitarian intervention. Still, the lack of a general consent and political will is indeed a massive impediment for addressing the issue in real time and before the crisis becomes a human tragedy.

Works Cited

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Dec. 9, 1948, 78 U.N.T.S. 277, entered into force Jan. 12, 1951.

Graybill, Lyn. "Responsible.... By Omission: The United States and Genocide in Rwanda." Seton Hall Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations. Winter/Spring 2002: 86-103.

Russbach, Oliver. L'ONU contre l'ONU. Le droit international confisque. Paris: La Decouverte, 1994.

Schlesinger, Stephen. Act of Creation. The Founding of the United Nations. Colorado: Westview, 2003.

Straus, Scott. "Darfur and the Genocide Debate." Foreign Affairs.…