Revisiting the Legacy of International Law

Today, the achievements and the importance of International Human Rights Law is lauded by various international organizations, especially the United Nations. International Human Rights Law, undoubtedly, is a major area of international law. The idea of establishing these international laws, especially human rights law, was to ensure that people across the world have access to certain basic universal rights. However, instances have shown that international law and sanctions have failed to protect the most vulnerable from the violations of human rights. It certainly is an occasion of sorrow when the intended purpose of instituting an area of law does not meet its end, but it is even more remorseful when that same area of law is used as a perpetrator to further the violence that it was meant to condone. In this context, it is essential for us to learn the history surrounding these laws which has remained extremely controversial. Hence, we must understand the legacy and rethink the origins of international human rights law to ensure that it is made more inclusive and meets the intended purpose.