The Charter of the United Nations

Abstract Since the third edition of this commentary on the Charter of the United Nations was published in 2012, the text of the Charter may not have changed but the world has. Central pillars of the international order enshrined in the UN Charter are facing serious challenges, notably the prohibition of the use of force. Human rights, too, have now also come under increasing pressure from contemporary information technology and global warming poses fundamental challenges for the world community as a whole in its effort to stabilize global ecosystems. Fully updated, the commentary takes up these and other developments. It features new chapters on climate change and the Human Rights Council. The commentary is intended to remain the authoritative, article-by-article account of the legislative history, interpretation, and practical application of each Charter provision. It combines academic research with the insights of practice, and it is an indispensable point of reference for all those interested in the United Nations and its legal significance for the world community. The commentary will be crucial in combining solid legal foundations with new directions for the development of international law and the United Nations in the twenty-first century.