Making the connection: security and human rights

The interlinkage between the 'three pillars' of the United Nations, namely, human rights, security and development, was the philosophical stand inspiring the UN reform that resulted in the creation of the Human Rights Council (HRC)
in 2006. This is illustrated by the title, structure and content of the Secretary-General's Report launching the reform process, 'In Larger Freedom: Security, Development and Human Rights for all'. The following pages argue that the creation of the HRC opened a window of opportunity to ensure that the main UN human rights body is equipped with better tools than its predecessor, the UN Commission on Human Rights (hereafter ‘the Commission’) to deal with
security threats deriving from human rights violations and vice versa. In part, therefore this development ostensibly creates a mechanism that may be in line with the philosophy that allegedly inspired its creation.