Nuremberg Trials and the Formation of the United Nations

Historical Context
- Nazi regime meticulously documented horrors in concentration camps.
- Post-war, Allies used these records as evidence for war crimes.
Significance
- Known as "The Greatest Trial in History."
- Set a precedent for accountability during war.
- Responsible for prosecuting Nazis for atrocities:
- Murder of civilians
- Herding into gas chambers
- 1946: 22 high-ranking Nazis were put on trial in Nuremberg, Germany.
Defendants
- Many Nazi leaders committed suicide, or fled abroad.
- Notably, Adolf Eichmann fled to Argentina and was later captured by Israeli intelligence, tried, and hanged in 1962 for war crimes.
Eichmann's Defense at Trial
- In a letter, he argued he was a "mere instrument," claiming he was following orders.
Legal Reflection
- Discussion on the acceptability of using "just following orders" as a defense.
- Argument that superior orders do not exempt individuals from accountability for illegal actions.

Impact on International Law
- Initiated the development of international criminal law.
- Led to the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- Influenced the following documents:
- Genocide Convention: aimed at preventing and punishing genocide.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights: recognized human rights principles.

Global Peace Initiatives
- Post-WWII consensus to prevent future conflicts:
- Creation of the United Nations (UN) advocated by F.D. Roosevelt and W. Churchill.
Casualties of WWII
- Approximately 60 million deaths, with over half being civilians.
- Highlighted genocides:
- Jews during the Holocaust
- Ukrainians in Holodomor
- Chinese during the Rape of Nanking
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
- First international agreement focused solely on protecting human rights.
- Eleanor Roosevelt played a significant role in its adoption.

Failures in Human Rights Protection
- China (1958-62): Great Leap Forward led to 40 million deaths from forced labor and famine.
- Cambodia (1975): Pol Pot's regime caused the deaths of up to 2 million through forced evacuations and executions.
- Rwanda (1994): 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed in a 100-day genocide.
- Bosnia (1995): Ethnic cleansing resulted in around 100,000 deaths.
- Darfur (2003): Sudanese government carried out a genocide resulting in over 300,000 deaths.

Current Membership
- Comprises 193 countries, each represented in the General Assembly where each country has one vote.
Security Council
- Comprised of five permanent members (USA, USSR, GB, France, China) who hold veto power.
Main Purposes
- Maintain international peace and security.
- Develop amicable relations among nations.
- Facilitate collaboration to address international issues.
- Promote respect for human rights.
Challenges Faced
- Divergence in national laws and governance can complicate enforcement of international laws.
- UN's authority to enforce international law relies on member agreements.