80 anni di tutela dei diritti umani nelle Nazioni Unite: un pilastro di vetro (in)frangibile?

The United Nations (UN) has played an undisputable role in the advancement of international human rights law since their establishment. Through the creation of international monitoring mechanisms, the Organization has also made a considerable contribution to removing human rights from the exclusive domestic jurisdiction of States. Nevertheless, a strenuous defense of sovereign rights by governments has frequently impaired the effective implementation of these achievements. This article aims to assess strengths and weaknesses of the UN undertakings from the perspective of the three goals that can be drawn from the UN Charter in this area: promotion, as the UN human rights system has been called – has overall held up well, despite its inherent vulnerability. The current international political situation is, however, characterized by unprecedented challenges to multilateralism and their pernicious effects. Will the glass pillar be capable to resist these attacks and preserve the progress made by the UN during their (first?) 80 years?