Why does national sovereignty limit United Nations action on human rights?

The United Nations faces limitations in addressing human rights because its founding Charter explicitly prohibits the organization from intervening in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state. This principle of national sovereignty serves as a foundational barrier to UN action, as member states are often protective of their internal autonomy and resist external interference in their domestic affairs.12

While the UN is tasked with promoting human rights, the drafters of the Charter did not establish a specific enforcement body for this purpose, unlike the Security Council, which is empowered to maintain international peace and security. Consequently, UN intervention in human rights matters is generally restricted unless the Security Council determines that a situation constitutes a threat to peace, a breach of the peace, or an act of aggression.1

Although the "responsibility to protect" (R2P) principle was introduced to allow for collective action against mass atrocities, it remains controversial and is often challenged by the enduring norm of state sovereignty and the influence of power politics among major powers.12