When Annan became Secretary-General, he urged the development of principles that would indicate when it is justifiable for the international community to intervene to prevent gross violations of human rights. In response, Canada’s government established an International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, which recommended that military intervention could be justified, as an extraordinary measure, where large-scale loss of life is occurring or imminent, owing to deliberate state action or the state’s refusal or failure to act.
美国前总统克林顿曾说，他任期内最遗憾的事情就是未能成功干预卢旺达事件。时任联合国主管维和行动的常务副秘书长科菲·安南将当时联合国的情况描述为“可怕而可耻地”的瘫痪。