Limited acceptance of human rights treaties

International conventions protecting human rights are of no benefit if they are not ratified and implemented by governments. When governments delay the ratification of conventions, or when they fail to implement the provisions of conventions they have ratified, confidence in the ability of the international community to defend human rights everywhere is eroded.

The ratification by the USA (in 1990) of the United Nations Genocide Convention took 40 years, because conservative legislators argued that it was unconstitutional and could be applied against American soldiers who served in Vietnam.