Dead letter

Writing in The Times a couple of days ago Adam LeBor put the case for expelling Sudan, and in principle other countries in extreme violation of the UN Charter, from the UN. Against the consideration that more influence can be exerted on such countries if they're in than if they're out, Adam writes:

[T]he issue is very simple. UN member states that fail to live up to the requirements of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights should be sanctioned, suspended and, in extreme cases, expelled. Article 6 of the charter already provides for expulsion: "A member... which has persistently violated the principles contained in the present charter may be expelled by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council."

UN membership is important, especially to prickly post-colonial states uncertain of their place in the world. It confers legitimacy and prestige....
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It may be unrealistic to demand that every member state observes every paragraph of international human rights law. But it is realistic to demand that the United Nations takes action against member states that commit genocide, the most egregious crime against humanity.

Apart from anything else that may be said on one side of this issue or the other, it has got to be deeply undermining of the morale and reputation of an organization that it should have such a clause in its statement of fundamental principles, yet in response to repeated violations - and of the most egregious kind - by member nations, the clause is never invoked.