Metten also stressed the critical need for nations to hold China accountable for its ‘severe human rights violations’ during its fourth Universal Periodic Review, done by the UN Human Rights Council in January. Such as what’s happening in Tibet.
Several other nations seconded that opinion. Including Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
“The Chinese government’s ongoing policy of repression aims to eradicate the authentic and self-determined Tibetan culture. This policy must be stopped immediately,” Metten said.
The jury is very much out on this.
I think it's arguable that the UN was an important forum during parts of the cold war.
Although to be honest I think the main reason why the cold war remained cold is neither of the two main belligerents wanted a hot war. The USSR post-Stalin was not an expansionist power. And the USA wasn't expansionist in the traditional sense of wanting to conquer territory. US business interests enjoyed the CIA's dial-a-coup service whenever they wanted while the KGB enjoyed happy fun times in Europe and Africa.
Both countries managed to suck the other into bloody proxy wars at various times and the UN was useless there.
Even during crisis points (Cuba) the UN was mostly a venue for grand standing and shoe pounding while the real deescalation happened in bilateral side-channels.
Now I really don't see any value to the UN. During my lifetime the only thing it has done is rubber-stamp Bush's wars. And I don't see it doing anything to stop—say—a conflict between the USA and China either of those countries want it.