The credibility of the United Nations is "in tatters" because of the continuing slaughter of civilians in Syria, University of Otago Prof William Harris says.
An independent human rights organisation has estimated more than 12,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March last year.
And more than 900 people have reportedly been killed since a "truce" came into effect on April 12.
Prof Harris, who heads the Otago politics department, said United Nations monitors had been brought in to reduce the violence but this had proved "farcical" and the killings had continued.
There was also evidence Syrian Government forces had "bumped off" civilians for having spoken to UN monitors, as soon as the monitors had left some locations.
Human rights organisations had highlighted "atrocious bestialities", including torture, inflicted on Syrian civilians, yet the UN and international community had done little.
New Zealand had long been a strong supporter of the UN, and it was clearly in our interests, as a small country, for the UN's credibility to be restored, he said.
A series of popular uprisings in Middle East countries, including leadership changes in Egypt and Libya, and the violence in Syria will come under the spotlight at the latest University of Otago Foreign Policy School next month.
The latest annual school will focus on "The Middle East Unfolding: Dreams and Drama in the Early Twenty-First Century" and will examine changes resulting from the Arab uprisings and their implications for the region.
The school will be held at St Margaret's College, from June 22-24.
About 100 people will take part, including experts such as Prof Meir Litwak, of Tel Aviv University, and Prof Kemal Kirisci, of Bogazici University in Istanbul.
