Metropolitan Model United Nations Conference XLII United Nations Human Rights Council

Human Rights During Armed Conflicts

The fundamental purpose of the United Nations is the maintenance of peace and the prevention of armed conflict. A core principle of the UN is respect for human rights at all times and in all places. Yet, despite the e istence of the UN, armed conflict continues to occur, !oth !et"een countries and "ithin states. #urthermore, armed conflict inevita!l$ impacts human rights. As the Center for Civilians in Conflict "rote in August, %&'(, )Civilian harm remains a tragic realit$ in an$ conflict, not least in conflicts "ithout clear !attlefields to distinguish !et"een ' com!atant and civilian.* The protection of human rights during armed conflict is not a ne" issue. In '+,-, the International Year for .uman /ights, the International Conference for .uman /ights in Tehran declared that )humanitarian principles must prevail during periods of armed conflict.*% Later that $ear, the 0eneral Assem!l$ passed /esolution %111 urging all Figure 1. A 8$rian man sits on mem!er nations to )ensure that the ru!!le civilians and com!atants are "hich he used to call his home protected in accordance "ith 2the principles of the la" of nations3the la"s of humanit$3and the dictates of pu!lic conscience.4 *( 5ther resolutions in '+-+, %&&', %&&1, %&&6, and %&&- reaffirmed the principle that human !eings retain their essential human rights even in times of armed conflict. These rights include the right to life, safet$, shelter, food, "ater, medical care, and education. /esolution %111 of the United Nations 0eneral Assem!l$ of 7ecem!er '+, '+,- affirmed /esolution %- of the %& th International Conference of the /ed Cross. This conference, held

in 9ienna, Austria in '+,6, esta!lished the follo"ing principles: ;<mphasis added.= '= The right of the parties engaged in conflict to adopt means of in>uring enemies is not unlimited. %= It is prohi!ited to launch attac?s against civilian populations. (= 7istinctions must !e made at all times !et"een persons ta?ing part in hostilities and mem!ers of the civilian population. 1= Civilians should !e spared harm as much as possi!le. Clearl$, civilians face harm and threats to their human rights across a "ide spectrum of conflicts toda$. Numerous resolutions !$ the United Nations have not stopped the escalation of conflicts and their impact on human rights. @ust a fe" e amples follo": In March of %&'(, 8ele?a re!els seiAed po"er in the Central African /epu!lic. .uman /ights Batch reports that )8ince then, the armed 8ele?a have ruled through fear: !urning villages, firing randoml$ at civilians3e ecuting farmers in their fields, and murdering "omen and children.* In one province alone, 'C&,&&& people are currentl$ displaced. Malaria and t$phoid fever rage, ?illing man$ children, and families lac? food and clean "ater. Tension !et"een Christians and Muslims continues to escalate, along "ith associated violence.1 In 8$ria, civil "ar has escalated to the point that all four ?e$ principles of /ed Cross /esolution %- are routinel$ violated. The chemical "eapons attac? of 8eptem!er, %&'( signaled that the 8$rian government is "illing to adopt ne" and e treme means of in>uring the enem$ and to specificall$ target civilian populations. .o"ever, the 8$rian re!els are not !lameless. .uman /ights Batch recentl$ issued a report on a massacre !$ >ihadists fighting on the re!el side. In August, %&'(, si t$ seven villagers "ere ?illed, including a pregnant "oman "hose stomach "as slit open and an -&D $ear old !lind "oman. Man$ !odies "ere !uried in a mass grave. As of midDNovem!er, the re!els still hold more than '&& civilian nonDcom!atants hostages. 6 More than ( million 8$rians are no" refugees or internall$ displaced, enduring clear violations of their human rights. The United 8tates continues to routinel$ launch drone stri?es in Ea?istan and Afghanistan that ?ill civilians as "ell

as selected )high value targets* from AlDFaeda and the Tali!an. Civil "ar in Li!$a led to numerous civilian deaths as Li!$an cities "ere !esieged !$ armed groups, !oth from the government and from re!el forces. Gidnapping and rape continue to regularl$ occur as a tactic and "eapon of "ar in 8omalia, Mali, Nigeria, and 8$ria, to mention onl$ a fe" countries. @ournalists "ho have made their "a$ to safet$ from 8$ria have reported on their o"n detentions, !$ !oth government and re!el forces. The$ descri!e their o"n !eatings and torture, as "ell as that of other civilians in captivit$. The Center for Civilians in Conflict advocates for the trac?ing of civilian harm. The Center !elieves that change must !egin "ith an accurate accounting of ho" man$ civilians are actuall$ harmed !$ conflict. )Trac?ing civilian harm caused !$ com!at operations is an emerging !est practice in places li?e Afghanistan and 8omalia and H "hen properl$ implemented H has led to fe"er civilian casualties. An$ militar$ operation that claims to prioritiAe civilian "ell !eing needs relia!le data in order to understand ho" its operations impact civilian populations. . . I$ understanding the e tent and circumstances of the harm through the process of trac?ing, anal$sis, and response, "arring parties can get !etter at minimiAing civilian suffering.* , The Center "or?ed "ith the United 8tates militar$ to trac? the num!er of civilians in>ured or ?illed !$ U8 drone stri?es. The trac?ing approach is >ust one measure to reduce the harm to civilians in armed conflict. In light of recent and ongoing conflicts and the rising toll on civilians and their human rights, the UN./C clearl$ must ta?e up the challenge of facing this issue head on. Questions to Consider: To "hat e tent have the human rights of the people of $our countr$ !een impacted !$ conflict, either !et"een states, or "ithin $our countr$J Bhat should !e the priorities as the UN./C e amine these human rights issuesJ In "hat "a$s can individual nations and the United Nations protect the human rights of civilians during armed conflictsJ Bhat "ould appropriate reparations to those "ho have e perienced harm loo? li?eJ

 .as $our countr$ recentl$ had an armed conflictJ Bhat has $our countr$ done to limit armed conflicts in $our countr$J In other countriesJ .as $our countr$ cooperated "ith the UN "hen as?ed toJ Bhat are some diplomatic solutions to solving this issueJ Sources: '. )Iac?grounder: Trac?ing Civilian .arm,* The Center for Civilians in Conflict, August, %&'(. %. )< pert consultation: The protection of the human rights of civilians in armed conflicts,* 5ffice of the United Nations .igh Commissioner for .uman /ights, '6 April, %&&+, """%.ohchr.orgK<nglishKeventsK./LciviliansLaconfli ctK (. /espect for .uman /ights in Armed Conflicts. /esolution %111 of the United Nations 0eneral Assem!l$, '+ 7ecem!er '+,-. 4. )Be Live and 7ie .ere Li?e Animals,* .uman /ights Batch, Novem!er '(, %&'(. """.hr".orgKprintKne"sK%&'(K''K'1K"eDliveDandD dieDhereDanimals. 6. )/e!el Massacre 8ignals a Turning Eoint in 8$ria,* @anine di0iovanni, Ne"s"ee?, Novem!er ',, %&'(. mag.ne"s"ee?.comK%&'(K''K'6Kre!elDmasacreD signalsDturningDpointDs$riaDhtml.

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