AIUSA: Petition to The United Nations Security CouncilGreetings!
A real breakthrough has occurred: AI USA at long last has addressed the
human rights implications of the sanctions (and also the bombings) against
Iraq, and has initiated a petition to the UN Security Council reminding it
of its obligations under international law. Please, before you do anything
else, take a moment to sign the petition below, and send it off AI
electronically. This will be a real shot in the arm for the anti-sanctions
movement!
Peace,
Ken
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Petition to The United Nations Security Council Addressing the
Humanitarian Situation in Iraq
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We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the humanitarian
situation in Iraq since the imposition of UN economic sanctions in 1990. We
are especially concerned at the reported deaths of thousands of children
under the age of five.
We believe the Security Council should give urgent attention to the
recommendations of its own Humanitarian Panel and other UN agencies, and
take all necessary measures to protect the rights of the civilian
population.
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Background:
Amnesty International promotes awareness of and adherence to the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights
instruments, the values enshrined in them, and the indivisibility and
interdependence of all human rights.
Research by several international organizations, including UN
agencies, indicates that the impact of sanctions on Iraq (whether directly
or resulting from the manner in which the Iraqi Government has responded to
the sanctions, or both) has resulted in violations of the right to life,
among other rights, of civilians— in particular children.
Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states,
"(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the
health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food,
clothing, housing and medical careÖ
"(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and
assistanceÖ"
Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
requires the "best interests of the child to prevail in all legal and
administrative decisions."
Amnesty International strongly supports the position of the UN
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that "inhabitants of a
given country do not forfeit their basic economic, social and cultural
rights by virtue of any determination that their leaders have violated norms
relating to international peace and security." The Committee stated that "In
considering sanctions, it is essential to distinguish between the basic
objective of applying political and economic pressure upon the governing
elite of the country to persuade them to conform to international law, and
the collateral infliction of suffering upon the most vulnerable groups
within the targeted country." The Committee identified three obligations for
the parties imposing sanctions:
a.. Human rights "must be taken fully into account when designing an
appropriate sanctions regime."
b.. "Effective monitoring should be undertaken throughout the period
that sanctions are in force."
c.. Those imposing sanctions must take measures "to respond to any
disproportionate suffering experienced by vulnerable groups within the
targeted country."
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Petitions will be sent by way of Amnesty International USA's Midwest
Regional Office, 53 W. Jackson, Suite 731, Chicago, IL 60604
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