We urge all United Nations Member States to immediately cease and desist political, moral, economic or military support for the actions of state or non-state actors who commit violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Human rights, some of which constitute serious violations of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The actions taken in conflicts in various parts of the world and the response thereto by powerful non-war states threaten to fatally undermine the universal applicability of international norms essential to the protection of non-combatant civilians and their rights. Basics and thus the credibility of our mandates, which relate to the situation in certain countries.
The worrying gradual and sustained erosion of these universal standards has been observed in various conflicts over the past two decades, particularly since the declaration of the “War on Terror.” However, the numerous recent armed conflicts raise fears that standards and protection systems that took decades to develop will be completely dismantled. We are committed to reminding Member States of the following basic protective measures that everyone must comply with, and also ensure that others comply with them too.
Collective punishment, indiscriminate or targeted attacks on civilians, medical facilities and their personnel, religious or residential buildings, markets or educational institutions, as well as the forced displacement or deportation of the population, hostage-taking, sexual violence, looting and arson, arbitrary detention and slavery are prohibited under international law Behaviors.
In the case of urgent military necessity or when it is alleged that a particular facility has lost its protected status, the burden of proof lies with the person attacking these facilities, and not with those being attacked, i.e. the civilians living there. they live or seek refuge.
Starving the population and denying them access to adequate food and shelter, water, fuel and medicine are prohibited behaviors. Warring parties in conflicts are obliged to provide humanitarian and appropriate assistance access to areas under their military control. Non-belligerent States must ensure compliance with this obligation and are bound by their own obligations under international law not to facilitate or ensure acts or agreements that violate these rules.
We remind UN Member States that there are mechanisms in national, regional and international organizations to seek redress and reparation for violations of fundamental human rights, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Such mechanisms can and must be activated vigorously and impartially, not only against those who commit these violations, but also against those who are in any way vested with authority and who promote, facilitate or target measures to prevent the commission of such crimes way to avoid.
It is imperative that non-belligerent Member States immediately refrain from acts or omissions that undermine international human rights standards, principles and guarantees, including those perceived as allies and supporters.
We look forward to your immediate and active support. A specific area in which we would welcome the support of all Member States would be to ensure our free and unfettered access to all countries as independent UN human rights experts, to enable the fulfillment of our mandate to support the international community in its stated goal to promote the protection of universal human rights throughout the world without distinction or discrimination.
Francesca Albanese She is Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. Shaheen Sardar Ali is a member of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran; Mohamed BaBaiker He is Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea; Richard Bennett He is Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan; Carlos Castresana Fernandez He is Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission in South Sudan; Paul von Greiff He is Commissioner of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine; Isha Dyfan is an independent expert on the human rights situation in Somalia; Vrinda Grover she is Commissioner of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine; Sarah Hossain is a member of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran; Miloon Kothari He is Commissioner of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem and Israel; Anais Marin She is Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus; Hanny Megally He is Commissioner of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for the Syrian Arab Republic; Juan Mendez is an expert at the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Promote Racial Justice and Equality in the Context of Law Enforcement; Paulo Sergio Pinheiro is President of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic; Javid Rehman is Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Yasmin Sooka is Chairman of the South Sudan Human Rights Commission; Lynn Welchman She is Commissioner of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for the Syrian Arab Republic and Fortune Gaetan Zongo She is Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi.
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