NGO Joint Statement
Geneva, March 25, 2003
1. We, the undersigned Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with the UN Economic Social Council (ECOSOC) and concerned civil society organizations, condemn the illegal invasion of Iraq by the United States of America and the United Kingdom which began on March 20, 2003 without the clear mandate of the UN Security Council and against the vast majority of global public opinion.
2. We call for the immediate cessation of this act of aggression launched in the name of a ‘pre-emptive war’ which is a grave threat to international peace and security. We call for the resumption of the UN arms inspection, in order to complete its task as mandated by the UN Security Council.
3. We fully agree with the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, that "any unilateral military action withoutthe approval of the UN Security Council is a violation of UN Charter" and we urge the Security Council to address this issue as a matter of grave concern.
4. The international human rights community has consistently denounced the human rights violations committed by the Iraqi regime over the years, but it is also deeply concerned about the plight and suffering of Iraqi people caused by twelve years of severe and unjust sanctions imposed on their country. The question of human rights violations in Iraq will be considered by the 59th session of the Commission under the relevant item of its agenda.
5. We firmly believe that military action cannot be a solution to such violations and cannot be justified under the pretext of protecting human rights or restoring democracy. Military action necessarily imperils all other human rights, specially the right to life. This is not acceptable. Human rights should be implemented by just and peaceful means based on principles of rule of law, universal jurisdiction, non-violence, universality and indivisibility and interdependence of human rights.
6. We call for a universal ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an appropriate way to address gross human rights violations. This would have a much stronger deterrent effect and would more effectively ensure the protection of victims of human rights violations.
7. We are convinced that we have to look for ways to increase the effectiveness of human rights mechanisms at the national and global levels that would have prevented this catastrophic event. Only genuine democracy built on the principles of human rights can only safeguard peace and security. Peace without human rights, and human rights without peace are both empty illusion.
8. We are deeply concerned that the ongoing military action has used up resources that are desperately needed to meet the global challenges facing humanity, such as poverty eradication as outlined in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by all member States at the Millennium Summit in September 2000.
9. The UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR),as a UN Charter-based body, has a duty touphold the human rights principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, especially in this emergency situation. In this context, the CHR is challenged to deal with the human rights and humanitarian dimensions of the current crisis in Iraq. In doing so, the principle of interdependence between peace, democracy, development and human rights needs to be taken into account.
10. We strongly support the efforts currently under way by many governments to call an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Iraq based on the resolution 377(A) (1950) entitled "Uniting for Peace" since the UN Security Council was unable to agree on a course of action.
11. We, the undersigned NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC under Article 71 of the UN Charter and civil society organizations, also have an obligation to uphold the human rights principles enshrined in the UN Charter as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
12. In viewof the above statement, we urge the Commission on Human Rights
i) to condemn the invasion of Iraq as a violation of the UN Charter,
ii) to hold a special sitting within the 59th session of the CHR as soon as possible to address the current crisis from the human rights and humanitarian perspective,
iii) to formulate preventive measures based on human rights principles with a view to preventing similar occurrence in the future and
iv) to ask the UN High-Commissioner for Human Rghts to undertake all other necessary measures including independent enquiry about the human rights situation in Iraq since the invasion.
Please contact Anselmo Lee, Pax Romana if you wish to endorse this statement.
leesh@paxromana.int.ch or (41) 79 253 7815 (mobile)
