Save the Children UK,
position statement
Save the
Children believes that the children of Iraq are entitled to claim their
universal rights and freedoms enshrined in the
Convention on the Rights of
the Child and the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Nine years of sanctions have
deprived a vast number of children of their right to realise their full
potential. Both the targeted and sanctioning states have a responsibility
to ensure that Iraqi children can grow up in an environment that protects
and provides for their physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social
development. The comprehensive economic embargo has severely constrained the
Iraqi State’s capacity to exercise its responsibilities for social welfare
and prevents Iraqi children from ensuring their rights to a safe and secure
future.
Save the
Children believes
- The objectives and form of sanctions should be
consistent with the UN Charter,
international law and the accepted values and principles of conduct in
international relations.
- International instruments such as the
International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UN Charter and
UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child offer widely accepted principles of conduct against which
sanctions regimes and their impact should be measured. Both targeted and
sanctioned states have the responsibility to ensure that the full range of
children’s rights are upheld and respected.
- A number of UN Security Council resolutions
(666,
687,
986,
1284) and
Security Council Statements (by Inter-Agency Standing Committee (1997) and Amorim S/1999/92) contain provisions for
improving the humanitarian situation in Iraq, However, despite overwhelming
evidence of the need for improvements these have not been fully implemented
because of political considerations and strategic or military concerns.
- Sanctions should be re-designed to include
child-focused exemptions, and priority should be given to restoring quality
services that will have a direct impact on children’s well being. Children
have been disproportionately affected by the current sanctions regime, and
previous years of conflict in Iraq. They are less likely to survive economic
austerity, social deprivation, food, and medical shortages than other groups.
The ‘Oil for Food’ programme focuses on reconstruction and the handing out of
supplies and equipment. It does not focus on training people to use the
imported equipment, transport, providing quality in services such as education,
and community development. These are fundamental to creating an environment
which will support children’s development.
- Investment in infrastructure and long term planning
for human development is necessary to address the underlying social and
economic deterioration in Iraq. Years of conflict, war and ten years of
economic sanctions have undermined the social, cultural and economic fabric in
Iraq. The collapse of the water, sanitation, and power infrastructure is a key
element of the health problem. By making people dependent upon a ration under
the ‘Oil for Food’ Programme without stimulating local agricultural production,
increasing poverty, and limiting economic opportunities the pressure appears
to be increasing for children to work, often at the expense of education.
Taking away the productivity and purchasing power of households is making the
population more dependent on the government and will make long term recovery
more difficult.
- A child-focused assessment of the impact of
sanctions and monitoring of the adequacy and equity of the humanitarian
programme is necessary. Representatives of humanitarian agencies should
be invited on a standing basis to report to the sanctions committee on the
humanitarian situation in Iraq. Sanctions and the remedial oil for food
programme should be amended immediately if they are shown to cause undue
suffering to children and do not improve the situation for children to the
maximum extent possible. There is already sufficient evidence of the damage
of sanctions as currently designed. There is therefore a strong case for
de-linking ‘economic’ and ‘military’ sanctions. Both the international
community and the Government of Iraq have a responsibility to allocate the
maximum possible resources to meet the needs identified.
- Iraqi children’s rights as full citizens should be
promoted. The Iraqi population lives in a society of fear and instability,
where their rights of freedom of association, speech and access to resources
are impeded. The current situation based on blame and propaganda only
increases the potential for violence and abuse. The sanctions regime also
excludes and isolates young people in Iraq from the global community, its
opportunities and resources.
Save the
Children UK
25 January 2000