As a six-year-old boy, Ban Ki-moon and his family were forced to flee their home during the Korean war. Inspired by his experiences, the now UN Secretary-General has convened the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit as a call for global action to alleviate the suffering of the 125 million people around the world affected by conflicts and disasters. To chart a way forward, he called for an “Agenda for Humanity” based on five core responsibilities, calling on global leaders to stand up for our common humanity and reduce human suffering.
In a series of five blogs, we will explore the core responsibilities through the eyes of those who need them the most: affected people.
Our leaders have the power to close the gap between the world that is and the world that should be. Visit impossiblechoices.org and ask your leader to come to the World Humanitarian Summit and take bold action to stop human suffering.
Core Responsibility 2: Respect rules of war
Yes, there are international humanitarian and human rights laws on the books. And yes, most States have signed onto them. But unless these laws are respected and monitored by State and non-State fighting parties, and unless violators are held to account each time they break them, then civilians will continue to make up the vast majority of people killed in conflict.
Civilian infrastructure—hospitals, schools, water-pumping stations, people’s houses—will continue to be destroyed with impunity!
Unless humanitarian law is truly respected, civilians will continue to be trapped by warring parties. Unless these laws are respected, aid workers and volunteers will either continue to be barred from accessing people in need, or they will be put in danger while trying to do so.
This is the story of Gennadiy, a retired Mine worker, from Semenivka, Ukraine:
Gennadiy was with his wife when she was killed by shelling.
“We were outside, standing in the line for bread. My wife was behind me. It happened so fast and unexpectedly. I just heard two things passing by, like a whistle. I knew her voice so well, we were married for 29 years. Her name was Milatovana. God bless her soul. We thought we would celebrate our thirtieth anniversary this year, but now we never will.” Credit: OCHA/PAX/Dirk-Jan Visser
Credit: OCHA/PAX/Dirk-Jan Visser
This is the story of Ellina, a mother from Semenivka, Ukraine:
“My daughter’s friend Andrina went to the same dancing school [as my girls].Her mum came to pick her up from school on a bike. She put her on the bike behind her. The shelling started and the shrapnel hit the girl’s backpack. It went through and killed the girl.” Credit: OCHA/PAX/Dirk-Jan Visser
Credit: OCHA/PAX/Dirk-Jan Visser
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