June 30, 2011
IFHHRO has signed a letter to members of the UN Security Council endorsing Germany’s effort to strengthen accountability mechanisms regarding attacks on hospitals in connections with the mechanisms it has established on protection of children in armed conflict.
Attacks on schools and hospitals have been repeatedly identified by the Security Council as one of the six ‘grave violations’ against children in armed conflict. Unlike some of the other violations, accountability mechanisms such as listing violators and requiring an action plan to address them, do not apply to attacks on schools and hospitals.
Health community
The education community has taken the lead on adding schools and hospitals to the accountability mechanisms, and there exists a vibrant coalition of education groups involved. The health community, however, has been almost entirely absent. The Center for Public Health and Human Rights at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (USA) has prepared a background memo on this issue.
Sign-on letter
Interested organisations should send their signed letter to Lindsay Gordon, lgordon@intrahealth.org, before Tuesday July 5th.
Download the sign on letter (Word)
Download the background memo (PDF)
Additional information is available from the Watchlist on Children in Armed Conflict, including a briefing note