United Nations Security Council Resolution 1502
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1502, adopted unanimously on August 26, 2003, after recalling resolutions 1265
(1999), 1296
(2000) and 1460
(2003), the Council condemned violence against humanitarian workers and called upon all states to ensure that such incidents did not remain unpunished.
The vote on the resolution, proposed by Mexico
, was delayed due to opposition from the United States
concerning the inclusion of language relating to the International Criminal Court
, which the latter did not recognise; references to the court were later removed.
. It welcomed General Assembly
resolutions
concerning the protection of United Nations and humanitarian personnel. At the same time, United Nations and humanitarian personnel were asked to respect the laws of the country in which they were operating.
The preamble of the resolution also emphasised the existence of restrictions against attacks directed at United Nations peacekeeping
personnel or humanitarian personnel, which constituted war crime
s. There was concern at attacks worldwide against United Nations, associate and humanitarian personnel, including the bombing
outside the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq
on August 19, 2003.
of their property. It urged all states to ensure that such crimes did not remain unpunished, reaffirming the obligations of parties involved in armed conflict to comply with international law
. The parties were urged to guarantee unimpeded access by humanitarian personnel to people in need of assistance, ensure their safety and freedom of movement
, and provide facilitates for their use. The Council was determined to ensure such measures were upheld, by:
requesting the Secretary-General to seek the inclusion of and ensure that countries include key provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; encouraging the Secretary-General to bring instances regarding the denial of humanitarian assistance to the Security Council's attention; issuing declarations of execeptional risk under the Convention.
Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was instructed to address the issue of the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel in his reports to the Council, including recommendations on how to prevent future incidents and holding those accountable who perpetrated instances of violence.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1502, adopted unanimously on August 26, 2003, after recalling resolutions 1265
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1265
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1265, adopted unanimously on September 17, 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council discussed the protection of civilians during armed conflict.-Observations:...
(1999), 1296
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1296
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1296, adopted unanimously on April 19, 2000, after recalling Resolution 1265 , the Council discussed steps to enhance the protection of civilians during armed conflict.-Observations:...
(2000) and 1460
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1460
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1460, adopted unanimously on January 30, 2003, after recalling resolutions 1261 , 1265 , 1296 , 1306 , 1308 , 1314 , 1325 and 1379 , the Council called for the immediate end to the use of child soldiers and endorsed an "era of application" of...
(2003), the Council condemned violence against humanitarian workers and called upon all states to ensure that such incidents did not remain unpunished.
The vote on the resolution, proposed by Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, was delayed due to opposition from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
concerning the inclusion of language relating to the International Criminal Court
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
, which the latter did not recognise; references to the court were later removed.
Observations
The Security Council reiterated its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to ensure respect for international humanitarian lawInternational humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
. It welcomed General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
resolutions
United Nations General Assembly Resolution
A United Nations General Assembly Resolution is voted on by all member states of the United Nations in the General Assembly.General Assembly resolutions usually require a simple majority to pass...
concerning the protection of United Nations and humanitarian personnel. At the same time, United Nations and humanitarian personnel were asked to respect the laws of the country in which they were operating.
The preamble of the resolution also emphasised the existence of restrictions against attacks directed at United Nations peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
personnel or humanitarian personnel, which constituted war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s. There was concern at attacks worldwide against United Nations, associate and humanitarian personnel, including the bombing
Canal Hotel Bombing
The Canal Hotel Bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, in the afternoon of August 19, 2003, killed at least 22 people, including the United Nations' Special Representative in Iraq Sérgio Vieira de Mello, and wounded over 100. The blast targeted the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq created just 5 days...
outside the headquarters of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq
United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq is an entity that was formed by the United Nations in Security Council Resolution 1500 on 14 August 2003.-Mandate:...
on August 19, 2003.
Acts
The resolution expressed strong condemnation of all violence to which those in humanitarian operations were exposed, including attacks on convoys and lootingLooting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
of their property. It urged all states to ensure that such crimes did not remain unpunished, reaffirming the obligations of parties involved in armed conflict to comply with international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
. The parties were urged to guarantee unimpeded access by humanitarian personnel to people in need of assistance, ensure their safety and freedom of movement
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
, and provide facilitates for their use. The Council was determined to ensure such measures were upheld, by:
requesting the Secretary-General to seek the inclusion of and ensure that countries include key provisions of the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel; encouraging the Secretary-General to bring instances regarding the denial of humanitarian assistance to the Security Council's attention; issuing declarations of execeptional risk under the Convention.
Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
was instructed to address the issue of the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel in his reports to the Council, including recommendations on how to prevent future incidents and holding those accountable who perpetrated instances of violence.
See also
- Attacks on humanitarian workersAttacks on humanitarian workersHumanitarian aid workers belonging to United Nations organisations, PVOs / NGOs or the Red Cross / Red Crescent have traditionally enjoyed both international legal protection, and de facto immunity from attack by belligerent parties. However, attacks on humanitarian workers have occasionally...
- Humanitarian principlesHumanitarian principlesThere are a number of meanings for the term humanitarian. Here humanitarian pertains to the practice of saving lives and alleviating suffering. It is usually related to emergency response whether in the case of a natural disaster or a man-made disaster such as war or other armed conflict...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)