Human rights protection during conflict and in its immediate aftermath

Order Description Response –respond to the below noted post, the response should be at least 100 words. You will be assessed on your contribution to a dynamic discussion and your ability to respond to and analyse arguments other than your own. How can human rights be better protected durin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing conflict and in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in its immediate aftermath? Respond to this below noted post by Ms. Naomi Claire Steer Meetin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing the challenge of better protectin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing human rights durin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing conflict and its immediate aftermath is complex.It in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">involves the application of a comprehensive and at times overlappin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing regime of in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">international and national law around human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) ; the engagement of a diverse range of actors in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">includin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing state and non state parties,in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">international and multilateral bodies, regional organisations , NGO's , civil society and the media ; and the employment of a range of tools and strategies in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">includin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing military, diplomatic ,economic and humanitarian measures and in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">interventions (Lockardt,2005). It also depends on how human rights concerns are addressed in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in peace makin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing arrangements. While the rules of war were designed to protect combatants and also civilians -in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in this context largely perceived of as collateral damage - new kin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">inds of conflict and warfare mean that civilians are now often the specific targets of human rights abuses as part of a concious military strategy (UNSG Report ,2001). Rape, torture,abduction and arbitary arrest are just some of the examples of human rights abuses that are now common place despite the very comprehensive legal regimes in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in place.That bein" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing said , organisations like the ICRC work hard to educate parties in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in a conflict about their legal obligations as well as the consequences of abuses in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">includin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing the possibility of crimin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">inal prosecution before the ICC or national courts. Despite the opposition of a number of African regimes to the ICC, recent high profile ICC prosecutions may be more of a deterrent than previously apparent . If a state is unwillin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing or unable to protect it's citizens, outside in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">intervention may be necessary rangin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing from human rights monitorin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing , diplomatic in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">intervention (such as Kofi Annan 's mission to Kenya durin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing the 2007 election violence ) or military in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">intervention ( such as the INTERFET force led by Australia in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in East Timor) . However experience shows that in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">interventions ,through in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">initiatives such as R2P ,in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">involve as many political considerations as human rights concerns. Ultimately the best protection is prevention .There is a strong connection between human rights and conflict ,with both human rights abuses bein" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing a consequence of conflict as well as also a cause (Parlevliet,2002). The exploration of structural causes of conflict , developin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing ongoin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing monitorin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing of human rights flashpoin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ints , buildin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">internal in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">institutional and civil society capacity ,restoration of rule of law and promotin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing human rights education campaigns are just some examples of preventative strategies (Parlevliet,2002). Different approaches to human rights will have different outcomes for human rights protection. Takin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing a human rights approach for example focuses on justice and accountability .While it might complicate or even delay the end of conflict ,human rights advocates argue there can be no peace without justice . Takin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing a conflict resolution approach on the other hand may mean resolvin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing conflict as the first priority - which may in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in turn mean workin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing with human rights perpetrators .Mertus and Helsin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing (2006) argue however that this justice versus peace dilemma is false and that the two approaches should be mutually rein" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">inforcin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing and complementary .They poin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">int to the in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">inclusion of human rights conditions in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in peace agreements (eg El Salvador and Guatemala) and post conflict constitutions (Mozambique and Namibia) as evidence this is already happenin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing (Mertus and Helsin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing,2006,pp.512).They further suggest that this development is in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in part due to the role that in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">internationally and widely adopted IHL has played ,actin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing as as a bridge between the other two concepts and enablin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing human rights concerns to be in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">included in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in peace makin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing agendas without bein" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing seen as bein" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing promoted by one side or the other to the conflict.(Mertus and Heslin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing, 2006,pp.510). In addition strategies around prioritisation and sequencin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing can also help resolve potential contradictions. Overall improvin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing the protection of human rights durin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing conflict and post conflict depends on many factors not least bein" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing the collective political will of both the in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">international community and states to provide the necessary resources and commitment to stem abuses and protect civilians.However the foundations for the protection of human rights longer term ,can be improved by ensurin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing human rights concerns are addressed in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in peace makin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing arrangements and in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in addressin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing structural causes of conflict in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in post conflict rebuildin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing and reform.The tension between accountability for human rights abuses and the need to end conflict can be assisted by IHL to help in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">integrate human rights concerns in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in longer term peacebuildin" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">in" rel="nofollow">ing strategies.