Artsakhpress

Society

ICRC “People on War 2016” survey: In P5 countries people are more resigned to civilian casualties

The International Committee of the Red Cross held a global survey “People on War 2016”.

ICRC “People on War 2016” survey: In P5 countries people are more resigned to civilian casualties

ICRC “People on War 2016” survey: In P5 countries people are more resigned to civilian casualties

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 5, ARTSAKHPRESS: Between June and September 2016, over 17,000 people in 16 countries were asked to share their views on a range of issues relating to war – in the People on War survey.

The survey was also conducted in ten countries that are currently involved in an armed conflict, including Iraq, Afghanistan and South Sudan.

The permanent member countries of the UN Security Council (P5 - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) were also part of what is the largest survey of its kind ever carried out by the ICRC.

Eight in ten people surveyed think combatants should avoid civilians as much as possible when attacking the enemy. The same number thinks attacking hospitals, ambulances and healthcare workers, in order to weaken an enemy, is wrong.

However, a startling 36% of respondents believe that captured enemy combatants can be tortured to obtain important military information. Only slightly less than half of the people (48%) asked this year, believe this behaviour is wrong, compared to 66% in a 1999 survey. 16% said they didn’t know.

78% of people living in countries affected by war said it was wrong to attack enemy combatants in populated areas, knowing that many civilians would be killed. In P5 countries, only 50% of people said it’s wrong.

26% of people in P5 countries think depriving the civilian population of essentials like food, water and medicine to weaken the enemy is just “part of war”, compared to 14% in countries affected by war.

“In such troubled times, it’s heartening to see that the vast majority of people believe that the laws of war matter. This recognition of basic human values flies in the face of the appalling violations we see on a daily basis in our work”, said the president of the ICRC, Peter Maurer.

“The results also show that we all need to redraw a line in the sand: torture in any form is forbidden. We demonise our enemies at our own peril. Even in war, everyone deserves to be treated humanely. Using torture only triggers a race to the bottom. It has a devastating impact on the victims, and it brutalizes entire societies for generations.”

The survey indicates that if you live in or near a conflict-affected country, you are more likely to respond humanely to questions on the laws of war. In P5 countries, it appears that people are more resigned to civilian casualties and suffering as an inevitable part of warfare:

78% of people living in countries affected by war said it was wrong to attack enemy combatants in populated areas, knowing that many civilians would be killed. In P5 countries, only 50% of people said it’s wrong.

26% of people in P5 countries think depriving the civilian population of essentials like food, water and medicine to weaken the enemy is just “part of war”, compared to 14% in countries affected by war.

“Faced with constant, gruesome images from the world’s frontlines, we must not lose our empathy and become numb to human suffering,” said Mr Maurer. “But the overwhelming message from this survey is that people truly believe in the importance of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, and the protection of civilians during times of conflict.”

The four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols seek to limit the effects of warfare on those who do not participate in hostilities, such as civilians or wounded and captured combatants.


     

Politics

Economy

Society

Military

Most Read

month

week

day

Search