| |
Protecting the EnvironmentDuring Armed Conflict:An Inventory and Analysis of International Law
|
 | Despite the protection afforded by several important
legal instruments, the environment continues to be the
silent victim of armed conflicts worldwide. The United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has conducted
over twenty post-conflict assessments since 1999, using
state-of-the-art science to determine the environmental
impacts of war. From Kosovo to Afghanistan, Sudan and
the Gaza Strip, UNEP has found that armed conflict
causes significant harm to the environment and the
communities that depend on natural resources. Direct
and indirect environmental damage, coupled with the
collapse of institutions, lead to environmental risks that
can threaten people’s health, livelihoods and security,
and ultimately undermine post-conflict peacebuilding.
Findings from these assessments also show that the
exploitation and illegal trade of natural resources
frequently fuel and prolong armed conflict, particularly
in countries where laws and institutions have been
weakened or have collapsed. As peacebuilding often
addresses the allocation, access and ownership of
natural resources, there is an urgent need to strengthen
their protection during armed conflict. There can be
no durable peace if the natural resources that sustain
livelihoods are damaged, degraded, and destroyed.
The existing international legal framework contains
many provisions that either directly or indirectly protect
the environment and govern the use of natural resources
during armed conflict. In practice, however, these
provisions have not always been effectively implemented
or enforced. Where the international community has
sought to hold States and individuals responsible for
environmental harm caused during armed conflict, results
have largely been poor, with one notable exception:
holding Iraq accountable for damages caused during the
1990-1991 Gulf War, including for billions of dollars
worth of compensation for environmental damage.
With a view to identifying the current gaps and weaknesses |
| | Year of Publication: 2009 |
| | Author: UNEP |
| | ISBN No: 978-92-807-3042-5 |
| | Price US $: 0.00 |
| | Stock Number: DEP/1191/GE |
| | PDF Available at: Protecting the EnvironmentDuring Armed Conflict:An Inventory and Analysis of International Law |
| | Number of Pages: 82 |
Copyright © United Nations Environment Programme
[ Privacy ]
[ Terms and Conditions ]