Amnesty report blasts UN, governments for not doing protective duty
- 9 years ago
“2014 was a catastrophic year for millions caught up in violence,” according to Amnesty International in its annual report on human rights.
It accuses governments and the United Nations of behaving hypocritically in saying civilians deserve protection but not acting to support this.
Tied in with the violence, the report says, the number of displaced people around the world exceeded 50 million last year for the first time since the end of World War Two.
Amnesty says the UN Security Council failed miserably to keep civilians safe, the five permanent members abusing their vetoes and putting their self-interest first, noting crises that included Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, Israel and Gaza.
It cited the 2,000 Palestinians — mostly civilians — killed when Israel assaulted Gaza, in response to Palestinian militants firing rockets into Israel. It refers to allegations of war crimes by both sides as being met with “callous indifference”.
Amnesty lists abuses in 35 out of the 160 countries
It accuses governments and the United Nations of behaving hypocritically in saying civilians deserve protection but not acting to support this.
Tied in with the violence, the report says, the number of displaced people around the world exceeded 50 million last year for the first time since the end of World War Two.
Amnesty says the UN Security Council failed miserably to keep civilians safe, the five permanent members abusing their vetoes and putting their self-interest first, noting crises that included Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, Israel and Gaza.
It cited the 2,000 Palestinians — mostly civilians — killed when Israel assaulted Gaza, in response to Palestinian militants firing rockets into Israel. It refers to allegations of war crimes by both sides as being met with “callous indifference”.
Amnesty lists abuses in 35 out of the 160 countries