UN experts highlight role of human rights in protection for all victims

A group of rights specialists from the UN human rights system on Monday stressed that human rights is the center for humanitarian actions and is key to ensure protection for all victims.

In a statement addressed to the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit which opened on Monday in Istanbul, a group of 44 UN Special Rapporteurs urged all participants to ensure that human rights are integrated into all aspects of the conference, including national commitments to improve the protection of all those affected by conflict, disaster and displacement.

"Many conflicts could be avoided through greater attention to human rights by national and international actors before violence breaks out, saving countless lives and avoiding the need for costly humanitarian action," they noted, referring to recent conflicts in which widespread violations of human rights have been witnessed.

The experts also expressed deep concern about the downgrading of attention to human rights in some emergency settings and conflicts.

"It is in crisis and conflict that individuals and communities are most at risk and in need of protection, yet it is often at these times that we see human rights violations taking place with impunity and attention to human rights weakened or neglected," the statement said.

The UN experts said that the Summit offers a unique opportunity to pay greater attention to human rights by all actors at every phase, from prevention measures to emergency assistance and recovery.

They also called for "better enforcement of international humanitarian law and international human rights law and standards as a high priority for all States and the international community."

The first World Humanitarian Summit opened Monday in Istanbul with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging governments, aid groups, the private sector and other stakeholders to act to improve the global humanitarian system.

In his opening remarks to the two-day event, Ban called on the participants to make concrete commitments in five areas -- conflict prevention and resolution, strengthening the protection of civilians, leaving no one behind, ending humanitarian need and ensuring funding for humanitarian actions. Enditem