Armed conflict is one of the most dangerous situations for people: it leads to massive numbers of killings and woundings, deprives communities of essential supplies and leads to the separation of families. People are deprived of the means to survive, treated without dignity, arbitrarily detained or separated from their loved ones and denied access to life-saving aid.
A day-long debate in the Security Council today highlighted that the international framework that protects civilians during armed conflict is under attack. Those addressing the issue warned that civilians will continue to suffer unless existing laws are enforced and strengthened.
The debate also highlighted that there is a need to systematize approaches to the identification of the roots of armed conflict and the factors that lead to its escalation. This could help to reduce the supply of arms to less developed countries, which carry the heaviest burden of deaths from wars.
For example, it would be helpful to clarify that the interplay between effectiveness and international recognition does not allow States to hinder the classification of an armed conflict as international by refusing to recognize the de facto government of a State. In such cases, there is an international armed conflict (see T. Ferraro and L. Cameron, ‘Article 2: Application of the Convention’, ICRC Commentary on the First Geneva Convention, SS 235).
It is equally important to identify the roots of modern armed conflicts in order to identify the factors that lead to the rise and expansion of rebel groups. Such an analysis would help to prevent the recruitment of young men and women into rebellions and to avoid the escalation of conflict by reducing the opportunities for revolt (for instance, by limiting the possession of exportable primary commodities).