BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 12, 2015/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The breach of international humanitarian law and human rights in the Gaza conflict was highlighted by Human Rights Subcommittee MEPs in a debate with experts on Thursday morning. MEPs asked to speed up the peace process. In a separate debate they discussed the deteriorating human rights situation in Burundi.
”There is an urgency to stop the bloodshed” said Chair of the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza conflict Mary Davis, who presented the report on the conduct of armed groups in Gaza conflict in summer 2014. ”The violation of human rights is routine in the region. But even war has rules and it is time to enforce them” Ms Davis said. The investigation initiated by the UN revealed that international humanitarian law and human rights have been violated in the conflict.
MEPs regretted that the UN had no direct access to the field during the investigation and asked what the next steps will be concerning this report. They also raised concerns about impunity and called for a new political approach to put an end to the conflict.
MEPs discussed in a separate debate the deteriorating human rights situation in Burundi. They stressed the need to solve the tension because the crisis is a threat to stability to the whole Great Lake region. They also said the financial aid must be allocated to those who really need it and not to governments that are corrupted. The Burundi crisis is ongoing and is getting even worse after the disputed third re-election of the President Nkurunziza in July.
