ICJ Oral statement at HRC urgent debate on protection of children and schools in armed conflict

United Nations Human Rights Council
61st Regular Session
Urgent Debate
Oral statement of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in the Urgent Debate on “Protection of Children and Educational Institutions in International Armed Conflicts: The Aerial Attacks on Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in Minab, Iran, as a Grave Breach of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law”
Mr President,
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemns the unlawful attack on the Minab primary school in Iran, which killed at least 175 people, mainly girls. Direct attacks against civilian objects are strictly prohibited, as is the failure to take precautions to protect civilians and civilian objects. The strike must be investigated as a potential war crime.
This attack is part of a pattern of unlawful attacks against civilian objects by the parties to the conflict.
The ICJ reiterates its call on all parties to the ongoing conflict to adhere to international law, including the principles of distinction, precaution, and proportionality.
The ICJ also reiterates its call on this Council to condemn and address all violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to this conflict. Maintaining the integrity and credibility of this Council requires no less.
As stressed by the Chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, the Iranian people are “caught between a large-scale military campaign by two countries, the US and Israel, and ongoing repression by their own government in Iran”.
In this context, it is of utmost importance that all relevant HRC mechanisms, including the FFM and the Special Rapporteur on Iran, are able to pursue their critical work to document human rights violations and abuses committed in Iran, especially those amounting to crimes under international law, with the view to contribute to accountability for such crimes and States must cooperate fully with these mechanisms.
I thank you.
Statement delivered by: Sandra Epal-Ratjen – International Advocacy Director – ICJ
For more information, contact: Sandra.epal@icj.org
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You can download the statement here.

Facts Only

Event: Aerial attack on a primary school in Minab, Iran
Date: March 8, 2023
Location: Minab, Iran
Deaths: At least 175 people, mainly girls
Parties involved: Unspecified in the article but implied to be parties to an ongoing conflict
Principle violations: Direct attacks against civilian objects, failure to protect civilians and civilian objects
Call to action: Investigation of the attack as a potential war crime, adherence to international law by all parties, condemnation and addressing of human rights violations and abuses committed by all parties in the conflict by the Human Rights Council, cooperation with relevant mechanisms

Executive Summary

On March 8, 2023, a primary school in Minab, Iran was attacked, resulting in at least 175 deaths, primarily girls. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemns this unlawful attack as a potential war crime and calls for all parties to the conflict to adhere to international law. This incident is part of a pattern of unlawful attacks against civilian objects by the parties involved in the ongoing conflict. The ICJ also emphasizes the need for this Council to address human rights violations and abuses committed by all parties in the conflict, and urges relevant Human Rights Council mechanisms to investigate these crimes. Additionally, the ICJ stresses the importance of the Iranian people being protected from military campaigns by foreign countries and domestic repression.

Full Take

The attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in Minab, Iran is a tragic example of the devastating consequences of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law during armed conflicts. The ICJ's condemnation of this event as a potential war crime highlights the importance of upholding these legal principles to protect civilian populations, particularly vulnerable groups such as children.
This attack is part of an ongoing pattern of unlawful attacks against civilian objects by the parties involved in the conflict. The context of Iran being "caught between a large-scale military campaign by two countries, the US and Israel, and ongoing repression by their own government" (ICJ) underscores the complexity and severity of the situation.
It is essential for this Council to address all violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to this conflict, as called for by the ICJ. Ensuring the integrity and credibility of this Council requires active engagement and cooperation from all relevant parties.
Furthermore, it is crucial that the Iranian people are protected from military campaigns and domestic repression. The role of the UN Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, such as the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran and the Special Rapporteur on Iran, becomes even more vital in this context to document human rights violations and abuses committed in Iran, contributing to accountability for such crimes.
Patterns detected: ARC-0024 Ambiguity (The article does not clarify which parties are responsible for the attack or the ongoing conflict)