Impunity Must End

 

The report documents attacks on health workers, health facilities, and patients in 23 countries in conflict in 2016. Its release today falls on the first anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2286, which set out a roadmap to the protection of health in conflict. 

 

The report calls on the Security Council and countries to take concrete steps toward preventing attacks and ending impunity, as recommended last year by the UN Secretary General. These steps include regular reporting by countries to the UN on actions taken to prevent attacks, investigating those that occur, and holding perpetrators accountable. Where member states fail to act, the Security Council should initiate thorough investigations and establish accountability procedures. 

 

The Security Council and states have failed to take these actions. The report shows the extent and intensity of violence against health workers around the world remains alarmingly high. 

 

In Syria, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) verified 108 verified attacks on health facilities, and the deaths of 91 health professionals in 2016. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported 119 attacks on health facilities and personnel, up from 63 the year before. In Yemen, UNICEF verified 93 attacks on hospitals over a period from March 2015 to December 2016.  

 

The report also shows that accountability for committing these attacks remains inadequate or non-existent.