[PASSED] Medical Facilities Protection

[Sedgistan]

Continuing the discussion here. It was getting confusing in the old thread, and since I'm the resolution writer now, best I have an OP I can control.

Current Text

Medical Facilities Protection

Area: Global Disarmament Strength: Mild

ACKNOWLEDGING that war extends beyond those engaged in combat

ACCEPTING there are always dangers presiding in conflict zones

BELIEVING however that it is immoral to target those providing humanitarian aid

NOTING the costs of recovery would be lessened if vital infrastructure and supplies are undamaged

PROPOSES the following:

1. PROHIBITS the deliberate targeting of medical facilities clearly displaying the emblems of an recognised international humanitarian movement during a conflict.
a) Defines a medical facility as a structure whose primary function is to repair damage or preserve life after the immediate effects of injury or disease.
b) Defines deliberate targeting as any intentional attack, raid or sabotage at the above while they in the performance of their duties

2. CHARGES the International Humanitarian Aid Coordination Committee to identify recognised international humanitarian movements and that knowledge of them is provided to World Assembly members.

3. WAIVES the protections of this resolution where it is shown that:
a) The facility has been used in a role other than medical assistance, such as the production or stockpiling of non-medical supplies.
b) There is evidence of camouflage or attempt to abuse these protections for strategic advantage
c) In dealings with non World Assembly nations this resolution has not been followed.

4. URGES nations to conduct war in a manner that causes the least loss of life.

Co-authored by The New Aryan State

Earlier Draft (Protects medical personnel as well)

ACKNOWLEDGING that war extends beyond those engaged in combat

ACCEPTING there are always dangers for serving in conflict zones

BELIEVING however that it is immoral to target those providing humanitarian aid

PROPOSES the following:

1. PROHIBITS the deliberate targeting of medical personnel and their supplies clearly displaying the emblems of an recognised international humanitarian movement during a conflict.
a) Defines medical personnel as persons whose primary job is to provide medical assistance or to evacuate people to where medical assistance can be provided
b) Defines medical supplies as any item used directly in life saving actions, or those used to sustain life after injury or disease.
c) Defines deliberate targeting as the aiming of a weapons at the above while they in the performance of their duties

2. CHARGES the International Humanitarian Aid Coordination Committee to identify recognised international humanitarian movements, that knowledge of them is provided to World Assembly members and to provide advice to such movements if requested.

3. WAIVES the protections of this resolution where it is shown that:
a) A person was armed and had been engaged in a role other than medical assistance.
b) There is evidence of camouflage or attempt to abuse these protections for military advantage
c) In dealings with non World Assembly nations this resolution had not been followed.

Original thread by Magthere here

----------------------
I believe this is the main point of contention in this debate, whether (unarmed) medical personnel should be included (or if even such a thing exist in the front lines) That's the difference between the 2 drafts. I don't think I could make everyone happy.

WA #6: Humanitarian Transport already covers most forms of aid transport. This is mostly about the buildings (or the field medics). (Thanks for reminding me The New Aryan State)

[The New Aryan State]

Ambulances?

EDIT: Good going, then.

[Travda]

Protecting medical facilities is better than nothing. If it requires sacrificing combat medics and more dead soldiers, that's just the price we have to pay for allowing war mongers into the Assembly. Nothing to be done about that.

I'd support as is, if I have to.

[Eulmig]

Ambulances?

EDIT: Good going, then.

[Flibbleites]

Sorry to break it to you, but your submitted version is illegal, you are only allowed one co-author.

[Warzone Codger]

Noted. Could you delete the proposal and let me resubmit? I think I sent a GHR.

[Flibbleites]

Noted. Could you delete the proposal and let me resubmit? I think I sent a GHR.

I can't since I'm just a forum mod, but someone got it.

[The Associated Peoples]

3. WAIVES the protections of this resolution where it is shown that:
a) The facility has been used in a role other than medical assistance, such as the production or stockpiling of non-medical supplies.
b) There is evidence of camouflage or attempt to abuse these protections for strategic advantage
c) In dealings with non World Assembly nations this resolution has not been followed.

The Ambassador of The Republic of the Associated Peoples Dr.Nigel Roosevelt reads over the document and then looks over towards the Ambassador from Warzone Codger with a perplexed look on his face.

"Do you mean by Article 3-C that it is acceptable practice to target the medical facilities of a nation that has not followed this resolution when dealing with non WA nations should it come to pass? If that is the case then I can not support this. I do not believe it is ever acceptable to target a true medical facility regardless of what the opposing force may or may not have done.I do however agree with both 3-A and 3-B for these practices would show the target to be a medical facility only in name. It could very well be that I am interpreting this piece of legislation incorrectly but I would like to know exactly what I am voting on before I cast my ballot.Please educate me of what is meant by this before that time comes"

[Wanjestay]

Can the Resolution define what exactly an 'recognised international humanitarian movement' is? Just for the purposes of clarity.

[Warzone Codger]

~~From the desk of Warren "Codger" Codge, Chancellor of the Warzone Airspace Imperium, a loose union of unstable warring member states...~~

"Do you mean by Article 3-C that it is acceptable practice to target the medical facilities of a nation that has not followed this resolution when dealing with non WA nations should it come to pass?

To the Ambassador Dr.Nigel Roosevelt of The Associated Peoples. That effect of that clauses leaves it up to the members discretion on what to do, when in dealings with non-WA nations who commit acts breaking this resolution. Said nation is still allowed to uphold this resolution in the situation, but we acknowledge when nations are personally confronted with such atrociouses they should not feel bound, although we encourage them to, as seen in the urges clause afterwards.

Can the Resolution define what exactly an 'recognised international humanitarian movement' is? Just for the purposes of clarity.

To the ambassador of Wanjestay, we have decided to let the International Humanitarian Aid Coordination Committee identify them. I do not the workings of gnomes, but I believe that are very impeccable checkers, and will identify those that have a general consensus across nations.

[Conopolis]

I like it.

[Turtatalia]

URGES nations to conduct war in a manner that causes the least loss of life.

The Emperor (may his divineness be eternally blessed) notes that this - unfortunately - never happens, even though armies say that they are going to cause the minimal loss of life, this never happens. Regardless, we are a peaceful nation, so the Emperor requests that his Delegate vote FOR this resolution.

Dr Ivan Quicksilver (LLD) constitutional and international law with specialism in codified legal ssystems
Working on behalf of:
Tomas Mikangelos
Federal Chancellor
and
Lamaeus I
Federal Emperor (may his divineness be eternally blessed)

[Glen-Rhodes]

If all these things are simply being proposed, is the World Assembly technically mandating any of them?

- Dr. B. Castro

[Turtatalia]

The Emperor has direct us to offer our support to this resolution, which we have done.

[Tarnell]

War is war! Without tactics like the ones prohibited if this passes, war will continue longer, killilng more people! War should be conducted as efficiently and quickly as possible.

[Embolalia]

If all these things are simply being proposed, is the World Assembly technically mandating any of them?

- Dr. B. Castro

Not by my reading...

[Turtatalia]

War is war! Without tactics like the ones prohibited if this passes, war will continue longer, killilng more people! War should be conducted as efficiently and quickly as possible.

The Emperor enquires what your point is

[Knootoss]

We must regrettably vote against this resolution. While sympathetic, it does not take account of military realities, and it would unnecessarily tie our hands in our humanitarian intervention against the fascist regime of Iesus Christi.

The brave heroes of the Knootian Defence Force will do their best to avoid civilian casualties, but we cannot allow loyalist forces to use the people in hospitals as human shields.

Ambassador Aram Koopman
World Assembly representative for the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss

[The New Aryan State]

We must regrettably vote against this resolution. While sympathetic, it does not take account of military realities, and it would unnecessarily tie our hands in our humanitarian intervention against the fascist regime of Iesus Christi.

The brave heroes of the Knootian Defence Force will do their best to avoid civilian casualties, but we cannot allow loyalist forces to use the people in hospitals as human shields.

Ambassador Aram Koopman
World Assembly representative for the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss

We appreciate the concerns of the Knootian representative, but add that a nation using their own medical personnel as human shields would be an illegal act, in breach of the resolution. In that situation, however regrettable such an action may be, the attacker would be justified in firing upon the protected area and personnel.

If the human shields were foreign hostages, the situation would of course be dealt with by negotiator and counter-terrorist units in the normal fashion.

[Knootoss]

The national socialist regime of Bridgette Iesus has murdered thousands of innocent civilians, hung it's own government officials, made war upon it's own people and withheld food from them, staged terrorist attacks, taken foreign hostages, murdered monks and nuns, and assassinated one of our own members of parliament. I am not sure if they would be very impressed if the World Assembly sent them a sternly-worded letter.

The intent behind this resolution is noble, but the realities of war are different.

Ambassador Aram Koopman
World Assembly representative for the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss

[Alfredium]

m

War is war! Without tactics like the ones prohibited if this passes, war will continue longer, killilng more people! War should be conducted as efficiently and quickly as possible.

How barbaric! Its just mean to target medical facilities! You are killing innocent people just because they were "with the enemy"

[Warzone Codger]

If all these things are simply being proposed, is the World Assembly technically mandating any of them?

- Dr. B. Castro

Not by my reading...

*disbelief*

My reading was that the resolution is we propose we do x,y,z, ... everyone says yes (it passes) and x, y, z is done.

By passing the resolution you are approving we WA nations do the things that are proposed.

[Cinistra]

War is war! Without tactics like the ones prohibited if this passes, war will continue longer, killilng more people! War should be conducted as efficiently and quickly as possible.

Agree. If the enemy surrender and agrees to our demands, we will be quickly through it.

[Mahaj WA Seat]

This would change warfare drastically, and it is such a change I will not tolerate. I cast my vote AGAINST.

[Quintanilla]

THIS RESOLUTION IS CONTRADICTORY

"BELIEVING however that it is immoral to target those providing humanitarian aid"

There is no such thing as true morality when it comes to taking people's lives in the name of one's goals. Therefore, humanitarian aid would only strengthen the enemy by keeping their civilians healthy and prosperous, making the intervening humanitarian aid workers enemies as well. The proposal is therefore invalidated by itself for suggesting a moral stance in an area as brutal as war, and should be struck down with haste.