Minute on Economic Sanctions Against Iraq
Nashville Friends Meeting, December 1999
Nashville
Friends Meeting expresses its deep concern about the effects
of economic sanctions on civilians in Iraq.
- Sanctions
against Iraq have caused a great increase in the country's
mortality rates, especially among children. The United Nations
Childrenos Fund (UNICEF) reports that rates of childhood mortality
in Iraq in 1997 were running 90,000 deaths per year in excess
of rates of mortality that prevailed in 1989 before the Gulf
War. (Situation Analysis of Children and Women in Iraq, p.
42, 1998, UNICEF). The report also states that large percentages
of Iraq's living children suffer from acute malnutrition,
life threatening diseases, stunting of normal development,
and educational and social disruption. The report attributes
these increases in mortality and severe health problems to
the effects of the economic sanctions enforced by the U.N.
Security Council.
Denis Halliday, a veteran of 34 years of service with the
United Nations resigned in protest in October 1998 after thirteen
months as the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq. In an
interview with The Progressive (February 1999, p. 28). He
said that as a result of sanctions "...Thousands are
being killed right now, under U.N. auspices. We are killing
6,000 or 7,000 every month."
These conclusions are consistent with reports of the United
Nations humanitarian agencies and observations by numerous
non-governmental human rights delegations. One of these consisted
of a delegation of six pediatricians and child welfare specialists
who visited Iraq in November 1998 on behalf of Americans Friends
Service Committee. (Child & Maternal Health & Nutrition
in Iraq under the Sanctions 12/98 AFSC, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia
19102)
- These
severe effects on the life, health, and social structure of
civilians constitute a violation of the fundamental principles
of international law, the peacemaking principles and intent
of the United Nations Charter, and the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child.
- The
government of the United States, because of its dominant power
and influence in the Security Council, shares with the government
of Iraq great responsibility for the political deadlock that
has caused these deadly conditions to continue for nine years.
We, as citizens of the U.S. bear a grave responsibility for
the actions of our government.
- It is
urgent that an alternative solution be found that will end
the United Nations economic embargo and allow Iraq to restore
its economy and social structure through normal trade and
economic activity, with supplementary help from U.N. humanitarian
programs and other available resources in the world community.
- Such
a settlement could be tied to a United Nations program that
would monitor and limit future accumulation of weapons by
Iraq. We also believe that reductions in the weapons arsenals
of all governments in the Middle East would reduce tensions
in the region. The United States and other countries involved
in the arms trade would need to be involved in such reductions.
Nashville
Friends Meeting authorizes its Peace and Social Concerns Committee
to:
- Transmit
our concern and supporting evidence to our senators, congressional
representatives, and president, and urge them to support these
recommendations for changes in policy toward Iraq.
- Authorize
the Meeting's representatives to the Nashville Peace and Justice
Center to support this issue as a priority concern for action
by the Center.
- Transmit
our concerns, along with supporting evidence, to monthly meetings
and worship groups with the request that they consider the
concern and respond by bringing it to the yearly meeting level,
and by contacting Friends Committee on National Legislation,
their federal representatives, and the president of the U.S.
- Transmit
our concerns and supporting evidence to SAYMA for consideration
of approval of a minute to be shared with wider Quaker organizations
and other yearly meetings.
OTHER
QUAKER STATEMENTS & LETTERS
Reviewed:
09/06/2005
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