THE POSITION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ON THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY

Valerii KONONENKO

KONONENKO V. (2022), THE POSITION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ON THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY; Scientific Bulletin of Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affair, Special Issue №2, 239-243

DOI: 10.31733/2078-3566-2022-6-239-243

 

ABSTRACT. Since the entry into force of the UN Charter, aggressive war has been outlawed for the first time in the history of international relations. However, over time, a formal approach to the values proclaimed by the UN began to be observed more and more, and after the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine, many questioned the effectiveness of the UN in general.

The UN, whose goals include the maintenance of international peace and security, proved unable to achieve them. But, taking into account the fair criticism of the UN and its bodies and certain specialized institutions, the activities of the UN Committee on Human Rights can be recognized as effective. And although its decisions are not binding and do not have a special enforcement mechanism (like, for example, the European Court of Human Rights), its decisions have the force of soft law, which is based on the authority of the UN). States are responsible for protecting life and countering large-scale or systematic attacks on the right to life, including acts of aggression, international terrorism, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

States parties to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which do not take all reasonable measures to settle their international disputes by peaceful means, may not fulfill their positive obligation to ensure the right to life. The right to life should not be interpreted narrowly. This also applies to the right of natural persons to be free from actions and inactions that may cause an unnatural or premature death of a person. The law must strictly control and limit the circumstances under which a person can be deprived of life by the state authorities.

Before using lethal force, agents of the state must (as far as objectively possible) warn the person of the intention to use force and provide an opportunity to surrender. The infliction of damage must be proportionate to the requirements for the actions of law enforcement agencies and the circumstances of the case.

Keywords: right to life, state of emergency, UN Human Rights Committee.

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