Paris, 20 March 2003

This day, at 2.30 am U.T., the President of the United States of America has initiated a military operation against Iraq. In so doing he has placed his country outside International Law. No legal basis can justify such a recourse to force, neither the United Nations Charter, nor the Security Council Resolutions. On the contrary, the unilateral operation carried out by the United States and the few countries that support it is in flagrant contradiction with the prescriptions of International law.

The FIDH vigorously condemns the operation under way. It wishes to emphasise that the States involved engage their international responsibility, and the personnel involved – of all ranks – will bear individual criminal liability for any international crimes that might be committed.

The fundamental right of the Iraqi populations to be freed of terror and misery has been neglected for too long, and must be heard. It cannot justify recourse by one or several States to illegal means. The United Nations must as a matter of urgency resume their central role and bring into play the full extent of their attributions in order to resolve the present crisis.

The FIDH therefore reiterates its 18 March 2003 call for the urgent convening of a Special Emergency Session of the General Assembly for the purpose of condemning the United States-led military operation that is in progress, and of adopting all measures that can serve to resolve the crisis and to rebuild Iraq.