Humanitarian standards ‘rolled back’ in new war: UN child protection envoy News
Humanitarian standards ‘rolled back’ in new war: UN child protection envoy

[JURIST] Radhika Coomaraswamy [official profile], the Sri Lankan human rights lawyer now serving as UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict [official website], said in an interview with AFP published Sunday that UN officials are very concerned that a new form of warfare targeting civilian institutions and infrastructure exemplified in the Middle East conflict [JURIST news archive] between Israel and Hezbollah has "rolled back" progress in the development of humanitarian standards made since World War II and blamed politics for some of the difficulties the Security Council will face in taking action. Under the terms of UN Resolution 1612 [text, PDF], passed in June 2005, UN workers monitor children in conflict-ridden areas and can report offenders – including state and non-state parties – to the Security Council for potential punitive action.

The United Nations will release a report Monday detailing Israel's July 30th bombing of a residential building in the Lebanese village of Qana [JURIST report], which is now believed to have killed at least 16 children and 12 adults. In an August 1 statement [PDF], Coomaraswamy "strongly condemned" the strike, noting that "callous disregard for the lives of children has permeated this conflict from its start" and insisting:

We cannot roll back years of agreed standards of international protection. If we do so, no-one will emerge victorious. Time and time again, the world has united to protect children, and we must not fail them now.
AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.