Advancing Protection of Health in Armed Conflict

The International Committee of the Red Cross has stated that violence inflicted on health care services and personnel is one of the most significant and complex yet under-recognized problems in humanitarian practice.  Despite firm standards in international law requiring respect for health facilities, health workers, ambulances and patients in times of conflict,  violations are common, and the traditional tools of protection, including reporting, prevention, and accountability have not been brought to bear on them.  No agency is responsible for systematic reporting.  Prevention activities tend to be idiosyncratic and not shared.  Accountability mechansisms the international community has established for violations of human rights have not been applied to attacks.  As a result, there is insufficient knowledge about the nature, scope, extent and impacts of these attacks, and few strategies to reduce them.  In the past year, however, initiatives to address the gaps have begun in multilateral organizations including the World Health Organization, the UN Security Council, through a Health Care in Danger campaign by the Red Cross/Red  Cresent movement, an through activities of academic institutions and NGOs.   Means for systematic reporting under  uniform standards can be developed, using mobile technologies; prevention strategies can be improved by addressing the protocols and training of conventional militaries and by engaging armed groups; and accountability can be enhanced through existing mechanisms.  The public health community has a major role to play in advancing these initiatives and conducting research that can yield information leading to greater protection.