#NotATarget: UN to Discuss Civilian Strikes

Talk about a new normal.

In this era of war throughout the world, it’s a sad trend that there seems to be an attack on a civilian target that should be inviolate on at least a weekly basis. Hospitals, weddings, and houses of worship are hit far too often. Some of these attacks happen out of negligence, but far too often civilian areas are intentionally targeted, reflecting policies that view the other side as fair game wherever they may be.

Recently there has been a series of deadly bombings of hospitals and medical clinics in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. One article in the Washington Post carried a headline you’d hope to never read: Medical facilities becoming routine casualties in conflict zones. It’s important for us in the U.S. to realize that in some of these attacks, the U.S. is either directly responsible for the attacks (in Afghanistan) or supporting the attacks (e.g. by supporting the Saudi attacks on Yemen).

We cannot let ourselves grow numb to these attacks and allow them to become the new normal. We need to take action. We’re joining with groups like Doctors Without Borders and Human Rights Watch to shine a light on this problem. The United Nations Security Council may be voting on a resolution on this matter on May 3. But if you’re reading this after that day we must still speak out on this issue.

Spread the word on Social Media using the hashtag #NotATarget

Make your voice heard and urge United Nations member states to support the strongest possible version of this resolution by sharing the following messages:

Twitter:

• Attacks on hospitals must stop! This cannot be the accepted norm. @UN Security Council (#UNSC) must reaffirm that hospitals are #NotATarget

Facebook:

Copy and share the following in a Facebook message:

Recently there has been a series of deadly bombings of hospitals and medical clinics in Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. One article in the Washington Post carried a headline you’d hope to never read: Medical facilities becoming routine casualties in conflict zones. It’s important for us in the U.S. to realize that in some of these attacks, the U.S. is either directly responsible for the attacks (in Afghanistan) or supporting the attacks (e.g. by supporting the Saudi attacks on Yemen).

The United Nations Security Council should reaffirm the protection of impartial medical care, health workers and of all patients, regardless of their background, and establish effective, independent investigations to report attacks on medical facilities and hold accountable those who attack them. Hospitals are #NotATarget

Check out this video that Doctors Without Borders has done for the #NotATarget Campaign:

[wpvideo BsSR4XEi]