伊拉克戰爭打響之後，聯合國人權高級專員德梅洛于3月20日發表聲明如下：

　　由於發生在伊拉克的軍事對抗已經開始，我呼籲衝突各方尊重人權和人道法。我極為關注對當地平民安全的保護，對於平民的生活必需品供應一定要充足，並保證人道主義援助人員的安全進入。

　　此時此刻，我必須強調，衝突各方應嚴格堅持各自的國際義務，保證最基本的人權不受侵犯。儘管戰爭有其規則，因衝突造成的災難之中，仍要謹守原則，保證人權不受侵犯。

　　基本的人權準則在任何時候都必須受到尊重。任何人都不能任意踐踏他人的生命、令其承受痛苦。平民是無辜的，不能對平民、病人和傷者加以打擊。

　　正如科菲安南所説，國際法的責任就是在交戰地區對平民加以保護。多年來，伊拉克人民經受了戰爭、內部衝突的巨大傷害，他們的權利被全部否定，各種制裁為人民帶來噩夢連連，最終的結果將是使伊拉克人民陷入孤獨的絕境中。

　　原文

　　HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS APPEALS TO PARTIES IN IRAQ CONFLICT TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN LAW。

　　20 March 2003

　　The following statement was issued today by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello:

　　As hostilities begin in Iraq, I appeal to the Parties to respect human rights and humanitarian law. My paramount concerns are for the safety and protection of civilians, the provision of adequate resources to the civilian population, and guaranteed access and security for humanitarian workers.

　　At this moment, I must recall the international obligations of the Parties to adhere strictly to the fundamental human rights of all.

　　These rights must remain our guide through the tragedy of conflict.

　　Even wars have rules.

　　Fundamental human rights norms must be respected at all times. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his or her life. No one shall be arbitrarily detained and no one shall be subject to torture.

　　Every person shall be presumed innocent. There must be no attacks on civilians and the sick and wounded must be cared for.

　　As Secretary-General Kofi Annan has noted, under international law, the responsibility for protecting civilians in conflict falls squarely on the belligerents; in any area under military occupation, responsibility for the welfare of the population falls on the occupying power.

　　For some two decades, the people of Iraq have suffered enormously: wars, internal conflicts, denial of the entire spectrum of their rights and the human consequences of sanctions have created a nightmare scenario that can only inspire a huge sense of solidarity. （版主萊蒙湖 曉旸翻譯整理）

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