Situation in Mayamar is out of control

It also stated: “The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as head of state or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.”

In the twentieth century, children have increasingly become the direct and indirect victims of armed conflict. The most fundamental challenge for any international legal system which wishes to mitigate the suffering of children in war, is to ensure their very survival.

International Humanitarian Law or the law of armed conflict governs the conduct of war; it sets out the parameters of what is legally permissible during hostilities. From what we know about children’s experience in the Mayanmar conflict, the fact is that they are increasingly the victims, sometimes purposefully targeted.

Protecting innocent civilians is the most important challenge ahead for the United Nations and other international policy makers. More attention to human security above national security will help reduce cycles of conflict and instability. For how long will we quietly look at these animalistic scenes produced by inhuman behaviour of people in Myanmar? And for how long will we be blind and tolerate those monsters who are fighting for their own interests by deaths of others.

— The reader is based in Benoni, South Africa.