UN Human Rights Body Slams US Over Targeted Assassinations

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http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/03/27-1



US must provide justification, accountability for drone policies, says UN Human Rights Committee

UN Human Rights Body Slams US Over Targeted Assassinations
- Andrea Germanos, staff writer
Published on Thursday, March 27, 2014 by Common Dreams

The United States "should revisit its position regarding legal justifications for the use of deadly force through drone attacks," a UN human rights body stated Thursday.

In its concluding observations on the United States' compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a U.S.-ratified treaty that outlines basic human rights, the UN Human Rights Committee issued a slew of criticisms to the U.S. on its failures.

Among those criticisms is the U.S. drone policy. Echoing what rights and justice groups have long charged, the UN body expressed concern over the justification and lack of accountability for the targeted killings, as well as civilian casualties.

In its recommendations, the body writes that the U.S.

should: (a) ensure that any use of armed drones complies fully with its obligations under article 6 of the Covenant, including in particular with respect to the principles of precaution, distinction and proportionality in the context of an armed conflict; (b) subject to operational security, disclose the criteria for drone strikes, including the legal basis for specific attacks, the process of target identification and the circumstances in which drones are used; (c) provide for independent supervision and oversight over the specific implementation of regulations governing the use of drone strikes; (d) in armed conflict situations, take all feasible measures to ensure the protection of civilians in specific drone attacks and to track and assess civilian casualties, as well as all necessary precautionary measures in order to avoid such casualties; (e) conduct independent, impartial, prompt and effective investigations of allegations of violations of the right to life and bring to justice those responsible; (f) provide victims or their families with an effective remedy where there has been a violation, including adequate compensation, and establish accountability mechanisms for victims of allegedly unlawful drone attacks who are not compensated by their home governments.