NGO Statement on Iraq

NGO Representatives of the world, participating in the 55th UN DPI/NGO Annual Conference, hereby approve and sign on the following statement on Iraq, after meeting in an emergency session at the Church Center across from the United Nations:

Expressing our deep sorrow and sympathy for all the civilian victims of 9/11 tragedy and the U.S. bombing in Afghanistan;

Recalling that Article 2(3) of the UN Charter requires all Member states to "settle their international disputes by peaceful means;"

Recalling that Article 2(4) of the UN Charter requires all Member states to "refrain in the international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state;"

Convinced that the U.S. administration’s new war plans against Iraq pose grave threats to international peace and security as well as to the Iraqi people and the world community as a whole, and any pre-emptive military strikes against Iraq will constitute an illegal act of aggression;

Recognizing that for the past twelve years, the UN’s economic sanctions against Iraq have probably contributed to the untimely deaths of more than one million Iraqi civilians, and such sanctions have been maintained in violation of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Genocide Convention, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and

Resolving to prevent a dangerous war of aggression against Iraq with disastrous consequences for the Iraqi people, the entire world community, and the United Nations itself,

1. We condemn the open threats of President Bush and other U.S. officials

   to attack, invade or overthrow the government of Iraq, which threats clearly violate the basic principles of the UN Charter and international law;

2. We call upon the UN officials and bodies to condemn the U.S. threats of pre-emptive military strikes and take immediate actions to stop any further U.S. military attacks against Iraq, including an unconditional acceptance of the recent invitation of the Iraqi government to discuss further UN inspections in Iraq;

3) We call upon the Security Council to lift all economic sanctions against Iraq, including the so-called "smart sanctions," immediately to ensure the fundamental human rights of Iraqi people to life;

4) We urge the government of Iraq to abide by international law, establish friendly and peaceful relations with its neighbors, and play a constructive role in the peace-building process in the Middle East;

5) We urge all Member governments, UN agencies, civil society, NGOs, and people of the world to refuse to participate or cooperate with any U.S. government plans to initiate further military attacks or invasion of Iraq; and

6) We decide to forward a copy of this statement to the UN Secretary General, all missions to the UN, President of the United States, and the media.

Dated: September 11, 2002

New York, New York

(This Statement was co-signed by 52 NGO groups participating in the meeting, including FOR, Promoting Enduring Peace, Peace Action, NGO Peace Caucus/UN-NY, US Peace Council, Voices in the Wilderness, Maryknoll Sisters, American Humanist Association, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Pax Christi International, Peace Links, etc.)