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september 2018 acounting for mass starvation: testing the limits of the law
Emanuele-Chiara Gillard, Research Fellow at the “When military and civilian targets are intermingled,
European University Institute, analysed the prohibition of the question of intent is a more complex calculation
starvation in light of a number of international that requires more detailed and more expert scrutiny.
humanitarian law (IHL) rules. Ms Gillard focused on the [...] How does one disentangle a lawful siege or
different ways starvation can occur through the acts or blockade that includes a military objective from
omissions of the parties to the conflict. In particular, conduct intended to starve the civilian population?”
rules related to the obligation to allow access to
humanitarian assistance under IHL that are aimed at - Wayne Jordash QC
providing an adequate response to the suffering of the GRC’s Managing Partner
civilian population before starvation can occur. Due to
this fundamental role, the UNSC has often linked the Mr. Jordash called for a better understanding of this
denial of access of humanitarian relief to a threat to crime and the development of a more singular definition
international peace and security under Chapter VII of the of the crime of starvation, including an amendment to
UN Charter. The critical gap in accountability, namely the Rome Statute to ensure the offence of starvation is a
that the Rome Statute presently only criminalises the war crime applicable in non-international armed
war crime of starvation in an international armed conflict, conflicts.
and the inconsistency of this provision with customary GRC’s project with the WPF, funded by the Ministry of
internal law, was discussed. Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, was discussed.
“Accounting for mass starvation: Testing the limits of the
Wayne Jordash QC, Managing Partner of GRC, focused law”, is aimed at identifying how international law may
on the core reasons for the lack of past prosecution and be used to advance the prevention, prohibition and
accountability for the crime of starvation. Indeed, at the accountability for mass starvation. The objective of the
international criminal level, there is yet to be a prosecution Project is to operationalise UNSC 2417 and promote
for starvation as a distinct crime. Mr. Jordash analysed compliance with international standards. GRC and WPF
the reasons behind this, in light of the jurisprudence of aim to use UNSC 2417 as a springboard for wide range
the international tribunals, which mainly focused on of activities that aim to expand the understanding of
direct and not incidental attacks on the civilian mass starvation and the international tools for response.
population, a fact that limited the exploration of the The project is intended to assist humanitarians, activists,
crime of starvation. He, however, recognised that the lawyers, journalists, investigators and civilians to
controversy is complicated when other issues come into disentangle the permissible from the impermissible in
play: IHL, ICL and IHRL and advocate for accountability.
Disclaimer: The Kingdom of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds the “Accountability for Mass Starvation: Testing the Limits of the Law” Project implemented
by Global Rights Compliance and The World Peace Foundation. The views expressed in it are those of the author(s) and may not coincide with the official position of The
Kingdom of the Netherlands.
september 2018 acounting for mass starvation: testing the limits of the law