We Are becoming a War-Mongering World, Says This Report

Is the world becoming more paranoid about security and basic human rights taking a back seat?

Yes, if the 'People on War' survey report published by the International Committee of the Red Cross is to be believed.The survey reveals that a growing number of people have resigned to the death of civilians as an inevitable part of warfare. The effectiveness and relevance of the Geneva Convention and their Additional Protocols, whose rules seek to protect civilians, detainees and people wounded during conflict, are being questioned perhaps more now than at any time in recent history.

The 2016 People on War report was based on a global survey carried out from June to September by WIN/Gallup International. It reflects the opinion of 17,000 people in 16 countries. Many of these questions were also asked in the last People on War survey, which was conducted almost 20 years ago in 1999, enabling some comparisons over time.

The comparative figures are alarming. Over the past two decades, there has been a shift in public attitudes towards torture. Two thirds of all those surveyed in 2016 say torture is wrong. But when asked specifically about whether an enemy combatant can be tortured, fewer people disagree than in 1999. In addition, there is a significant increase in the number of people who don’t know or prefer not to answer.

This has also been the period when the world has seen the growth of radical Jehadi networks, horrors of 9/11 in US, 26/11 in India, Iraq war, rise of the ISIS and terror activities across the continents. The impact is visible as over 33℅ of the respondents in US believe torture is a legitimate part of war and it goes up to 46℅ when asked whether the enemy soldiers can be tortured for information.

This report is yet another confirmation that those living in peaceful areas are more enthused by the concept of war than those who are actually living it. People living in countries affected by war believe the laws of war matters. Over two thirds of all respondents think it still makes sense to impose limits on war. Almost half of those surveyed in conflict-affected countries still believe the Geneva Conventions prevent wars from getting worse.

But, there is almost universal agreement that everyone has the right to health care during conflicts. An equally overwhelming majority condemn and reject attacks on hospitals, ambulances and health-care workers. Probably gives hope all is not lost, as nation after nation embrace war mongering ideologies

This survey was done in the following countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Switzerland, United Kingdom, China, Israel, Russia, Syria , United States, Columbia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, France.