Part 9 - DW062 001 021 009

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UN Security Council must lift sanctions on Iraq now! Call to Action from the Second International Athens Conference Against the Embargo on Iraq. The Second International Athens Conference Against the Embargo on Iraq calls upon the international community to take urgent measures to influence the UN Security Council meeting of 14th March, 1995 to immediately lift the embargo on Iraq. The Conference, which was attended by 400 participants from more than 20 countries, was appalled to hear of the catastrophic consequences of the embargo, which worsen day by day. After four and a half years of the blockade, the conditions faced by the Iraqi people have become an unprecedented international outrage. The Conference denounced sanctions as a new and terrible weapon of mass destruction that affects most severely women, children, the elderly, the sick. All international law is based on protecting the defenceless from the consequences of hostility, yet sanctions makes them the first target. It is particularly shameful that sanctions have become a weapon in the hands of the rich and powerful countries, which they use against developing nations. We hold those responsible for the continuation of the sanctions on Iraq to be fully liable, legally and morally, for the consequences of their actions. We therefore call on all human rights, peace, labour, women's, religious, youth and other organisations to take urgent action to ensure that this crime against humanity is terminated immediately. Solidarity should be shown in a practical way by taking urgent actions in the coming days, and in particular by conducting an intense campaign to influence public opinion, for example: Present letters and petitions to the Secretary General of the UN and to the governments of the member states of the UN Security Council, focusing particularly on the US Congress and the British Parliament, demanding the lifting of the sanctions. Conduct publicity activities around these actions. Hold demonstrations or present petitions at the UN offices located in various countries, for example UNESCO (Paris), FAO (Rome), WHO, UNICEF, IMO (London). Raise the demand for the release of frozen assets, that is Iraqi money held in various countries, which can now be released under the terms of UN resolutions to buy medicine and other humanitarian supplies. Take the opportunity of this period of campaigning to intensify other longer-term goals, such as arranging to send medicines to Iraq, along with political work to highlight the issue in the European Parliament and other appropriate forums. * Focus continuing political pressure on each bi-monthly vote of the UN Security Council until all sanctions are lifted.

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