Serbia
Third Main Committee
Protection of Human Rights in a War Zone
Jenna Busha – Oak Creek High School
Every country, in one way or another, values their citizens, for it is the citizens that make a
country. However, sometimes these citizens can experience adverse conditions that will affect their
rights, especially during wartime. Non-citizens’ rights can also be violated in a war zone. In a sense, the
United Nations was created to protect the rights of the citizens of each country represented. The situation
in Serbia reflects why the United Nations has this goal.
Serbia concurs with the United Nations’ general feelings on the protection of human rights in a
war zone. However, in the past, when carrying out policies agreed upon regarding the protection of
human rights, the country’s past success has been less than spectacular. For instance, Slobodan
Miloševic, the President of Serbia in 1990, was indicted on charges of genocide, attacks on civilians, and
several other war-related human rights violations. The people victimized in this attempt at ethnic
cleansing were mainly Albanians in Kosovo during the Kosovo War in1989.
In terms of making a better future for citizens and others that are unfortunately caught in the
cross-fire during wartime, Serbia has amended its laws and included human rights principles in its
constitution. One factor behind the improvement of human rights during war time is the development of
democratic values in Serbia. However, there are still several issues to be addressed by Serbia’s
government. To show Serbia’s willingness to improve human rights, they have joined committees and
attended conventions of the United Nations that specialize in subjects pertaining to the said topic, such as
the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the International
Convention Against the Taking of Hostages.
In essence, Serbia has a long way to go to achieve more in terms of the protection of human rights
in a war zone. With its current efforts and the help of the United Nations, Serbia can take a step forward
and, in the end, exemplify the United Nations’ goal of promoting peace and human treatment of the
innocent.