| UN Security Council Resolution 824 | |
|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| Date | 6 May 1993 |
| Meeting no. | 3,208 |
| Code | S/RES/824 (Document) |
| Subject | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Voting summary | 15 voted for None voted against None abstained |
| Result | Adopted |
| Security Council composition | |
Permanent members | |
Non-permanent members | |
United Nations Security Council resolution 824, adopted unanimously on 6 May 1993, after considering a report by the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali pursuant to Resolution 819 (1993), the Council discussed the treatment of certain towns and surroundings as "safe areas" in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Boutros Boutros-Ghali was an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) from January 1992 to December 1996. An academic and former Vice Foreign Minister of Egypt, Boutros-Ghali oversaw the UN at a time when it dealt with several world crises, including the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Rwandan genocide. He was then the first Secretary-General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie from 16 November 1997 to 31 December 2002.
United Nations Security Council resolution 819, adopted unanimously on 16 April 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 713 (1991) and all (1992) subsequent resolutions, the Council expressed concern at the actions of Bosnian Serb paramilitary units in towns and villages in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, including attacks on civilians, the United Nations Protection Force and disruption to humanitarian aid convoys.
United Nations Safe Areas were humanitarian corridors established in 1993 in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War by several resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
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The practice of ethnic cleansing was again condemned in addition to the obstruction of humanitarian aid to affected areas, while the Council expressed concern at the large displacement of people in the region. Attacks by Bosnian Serb paramilitaries on several Bosnian towns also drew the concern of the Security Council. It indicated that the unique character of the city of Sarajevo as a multicultural, multi-ethnic and pluri-religious centre which exemplified the viability of coexistence and interrelations between all the communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and of the need to preserve it and avoid its further destruction
Ethnic cleansing is the systematic forced removal of ethnic, racial and/or religious groups from a given territory by a more powerful ethnic group, often with the intent of making it ethnically homogeneous. The forces applied may be various forms of forced migration, intimidation, as well as genocide and genocidal rape.
Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars and famines. Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disasters and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity. It may therefore be distinguished from development aid, which seeks to address the underlying socioeconomic factors which may have led to a crisis or emergency. There is a debate on linking humanitarian aid and development efforts, which was reinforced by the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. However, the approach is viewed critically by practitioners.
Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 275,524 in its administrative limits. The Sarajevo metropolitan area, including Sarajevo Canton, East Sarajevo and nearby municipalities, is home to 555,210 inhabitants. Nestled within the greater Sarajevo valley of Bosnia, it is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of the Balkans.
Acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and recalling the provisions of Resolution 815 (1993) on the mandate of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the resolution demanded that the taking of territory by force cease. It also declared that Sarajevo, Tuzla, Žepa, Goražde, Bihać, as well as Srebrenica, be treated as safe areas by all parties concerned, free from hostile attacks. [1] The Council also demanded that the attacks stop and Bosnian Serb forces withdraw, and allow for unimpeded access by UNPROFOR and international organisations. However, there was no mention of enforcement measures if the provisions were not implemented. [2]
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace and security".
United Nations Security Council resolution 815, adopted unanimously on 30 March 1993, after reaffirming Resolution 743 (1992) and all subsequent relevant resolutions concerning the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) including 802 (1993) and 807 (1993), the Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, extended UNPROFOR's mandate for an additional interim period ending 30 June 1993.
The United Nations Protection Force, was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars. The force was formed in February 1992 and its mandate ended in March 1995, with the peacekeeping mission restructuring into three other forces.
The strength of UNPROFOR was increased by an additional 50 military observers along with military equipment and logistical support, demanding all parties co-operate with the peacekeeping force. The Secretary-General was also asked to monitor the humanitarian situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Peacekeeping refers to activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths and reduces the risk of renewed warfare.
Resolution 824 concluded by declaring that further measures would be taken if there was a failure by any party to implement the current resolution and that the provisions of the current resolution would remain in force until hostilities ceased, troops separated and the supervision of heavy weaponry was in place. [3]
