On March 25, Watchlist launched “Every Clinic is Now on the Frontline” The Impact on Children of Attacks on Health Care in Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief and Development (ACBAR) hosted the launch, which was attended by representatives from a range of UN agencies, international nongovernmental organization and nongovernmental organization health care service providers, and the Ministry of Public Health. Watchlist gave a brief presentation of the report and then participants engaged in a facilitated discussion and devised next steps for taking the report’s recommendations forward. Watchlist will continue coordinating with stakeholders in Kabul and conduct follow-up advocacy in New York in the weeks and months ahead.
Earlier in March, Watchlist co-sponsored a side event at the Human Rights Council in Geneva with the Missions of Belgium, France, and Uruguay, as well as the Safeguarding Health and Conflict Coalition, entitled “The Impact on Children of Attacks on Health Care in Situations of Armed Conflict.” Former Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Leila Zerrougui served as the keynote speaker. Watchlist presented its new report “Every Clinic is Now on the Frontline” and the World Health Organization presented a global overview of attacks on medical facilities and personnel and their approach to better data collection of attacks. The event helped prompt a discussion regarding how the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights might address the issue of impunity for attacks by potentially conducting independent investigations. This would be significant, as the Security Council has not yet done so.
