URBAN BOMBARDMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF LEGAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF USING WARFARE IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS
URBAN BOMBARDMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF LEGAL AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF USING WARFARE IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS

Summary/Abstract: The paper examines the interaction between bombing urban areas in contemporary warfare and the competing discourses on human rights, considering the perspectives of international institutions, state actors, civil society, and victims. It explores not only the international legal frameworks governing armed conflict and human rights when urban space become the target of military operations, but also the ethical and humanitarian implications of bombardments in tightly inhabited areas, drawing attention to civilian victims, infrastructure destruction, displacement, and long-term collective trauma. It further investigates the need for a change to protect civilians more effectively in urban settings. Eager to contribute to ongoing legal, ethical, and policy debates on contemporary warfare and human rights, the paper leverages different methods to address the issue. It uses case study analysis, looking at recent examples of urban bombing campaigns to understand their impact on human rights. It also uses a multi-perspectival analysis of the competing discourse on the issue examining legal documents, government statements or reports by human rights organizations. Finally, the paper uses normative argumentation to advance a more cosmopolitan view on human rights on the international agenda.

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