UN decries missile attack on Iran elementary school in emergency debate News
By Mehr News Agency, CC BY 4.0, Link
UN decries missile attack on Iran elementary school in emergency debate

The United Nations human rights chief, at an emergency UN Human Rights council debate on Friday, strongly condemned the US-Israeli bombing of the Iranian elementary school on February 28. He called on Israel, the United States, and Iran to end attacks and “return to negotiations.”

On February 28, a missile struck Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ school at approximately 10:45 am, killing at least 170 people, including school children. Iran claimed that the US-Israel coalition was responsible for the strike, but both countries have denied this. According to the UN, the girls were “mainly aged between 7 and 12.”

UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called the bombing of a girls’ elementary school in Minab a “visceral horror.” He highlighted the grave human cost of conflict, and the obligations on states under international law to protect children, civilians, and civilian infrastructure.

At the debate, Türk told the council:

Whatever differences countries have, we can all agree they will not be solved by killing schoolchildren. There must be justice for the terrible harm done. It is gravely concerning that around the world, attacks on schools are increasing. In 2024, such attacks surged by a shocking 44 percent, leaving 52 million children out of the classroom.

Türk emphasized that such attacks have a grave impact on civilian welfare, and bring “death, destruction and misery.” He also decried the deliberate targeting on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities in Iran, “[t]he targeting of nuclear facilities is reckless beyond comprehension. These attacks raise serious concerns over compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, under which the protection of civilians must remain central.”

The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies have drawn attention to the deterioration of civilian infrastructure.  IFRC Head of Delegation in Iran, Maria Martinez, said that “while Tehran still maintains some basic services, some cities in the south are facing water and electricity cuts.”

The UN reiterated the importance of negotiations, and called on the United States, Israel and Iran to end attacks and for Iran to respect and protect the human rights of its own people.

Civilians are protected from harm and violence during times of conflict under international law, specifically the IV Geneva Convention 1949.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Rosenbergs convicted of espionage

On March 29, 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of passing US atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. The couple was sentenced to death on April 3 under the Espionage Act of 1917, 18 U.S.C 794. They were then executed two years later on June 19, 1953 in New York State's Sing Sing Prison. View the FBI's files on the Rosenbergs.

British parliament passed act creating Canada

On March 29, 1867, the British Parliament passed the British North America Act, a constitutional document creating a united Dominion of Canada. It went into effect on July 1 that year.