Dr Widad in New Publication on Toxic Remnants of War

Co-founder of Defend International, Dr Widad, is supporting a global civil society initiative to help strengthen protection for the environment and those who depend on it.

In the preface she wrote for the publication “Pollution Politics: power, accountability and toxic remnants of war” she expresses that “toxic remnants of war may likely be associated with the risk of birth defects, the risk of developing certain forms of cancer, or may adversely affect the neurological development of children and the reproductive processes of humans and animals… Across the world, the lack of accountability for the harm to the environment and public health caused by conflict and military activities undermines global efforts to help fragile countries recover from armed conflicts.” Conclusively, she encourages the international community to collaboratively and efficiently solve this long-neglected problem.

 

Dr Widad in New Publication on Toxic Remnants of War

 

Co-founder of Defend International, Dr Widad, is supporting a global civil society initiative to help strengthen protection for the environment and those who depend on it during and after conflict. In September 2013, Widad was invited by Mr. Dough Weir, the manager of Toxic Remant of War Project and the coordinator of International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, to write a preface for the publication “Pollution Politics: power, accountability and toxic remnants of war.” The publication was formally launched in an event held on July 2nd, 2014 in London. Dr Widad served as the facilitator of this successful gathering. Organised by the Toxic Remnants of War Network, the event focused on the new publication and considered toxic remnants of war in Syria and the lessons learned from Iraq, as well as the new approach on conflict and the environment.

 

Aim of Preface

Dr Widad intended the preface to provide a short introduction to the publication to cover the (scientific) facts behind the recommendations presented by the author. She summarized the content and offered comments on how the lessons learned can serve as a “foundation for the development of new mechanisms that can properly evaluate the execution of military operations with respect to environmental and health considerations.” She makes it clear that it is time to “debate over how states, UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders can work together to reduce the devastating health and environmental burdens linked to armed conflicts.”

 

The Preface

Toxic remnants of war (TRW) represent a profound challenge for the protection of public health and the restoration of the environment in countries affected by conflict. Although a detailed analysis of the TRW-related determinants of health remains to be conducted, the specific impacts of toxic contaminants on local populations and their habitats are slowly being documented and further information has been obtained through interviews and observations. Research has demonstrated that hazardous toxic chemicals from military waste, such as heavy metals, fuel hydrocarbons, radioactive materials, unexploded ordnance waste, and endocrine disrupting compounds, may have long-term effects on civilian health and wellbeing. It is believed that TRW may likely be associated with the risk of birth defects, the risk of developing certain forms of cancer, or may adversely affect the neurological development of children and the reproductive processes of humans and animals. They may also impair the function of the respiratory and immune systems, thereby compromising the ability to respond to pathogens and other harmful organisms.

Across the world, the lack of accountability for the harm to the environment and public health caused by conflict and military activities undermines global efforts to help fragile countries recover from armed conflicts. Lack of accountability weakens the environmental and health rights of citizens; it damages peace- building and reconciliation initiatives; impedes the implementation of global health policies; leads to the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity; and weakens democracy, justice, human rights, and international security.

In recent years, academics, policy-makers, and experts have raised the question of the applicability of peacetime environmental law in times of armed conflict. In this context, this report is timely as it offers an assessment of conflict pollution, the current accountability mechanisms, and how to improve them. It creates a foundation for the development of new mechanisms that can properly evaluate the execution of military operations with respect to environmental and health considerations.

I commend Pollution Politics: power, accountability and toxic remnants of war‘ as an important contribution to debate over how states, UN agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders can work together to reduce the devastating health and environmental burdens linked to armed conflicts. The proposed approach requires insights from military researchers, epidemiologists, public health practitioners, human rights activists, clinicians, environmentalists, and biologists, and uniquely combines networking and research from various disciplines relevant to military practices, public health policy, and environmental regulations. We hope that this publication will encourage the international community to collaboratively and efficiently solve this long-neglected problem.

Dr. Widad

Global Health Expert and Peace Advocate

 

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