War propaganda: a forgotten rights violation
You may be unwittingly suffering an infringement of your human rights. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), drafted during the Cold War, states that "any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law." The 152 countries that are a party to this treaty must legislate against war propaganda as "contrary to public policy", specifying appropriate sanctions.
The UN Human Rights Committee says the ICCPR prohibition refers to "all forms of propaganda threatening or resulting in an act of aggression or breach of the peace contrary to the Charter of the United Nations" (excluding advocacy for self-determination). ‘Pre-emptive’ war, such as is being waged on Iraq, is contrary to the UN Charter, according to Kofi Annan and many others.
The ‘war on terror’ may be a war on an idea, but it is also a war of ideas. Islamists have the Global Islamic Media Front, while the US has John Rendon, a Pentagon spin-doctor said to be one of the most powerful men in the world. According to Donald Rumsfeld, the US is "in a media battle in a race for the hearts and minds of Muslims." Rendon wants to target "potential terrorists", even those not yet born, and turn them into allies. Is that propaganda?
Dr John Brown, a former US diplomat who resigned over the invasion of Iraq, defines propaganda as comprising:
- simplification of the issues
- demonisation of the enemy
- constant repetition of slogans that are not necessarily linked logically
- violence to language
- lack of concern for historical accuracy
- disregard for truth
Outlawing the expression of ideas is a thorny area for legislators and rights advocates. Freedom of expression may be restricted in the interests of the rights of others. The ICCPR prohibition on war propaganda appears between the right to free speech and the ban on inciting racial or religious hatred.
The ultimate goal of prohibiting war propaganda is to preserve peace. Crimes against peace or crimes of aggression may one day be tried by the International Criminal Court, but only once we can agree on their definition.
