Ciprian NIȚU
West University of Timișoara, Romania
| 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. |
| Keywords: | Urban Warfare; aerial and artillery Bombardments; human rights; cosmopolitan law; urban security |
| Contact details of the authors: |
E-mail: ciprian.nitu@e-uvt.ro |
| Institutional affiliation of the authors: |
West University of Timișoara, Romania
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| Institutions address: | Vasile Pârvan, no. 4, Timișoara, 300223, Romania |