Senegalese security forces using human shield - Violation of international law

The use of human shields is forbidden by Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions.

It is also a specific intent war crime as codified in the 1988 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and customary international law

“International law is explicit and absolutely prohibits the use of children as human shields by armed forces or armed groups," said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at Defense for Children International... intentionally putting a child in grave danger in order to shield themselves constitutes a war crime.”

 

 An 8 year old child used as a human shield by Senegalese security forces

 

 

A detained young man, age unknown is used as a human shield by Senegalese security forces

 

Senegal protests: a man mourns his 'patriot' brother

 From Reuters

 

 

Sixteen people have died in Senegal's deadliest unrest for decades. Among them was Elhaji Cisse, who had spent his last hours tweeting advice and information to his followers and helping those caught up in clashes.

 

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One of the accusations made in this good piece of reporting is the use of excessive force used by Police leading to deaths of demonstrators. In this screen shot taken from the video a policeman is clearly seen firing tear gas shells in an illegal way: firing blindly over a wall with the weapon pointed at body height with the likelyhood of someone recieving a direct hit