The Criminal Responsibility of Non-State Armed Groups for Violating International Humanitarian Law in Light of Climate Change

Abstract

Climate change has caused more effects in fragile states as they were already suffering from non-international armed conflicts. It created an environment in which non-state armed groups flourished and enabled them to increase their influence and strengthen their ranks relying on the spread of poverty and unemployment, the low availability of basic services, and the scarcity of natural resources, as they have forcibly recruited young men of these states into their ranks, especially the children. Also, they have committed human trafficking to increase their resources. In addition, they have militarized natural resources to use them as a weapon of war. These things resulted in serious implications and repercussions on the enforcement of international humanitarian law and in order to confront the crimes of these groups that are causing a real threat to the safety and stability of the international community and a danger that most countries of the world live in as it targets its joints. Therefore, this damage requires activating the enforcement of criminal responsibility against their leaders and members even if their countries are not a party to the Rome Statue of the international criminal court and that is to ensure respect for the international law in armed conflicts in light of the increased activities of these groups.