ATTACKS ON UN AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATONS PEACEKEEPES: POTENTIAL LEGAL ISSUES BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

In the period since the end of the cold war, a steady increase in unoperations in conlifct zones has given rise to the need for the definition ofthe status of un peacekeepers. their very ambiguous position of nocombatants and no civilians was paid by many of them with their lives. onone side these forces are normally not equipped and not intended to conducteffective offensive actions, but on the other, they are allowed to use force inself-defense. the crucial issue is whether the laws of war principles likethe privilege of combatants and equality of the parties should applyautomatically to them; if and when peacekeepers resort to armed force; or ifand when they could remain protected by the status of non-combatants orcivilians acting in self-defense. much depends on whether or not theseprinciples are as jus cogens as are the principles of distinction betweencombatants and civilians or the principle of respect for human dignity underany circumstances, a view which the author does not support, since the lawof internal armed conflicts is permissive