25 February 2012

Contact: Stephen M. Apatow
Founder, Director of Research & Development
Humanitarian Resource Institute (UN:NGO:DESA)
Humanitarian University Consortium Graduate Studies
Center for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine & Law
Phone: 203-668-0282
Email: s.m.apatow@humanitarian.net
Internet: www.humanitarian.net

HRI:UNArts: Humanitarian Intervention Initiative
Url: www.unarts.org/H-II

H-II OPSEC
Url: www.H-II.org

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OPSEC: Special Operations Teams for Civilian Protection - Crimes Against Humanity

The humanitarian catastrophe in Syria [1] has focused international attention on the challenge of Crimes Against Humanity and need for a rapid response capability for protection of civilians, once atrocities have been identified (with admissible evidence for the International Criminal Court). [2] Challenges associated with UN Peacekeeping forces, [3] encompasses the need for effective special operations level surveillance, containment and control capabilities.

I am currently seeking answers to the following questions:

• In the context of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity as outlined by the United Nations, [4] at what point is their justification for special operations teams to support an international law enforcement action, under the legal umbrella of Interpol in a country such as Syria? [5]
• In the context of human rights reporting, evidence collection and witness protection, [6] in cases of War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity, how can we expand the role of Interpol in collection/presentation of evidence for referral to the International Criminal Court?
• In the context of the global war against terrorism, what is the operational capabilities of Interpol [7,8] and NATO [9] in UN member countries?

Stephen M. Apatow coordinates contingency planning discussions in Operational Security under the umbrella of the HRI Humanitarian Intervention Initiative (H-II).  As founder, Director of Research & Development of Humanitarian Resource Institute (UN:NGO:DESA) and the Humanitarian University Consortium Graduate Studies Center for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine & Law, his specialized training includes Anti-Terrorism Officer (S2 Institute), Medical Response In Hostile Environments (Operational Medicine: Medical Corps).

Related:

• HUMINT OPSEC - Molecular Diagnostics Discussion: Stephen M. Apatow, 9 January 2012.
• H-II - Expanding Global Inter-coordinated Anti-Human Trafficking Operations: HRI:UNArts:H-II, 20 December 2011.

References:

1. Syria: International Humanitarian & Security Discussions: HRI:UNArts Humanitarian Intervention Initiative.
2. Situations and cases: Submitting  information about alleged crimes to the Office of the Prosecutor International Criminal Court.
   
3. Peacekeeping Operations: United Nations.
   
4. Crimes within the Court's Jurisdiction: International Criminal Court, United Nations.
   
5. Syria: Interpol: Asia and South Pacific.
6. Human Rights Reporting - Evidence Collection - Witness Protection: HRI:UNArts Humanitarian Intervention Initiative.
7. Terrorism: Interpol.
   
8. Interpol Fusion Task Force: More than 240 designated FTF contact officers from more than 120 countries form this global network of counter-terrorism specialists.
9. NATO and the fight against terrorism:  North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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