With a focus on situations of protracted conflict, this article explores the new horizons offered by the recent explanation by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the right to life in its General Comment 36. The freshly formulated contours of this right not only present normative clarity but are also valuable for conflict management and resolution. Considering the articulation by the Human Rights Committee, we can now see two dimensions of this right: existence and dignity. Although the existence dimension is not new, one now finds additional insights concerning the legality, transparency and accountability of the use of lethal force that have particular relevance to armed conflict. The new dignity dimension has practical implications for the conditions of life in protracted conflicts, taking us beyond norms to the policy spheres of humanitarian action and development. Tracing the origins of the term “protracted conflict” to the late Lebanese scholar Edward Azar, the article also introduces the reader to some of his work and thinking.

中文翻译：

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在旷日持久的冲突中保护生命权：第 36 号一般性意见的存在和尊严维度

本文以旷日持久的冲突局势为重点，探讨了联合国人权事务委员会最近在其第 36 号一般性意见中对生命权的解释所提供的新视野。这项权利的新轮廓不仅呈现出规范的清晰性但对于冲突管理和解决也很有价值。考虑到人权委员会的表述，我们现在可以看到这项权利的两个维度：存在和尊严。尽管存在维度并不新鲜，但人们现在发现了有关使用致命武力的合法性、透明度和问责制的更多见解，这些与武装冲突特别相关。新的尊严维度对长期冲突中的生活条件具有实际意义，让我们超越规范，进入人道主义行动和发展的政策领域。文章追溯“旷日持久的冲突”一词的由来至已故黎巴嫩学者爱德华·阿扎尔，同时也向读者介绍了他的一些工作和思想。