8359th Security Council Meeting: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

Security Council presidential statement expresses outrage at continuing heavy casualty toll on civilians in situations of armed conflict at 8359th meeting.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 00:01:18
• Production Date: 21 September 2018
• Asset Language: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish
• Personal Subject: NIKKI R. HALEY
• Subject Topical: ARMED CONFLICTS; CIVILIAN PROTECTION
• MAMS Id: 2241071
• Parent Id: 2240312

Description

The Security Council expressed its outrage today over the fact that civilians continue to account for the vast majority of casualties in situations of armed conflict, and over its short- and long-term impact on them, from forced displacement to sexual and gender-based violence.

Issuing presidential statement S/PRST/2018/18, read out by Nikki R. Haley (United States), its President for September, the Council affirmed the need for peacekeeping missions tasked with protecting civilians to ensure full implementation of that mandate.

Further, the Council reaffirmed its strong condemnation of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law by all parties to armed conflict, and called upon all parties to comply with their legal obligations. It also recalled the importance of ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, ending impunity for violations and abuses, and ensuring accountability.

Reaffirming that parties to armed conflict bear the primary responsibility to ensure the protection of civilians, the Council also recalled the primary responsibility of States to respect and ensure that the human rights of all individuals within their respective territories and subject to their jurisdiction.

Recognizing that 2019 will mark the twentieth anniversary of resolution 1265 (1999) and the adoption of the protection of civilians as an item on its agenda, the Council expressed its intention to continue to address civilian protection regularly, in the context of both country-specific and thematic agenda items.

The meeting began at 3:06 p.m. and ended at 3:07 p.m.