Protection of civilians in armed conflict - Security Council, 10154th meeting

Calls to uphold international law dominate Security Council debate on civilian protection, as delegates demand safety for journalists, aid workers.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 03:10:11
• Production Date: 20 May 2026
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: EDEM WOSORNU
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: ARMED CONFLICTS; HUMAN RIGHTS; INTERNATIONAL LAW; DRONE AIRCRAFT; CIVILIAN PROTECTION; DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY; RELIEF PERSONNEL; ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE; INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW; JOURNALISTS
• Geographic Subject: MIDDLE EAST; UKRAINE; UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
• MAMS Id: 3576611
• Parent Id: 3573873
• Alternate Title: MTG SC 10154 CIVILIAN PROTECTION 20 MAY 2026 AM PART 1

Description

While civilians continue to suffer because parties to conflict choose to ignore their legal obligation to protect them, the Security Council heard today that adhering to the rules of war — and enforcing accountability when they are broken — can produce a different result.

The Council is holding its annual day-long open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict as the United Nations observes the ninth iteration of its “Protection of Civilians Week”. Just yesterday, 19 May, the organ met following attacks on civilian populations in Ukraine and infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates.

Statements delivered:

• Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director, Crisis Response Division, OCHA
• Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross
• GREECE (Council Member)
• SOMALIA (Council Member)
• DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (Council Member)
• PAKISTAN (Council Member)
• LIBERIA (Council Member)
• FRANCE (Council Member)
• PANAMA (Council Member)
• UNITED STATES (Council Member)
• RUSSIAN FEDERATION (Council Member)
• LATVIA (Council Member)
• COLOMBIA (Council Member)
• DENMARK (Council Member)
• UNITED KINGDOM (Council Member)
• BAHRAIN (Council Member)
• CHINA (Council Member, President)
• Kazakhstan
• Algeria
• Switzerland
• Indonesia
• Austria
• Lebanon
• Brazil
• Kuwait - Her Excellency Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ebraheem Duaij Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs
• Japan
• Canada
• Australia
• Kyrgyzstan - His Excellency Mr. Edil Baisalov, Special Envoy of the President
• Qatar

Related Sites and Documents

UN Meetings Coverage

S/PV.10154