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

Okay.
Okay.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah.
Yesterday.
The 10,154th meeting of the Security Council is resumed.
I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than three minutes in order to enable the council to carry out its work expeditiously.
The flashing light on the microphone will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after three minutes.
I now give the floor to the representative of Tokyo.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Protection of civilians in armed conflict is a shared responsibility and must remain a top priority for the international community.
While the legal framework is largely in place, implementation remains far from satisfactory.
Selective approaches to international law undermine the credibility of the international legal system and erode confidence in multilateral institutions.
Accountability is essential not only for justice and building this confidence, but also for preventing recurrence of such crimes.
Turkey strongly supports international efforts aimed at ensuring accountability and deterring violations of international humanitarian law, ensuring safe rapid and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as safeguarding humanitarian and medical personnel, also remain fundamental obligations under international humanitarian law.
To this end, Turkey endorsed the declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel initiated by Australia.
Mr.
president, between 1963 to 1964, Turkish Cypriots experienced a period marked by political exclusion, violence, displacement and isolation.
Atrocities committed against Turkish Cypriot civilians are well-documented in UN archives.
There are also a considerable number of missing Turkish Cypriots from this period.
These experiences serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to protect civilians.
Today, the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza must remain at the forefront of international attention.
While the ceasefire agreement brought relative calm, humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire.
We support the Board of Peace and its relevant mechanisms, as this process should pave the way for the implementation of a two state solution.
We remain committed to supporting recovery and reconstruction efforts in a manner that restores basic living conditions and upholds human dignity.
We welcome continuation of the ceasefire in the Gulf and hope it will lead to lasting peace.
Risks to maritime navigation, energy security and global economy underscore the urgent need for the escalation and diplomacy.
Resumption of hostilities would only exacerbate the humanitarian situation in the region and beyond.
We also underscore the importance of preserving Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability.
The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is an important step that should be built upon to ensure de-escalation and facilitate return of over 1 million displaced civilians.
Mr.
president, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine Turkey has pursued a principled humanitarian approach, including facilitating dialogue and prisoner exchange while supporting efforts toward a just and lasting peace.
Protection of civilians and restoration of peace and stability in Syria have always been among our priorities.
Syrian people now have a historic opportunity to build a future based future based on safety, dignity and equal citizenship.
We welcome steps towards justice and accountability, including judicial efforts addressing crimes committed under the former regime.
Turkey will continue supporting Syria's recovery in Sudan.
Humanitarian crisis remains catastrophic and requires urgent international attention.
In Libya, we continue to support a peaceful and durable solution through Libyan land.
Libyan led and Libyan owned political dialogue I thank you again, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Turkey for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Philippines aligns with the statement to be made by Hungary on behalf of the Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflict or Gaza.
We also joined the statement and media stakeout of the Global Initiative this morning.
Mr.
president, the protection of civilians in armed conflict goes to the heart of why the United Nations was created.
International humanitarian law embodied in the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols, placed binding obligations on all parties to a conflict to distinguish between combatants and civilians, to take all feasible precautions and to refrain from means of warfare that cause disproportionate harm to civilian populations.
These rules exist to uphold and protect human dignity, especially in the fog of war.
Yet since the landmark adoption of resolution 12, 65, innocent civilians continue to bear the gravest consequences of armed conflict.
Attacks against civilian populations and infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, water systems, and humanitarian personnel are unacceptable and must end, and those responsible should be held accountable.
The Philippines calls on all parties to armed conflicts to uphold international humanitarian law, international human rights law and refugee law, including Security Council resolutions on the protection of civilians.
Mr.
president, strong domestic, legal and institutional frameworks are essential to mitigating civilian harm and strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law.
In the Philippines, civilians are protected by national legislation on crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity, and on special protection of children in situations of armed conflict The Armed Forces of the Philippines integrates into its doctrine, training and operations, including adherence to the principles of distinction and proportionality and the protection of civilian infrastructure.
We encourage the Council to further mainstream civilian protection in peacekeeping mandates, as well as to support capacity building and training on ice.
In this regard, the Philippines reaffirms reaffirms the importance of the women peace and security agenda and the protection of children in armed conflict.
We also recognise that AI and autonomous weapons further put civilians at risk in the theatre of armed conflict.
We look forward to the high level conference on IHL to be held later this year in Jordan.
Mr.
president, the international rules we have forged represent our collective determination that power alone shall not decide the fate of the innocent, the weak and the vulnerable.
With armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions rising throughout the world.
Our commitment to resolution 1265 must be renewed and strengthened to safeguard civilians at all costs, and to ensure that the cause of peace continues.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of the Philippines for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of the observer state of Palestine.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The entirety of the edifice of international humanitarian law was built around a singular principle protecting those who do not take part in hostilities and those who no longer take part in hostilities.
Who are we talking about? The civilians, the prisoners, the sick and the wounded.
Look at your resolutions.
Who do they talk about? About the civilians.
The humanitarian personnel.
Children, women, the journalists, the UN peacekeepers, the health workers.
These are the victims in Palestine.
Or, to be more accurate, these are the primary targets in Palestine.
Those that the rules were made to protect are the ones that are being systematically and indiscriminately attacked, publicly and repeatedly.
Israel is attacking Palestinian life.
It is attacking those who try to save it and preserve it.
Those trying to sustain it, those trying to protect it, those trying to record it.
When we speak of what has happened in Gaza, we cannot forget it.
In the span of four months of that war, more children were killed than in the previous four years across the world.
When we speak of the killing of humanitarian personnel in the last three years, over half of them were killed in Palestine.
When we look at the journalists killed in 2024 and 2025, two thirds of them were killed in Palestine.
Take a moment to think of what these reality are describing.
And this is not about the past.
These are patterns that continue since the ceasefire was announced.
Of course, the scale of killing is completely different, but still 900 almost 900 Palestinians were killed since the ceasefire was announced.
Thousands were injured.
Millions are still suffering.
And we've seen 1000 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since October 2023, 40,000 displaced in the last few days alone, an Israeli minister, Smotrich, announced on live TV the ordering of forced displacement of Palestinian community in Khan al-Ahmar, in the heart of Palestinian land, to colonize it as part of the E1 project of settlements.
We've seen another Israeli minister, Ben-Gvir, parading, while the people who came in solidarity on the Gaza flotilla from several countries, including some of your own, were being ill treated or were facing degrading treatment and filming himself bragging about that treatment.
We've seen an Israeli minister, Katz, who decided that the honor compound in Jerusalem will be transformed into facilities for his own Ministry of Defense.
The honor compound.
And we've seen the Israeli prime minister today tweet actions that will entrench the unlawful annexation of Palestinian land in the Jordan Valley.
We've seen the Israeli Knesset pass laws for the unlawful annexation, passing a discriminatory death penalty against Palestinian prisoners who have been subjected to abuse and rape, including in cases filmed and videos leaked of that rape of Palestinian prisoners.
We've seen Israeli forces kill Palestinians, Israeli settlers kill Palestinians.
All of this is there on record for all of you to see.
So what do we do about these realities? What is the protection that has been afforded to Palestinians after all these traumatic experiences including the ones happening as I speak to you? None.
The Ohchr describing the forcible displacement of communities and settlement expansion at an unprecedented pace, stated, and I quote, Israeli military and police forces and settlers are killing more and more Palestinians with impunity, often together.
The chronicle of Violence and injustices continues and will impact Palestinians for generations to come, for generations to come, end quote.
Regarding Gaza, it added, and I quote, the fact remains that the Palestinians have no means to ensure their survival or to protect their loved ones.
With hundreds killed since the announcement of a ceasefire.
Concluding, and I quote, impunity only fuels recurrence.
Most of the horrors documented here and those documented for decades before have gone unpunished, with no prospect of justice for victims Ending, and I quote in a context like this, lack of action is not passivity.
It's a license.
The courts end there.
But they should have continued a license to kill Palestinians, to maim Palestinians, to forcibly displace Palestinians, to annex Palestinian land, to unlawfully detain Palestinians, to abuse and rape Palestinians, to humiliate and subjugate Palestinians, to destroy and erase the Palestinian people.
The rules of international law are clear.
The resolutions of your council and our Council are clear.
The orders and opinions of the International Court of Justice are clear.
The natural laws to preserve human life and dignity are clear.
The condemnations of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes are clear.
And Israel's contempt for all of the above is equally clear.
So the rules are undeniable, their breaches undeniable.
The human cost for Palestinians is undeniable.
So either we proclaim that Palestinian civilians are lesser civilians, lesser human beings not entitled to the same protection, or we proclaim that the rules do not apply to Israel and accept that Palestine becomes the ground zero for the death of international law based order or resolute action is needed to end the impunity and the crimes it enables to save Palestinians but also save the prospect of freedom, justice and peace for all in our region and beyond.
Thank you.
I thank the Permanent Observer Mission for the Statement of Palestine, for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
At the outset, I would like to thank the presidency of the Council for convening this important debate on the protection of civilians.
Knowing that it would have been unthinkable for Syria in the past to take part in this debate before it translates words into deeds.
Mr.
president the protection of civilians is not a mere slogan I am raising here on behalf of Syria.
It is rather an open wound in the memory of Syrian men and women.
The Syrian people know all too well what it means for Homs to turn into rubble, for hospitals to become targets, and for human beings to become victims without a safe haven.
For years Syria has remained a painful and striking example of violations of international humanitarian law.
Today, however, Syria is determined to transform this memory into commitment with a state that protects and does not exclude, does not neglect, and that consolidates respect for international humanitarian law in both word and deed, through the rule of law, accountability and genuine cooperation with the international community.
Mr.
president, I would like to present three clear messages.
First, the protection of civilians is not a choice.
It is the foundation of legitimacy and the gateway to stability.
No state can endure without safeguarding its people.
Second there can be no protection without justice.
Transitional justice is not a parallel track but a guarantee against recurrence, a means of reparation for the victims, and a bridge to restoring trust between citizens and the state.
Third, the protection of civilians does not end with the cessation of conflict.
Rather, a new phase begins a phase that includes recovery, reconstruction, and the creation of safe and dignified conditions for the return of refugees and displaced persons.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, respect for international humanitarian law, as we have repeatedly said, is not measured by what it is, not by what is said, but by what is done.
In Syria, we have heard much about commitments, but we have seen very little in practice.
Yet here we are today What we have lived has strengthened our resolve that the victims of the past shall be the guardians of the future.
Thank you president.
I thank the representative of Syrian Arab Republic for the statement I now give the floor to the representative of Croatia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I make this statement on behalf of the 13 members of the Global Alliance for the missing.
The Global Alliance has highlighted at this occasion in past years, the alarming number of persons going missing in conflicts globally.
There is no sign that these numbers are abating.
Across some 130 conflicts raging globally, the ICRC alone has over 410 000 cases of missing persons.
It is searching for.
This means 410 000 families suspended between hope and loss, unable to move on with their lives.
Often they represent communities, even societies for whom unaddressed missing persons caseloads can become an obstacle to a return to normalcy and to sustainable peace.
The real numbers of missing persons are likely to be exponentially higher, with both civilians and combatants going missing.
This alarming trend is neither inevitable nor irreversible.
It reflects, in large part, insufficient respect for and implementation of the comprehensive and practical obligations provided by the international humanitarian law to prevent and respond to cases of missing persons.
When these obligations are respected.
The tragedy of missing persons can be minimized.
Deeply concerned about the increasing disregard for international humanitarian law in too many of today's armed conflicts.
Allow us to reiterate that international humanitarian law provides for clear obligations to both prevent people from going missing, and to seek to clarify the fate and whereabouts of those who do go missing.
The UN Security Council has already elaborated on the magnitude of the problem, reiterating the legal framework and specifying means of addressing missing persons in armed conflict in its resolution 24/74 of 2019.
These include measures as simple as proper registration of detainees and allowing them to correspond with their families or the establishment by parties to international armed Conflict of National Information Bureau to exchange information on protected persons under the control through the.
Under their control.
Through the ICRC.
Strengthening the role and capacities of national mechanisms or processes to search and identify missing persons is also an important part of the answer.
Crucially, UN Security Council Resolution 2474 mentions the link between missing persons and sustainable peace.
The issue of missing persons should be included early in efforts to resolve conflicts.
Doing so can prevent further people going missing, and can also leverage the opportunity of a peace process to establish mechanisms to resolve cases for which political will in other is otherwise difficult to achieve.
Excellencies, the legal framework is clear.
The humanitarian needs are urgent and the tools are known.
The Global Alliance for the missing encourages all states to take concrete steps now to address this growing humanitarian concern.
There is much experience, including within the Global Alliance for the missing, on how to establish and sustain systemic action to prevent and respond to missing persons.
What is needed is strengthened and sustained commitment to implementation.
In this regard, we also encourage governments and relevant stakeholders to join and actively participate in international events and conferences addressing this important issue, such as the United Nations General Assembly informal meeting on missing persons.
We stand ready to share our experience to advance practical solutions, strengthen compliance and ensure that fewer families are left without answers.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Croatia for the statement.
And now give the floor to the representative of Cuba.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
President, the increase in armed conflicts, attacks against civilian infrastructure and facilities, including hospitals and schools humanitarian workers, as well as the rise in forced displacement and food insecurity, demonstrate a profound erosion of international humanitarian law and of the charter of the United Nations.
We are concerned, as we see, the trend of reinterpreting these norms in favour of hegemonic and dominating interests in order to justify indiscriminate attacks, collective punishment and the use of hunger and blockades as methods of warfare One of the greatest attacks against civilian populations is taking place today in Palestine at the hands of Israel, where the political, diplomatic, military and financial support of the United States.
During the month of April alone, Israeli forces and settlers killed more than 120 Palestinians in the occupied territories, including children women and journalists, and also wounded numerous others.
From 2023 to the 6th of May of this year, approximately 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to a report.
The systematic Israeli attacks throughout the occupied Palestinian territory against homes, shelters for displaced persons, places of worship, streets, vehicles, humanitarian facilities and schools constitute crimes against humanity.
The occupying power must be held accountable for apartheid and genocide against the Palestinian people.
Mr.
president, we denounce the arbitrary detention in international waters and the torture by the Israeli regime of Saif Abu Keshek and Tiago Avila, members of the global Sumud flotilla who were transporting humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
We reject the impunity with which Israel commits violations of international law and human rights.
We reiterate our strong condemnation of the attacks carried out by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have claimed the lives of nearly 2000 innocent civilians, including the girls of the Mina Primary School.
Political assassinations and indiscriminate bombings of schools and hospitals which violate international humanitarian law must come to an end.
We also call for respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations of the Middle East, and for an end to acts that cause human suffering and damage to the infrastructure of those nations including the Arab Gulf states We condemn the persistent Israeli attacks against Lebanon and the repeated violations of the ceasefire, which endanger the civilian population and threaten regional stability.
Mr.
president, preventing conflicts and addressing their root causes is the best way to protect civilian populations and future generations from the scourge of war.
However, we observe with deep concern the growing trend toward the proliferation of conflicts, the excessive increase in military spending, and the dangerous arms race.
While more than $2.4 trillion are devoted annually to weapons and wars, millions of human beings lack food, medicines, education and basic services.
More than 800 million people continue to live in conditions of extreme poverty, according to the UN's 2025 Sustainable Development Goals report.
In an increasingly unstable international environment, the notion of peace through strength is being imposed.
The proliferation of unilateral coercive measures, cognitive or unconventional wars, the occupation of land, the conquest of natural resources, disregard for and violations of international law and the brutal application of instruments of domination and hegemony aggravate the already profound, multidimensional crisis facing humanity.
In this context, Cuba is subjected to constant threats from the government of the United States which openly announces before the world its intention to use armed force against our country despite the absence of any aggression on our part or any valid argument to justify such a grave and irrational action.
For the government of the world's principal military power and a permanent member of this council, it has not been enough to impose a brutal blockade on Cuba for more than 60 years, condemned by the overwhelming majority of UN member states, and to include it without any valid basis on an arbitrary list of alleged states sponsors of terrorism.
In recent months, the United States has intensified its economic war against our country, taking it to extreme levels through an energy siege classified under international law as an act of war, and through executive orders imposing secondary sanctions on foreign companies, banks and entities even when their business in the United States is unrelated to Cuba.
We denounce the criminal nature of these aggressive measures aimed at subduing the entire Cuban population through hunger and desperation, and intended to generate a nationwide social, economic, and political disaster.
We also reject the intention of the government of the United States to create a humanitarian crisis scenario in order to justify more punitive actions, including a possible military aggression against Cuba.
It is false to declare Cuba an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security of the United States.
On the contrary, Cuba has been the target of countless hostile actions designed devised from that territory which have left thousands of Cubans wounded or dead.
Never, I must insist, never has a single offensive action against the national security of that country or of any other country ever originated from Cuba.
It is, to say the least, cynical, to portray Cuba as a threat.
While the most apocalyptic threats against our country are voiced daily from Washington, a hostile narrative has been constructed to continue suffocating the Cuban people, as well as escalating toward a conflict that could have unimaginable consequences for both peoples and for the entire region.
Cuba reaffirms its firm commitment to multilateralism, diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
We are a people who love and defend peace, but we are prepared to defend our sovereignty and independence at any cost.
Thank you very much.
I thank the representative of Cuba for the statement.
And now give the floor to the representative of the Netherlands.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the statements of the European Union, the groups of friends on protection of civilians, and on conflict and hunger.
Across the world, civilians, especially women and children, are increasingly under attack.
They are not just caught in the crossfire.
They are being targeted, including through sexual and gender based violence and those who try to protect and assist them.
Humanitarian and medical personnel often risk their lives.
This is unacceptable.
Preventing and reducing this harm must be our shared priority.
And I will make four brief points.
First, prevention Prevention should be at the center of our efforts.
That means addressing root causes and drivers for conflict in an integrated way, including through development, climate and human rights policies.
It also means equipping national forces and peacekeepers with clear guidance on international humanitarian law and strong civilian harm mitigation protocols, including urban warfare and in relation to new technologies.
Second, people centered protection.
Protection starts with the perspective of civilians.
When we listen to affected communities, including women, youth and local civil society, and include their perspectives, our strategies become more relevant, legitimate, and effective.
Their voices should inform mandates, planning and the assessment of our protection work.
Resolution 2573, which safeguards critical civilian infrastructure such as water, power and food systems, remains indispensable to civilian survival.
Beyond physical safety, protection must include psychological well-being.
Only if we heal traumas, we can break the cycles of violence and rebuild communities.
Third, respect for international humanitarian law and accountability.
Impunity fuels cycles of violence.
We need to strengthen mechanisms to investigate alleged violations and prosecute perpetrators at national and, where appropriate international level to reinforce compliance with international humanitarian law.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands supports the global initiative to galvanize political commitment to international humanitarian law, and encourages all member states to join and implement their commitments.
Fourth, protection of humanitarian and medical personnel.
We must reverse the alarming trends of attacks against humanitarian and medical workers.
These targeted attacks undermine neutral, life saving work for the most vulnerable people.
We call for full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2286, which explicitly protects medical personnel and healthcare facilities.
To conclude, Mr.
President, the Kingdom of the Netherlands remains firmly committed to protection of civilians guided by prevention, putting people at the center, accountability and the respect for international law.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of the Netherlands.
I now give the floor to the representative of Azerbaijan.
Mr.
president, I would like to begin by conveying our gratitude to the delegation of the People's Republic of China for convening this important meeting.
Regrettably, armed conflicts continue to have devastating consequences for civilians worldwide, disproportionately affecting women, children, persons with disabilities and others in vulnerable situations.
This underscores the urgent need for the strict and consistent implementation of international humanitarian law, complemented by international human rights law.
As 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the Security Council Resolution 2286, this debate offers an important opportunity to review its implementation.
In addition, in the pact for the future, member states committed to taking concrete and practical measures in response to the grave impact of armed conflicts on civilians However, persistent non-compliance with international obligations and the lack of accountability for violations of IHR and human rights law remain serious challenges, including in post-conflict settings.
Mr.
president, the Security Council in its resolution 2474, acknowledged that full and timely support for humanitarian components can be critical in ensuring and enhancing the sustainability of post-conflict peace building.
Despite the end of the decades long conflict and the progress achieved in advancing the peace agenda in the region, Azerbaijan continues to suffer from the tragic humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
The fate and whereabouts of nearly 4000 Azerbaijani nationals, including 71 minors, 287 women and 319 elderly persons, remain unknown.
In several cases, whole families went missing, resulting in the disappearance of entire family lines.
Some individuals disappeared even after being visited in custody by the International Committee of the Red cross.
Since the end of the occupation and conflict, 32 mass graves have been found containing the remains of 253 individuals.
These findings point to the deliberate killing of civilians and other protected persons under international humanitarian law.
The fate of most missing persons remain unresolved.
Aiming to contribute to international efforts on missing persons, Azerbaijan Organised has organised international conferences, in particular a dedicated platform of the Baku Dialogue on Missing Persons.
The declaration of the Baku Dialogue on Missing Persons of 2025 has also been circulated as an official document of the Security Council.
Furthermore, in line with the General Assembly resolutions on missing persons initiated by Azerbaijan, the first ever General Assembly meeting on missing persons was convened on April 2025.
Another pressing humanitarian consequence of the conflict is the extensive mine contamination of the territories of Azerbaijan, which seriously hinders the safe and dignified return of displaced populations, as well as post-conflict recovery and reconstruction.
The number of post-conflict mine victims in Azerbaijan is rising and has reached 425 since November 2020 of whom 73 lost their lives and 352 suffered horrific injuries, most of them civilians.
The scale and magnitude of the landmine threat in Azerbaijan necessitate enhanced accountability, stronger solidarity and partnership, and adequate international assistance for assistance for national humanitarian demining capabilities and efforts.
Furthermore, Azerbaijan is rebuilding the cities and towns destroyed during the occupation as a result of the reconstruction and rehabilitation measures undertaken.
Around 85,000 people have been resettled and are now living and working in newly built cities and towns.
The hosting of the ongoing 13 session of the World Urban Forum further demonstrates Azerbaijan's vision for transforming the liberated territories into models of modern and sustainable urban development.
Mr.
president, states are under an obligation not only to prevent, but also to ensure accountability for the most serious violations.
Azerbaijan has taken decisive steps to investigate and prosecute numerous atrocity crimes committed during the conflict, in full accordance with its national legislation and obligations under international law.
In conclusion, Azerbaijan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to international humanitarian and human rights law and its continued efforts to advance the protection of civilians agenda and mitigate the impact of armed conflict on vulnerable populations.
Thank you.
I thank the representative of Azerbaijan.
I now give the floor to the representative of Saudi Arabia.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Your Excellencies.
May the peace of God be upon you.
At the outset, I would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the Republic of China for organizing this important event We appreciate your efforts during your presidency of the Council during this month.
We also thank the Briefers for their valuable briefings.
Mr.
president, the protection of children in armed conflicts is extremely important.
Therefore, and to guarantee sounded generations that can build a better and more prosperous future in conflict affected countries.
And as we approach the anniversary of the Security Council Resolution 1612, which created a framework to detect violations against children in armed conflicts and reported them, the international community should deal with children in armed conflicts with utmost importance in order to achieve two major goals.
First, to create a new reality for those children where we can break the cycle of violence and deal with the negative consequences affecting them.
Second, preventing a conducive environment for violence and extremism.
The protection of children in armed conflicts is a collective responsibility that falls upon us all.
It requires collective efforts to deal with its consequences and its root causes.
My country has joined several international frameworks that promote collective work, including the UN convention on the rights of the child and its and the Additional Protocol on the Recruitment of Children in Armed Conflicts.
Mr.
president, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to principles of international humanitarian law and international law for human rights.
Out of our legal commitment and our human and moral duty, we also attach great importance to the protection of the rights of civilians in zones of conflict.
We believe in the principles of the Islamic Sharia and our Islamic values.
The Kingdom also supports the Geneva Conventions, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians during times of war.
We reaffirm the need for all parties to armed conflicts to abide by these conventions.
We call on reinforcing the implementation mechanisms of international humanitarian law, and we condemn all violations against civilians or civilian infrastructure.
We reaffirm the need to hold accountable the perpetrators of these violations and provide humanitarian assistance without hindrance to all those affected by these conflicts.
Mr.
president, the protection of civilians is not a mere legal obligation provided for by international humanitarian law.
It is first and foremost a human and moral collective obligation that requires us all to work seriously, genuinely and effectively.
Therefore, my country was keen on supporting efforts to protect civilians worldwide.
We have implemented through the King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Support, several humanitarian and relief projects in more than 90 countries to provide assistance to those affected by conflicts and disasters without discrimination.
International humanitarian law also calls for providing humanitarian treatment to those living under the control of occupation and protecting them from all sorts of humiliating and degrading treatment, including protecting them from torture and killing.
This protection also include humanitarian workers and medical personnel, as well as relief agencies.
It also attaches great importance to the most vulnerable, such as women, children, the elderly, the sick and the displaced.
The international law also prevents forced displacement in all its forms, such as violence, intimidation or depriving from basic necessities.
In conclusion, Mr.
President, the kingdom reaffirms that the protection of children in conflict zones represents a legal obligation that should be respected and a moral obligation that cannot be denied.
We stand by all efforts genuine efforts, aiming at protecting civilians and achieving security and stability for the peoples affected by conflicts.
The kingdom also reaffirms the need to bolster international cooperation to address the suffering of children affected by armed conflicts, wherever they are.
Thank you president.
I thank the representative of Saudi Arabia for their statement.
Now I will give the floor to the representative of Thailand.
Mr.
president, Thailand would like to congratulate China on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month.
The recent Secretary General's report on protection of civilians in armed conflict represents an alarming picture.
The growing number, intensity and complexity of armed conflicts, compounded by the risks posed by the use of emerging technologies in warfare, continue to inflict devastating consequences on civilians.
President, the protection of civilians is not optional.
It is a responsibility by all of us.
We must strengthen our collective efforts to ensure safety and dignity of civilians in armed conflicts.
To this end, we believe that our actions should be anchored in the following three approaches.
First, supporting international humanitarian law must remain paramount.
Thailand is fully committed to its obligations under IHL and adheres to its core principle of distinction to civilians.
Proportionality to prevent excessive excessive harm, precaution to avoid needless suffering, and humanity to protect dignity.
Reinforcing compliance with IHL requires political will and concerted efforts in times of both peace and conflict.
At the national level, last year, Thailand established the Thai National Committee for International Humanitarian Law to enhance inter-agency coordination on implementation and to further integrate it into national laws, policies and practices at the global level.
Thailand has joined the Global initiative to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law, which seeks to reinforce political resolve to promote respect for and implementation of Iha worldwide.
Second, humanitarian disarmament is essential for the protection of civilians.
Having witnessed the devastating humanitarian consequences in Southeast Asia over the past decades, Thailand calls for collective efforts to protect civilians from indiscriminate weapons, including anti-personnel landmines.
We therefore support the Secretary-General's Global Advocacy Campaign on Humanitarian Disarmament and mine action as emerging technologies rapidly reshape the nature of warfare.
Civilians face the consequences arising from their use.
Thailand, therefore encourages constructive discussions on the responsible use of emerging technologies, particularly lethal autonomous weapons systems and artificial intelligence to ensure the protection of civilians and compliance with IHL.
Third, humanitarian assistance must be delivered safely, rapidly, sustainably and without hindrance to all civilians in need.
Even in situations of armed conflict, civilians must never be deprived of food and other essentials indispensable for their survival in accordance with IHL.
Thailand will uphold its long standing humanitarian tradition of providing much needed assistance to affected civilians, including those in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Closer to our home, we are determined to work with our partners to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar, particularly in the border areas.
President.
Ultimately, the most effective way to ensure the protection of civilians in armed conflict is to address its root causes in a comprehensive manner.
Thailand stands ready to work constructively with all member States and the UN system to strengthen respect of IHL while promoting sustainable development, human rights and human security with a view to ending civilian suffering in armed conflicts.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
I thank the representative of Thailand for the statement.
I give the floor to the representative of Estonia.
Mr.
president, Estonia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union the Global Alliance for the missing and a group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger.
Year after year, we hear horrifying numbers of humanitarian workers killed while delivering life saving assistance.
In the past three years, more than 1000 humanitarian workers have been killed, many despite clearly marked equipment and vehicles.
This demonstrates that systematic violations of international humanitarian law continue to be used as a deliberate war tactic.
2025 was another deadly year also for the press.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 104 journalists and media workers were killed amid armed conflict As the director general of the Reporters Without Borders stated, this was no accident.
They were targeted for their work.
Estonia strongly condemns all attacks against civilians, including journalists and humanitarian workers, and calls for accountability for all violations.
As the president of the Unicef Executive Board Bureau, as Sonja remains deeply concerned about children affected by armed conflict and works towards improving the situation across the globe.
With over 15 million children in need for humanitarian assistance, the situation in Sudan remains catastrophic.
We commend Unicef, UNFPA and other partners for their efforts to alleviate the situation.
We are alarmed by the scale of suffering of civilians in Gaza, where more than 64,000 children have been killed or injured since October 2023, and the entire population is facing acute food insecurity.
We are also extremely concerned about the demolition of schools across the West Bank in Lebanon at the height of the recent escalation.
Around 370,000 children were displaced in just three weeks.
An average of 19,000 children per day.
In Ukraine, children have been the first victims of Russia's war of aggression and deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure.
More than one third of Ukrainian children remain displaced.
Essential services are disrupted and children continue to be killed and maimed every day.
We repeat our call on Russia to end its war of aggression against Ukraine.
We call on all states and armed groups to respect and abide by international humanitarian law.
Protection of civilians is not optional.
It is a moral and legal duty.
We note the positive developments in Syria and share the hope that Syria will become a success story.
However, Syria is an isolated case that gives us a ray of hope.
Yet the alarming funding crisis can limit the progress worldwide.
In this challenging context, Estonia reiterates its support to the humanitarian reset process led by USG Tom Fletcher and calls on all UN agencies to implement it.
President.
Humanitarian crisis cannot be resolved without addressing the political dimensions.
The only lasting solution to ensure the protection of civilians is diplomacy, accountability and prevention.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Estonia for the statement.
I give the floor to the representative of Liechtenstein Thank you so much for the floor Mr.
president, Liechtenstein remains deeply alarmed by the fact that for yet another year, civilians have borne the brunt of armed conflict.
According to the report by the Secretary-General, civilians continue to be disproportionately affected by explosive weapons in populated areas, including cluster munitions, landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
The rise in civilian harm results from a fundamental feature of these weapons.
By their very design, they generate blast and fragmentation effects that extend beyond the immediate target, carrying inherent and significant risks to civilians in populated areas.
Liechtenstein calls on all to endorse and operationalise the wiper political declaration, notably, the development of national policies that prevent civilian harms from explosive weapons in populated areas.
Only by reducing explosive violence in urban settings can we successfully address and decrease civilian harm in armed conflict in the long run.
Mr.
president, the high number of civilian casualties is but one of the expressions of a more systemic undermining of international humanitarian law that we have been observing over the last years assertions of exceptional circumstances, more permissive interpretations of legal frameworks and the use of new technologies are eroding compliance with both the letter and spirit of IHL.
At the same time, we increasingly witness the rhetoric that legitimizes violations of ISIL, such as attacks on civilian infrastructure and threats that no quarter will be given.
Liechtenstein is deeply concerned by this dangerous trend.
We therefore support initiatives such as the Global Initiative to Galvanise political commitment to IHL that seeks to overcome political divides and calls for renewed commitment to conflict prevention, as outlined in the UN charter.
At this time of proliferating conflict, we must more than ever uphold and respect all our obligations under international law without distinction or selectivity.
Mr.
president, in addition to the increase of ISIL violations, there is also a persistent lack of accountability for such violations.
Existing accountability frameworks, such as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, play a vital role in the protection of civilians against war crimes.
The court's effectiveness, however, relies on the consistent fulfilment by state parties of their obligations under the Rome Statute, in particular with regard to the execution of arrest warrants in times when the court comes under attack.
It is essential that not only state parties to the ICC, but all states committed to accountability and the protection of civilians unite in support of the court and its mandate.
In addition, emerging technologies call for a continued adaptation of accountability frameworks.
Fully autonomous and AI enabled weapon systems not only threaten compliance with I principles, but also risk creating an ever widening accountability gap if deployed without meaningful human oversight.
Liechtenstein, therefore, echoes the calls by the Secretary-General and the president of the ICC for the swift conclusion of a legally binding instrument to establish new prohibitions and restrictions on autonomous weapon systems.
We would strongly encourage a two tier approach that seeks to prohibit the use of weapon systems that are non-compliant with IHL, while regulating the development and deployment of all others by clarifying and formalising these rules.
We will ensure that the protections afforded by I'll be safeguarded against further erosion and close any legal loopholes for crimes committed as a result of increasing autonomy in weapon systems.
I thank you so much.
Can I thank the representative of Liechtenstein for the statement I give the floor to the representative of Germany.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Germany fully aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union, the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians and the Group of friends on conflict and Hunger.
I would like to begin by paying tribute to the peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel saving civilian lives every day.
Without their dedication and sacrifice, the United Nations would not be able to reach hundreds of thousands of vulnerable civilians.
I would like to make three points in this debate.
Firstly, protection of civilians must remain at the centre of the UN's work in fragile contexts.
UN missions provide a critical stabilising presence.
Yet recent reductions in peacekeeping budgets risk creating serious protection gaps.
Base closures reduce patrols and limited mobility, weaken mission's ability to prevent violence and respond to threats in civilian protection.
Doing the same with less is not possible.
Sustainable protection ultimately depends on the ability to find political solutions to conflict until consensus on such solutions exists.
The council must ensure that UN missions retain the needed capacity and credibility to protect civilians effectively, and a lack of political consensus, combined with a reduced operational capacities, leaves civilians exposed.
Secondly, all UN missions, including those without an explicit POC mandate, generate protection expectations among local populations.
Communities look to UN personnel for security and de-escalation independent of mandated tasks.
Protection considerations should therefore be integrated systematically across all mission planning, mandate design and transitions.
Thirdly, we are deeply concerned by the rise in systematic attacks against peacekeepers, humanitarian and medical personnel, as well as disruptions to humanitarian supply chains, all of them grave violations of international law and international humanitarian law.
Staff are working under dangerous and often unacceptable conditions worldwide, and staff and vulnerable civilians need more than our words of solidarity.
Humanitarian funding, such as the 1.5 billion USD raised at the Sudan conference in Berlin last month, prevent the humanitarian system from collapse.
But we need to tackle the problem at its root, which means collecting better data on violations of international humanitarian law to inform the council and enable concrete action, hold perpetrators accountable through national and international mechanisms, and strengthen the one UN approach by better aligning the agencies, funds and programmes with mission activities.
The ambition is there.
We have Council resolutions 22, 86, 27, 30, 24, 17.
They all give us a roadmap for action, as does the global initiative by the International Committee of the Red cross.
But we need to move towards implementation.
And, Mr.
President, before I close, let me address one point regarding the debate this morning.
I firmly reject the creative attempt by the Russian Federation to paint Germany as a trigger of or link between two very different conflicts, one of which has been caused by a Russian act of aggression.
Thank you very much.
I thank the representative of Germany for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Lithuania.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Lithuania aligns itself with the EU statement from the DRC and Sudan to the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, Ukraine and many other parts of the world.
Civilians continue to bear the heaviest burden of armed conflict as the number of conflicts worldwide continues to rise.
Despite the clear obligation under international law to protect civilians.
Every day, we witness deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, targeted killings, unlawful deportation, torture, conflict related sexual and gender based violence, and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment, including towards children.
Ensuring accountability for perpetrators must remain a central priority, particularly when certain international actors, including a permanent member of the Security Council, continue to bluntly violate the UN charter and inflict immense human suffering.
Only by ending impunity, we can deter further atrocities and bring justice to victims and survivors.
Now in its fifth year, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues in complete disregard of international humanitarian law.
Deliberate attacks against civilians have already claimed thousands of lives, including those of children.
As reported by Ocha on May 12th in Dnipro, a World Food Program truck delivering aid to frontline communities was struck by a drone on May 14th, a clearly marked United Nations vehicle that was part of a humanitarian convoy was struck twice in Kherson, the UN human Rights monitoring mission highlights that more people were killed and injured in Ukraine in the first four months of 2026 than in the same period in any of the last three years.
A particular critical situation we would like to draw your attention to is in the occupied Oleshky.
The city is on the brink of a full scale humanitarian catastrophe.
The civilian population is being deliberately deprived of the most basic conditions necessary for survival.
This is not merely a humanitarian crisis.
It is a deliberate campaign of terror by Russia against a peaceful civilian population.
Such acts demand collective action and concrete results to alleviate human sufferings, ensure accountability of perpetrators and bring justice to all victims and survivors.
Moreover, civilians are feeling the impact of armed conflict beyond active war zones.
Today, for the first time since 1990, people in Lithuania had to rush to shelters after an air raid alert triggered by a possible drone incursion.
The investigation is still ongoing, but one thing is clear these repeated violations of our airspace are a direct consequence of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the complicity of Belarus.
This must stop just as Russia's aggression against Ukraine must stop.
Conclusion is evident.
We must strengthen international efforts to protect civilians, uphold international humanitarian law and ensure that those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity are held fully accountable.
Silence and inaction only embolden perpetrators.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Lithuania for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Let me begin by warmly congratulating China on assuming this on the presidency of the Council and thanking for convening this important occasion.
My gratitude also goes to Miss Lu and Miss Paul Spoljaric for their insightful briefings today.
Civilians continue to build an overwhelming burden of armed conflict as the defining promise of the United Nations Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war remains unfulfilled.
Indeed civil civilian casualties are rising sharply across multiple conflicts, forced displacement, the wholesale destruction of civilian infrastructure, and wanton targeting of essential services are deepening on an unprecedented scale.
Under this backdrop, I would like to emphasize the following points.
First, reprehensible attack against medical workers and facilities remains one of the gravest threat to the protection of civilians, as the Secretary general has just shockingly detailed in his annual report.
Hospitals, ambulances and medical workers continue to be besieged, targeted and attacked in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar.
Deploying civilians of life saving care.
And in Lebanon alone, 116 health care workers have been killed since 2nd March.
All parties to armed conflict must refrain from such appalling attacks on healthcare facilities and ensure safe and rapid humanitarian access regardless, regardless of dangerous ground conditions.
Second, new and emerging technologies in armed conflict raise serious humanitarian concerns.
BW civil protections in particular, the growing use of drones, has ushered in increased risks, suffering and damages for civilians and civilian infrastructure all around the world.
We expressed serious concerns over recent drone attacks in Sudan that have reportedly caused approximately 880 civilian casualties in recent months.
The international community should bolster dialogue and cooperation to ensure that the use of such technologies complies with I.
Principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and to promote vital harm mitigation efforts alongside responsible use of new technologies.
Third, international humanitarian law must be respected universally and consistently in all circumstances and everywhere.
Attempts to justify or relativize grave violations of I.
HL risks eroding the very integrity of the international legal framework, legitimizing future attacks and weakening civilian protection globally, and accountability for such violations, including attacks against civilians and medical facilities, is equally essential, in closing, in 2026, violations against civilians surged in tandem with shrinking global accountability.
The Republic of Korea, as a responsible member of the international community, will continue to strengthen its efforts with a view to advancing the essentiality of protection of civilians mandate for all and in all relevant fora.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Spain.
Senor Presidente.
Spain.
Spain would like to thank China for convening this open debate on the protection of civilians in conflict.
We're also grateful to the president of the Red Cross and Madam Misono, representing Ocha, for their briefings.
Their interventions complement the latest report of the UN Secretary General that we are discussing today, and invite us to reflect collectively on how to strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, a priority that Spain considers central to the maintenance of international peace and security.
From the Secretary-General's report, we would highlight several facts.
2025 was the deadliest year for civilians in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's aggression in Sudan and Gaza.
Simultaneous famines were confirmed for the first time in two decades, demonstrating that the use of starvation as a method of warfare is in place in clear violation of Security Council Resolution 24/17.
Ten years after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2286 on the protection of medical missions.
Attacks against healthcare personnel are becoming increasingly frequent, systematic and deliberate.
These are facts that reflect the serious erosion of international humanitarian law and require an immediate response from the international community.
Allow me to share some observations as to how we could address this immense challenge.
While Spain is convinced that the effective protection of civilians requires action before, during and after violence occurs, conflict prevention is the most effective way to protect civilians.
To that end, we must promote the use of preventive diplomatic tools such as mediation and early warning mechanisms, while also strengthening structural prevention by addressing inequality, exclusion, institutional fragility, and disputes over resources during armed conflicts.
We must remind the parties that the protection of civilians is not an option.
It is a legal obligation.
We must be firm and consistent in demanding respect for international humanitarian law, regardless of the actors involved or the circumstances.
The Security Council and member states must ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access in accordance with international humanitarian law, and fulfil their international obligations within the civilian population.
We must pay particular attention to the specific needs of women and children in conflict.
We must unequivocally condemn conflict related sexual violence, demand accountability for perpetrators and support victims.
We cannot allow the instrumentalization of women and girls in war.
We must ensure that boys and girls have access to food and health care services appropriate to their age, as well as continuous and safe education.
In this context, allow me to also highlight the impact of attacks against two specific groups humanitarian personnel with record numbers of fatalities for the third consecutive year, the vast majority of whom are local staff and journalists, who have likewise faced increasing attacks over the past three years.
Thirdly, during and after hostilities, we must promote accountability by supporting national and international mechanisms that investigate violations of international humanitarian law and by combating impunity, including through support for the International Criminal Court.
Spain remains firmly and unconditionally committed to the promotion and implementation of international humanitarian law.
Spain's humanitarian diplomatic strategy places respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians and the fight against impunity among the priorities of our foreign policy.
This commitment is also reflected in our own institutions, through the incorporation of international humanitarian law into the training and operational planning of our armed forces.
It's likewise reflected in the support provided by Spanish cooperation efforts in Gaza, Ukraine and other crisis contexts to the United Nations international organizations, the Red cross and Red Crescent Movement, and local organizations that ensure the continuity of essential frontline healthcare services.
We'd also like to make special mention of the ICRC Global Initiative to strengthen political commitment to international humanitarian law, an initiative that is essential to recovering the spirit of Solferino.
Spain co-chairs the working Group on the Protection of Hospitals, with the objective of identifying good practices that ensure the specific protection of medical missions.
President.
In conclusion, the protection of civilians in conflict is not a normative challenge, but a challenge of political will, because ultimately, even in war there are limits, and preserving those limits is preserving the principle of humanity that defines us as a society.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Spain for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Costa Rica.
Senor Presidente Costa Rica would like to thank China for convening this debate.
And we'd like to highlight three points that reaffirm our commitment and restricted commitment to the protection of civilians and international humanitarian law.
Firstly, the rapid advance of military technology, including the use of artificial intelligence and cyber operations, presents unprecedented challenges for the protection of civilians.
That is why Costa Rica reaffirms that international humanitarian law is applicable to um cybernetic operations in armed conflicts, in particular, civilian data, medical registers, identity systems, basic services infrastructure must enjoy the same protection as is granted to international humanitarian law and civilians in the physical space.
Cybernetic operations that temporarily or permanently destabilize civilian systems has a direct or indirect effect on services that are essential for the civilian population.
Um there must be the principle of distinction precaution, uh, applied to these situations as well.
These attacks have predictable damage for the civilian population and are unacceptable.
Secondly, Costa Rica is co-chair of the Workstream on Protection of Civilian Infrastructure of the Global Initiative, uh, for political willingness to respect international humanitarian law.
Bringing together more than 100 states.
Um, although we talk about civilian infrastructure in legal terms, what's really at play here is protection of persons.
When a water treatment plant no longer functions, uh, contagious diseases break out when food systems collapse, malnutrition, uh, starts.
And the destruction of this infrastructure leads to a cascade of humanitarian consequences that go well beyond the current conflict.
That's why the protection of civilians cannot be, uh, unlinked from the environment that makes their survival possible.
We call upon all states to join this initiative and turn their commitments into concrete operational measures, including during times of peace Thirdly, the political declaration on the strengthening of the protection of civilians in the face of humanitarian consequences, of the use of explosive weapons in built up areas, is a specific example of how the political will of member states can be translated into concrete results that respect international humanitarian law and reduce civilian suffering.
Reducing these weapons will reduce suffering in these highly populated areas.
This shows that the protection of civilians can and must go beyond minimally meeting standards.
Declarations of this kind, of course, don't replace international humanitarian law.
What they do do is strengthen the architecture of protection and create standards which signatory states must put into practice in doctrines, rules and military confrontations and rules of engagement.
Costa Rica calls upon more delegations to join these instruments and similar, similar instruments if they are committed to human dignity in armed conflict.
Thank you very much.
I thank the representative of Costa Rica for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Mr.
President, excellencies, as we convene today to discuss the Secretary General's report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, we cannot ignore the painful reality reflected in the past year on this field, the international community and indeed the institutional interest in safeguarding international peace and security, including this council, continue to face profound challenges in protecting innocent civilians from terrorist organization, tyrannical regimes and brutal armed groups that deliberately seeks to maximize human suffering and place civilians directly in harm's way.
These actors spread hatred, hatred, destabilize entire regions systematically violence, international law, and the charter of the United Nations and cynically use innocent civilians as pawns, bargaining chips, and human shields in pursuit of their murderous objectives for the State of Israel.
This discussion, and the crucial need to protect innocent civilians is not theoretical.
It is not abstract It is our daily reality.
Since the horrific massacre of October 7th, 2023, Israel has been engaged in a war we neither wanted nor initiated.
On that day, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad carried out mass atrocities of unimaginable cruelty against innocent Israeli civilians.
They murdered, tortured, committed acts of sexual and gender based violence, mutilated bodies, and took hundreds of innocent civilians hostage.
The very last surviving hostages who endured this nightmare finally returned from captivity in Gaza only in 2025, more than two years later Many others never returned alive.
Many were brutally murdered in captivity, like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Hezbollah in Lebanon made a grave strategic decision of escalating the conflict, deliberately targeting Israeli civilians, communities.
But Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah do not stand alone.
Behind these attacks stand their orchestrator sponsors sponsor the architect of terror and the regional instability in the Middle East, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Since the beginning of this war, Iran has worked relentlessly, directly and through its proxies to escalate violence and destabilize the Middle East.
For civilians in Israel, the existential threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its genocidal armed proxies openly calling for the annihilation of the state of Israel is neither distant nor hypothetical.
They repeatedly and openly declare their intention to carry out the horrors of October 7th, again and again until Israel is destroyed.
No member state represented in this chamber would accept such a threat against its citizens.
Israel will not accept it either.
Every civilian deserve protection.
Israel is committed first and foremost to protecting its own civilians.
However, Israel continues to act also in restore stability and security in the region and protect innocent civilians across the Middle East from terrorist organizations and extremist tyrannical regimes that sacrifice civilians lives in pursuit of violence, chaos, and destruction.
Mr.
president, Israel acts in accordance with the principle of distinction, proportionality, and percussion under the international law, taking extensive measures to minimize civilian harm, often in significant operational cost and risk to our own forces.
In stark contrast, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranian regime deliberately operate from within populated areas and systematically seeks to maximize civilian suffering through indiscriminate attack and the cynical use of innocent civilians as human shields.
While Israel mourns every civilian death, be it Israeli, Palestinian, Lebanese or Iranian.
These terrorist organization and tyrannical regime treat civilians suffering as a strategic asset and weapon of war.
Mr.
president, if this.
If this council truly seeks to protect civilians, then Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and above all, the Iranian regime must be unequivocally condemned and formally designated and sanctioned by this esteemed council.
Mr.
president, Israel does not glorify war.
We do not seek endless conflict.
We continue to believe that diplomacy and regional cooperation are essential for achieving lasting security and stability in our region.
Over the past year, we have witnessed opportunities for cooperation and partnership in the region.
Israel has worked closely with its greatest ally, the United States of America, as well as united with our strategic regional partners to confront threats against our citizens and against civilians across the Middle East.
We will continue to extend our hand in peace to all of those willing to work toward a safer and more stable future.
But let but let there be no doubt Israel will continue to defend its citizens and eliminate threats against them, because we simply have no alternative.
We will not rest until security and stability are restored to our region, until our civilians and civilians of the entire region can live free from terror and fear.
For every civilian, men, women and child.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Israel for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union chargé d'affaires, Madame Samsung.
I give her the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its 27 member states.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as San Marino.
Align themselves with this statement.
President, the protection of civilians is an obligation for all states and parties to armed conflicts and a cornerstone of international humanitarian law.
It has been agreed by us for decades in the universally ratified Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols.
This year's report of the Secretary General provides further evidence that each year we are moving away from this responsibility as the reality for civilians in armed conflict worsens across the world, including in the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilian objects are carried out by both states and non-state armed groups.
Not only do these attacks ignore the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including distinction, precaution and proportionality, but in some instances there is clear intent to cause civilian harm, and we are seeing this in context globally, ten years after the adoption of resolution 2286 on the protection of health care in armed conflict, attacks on medical facilities and patients have reached record levels, with the number of deaths caused by such attacks doubling in a single year.
In 2025, the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including by drones, remains a leading cause of civilian harm, and this has contributed to the 37000 verified civilian deaths in this year's report across 20 armed conflicts globally.
The actual number is likely much higher, as we have said in this council before.
Violations of I have only led to increased suffering, starvation, displacement, loss of life, and immense humanitarian needs.
Women, older persons, persons with disabilities and children are particularly vulnerable to these violations and their consequences.
Unverified allegations by parties to a conflict as to why a hospital, a school or a transportation centre lost its protection are unacceptable.
President, as the report of the SG rightly states protecting civilians requires more than expressing concern.
Allow me to share three points where political resolve and action will lead to meaningful outcomes for civilians in conflict.
First, there is no ambiguity that compliance with international humanitarian law is an obligation and is non-negotiable.
All states have an obligation to respect and ensure respect for IHL in all circumstances, and the responsibility to protect civilians is extended to all parties to a conflict.
The EU will continue its humanitarian diplomacy efforts for IHL compliance, including with parties to armed conflicts.
We welcome and extend full support to political initiatives, including the Global Initiative to galvanise political commitment for the Global Alliance for Sparing Water from Armed Conflicts, and the Political Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.
Later this year, the European Union and Ireland will also organise an international conference on the protection of humanitarian aid workers in Brussels.
Second states, regional organisations, civil society and other actors have critical roles to play in addressing protection risks and needs of civilians.
We call on all those with influence over parties, to armed conflicts, to recall the obligation to facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, and to ensure that all actions follow the humanitarian principles.
The EU also recognises that conflicts affect people unequally, placing them in different situations of vulnerability, with women and girls disproportionately impacted by persistent gender inequalities, including sexual and gender based violence.
Effective protection requires continuous and meaningful engagement with those in need of protection civilians themselves, and in this respect the EU calls on all actors to ensure that affected populations, including women and girls, are actively involved in the development, implementation and monitoring of protection strategies and activities.
Third, and finally, it is incumbent upon us to ensure accountability for atrocity crimes against civilians, including humanitarian and medical personnel.
The EU will continue to support independent investigations into violations of IHL, including those that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as efforts to hold those who commit such such violations accountable.
Effective prosecution of international crimes also requires robust mechanisms for mutual legal assistance, evidence sharing, cross-border coordination, extradition and protection of witnesses and victims such as the Ljubljana The Hague Convention.
The EU also reaffirms its unwavering support for the international criminal justice system, particularly for the International Criminal Court, as well as its commitment to upholding the Rome Statute and preserving the ICC's independence and integrity.
President, it's in our collective interest to protect civilians, and we do not lack the tools, frameworks or collective agreements to do so, even in an era of new technologies.
So let us ensure we do not repeat ourselves next year without meaningful progress on protection, prevention, peace and justice.
I thank you.
I thank Madam Samsung for her statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Iran.
In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful.
Mr.
president, allow me to extend my congratulations to you on China's assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month, and commend the Chinese presidency for convening this open debate.
The protection of civilians is not merely a humanitarian concern.
It is a binding legal obligation under international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions and Charter of the United Nations.
Yet today's civilians are increasingly increasingly subjected to deliberate military aggression.
Collective punishment and systematic destruction of vital civilian infrastructure.
This tragic reality is evident from Gaza to Lebanon and, most recently in the aggression against Iran.
Mr.
president, the recent act of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran on 28th February once again exposed this harsh reality.
During 40 days of this unwarranted and savage war, the aggressors have committed grave and systematic violations of international humanitarian law by deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
In one particularly horrific attack, a girls school in Minab was targeted deliberately and destroyed completely, resulting in the murder of more than 168 innocent students.
These are not collateral damage.
They are war crimes.
Regrettably, the Security Council has failed to discharge its responsibilities in the face of the grave violation due to the obstruction of a permanent member that is itself an aggressor.
The Security Council must not remain silent or indifferent to the repeated and daily basis threats made by the president of the United States against Iran, including explicit threats to bomb Iran back to the Stone age to destroy the country's energy, economic and industrial infrastructure, to target Iran's nuclear scientists and senior officials, and even rhetoric implying to destruction of Iran's civilization.
The normalisation of such threat of force, acts of aggression and inflammatory rhetoric by a permanent member of the Security Council sets a dangerous precedent.
The United States and the Israeli regime, and those who assisted and facilitated this aggression, must bear full legal and international responsibility for this heinous crime and serious violations.
Impunity for such crimes not only betrays their victims, but also threaten international peace and security.
No state should be permitted to shield itself behind political protection while violating the charter and targeting civilians with impunity.
To address the root causes of armed conflict and ensure sustainable protection of civilians, the international community must commit to the international to the fundamental principles of the UN charter.
Sovereign equality of states, non-use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes and full respect for the territorial integrity and political independence of states.
Mr.
president, the Israeli regime is the largest slaughter of civilians in the world and has no deserve to respond.
But certain speakers have once again chosen to ignore the unlawful act of aggression committed by the US and the Israeli regime against Iran.
While conveniently disregarding their own role in enabling, facilitating and politically shielding this brutal war, particularly to deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Iran.
The measures undertaken by Iran were exercised in the legitimate right of self-defense.
Any attempt to distort this reality, or to portray Iran's lawful measures as illegitimate is entirely unfounded, politically motivated and devoid of any legal basis.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Iran for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Belgium.
Mr.
President.
Mr.
president, Belgium aligns itself with the declaration made by the EU and the group of Friends of Civilian Protection.
Civilians continue paying a heavy price during armed conflicts throughout the world.
We are worried of when faced with growing contempt for international humanitarian law.
I would like to reaffirm in this chamber the unflagging commitment of my country to the protection of civilians in armed conflicts and to strict compliance with international humanitarian law.
The alternative is a law of the jungle and impunity.
With respect to today's debate.
My country would like to stress the five following elements one Strict compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties, state and non-state to armed conflicts is more critical than ever for the protection of civilians and the resources and objects indispensable to their survival Respecting IHL is not optional it is a legal obligation.
We support the Global Initiative on International Humanitarian Law and support efforts to bring words into reality.
In 2025 2026, Belgium will invest well over $50 million into protection efforts around the globe.
At the same time, we call on member states to adhere to the Rome Statute.
Two attacks on aid workers.
In most cases, local staff are unacceptable.
Humanitarians are not a target.
Protectors should be protected.
Belgium is deeply concerned about the alarming rise in attacks against medical personnel, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
These attacks also cause devastating harm to civilians, including children, particularly as state actors have been identified as a primary perpetrators.
I strictly prohibits attacks against medical personnel, units and transports.
All parties to conflict are obliged to protect medical facilities and ensure care for the wounded and sick.
This obligation entails not only taking all feasible measures to support medical services and guarantee access and essential supplies, but also refraining from using hospitals and medical facilities for military purposes in accordance with IHL Medical facilities retain their protected status at all times, including when wounded combatants are present or allegations of misuse are made.
A decade after the adoption of resolution 2286, the obligation to implement it is sadly more relevant than ever.
We recall that under the Children and Armed Conflict mandate, attacks against hospitals constitute a grave violation against children.
Three states should strengthen accountability mechanisms both at the domestic and international level.
There are no excuses for violations of IHL.
States should conduct investigations into violations of IHL.
In too many cases, we see a failure of national jurisdictions to take action in such cases.
This council has the tools to trigger action.
The Council should use the full range of tools at its disposal, including by sanctioning individuals or entities, obstructing humanitarian access for protection of civilians is an ongoing endeavour that lasts long after armed conflicts have ended.
The presence of mines and explosive remnants of war continue to cause harm.
Separate communities, prolonged displacement and strip entire regions of the opportunity for recovery and development.
Children are especially at risk Belgium remains committed to this issue as it will assume the role of president of the 24th meeting of the States parties of the Ottawa Convention.
Five collectively, we should take into account account the impact of rapidly evolving technologies.
Militaries around the world are integrating artificial intelligence into the use of force, including through AI decision support systems and the development of autonomous weapons.
People are being attacked by AI driven systems as we speak, but fundamental questions remain unresolved, among which the legal questions around accountability and traceability.
States must ensure that AI driven warfare does not expose civilians to greater risk.
We therefore support moving towards a negotiation of an international instrument to govern autonomous weapon systems.
Mr.
president, in conclusion, never again.
That is what we vowed after World War two.
If we truly are committed to never again, then the time for real action of this Council and of all of us as multilateral community is past due.
I thank you.
I thank the representative of Belgium for the statement.
Now I go floor to the representative of Armenia.
President, we welcome the UN Security Council's continued focus on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
In this regard, we would like to thank the Presidency of China for holding this open debate and extend our gratitude to the president of the International Committee of the Red cross and the director of the Crisis Response Division of the UN Ohchr for their exhaustive remarks.
We observe with deep regret that 80 years after the adoption of the UN charter and 77 years after the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, civilians continue to bear the heaviest burden of war and go through the erosion of the most basic conditions necessary for human dignity.
Moreover, we are witnessing an alarming normalisation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, humanitarian and medical personnel.
In addition, the rapid deployment and development of new technologies in warfare expand the accountability gap and multiply the threats to civilians in armed conflict.
The inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners of war and civilians also remains a pressing concern The denial of international humanitarian access, including for the ICRC, the reduction of international presence and suppression of voices of free media and independent civil society further complicate efforts to address the protection needs of the affected populations.
Surging statistics presented in the most recent reports by the international organisations, human rights, specialised organisations, humanitarian workers and independent media showing a grim picture of continuous disregard for the human rights and special protections afforded to civilians in armed conflict, manifest that the issue deserves greater attention of the Security Council going beyond holding only one Security Council open debate within a year.
Mr.
president, we all recognise that despite the universal ratification of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, serious challenges remain in ensuring full compliance.
Unfortunately, the protections enshrined in international humanitarian law are not adequately respected in practice.
The collective commitment to ensure that the Geneva Conventions are also universally respected in practice is a matter of urgency and in this regard, we would like to recall that all four Geneva Conventions share common article one, which establishes a foundational obligation of all high contracting parties not only to respect but also ensure respect for the conventions in all circumstances.
This provision implies a shared responsibility that extends beyond the conduct of individual states to the broader international community We believe that full implementation of this obligation requires more consistent efforts by the UN Security Council.
Although national authorities bear the responsibility to investigate violations and ensure accountability for breaches of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the scale and complexity of contemporary armed conflicts demonstrate the need to strengthen the accountability mechanisms.
Reports by reputable human rights and humanitarian organisations, independent media and civil society are crucial in helping the UN system identify early warning signs of potential risks that, if left unaddressed can affect civilians and lead to violations of international humanitarian law.
Mr.
president Armenia reiterates its full commitment to the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols in cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies and the ICRC.
The Government of Armenia has been addressing the remaining grave humanitarian consequences for the affected population, including over 100,000 of refugees, and embarked on the path of long term development as a member of the Global Initiative to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law, Armenia looks forward to cooperation with the partner countries to operationalise the existing frameworks and instruments, including Council Resolution 22, 86 and 2573.
In conclusion, I would like to stress that the gap between legal obligation and operational reality can be narrowed only through coordinated and principled engagement by the Security Council and the international community.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Armenia for the statement.
Now, I give the floor to the representative of Poland.
Mr.
president, I would like to begin by thanking China for organising this important debate and for by expressing my appreciation to all the Briefers for their remarks.
Poland aligns itself with the statement delivered by Switzerland on behalf of the group of friends of the UN, Protection of Civilians in Armed conflicts and by the European Union.
As noted in the Secretary-General's latest report, strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure have moved beyond the collateral damage and are now frequently part of the military operations strategy.
This has to stop marking its 10th anniversary this year.
Security Council Resolution 22 and 86 stands as a powerful political commitment to the protection of the wounded and sick, and of medical and humanitarian personnel during armed conflicts.
Yet every year since the adoption, we have continued to witness deliberate attacks on health care in many places in the world, military strikes on medical facilities result in profound, acute and long term effects on health systems impeding access to healthcare.
Health is one of the priorities of the Polish aid.
Many of our humanitarian projects combine civil and healthcare protection including those carried out in Ukraine and in the Middle East.
Poland is also home of the.
Of a unique EU medical evacuation hub designed for patients from Ukraine who, due to the war, cannot currently access appropriate treatment in their own home country.
Let me reiterate that humanitarian assistance can cannot be provided without safe access and safe working conditions.
Poland is deeply concerned about the trend of increased attacks on humanitarian workers medical personnel and journalists.
It has to be stressed that adherence to the principles and norms of international humanitarian law lies in the interests of the entire international community.
All parties to any conflict with state or non-state actors must observe IHL provisions.
Otherwise, anyone can become a victim of its violation.
Mr.
president, in the world where the basic norms are not respected, it is easy to lose the compass of what is right and what is wrong.
We cannot turn a blind eye to the fate of civilians affected by conflicts whether in Gaza, Sudan, DRC, or elsewhere in, uh.
In Poland, Poland's closest neighbourhood, Russia, continues to its outrageous strategy of deliberately shelling civilians areas across Ukraine.
Hundreds of medical education facilities in Ukraine have been destroyed.
Among these violations, Russia's unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children stands out as especially alarming.
An attempt to erase Ukrainian national and cultural identity.
We once again call on Russia to return all deported children so that they may that they may reunite with their families and communities.
Mr.
president, in conclusion, let me reiterate that ensuring accountability and combating impunity are fundamental to securing respect for international humanitarian law when violations go unpunished and there is no justice delivered to victims.
The limits of violence are shifting.
We believe that the international judiciary, in particular the International Criminal Court, should play a key role in this regard.
This alarming trend must not lead us to resignation.
We must act decisively to halt their spreading.
And in the midst of ongoing discussions on the UN bodies and mandates, place the protection of civilians firmly at the centre of a peace and security agenda.
And I thank you.
I thank Representative Poland for the statement.
Now, I give the floor to the representative of New Zealand President.
Protection of civilians in armed conflict remains one of the most urgent issues on the Council's agenda.
Across the world, from the Middle East to Sudan, from Ukraine to Myanmar, civilians continue to bear the devastating cost of war.
As the Secretary general's report makes clear, the gap between our global commitments and the lived reality of civilians in armed conflict widened even further in 2025.
This is unacceptable.
Protection of civilians is central to this council's mandate.
We call on all council members to demonstrate greater resolve and use all available tools in fulfilling your core responsibilities to maintain international peace and security.
Now more than ever, Member States must demand universal compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law.
When rules are broken, it is our collective responsibility to ensure accountability.
President.
The protection of medical personnel and facilities is key to the health and survival of civilian populations.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of resolution 2286 on the protection of medical personnel and facilities in armed conflict.
New Zealand is proud to have co-penned the resolution in 2016, during our last term on the UN Security Council.
Yet it is deeply concerning that attacks on healthcare workers and facilities continue unabated.
We must continue to shine the spotlight on this terrible phenomenon and ensure medical workers and facilities are respected and protected.
We must also continue to ensure that the adoption of technologies including artificial intelligence, drones and information and communications technology, abide by international humanitarian law and all applicable legal frameworks and ethical standards.
Human control over the use of force must be preserved, and as these technologies reshape the battlefield, they must not undermine the core protections offered to civilians.
As conflict increasingly takes place in urban environments.
We recall the 2022 Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive weapons in populated Areas, and the commitments made to strengthen protections for civilians, for the significant impacts of the use of these weapons.
President, the development of robust domestic legal frameworks is critical to ensuring states respect their international legal obligations Member states should share best practices regarding the domestic implementation of international humanitarian law, as well as its application to emerging technologies and the evolving nature of conflict.
In this regard, we call on Member States to support the Icrc's global initiative to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law.
New Zealand is proud to support this initiative as an important step towards reinforcing respect for international law and improving protections for civilians.
New Zealand will continue to demand commitment to international law and to ensuring that the protection of civilians remains at the forefront of this council's work.
Thank you, president.
I thank the representative of New Zealand for the statement.
Now I give the floor to the representative of Egypt.
Mr.
president, we would like to thank the Chinese presidency on holding this important annual debate on the protection of civilians.
The report of the Secretary General paints a dark and worrying reality.
In 2025 alone, over 37,000 civilians were killed in 20 armed conflicts.
The average of one civilian killed every 14 minutes.
These are not just numbers.
They reflect a widening gap between our commitments and the reality on the ground, a gap that continues to undermine the credibility of the international system.
As one of the largest troop and police contributing countries in peacekeeping operations, we will remain firmly committed to the protection of civilians.
However, we believe that addressing this challenge means that we need to address a number of connected structural issues.
One, we must preserve the centrality of the protection of civilians as a main mandate of peace operations.
Peacekeepers continue to protect hundreds of thousands of civilians, often in difficult conditions.
However, their capacity to do so is restricted.
Increasingly.
The report of the Secretary general clearly illustrates that budget cuts and liquidity challenges have forced missions to reduce their presence and activities, and this has directly impacted its capacity to implement its mandate to protect civilians.
This creates a dangerous paradox.
As expectations increase, capacities recede.
Two, we must address the issue of unrealistic mandates.
Oftentimes, mandates are drafted without taking into account the operational reality on the ground, including restrictions on resources, the capacities of host countries, and the nature of evolving threats.
The result would be a widening gap between what is expected from these missions and what they can truly achieve This gap is not only undermining effectiveness, it is also subjecting civilians and peacekeepers to greater risks.
Three, we must pay attention to the fact that emergency measures and restrictions on resources have a cumulative operational impact as stated in the report of the Secretary General, missions are forced to determine priorities, to reduce patrols and to limit their geographic deployment.
This means they are moving from prevention to a reactive response.
This reduces the capacity of early warning and increases risks faced by civilians for the safety and security of peacekeepers remains a priority.
Peacekeepers are working in environments that are complicated and aggressive.
We know that drones are being used and they are causing harm to civilians and peacekeepers.
Furthermore, misinformation and false information is an increasing challenge.
Fifth, the consent of the host country especially in vulnerable contexts, must be dealt with in an accurate manner.
We cannot achieve a sustainable protection to civilians if we do not genuinely cooperate with national authorities.
At the same time, the vulnerability of the state might provide additional challenges that should be addressed through building capacity.
Six an increase in attacks against health care workers and healthcare facilities must be addressed in an urgent manner.
Ten years after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2286.
The situation has truly escalated.
The report of the Secretary General records over 1300 attacks on health care facilities in 2025 alone, resulting in over 2000 deaths, and this shows a true decline in respecting international humanitarian law.
For example, the situation in the Gaza Strip.
In this regard, Egypt reaffirms that resolution 2286 remains the cornerstone for protecting health care in conflicts.
However, the challenge today is not only to reaffirm commitments but to to guarantee their implementation, including through accountability, respecting legal obligations and guaranteeing access to medical services.
Therefore, the challenge is not only in reaffirming our commitments, but in guaranteeing a balance, a balance between mandates and capacities, a balance between the protection of civilians and the peace and security of peacekeepers.
Otherwise, we risk undermining both.
We must recognise that the protection of civilians is not just a theoretical principle.
It is a common responsibility that requires collective action.
I thank you.
I thank Representative Egypt for the statement.
Now I give floor to the representative of Ukraine.
Mr.
president, we would like to thank the Chinese presidency for convening this meeting.
But before I proceed with my statement, I must briefly react to the blatant lies which were spread today in this chamber by the Russian representative.
Ukraine's delegation firmly rejects all the baseless accusations regarding alleged violation of our legal obligations to protect civilian population in the eastern part of Ukraine in Donbas that was brutally occupied by Russia back in 2014.
It sounds like a broken record, endlessly recycling all the same propaganda lines, which have nothing to do with truth.
Mr.
president, among all the wars and armed conflicts confronting international community today, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine truly stands out for the brutality and systematic nature of violence inflicted against civilians, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, between January and April 2026 alone, civilian casualties increased by 21% compared to the same period last year and by 93% compared to 2024.
Making the first four months of this year the deadliest period for Ukrainian civilians ever.
And this escalation is no coincidence, as Russia is no longer able to make any advances on the battlefield.
Mr.
Putin is escalating what has long become his trademark method of warfare missile and drone terror against Ukrainian civilians during the winter.
2526 Russia systematically attacked Ukraine's energy infrastructure in an attempt to freeze millions of civilians into submission.
Entire cities were left without electricity, without heating and water supply during extreme cold, for days or even weeks.
Russian armed forces also continue to employ particularly cynical patterns of war crimes.
The so-called double tap strikes, in which a second missile or drone attack follows the first just to kill medical personnel and rescue workers.
They have become a recovering barbaric feature of Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
Especially horrifying is that what Ukrainian citizens living in the towns close to the front lines describe as a human safari? Russian drone operators deliberately hunt and kill or wound civilians in the streets, targeting ordinary people, ambulances and also humanitarian vehicles.
The UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has already qualified this heinous Russian practice as crimes against humanity.
This council has to pay special attention to the catastrophic, unbearable situation that Russia has established in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine beginning back in 2014.
Arbitrary and incommunicado detention, torture and enforced disappearances.
They have become main instruments of Moscow's illegal occupation policy.
According to official figures alone, at least 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been detained by Russia illegally.
According to the UN reports, 92% of those former detainees that were interviewed and verified were subjected to torture or ill treatment.
More than 2000 children Ukrainian children have been confirmed as unlawfully deported or forcefully transferred to the Russian Federation by the Russian Federation, but the real number is definitely much higher.
Most of them have been subjected to indoctrination, militarisation, re-education, but also attempts to erase the Ukrainian identity.
Therefore, Ukraine urges this council to use its power and ensure full implementation of the General Assembly.
Resolution.
Return of Ukrainian children adopted last December 2025.
We also look forward to the forthcoming annual report of the Secretary General on conflict related sexual violence and insist that Russia must finally be listed as a party that systematically resorts to these war crimes.
During its aggression against Ukraine last year, Russia was put on notice.
Since then, the situation has only worsened.
Mr.
president, we as international community have spent decades building the agenda of protection of civilians, elaborating legal norms and strengthening humanitarian mechanisms.
And yet today, reality resembles more a theatre of the absurd.
As Russia, who sees a permanent seat of the Security Council without proper legal foundation wages, a war of aggression without impunity, so far systematically and deliberately target civilians, tortures detainees and p.o.w.s, steals children and uses sexual violence as a method of warfare All the obligations to protect civilians will ultimately ring hollow unless acts of aggression like this and related war crimes are punished Therefore, we call on the members of this council.
We call on the UN member states to confront this grotesque reality and to identify, finally, a political and legal way toward revoking Russia's status as permanent member of this Council, I thank you.
I thank the representative of Ukraine for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Bulgaria.
Thank you.
Chair.
Bulgaria aligns itself with the statement of the European Union, and I want to make the following points in national capacity.
The outset, I would thank China for convening today's high level open debate on the protection of civilians, and I would also like to welcome the recommendations of the latest, uh, Secretary General report on the topic.
The Protection of civilians agenda has reached a critical political crossroads.
The Secretary General's 2025 report on protection of civilians clearly identifies a systematic erosion of compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, deep rooted impunity, and increasingly constrained humanitarian access amidst growing civilian casualties and worsening operational landscape for my country, Bulgaria, the Geneva Conventions, the international humanitarian law, and the human rights law are legally and morally binding, and the growing normalisation of international humanitarian law violations is deeply concerning To counter this trend, Bulgaria at national level has concluded a comprehensive review of future related national legislation and has identified that significant number of measures has been incorporated into the national legislation to ensure the implementation of the Geneva Conventions and the additional protocols at global level.
Bulgaria calls for states to recommit to the faithful and systematic application of international humanitarian law, particularly the principle of distinction, proportionality and precaution, even when facing adversary adversaries that Refused to abide by the same standards.
This year we mark the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the resolution 2020 286 attacks targeting hospitals and civilian infrastructure in conflict settings and severely affecting men and women, boys and girls in vulnerable situations have reached an unprecedented rise.
These attacks strip entire communities of life saving care Protecting health infrastructure is a legal imperative and the test of political will.
Through our collective efforts, we must ensure a safe, rapid and immediate humanitarian access and that hospital remain functional, are used exclusively as medical facilities and that the flow of electricity, water, medical supplies is safeguarded.
As geopolitical divisions widen and armed conflicts intensify, the demand for civilian protection continues to rise, but the institutional capacity and political unity needed to meet that demand are on the eroding path.
Bulgaria supports the secretary general's U.N.
80 reform agenda and the Humanitarian Reset Initiative that seek to reverse this trend and to realign the United Nations with the new geopolitical and operational reality and the evolving landscape of digital technologies having a key role in redefining and enhancing the implementation of the concept of the protection of civilians.
This council should focus on providing strong political support to peacekeeping missions, ensure that civilian protection is featuring high in their mandates, adopt sanctions against those who violate international humanitarian law, exercise political and diplomatic pressure towards parties to conflict to implement Security Council resolutions.
Ensure that direct accounts of those affected by armed conflicts are heard in this chamber.
Bulgaria also remains committed to diplomatic efforts like the Global Initiative to galvanize political commitment to each aimed at ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law, fostering dialogue and cooperation.
Mr.
president, I would like to conclude on a positive note by welcoming the fact that despite shockingly insufficient compliance with international humanitarian law, the global consensus underpinning the Geneva Conventions continue to hold and to recall the tools to implement international humanitarian law are available and actionable before a state of violence or armed conflict is reached.
Ultimately, the most effective form of protection lies in preventing a crisis before it unfolds that merely mitigating its aftermath I thank you.
I thank the representative of Bulgaria for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
And thanks to China for organising this open debate.
Italy aligns itself with the statement that the group of friends on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts and by the European Union, the protection of civilians in armed conflict is not only a moral duty, but a legally binding obligation under the conventions.
Despite this, as highlighted by the Secretary General's 2025 report the civilian suffering continues to reach devastating levels worldwide.
Italy is deeply concerned by the ongoing conflicts affecting millions of people, exacerbated by new technologies in warfare and continuous violations of fundamental rights that endanger civilians, journalists UN and humanitarian personnel.
Civilian protection must remain at the core of international agenda, and we will continue to promote concrete initiatives to strengthen policy policies in this area.
In this regard, last January, we joined the Red Cross Global Initiative to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law.
We devote our efforts to the protection of vulnerable categories such as women, children, elders and persons with disabilities, which remain the most disproportionately affected by the effects of armed conflicts.
The protection of children in armed conflicts lies at the core of our 2026 2028 mandate to the Human Rights Council, in line with our traditional commitment to the Vancouver principles.
Importantly, we promote universal adherence to the Safe School declaration aimed to ensure the right to education during armed conflicts.
Italy is also engaged in combating all forms of violence against women during armed conflicts, including sexual violence, by encouraging states to adopt and implement measures to ensure that violations are criminalised and perpetrators are brought to justice.
The safeguard of the rights of persons with disabilities in armed conflicts, which was the subject of an Italian pledge at the 35th Fourth International Conference of the Red cross and Red Crescent, remains pivotal to ensuring the respect of human dignity.
In this regard, Italy reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the United Nations central role in protecting civilians and stresses the importance of accountability mechanisms.
Let us remember that the strength of international humanitarian law lies in our collective commitment to its principles.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Italy for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Ireland.
Mr.
president, I will first make a statement on behalf of the group of Friends of Action and Conflict in Hunger, and in a statement in my national capacity.
Conflict is driving catastrophic levels of food insecurity and in some cases famine risk, including in Sudan South Sudan, Palestine and Yemen.
Alongside economic and climate factors, it is pushing hundreds of millions into acute food insecurity.
This wave of hunger is reversing development and increasing death rates and acute malnutrition, especially for the most vulnerable.
Later this year, fertiliser and energy price increases are expected to make the situation worse by reducing yields and increasing food costs.
This situation, including the sustained presence of either famine or near-famine conditions in parts of Sudan since late 2024 cannot be accepted.
All parties to conflict must respect it at all times and in all circumstances.
UN Security Council Resolution 2417 must be implemented.
The arbitrary withholding of aid supplies, the deliberate destruction of food infrastructure, and the use of starvation as a method of war must end immediately.
Such practices must be tracked, condemned and prevented.
All member states must use their influence to deter such violations and seek accountability.
We must further empower regional organisations to help implement unSc 2417 and address linked displacement, marginalisation and economic and governance challenges in the context of under-funded humanitarian responses.
Support for resilient food systems, efficient humanitarian delivery and verified food security data must be prioritised.
The independence of the IPC and its partners must be respected.
I will now deliver a statement in my national capacity.
Ireland also aligns with the statements by the EU and the Group of Friends of Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.
The Secretary-General's Policy Report documents our failure to limit the inhumanity of war in 2025.
IHL was repeatedly violated, causing harm on a scale that was both terrible and avoidable.
More than 37,000 civilians were killed, while the infrastructure they depend on was damaged or destroyed.
The use of explosive weapons in populated areas caused much of this destruction, and most of the killing and maiming of children.
The most disempowered and the poorest, and those committed to aiding them suffered disproportionately.
At least 325 humanitarian workers were killed.
Women, children, persons with disabilities and journalists face particular risks in Gaza.
Last year, in the context of Israel's continued use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
At least 20,000 Palestinians were killed or their remains recovered.
More than 80% of all structures in the Gaza Strip were left damaged.
11,000 civilians, and probably much more, were killed in Sudan last year.
An inquiry by the International Fact Finding Mission for Sudan, which Ireland helped initiate, brought to life our SF led war crimes and crimes against humanity in El Fasher.
In both Sudan and Gaza, conflict induced famine was confirmed in Ukraine in 2025.
Russia continues its airstrikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
More than 2500 civilians were killed.
The harm caused by conflict was exacerbated by severe funding cuts.
The international community needs to reflect on the Sg's report on what has happened since then.
We must all commit to reversing these trends.
Ireland will contribute and play its part in Gaza.
We call on Israel to immediately remove restrictions on aid, access and facilitate essential supplies and services to reach people across the strip.
Ireland continues to support EU action in response to Israel's breaches of international law in Palestine.
As a member of the new coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice in Sudan we will continue to support international efforts to prevent mass atrocities and protect civilians with EU partners.
Ireland will maintain its support for Ukraine and maintain pressure on Russia to end its brutal war.
We will support strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law and the independence of international courts.
We will continue to advocate for the political declaration.
We will contribute to the humanitarian reset, to support improvements in systems and synergies, and minimise risks to crisis afflicted communities.
This year, we will once again increase our humanitarian funding and Ireland will support the EU's leadership in principled humanitarian action during our EU presidency in the second half of this year, I thank you.
I thank the representative of Ireland for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Norway.
Thank you, president, and good afternoon, colleagues.
President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country, Norway.
We thank the presidency for convening this important meeting on the protection of civilians, and also thank the Briefers for their offering their insights.
We are witnessing a deeply troubling reality in armed conflicts around the world.
Civilians are being harmed on a massive scale.
Most alarming is the situation for children.
They are being killed and maimed, deprived of health care and education, and stripped of the safety and dignity that should define childhood.
Children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable in conflicts.
This is not only a humanitarian crisis, it is a threat to international peace and security.
Without the protection of civilians, there can be no sustainable peace.
When the rules are respected, when civilians are protected and human dignity preserved, there are pathways to peace and reconciliation.
Even during the brutality of war, president.
Protection begins with political solutions grounded in binding obligations under international law.
The Security Council has a particular responsibility to address the root causes of conflict and to promote its peaceful resolution We must invest in diplomacy, strengthen inclusive political processes and address the drivers of conflict, including inequality, weak institutions and lack of accountability.
Prevention and conflict resolution remain the most effective forms of protection.
Lack of respect for international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, leads to great harm to civilians grievances and divisions that cause and exacerbate armed conflict.
Respect for international humanitarian law must be strengthened.
Violations occur far too often without consequences.
Accountability is essential.
We must support documentation, investigations and efforts to end impunity.
All parties to conflict have a responsibility to take feasible precautions to avoid, and, in any event, to minimise incidental harm to civilians in line with international humanitarian law.
Respect for international humanitarian law must be universal.
It cannot be selective.
All civilians, regardless of who they are or who or where they are, have the same right to protection.
If we are serious about protecting civilians, we must apply these rules consistently in all conflicts and by all parties.
President, we already have important tools at our disposal Security Council Resolutions 2286, 25, 73 and 2601 must be implemented more systematically.
Attacks on medical personnel and civilian infrastructure are not only unlawful, they destroy the very foundation of societies in conflict.
Military use of and attacks on educational institutions, and effectively denying children their right to education causes immediate and long term cumulative harm to students, to teachers, and to their communities.
The Council must speak with clarity and act with consistency to ensure these protections are upheld.
Political initiatives also matter.
The Safe Schools Declaration and the political declaration have helped build norms, create commitments and change practices.
These efforts demonstrate that progress is possible when political will is mobilised.
President technology is increasingly shaping modern warfare.
It can help protect civilians through better monitoring, early warning and documentation.
But it also introduces new risks.
We must promote responsible use of technology, mitigate its harms, and strengthen the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Equally important is support to national authorities in fulfilling their primary responsibility to protect civilians.
This includes capacity building, strengthening institutions and the rule of law and long term development efforts that address the drivers of conflict and help sustain peace.
President, the challenges are significant.
There is growing fragmentation of conflicts, erosion of norms, and insufficient political will.
But we also know what works.
Good practices include early warning civilian protection integrated into military planning, strong humanitarian access, and locally grounded approaches that prioritise dignity and protection.
Protection of civilians is not a secondary concern.
It is central to this council's mandate.
The Security Council must live up to its responsibility to seek political solutions, ensure respect for international law and place the safety and well-being of civilians at the core of our efforts, and I thank you.
I thank Norway for the statement.
I give the floor to the representative of Uruguay.
Mr.
president, my delegation aligns itself with the group of friends on the Protection of Civilians statement.
The report of the Secretary General is clear.
The gap between legal obligations and practice on the ground is getting worse, with more than 37,000 civilian deaths recorded, we are alarmed that 20% correspond to children This reflects inhumanity and an erosion of international humanitarian law.
We also denounce the disproportionate impact on women, persons with disabilities and an increase in the murder of journalists.
We reaffirm that international humanitarian law is not a suggestion.
It is a moral and legal imperative.
We firmly reject the interpretations that try to disguise flagrant violations as actions, as actions that are acceptable.
Also attacks without warning, without real military justification, and without a ensuring that warnings are properly disseminated.
This is not observing the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, and leads to the awful figures that we've seen in the report, as indicated by the Secretary General.
Arguments of security or exceptional circumstances can never justify not adhering to.
I we particularly are concerned by the health situation in.
Pursuant to 22 resolution 2286 that was passed during our membership on this Council were alarmed to see that attacks against health facilities and personnel have reached record levels in 2025.
101,356 violations were recorded.
A lot of these things were by non-state actors.
It's not acceptable that in Sudan, Yemen and Gaza, in health infrastructure is being devastated.
Civilian assets, vital assets such as schools, water systems, electricity, um are should enjoy the highest protection and never be considered military targets.
Any attack that does not fully meet the very high standards, uh, with regard to lifting of immunity constitute war crimes.
Uruguay as chair of the Workstream on Protection of.
Proposes that States and this Council.
Uh, have recourse to article 90 of the Additional protocol, one of the Geneva Conventions, to obtain impartial information on violations of international humanitarian law in situations that come under the remit of this Council in order to adopt the necessary measures, this Council should also use all the tools at its disposal, including to refer matters to the International Criminal Court.
In this regard, we reject the coercive measures that weaken accountability mechanisms and standing stand in the way of victims obtaining compensation.
We need to strengthen international institutions, not erode them.
That is key to protecting the civilian population.
Thank you very much.
I thank Uruguay for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Romania.
Thank you very much, Mr.
President.
Also, thank you for this important debate.
And I also want to thank the Briefers.
I know that earlier this month, we celebrated in Bucharest, 150 years of continuous cooperation between Romania and the ICRC and its 150 years of working together in transforming compassion into action by helping, healing and standing with the most vulnerable.
Mr.
president, as a member of the Global Initiative to galvanise political commitment for international humanitarian law and of other political formats, calling for the protection of civilians and of humanitarian personnel.
Romania joins the call for the respect for international humanitarian law and for ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians in armed conflict in Ukraine.
Innocent lives are lost every day in direct, indirect attacks by Russia against civilian infrastructure Humanitarian workers are also targeted.
Since February 2022, our delegation has informed this council constantly about Romania's efforts to support, uh in support of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
To date, almost 14 million Ukrainians have crossed our borders and more than 200,000 have obtained temporary protection and refugee status in Romania.
As also stated yesterday, in this council, we will stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary and we will continue to provide Ukrainian refugees in our country with access to employment, health, education, social protection and assistance.
President Romania has also contributed directly in coordination with partners under the EU Civil Civil Protection mechanism to the medical evacuation of children injured in the conflict in Gaza and their family members, both to hospitals in Romania and other European Union countries.
We are still currently treating in Romanian hospitals 54 pediatric patients from Gaza.
In mid-April, Romania facilitated the delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance to Lebanon 15 tons of food supplies, tents, sleeping bags and other essential items being provided from our national reserves.
I also want to make, on this occasion a clear message today to.
Of solidarity with the countries of the GCC and Jordan affected by indiscriminate military strikes In addition, Iran's curtailment of navigational rights and freedoms in the area of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted essential civilian supply chains and reverberated in the global economy and in the lives of ordinary people around the world, especially the most vulnerable.
Full compliance with resolution 2817 is imperative.
Romania also actively supports UN mandates under the protection of civilians through peacekeeping participation and pre-deployment training.
The Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs has trained over 303 hundred police and gendarmerie officers from 34 countries across 23 editions of its international superior courts, aligned with UN pre-deployment standards.
The specialized standards aligned curriculum mirrors the high importance placed on international humanitarian and human rights law within Romania's own domestic law enforcement and military academies president, the Protection of Civilians agenda is well established through Legal Standards, Council resolutions, operational tools and reporting mechanisms.
History will not judge this council for the lack of a normative framework dedicated to the protection of civilians.
It might, however, look to the credibility and the political foundations required to act upon it.
Respect for international humanitarian law must remain universal in any strategic consideration, whether with clear intent or through indiscriminate actions.
Civilian harm cannot be allowed to become a part of the achievement of military or political objectives, and we must roll back the trends for the sake of the rules, norms and principles that define our humanity.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank Romania for the statement, and I'll give the floor to the representative of Mexico.
Senor president.
Mr.
president, dear colleagues, in 2025, the United Nations recorded more than 37,000 civilian deaths in 20 armed conflicts.
Added to this are the thousands of girls and boys rescued from the rubble, families suffering from famine and searching for water under bombardment.
Displaced persons, entire communities deprived of essential services and humanitarian and medical personnel who have lost their lives while carrying out their work.
The violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing are very many and extremely serious.
These facts have been included in the Secretary-General's report on the Protection of Civilians.
Mexico deeply regrets the loss of all human lives in armed conflicts and reiterates its solidarity with the victims, with their families, and with the affected communities.
Ten years after the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2286.
The increase in attacks against medical facilities and personnel is alarming.
The Secretary general documented more than 1300 attacks related to health services in 2025, resulting in nearly 2000 deaths in violation of international humanitarian law.
At the very least, hospitals and health services must remain spaces of neutral protection and never be military objectives.
It is alarming that hunger restrictions on humanitarian access and forced displacement continue to be used as instruments of war, the Secretary general's report warns that 147 million people faced severe levels of food insecurity due to conflicts.
And that for the first time in two decades, two famines were confirmed in the same year.
Against this backdrop, Mexico wishes to emphasize three messages.
Firstly, parties to armed conflict must fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
This means distinguishing at all times between civilians and combatants, facilitating rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, protecting infrastructure that is indispensable to the survival of the population and respecting and protecting medical personnel, humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel.
It also means refraining from the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas.
Otherwise, what we're looking at are war crimes that must not and cannot go unpunished.
Secondly, this council must maintain a clear, consistent and non-selective commitment to the protection of civilians in a context where accountability mechanisms face increasing pressures and are being questioned, it is essential that the members of this body condemn unambiguously And without selectivity, violations of international humanitarian law.
The principle of humanity cannot be downplayed depending on the party to the conflict concerned, nor subordinated to political, military or economic interests.
At least when human lives are at stake, there can be no double standards.
Thirdly we must recognise that new technologies are transforming armed conflicts and generating additional risks for civilian populations.
The Secretary general's report highlights the growing use of drones, artificial intelligence and information and communications technologies in military operations.
It also warns of the use of digital tools to spread disinformation and hate speech, and to facilitate the surveillance, tracking or targeting of civilians, medical personnel and humanitarian actors.
Mexico considers it is essential that the development, transfer and use of these technologies respect international law.
No technological innovation can justify the erosion of the principles of distinction, proportionality, precaution and humanity in particular.
We must preserve at all times meaningful human control and not technological control over the use of force.
Mr.
president the current financial crisis of the humanitarian system has direct consequences for the protection of civilians.
Funding cuts have weakened essential operations and limited humanitarian response capacity in multiple contexts.
We recognise the adaptation efforts led by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and by the humanitarian system as a whole, particularly within the framework of the Humanitarian Reset and UN 80.
In conclusion, Mexico reiterates that the effective protection of civilians requires much more than general expressions of concern.
We urge Member States to join initiatives aimed at restricting the use of the veto such as the Franco-mexican initiative, which already has 118 states supporting it.
We invite those who have not yet done so to join this important initiative, which seeks to ensure that this council fulfils the mandate established in the UN charter and contributes to action and accountability in cases of mass atrocities.
Thank you very much Thank you, Mexico, for the statement.
I now give the floor to the representative of Hungary.
Mr.
president, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts, a group of states and institutions committed to enhancing the protection of water during armed conflicts through advocacy, good practices, knowledge production and partnerships.
In order to protect civilians and the environment, we extend our sincere appreciation to the presidency of the Security Council China for convening today's open debate on the protection of civilians.
Excellencies.
Five years after the adoption of the Security Council Resolution 2573 2021, civilians continue to face devastating consequences from attacks on infrastructure indispensable to their survival around the world.
Armed conflicts are increasingly disrupting access to safe drinking water, sanitation, healthcare and electricity, placing millions of people at grave risk.
As highlighted in the Secretary-General's report, attacks against water and sanitation infrastructure continue to render essential facilities inoperable, with severe humanitarian consequences for civilians and for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The alliance is particularly alarmed by the growing number of attacks against freshwater supplies, drinking water installations and other water infrastructure indispensable to civilian survival.
Water is not a weapon of war.
Deliberate attacks against objects indispensable to the survival of civilians constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
We also condemn attacks against humanitarian personnel and essential service providers, whose work in maintaining and repairing water systems is indispensable to the dignity, resilience and survival of affected populations.
Mr.
president, the collapse of essential services has consequences far beyond immediate harm.
It fuels displacement, disease, food insecurity and heightened protection risks, especially for children, women, older persons and persons with disabilities.
In this context, the alliance wishes to emphasize two priorities.
First respect for international law must be upheld.
Parties to conflict must not attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, including drinking water installations and supplies.
We urge all Member States, particularly those with influence over parties, to conflict, to use their influence to ensure compliance with these obligations.
Second, Wash services must remain a priority within humanitarian response and recovery efforts.
At the same time, sorry, at a time of shrinking humanitarian financing, support for water and sanitation systems is more critical than ever.
Sustained investment in local service providers and humanitarian actors is essential to ensure safe and reliable access to water for affected population.
Mr.
president, these are not new commitments.
Security Council Resolution 25, 73, 24, 17 and 2730 have reiterated the clear obligations anchored in international humanitarian law to protect civilians, essential services and humanitarian personnel.
The alliance stands ready to support the Security Council, member states and partners across the multilateral system in advancing the effective implementation of existing commitments aimed at protecting civilians and the essential services upon which they depend on during armed conflict.
At the time of growing civilian suffering and mounting pressure on the international protection architecture, safeguarding water and other services indispensable to civilian survival must remain a collective priority and shared responsibility.
At last, but not least, due to the set time limits.
On behalf of the Alliance, please allow me to kindly request the presidency to circulate our full statement as an official Security Council document.
I thank you.
Can I thank Hungary for the statement Now the floor to the representative of Portugal.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Portugal.
I would like to congratulate China for this timely and important debate, and thanks the briefer for their powerful reminder about the urgent reality facing civilians in armed conflict.
The Secretary General's annual report is deeply alarming.
Its data confirms that we see across too many theatres, civilians continue to bear the heaviest burden of war, with attacks on homes, hospitals, schools, humanitarian works and essential infrastructure becoming tragically familiar.
These are not just figures.
They are a measure of our collective failure to uphold the rules we have all agreed to respect.
From Gaza to Ukraine, from Sudan to Myanmar or Haiti, all, all lives matter and must be protected with determination Allow me to highlight three priorities.
First, full compliance with international law should not be a matter of choice or convenience, nor should it be contingent upon political or operational considerations, self-serving interpretations of international humanitarian law aimed at justifying attacks on hospitals, schools or water systems undermine the very foundations of a rules based order.
The Geneva Conventions are universally applicable and binding on all parties to armed conflicts, whether state or non-state actors.
Portugal, therefore, supports all initiatives that strengthen high AJL compliance, including the ICRC Global Initiative to galvanise political commitment to to international humanitarian law.
But political commitment commitment must also translate into national implementation training, legal frameworks, command responsibility and accountability.
Second, protection of civilians requires persistent and principled engagement on the ground.
Portugal's participation in Menorca is a practical example of this commitment.
Portuguese armed Forces personnel operate alongside international partners to protect civilians from physical violence, prevent a resurgence of armed groups, and support the expansion of state authority.
Our contingent has helped create safer conditions for humanitarian access and for the voluntary return of displaced Haitians.
This experience confirms that effective protection is not static.
It requires proactive patrolling, community engagement and early warning mechanisms that allow patients to act before violence escalates.
Third, we must adapt to new threats, including military emerging military technologies involving AI and autonomous systems without lowering our legal and ethical standards.
Portugal supports the call to promote technology for good, including through an unarmed aerial vehicles for humanitarian mapping and early warning.
Our national strategy prioritises and ethical and ethical digital transition based on fundamental rights, universal access and responsible innovation.
Any use of new technologies in armed conflict must comply fully with distinction, proportionate proportionality and precaution.
Human responsibility for life and death decisions must never be delegated to algorithms.
Mr.
president, a final word on accountability entrenched impunity for attacks on civilians, for sexual and gender based violence for the bombing of medical facilities sends a devastating signal that certain lives and certain rules do not matter.
Portugal will continue to do its part through diplomacy in New York and Geneva, through military and civilian contributions to UN peacekeeping, and through consistent advocacy of international humanitarian compliance.
As a candidate to this Council for 2728, my country will continue to foster determination and unity so that protection of civilians becomes a reality, not just a recurring agenda item.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Portugal for the statement.
Now, I give the floor to the representative of South Africa.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We join previous delegations in thanking China as president of the Security Council for convening this annual open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, which provides Member states an opportunity to express their views on a matter that underpins United Nations charter pledge to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.
We also thank the Briefers for sharing their invaluable insights.
The Sg's report, covering the period from 1st January to 31st December 2025, provides a grim outlook, signalling a failure to protect civilians at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions with violations of international law, specifically international humanitarian law.
The report highlights significant regression in our willingness or ability to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and failure to secure safe and secure passage and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need.
Nowhere is the picture as distressing as in Gaza and in ongoing conflicts on the African continent.
In addition to the risks that include lack of access to medical facilities food insecurity and lack of access to safe drinking water due to the destruction of civilian infrastructure, civilians are contending with explosive ordnance, landmines and improvised explosive devices that kill and maim.
While these challenges are not exclusive to Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, it is increasingly clear that the very purposes of Israel's campaign of genocide is aimed at targeting civilians in a systematic manner in all categories identified in the Sg's report.
Mr.
president, South Africa is of the view that the lack of political will or disregard for the adherence to obligations undertaken by Member states remain the key challenge, which includes failure to investigate the heinous acts on order to hold the perpetrators to account.
We reiterate our call on all parties to conflict, to adhere strictly to their obligations under international law, including HL and human rights law, without exception.
Furthermore, we call for ending the negative trend of withdrawal from humanitarian based legal instruments aimed at protecting civilians.
These include the Anti Personnel Mine Berne Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions It also remains of utmost importance for us all to bear in mind the catastrophic and existential threat posed by the use and the testing of nuclear weapons.
To this end, we call on all Member States to sign and ratify the treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Mr.
president, South Africa, along with Brazil, China, France, Jordan and Kazakhstan, in collaboration with the ICRC, have championed efforts through the Global initiative to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law.
We are committed to working with all countries to uphold the faithful and uniform application of IHL without prejudice.
We call on all Member States to consider joining.
This initiative aimed to reaffirm their commitment to international humanitarian law and participate in the high level Conference on Upholding Humanity in War, scheduled to take place in Jordan in December 2025.
Furthermore, we call on member states to consider regulating arms exports to countries involved in armed conflict.
Those facing UN arms embargoes or where weapons could be used to violate human rights.
In closing, Mr.
President, we acknowledge the critical work that peacekeeping missions do in protecting civilians when mandated to do so.
We emphasise the need to strengthen the safety and security of peacekeepers, including through providing them with the latest technological equipment when feasible.
Given the current financial constraints, let us remember that the protection of civilians remains an agenda and a barometer for upholding our collective humanity, and lies at the heart of the UN's mandate, I thank you.
I thank the representative of South Africa for the statement.
Now I give the floor to the representative of Nigeria.
Mr.
President.
Nigeria, thanks to China for convening this debate, as well as the Secretary General and our Briefers from the office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Committee of the Red cross for their valuable contributions.
Today, over 25 years after the adoption of resolution 1265, the normative architecture for the protection of civilians has expanded considerably.
The Secretary-General's latest report reveals over 36,000 civilian deaths across 14 conflicts in 2024, a 95% civilian casualty rate in incidents involving the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and approximately 4500 verified cases of conflict related sexual violence, with 9 in 10 of them affecting women and girls.
It is important to stress that international humanitarian law applies to all parties and to all armed conflicts.
It is not a menu from which provisions may be selected to suit the moment.
Accordingly, accountability.
Mr.
president, is the condition without which protection becomes a slogan.
Nigeria calls on all parties to investigate and prosecute serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, where national authorities are unwilling or unable to do so.
International accountability mechanisms.
Should be must be allowed to function without political obstruction.
Selective accountability should be executed.
This debate falls on the 10th anniversary of resolution 2286 on the protection of medical care in armed conflict.
Independent monitoring has identified over 3600 incidents of violence against or obstruction of healthcare in 2024, a 15% increase in the previous on the previous year.
Nigeria calls on all parties to respect medical personnel, facilities and transport.
We call on this council to give meaningful effect to that resolution.
As one concrete step, Nigeria proposes that future mandates for United Nations peacekeeping operations include dedicated, resourced and reportable components for the protection of medical care in conflict.
We speak as a country that has contributed personnel and lost some in the service of United Nations peacekeeping and as a country whose civilians in the Lake Chad Basin remain the primary targets of terrorism perpetrated by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
Protection of civilians in counter-terrorism operations is a legal obligation, and Nigeria discharges that obligation in full conformity with its commitments under international humanitarian law and human rights law.
Civilian protection is measured by what impacts the families in Maiduguri, in Darfur, in Gaza and in many other places where more attention is required.
Our words must translate to action on the ground.
If we are to record measurable gains that have positive impact.
We stand ready to engage constructively on the implementation of the protection agenda.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of Nigeria for the statement.
Now, I give the floor to the to the representative of Timor-Leste.
Mr.
President.
Excellencies, Timor-Leste to congratulate China on assumption.
The presidency of the Security Council and appreciate the convenience of this timely open debate.
We thank the Briefers and welcome the Secretary-General's Annual Report on the Protection of Civilians.
Mr.
president, the protection of civilians remains one of the most pressing moral and legal imperatives of our time.
Despite clear international framework, civilians continue to endure the gravest consequences of conflict.
Through the discriminative attacks, forced displacement, food insecurity, and obstructions of humanitarian aid, Timor-Leste is deeply concerned by the alarming rise in attacks against medical personnel, humanitarian workers, hospitals and schools.
A decade after the adoption of Security Council resolutions 2286, these violations continue to escalate Such acts breach international humanitarian law and undermine the core principles of humanity neutrality and independence.
As a country that has experienced conflict and displacement, Timor-Leste understands the profound, long lasting human cost of war.
Timor-leste's history reinforce our unwavering commitment to peaceful dialogue, reconciliation and the protection of civilians under all circumstances.
Mr.
president, excellencies Timor-Leste reaffirms that all parties to the conflict must fully comply with international law.
The United Nations Charter humanitarian Law, human rights law and, where applicable, refugee law.
We underscore the absolute importance of respecting the principles of distinction, proportionality and persecution.
Persecution.
We further emphasize the urgent need for accountability, accountability, impunity, Propertius.
Cycles of violence.
This council must support mechanisms that promote justice particularly for vulnerable populations, including women, children, persons with disability and displaced.
Timor-Leste.
Also note with concern the growing use of emerging technology in warfare, including autonomous weapons and cyber capabilities.
Technological advancement must not outpace our collective responsibility to uphold human dignity and international law.
Mr.
president, protecting civilians is inseparable from preventing conflict.
Addressing root causes such as poverty, inequality and weak institutions is durable peace.
Furthermore, we support and strengthen cooperation between the council, regional organisations and humanitarian actors to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access.
In conclusion, Timor-Leste reiterates its steadfast commitment to a rules based international order.
Protecting civilians is a shared responsibility that demands political will and renewed collective action.
Mr.
president, please allow me to circulate the full versions with the Secretariat.
Thank you I thank Timor-Leste for the statement.
Now I give the floor to the representative of India.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
We congratulate China on assuming the unSc presidency for this month, and also welcome convening this annual open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
We thank the Secretary General for his report and the Briefers for their insightful remarks this morning.
India reaffirms its strong commitment to the UN charter and stresses that protecting civilians at all times, including conflict situations, is Is a central element of maintenance of international peace and security.
In 2025, recorded civilian deaths across 20 armed conflicts was more than 37000.
Although this is the first decline after three years of steady increase, the numbers are still high.
Continued civilian casualties, displacement, destruction of critical infrastructure and attacks on hospitals, schools, medical personnel and humanitarian workers remain deeply concerning.
India calls for zero tolerance to the loss of civilian lives.
Parties to armed conflict must ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access while respecting international humanitarian law.
Even a decade after adoption of unSc resolution two 286, repeated attacks on civilian facilities and humanitarian workers reflect a serious erosion of respect for international humanitarian law.
India reiterates that medical personnel and humanitarian workers must be protected at all times.
Mr.
president, as highlighted in the Unsg report, the use of missiles, bombs and other explosive weapons in cities and populated areas remain a major cause of civilian harm.
The growing trend of use of drones to deploy explosive weapons in urban areas is especially concerning.
The use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems by parties to conflict, must be in conformity with international law and humanitarian principles Safeguards must be in place to prevent misuse and unintended harm to civilians.
Protection of civilians cannot be achieved through humanitarian responses alone.
The targeted use of violence against civilians to achieve political objectives, including terrorism, must be addressed comprehensively.
India remains deeply concerned about the persistent threat posed by cross-border terrorism which continues to undermine regional peace, stability and the fundamental principles of international security.
India has been a victim of such form of terrorism for decades.
States have sponsor, shelter or support.
Terrorism must be held accountable.
India has consistently emphasized that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, remains one of the gravest threats to civilians worldwide.
No cause or grievance can justify deliberate attacks against civilians.
Mr.
president, it is ironic that Pakistan, with its long tainted record of genocidal acts, has chosen to refer to issues that are strictly internal to India.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has reported that in the first three months of 2026, 750 civilian deaths and injuries were documented in Afghanistan as a result of cross-border armed violence perpetrated by Pakistani military forces, most of which occurred due to airstrikes.
The documentation attributed 94 of 95 incidents of civilian casualties to Pakistani security forces.
The world has not forgotten that it was during the holy month of Ramadan.
In March this year, at a time of peace, reflection and mercy that Pakistan conducted a barbaric airstrike on the Ahmed Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul.
Again, according to Unama, this cowardly and unconscionable act of violence claimed the lives of 269 civilians and injured a further 122 in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target.
It is hypocritical to espouse high principles of international law while targeting innocent civilians in the dark.
The airstrikes by Pakistan occurred at the conclusion of Tarawih evening prayers when numerous patients were leaving the masjid.
As per Unama, it bears emphasis that the UN secretary general called on member states to uphold their international obligations in relation to protection of civilians, including the principle of non-refoulement in the context of Afghanistan.
Clearly, Pakistan has chosen to ignore this call completely.
As per unama, over 94,000 people were assessed as displaced due to cross border armed violence perpetrated against Afghan civilians.
But such heinous acts of aggression by Pakistan should not come as a surprise from a country that bombs its own people and conducts systematic genocide.
During Operation Searchlight in 1971, Pakistan sanctioned the systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women citizens by its own army.
Such inhuman conduct reflects Pakistan's repeated attempts over decades to externalize internal failures through increasingly desperate acts of violence, both within and beyond its borders.
With no faith, no law, and no morality, the world can see through Pakistan's propaganda.
Mr.
president, in conclusion, India reiterates that the protection of civilians must remain at the centre of the Security Council's efforts to maintain international peace and security.
The international community must collectively work to restore and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, strengthen accountability, ensure humanitarian access, protect medical care, responsibly govern emerging technologies and thereby alleviate the suffering of civilians affected by armed conflict.
I thank you, Mr.
President.
I thank the representative of India for the statement.
The representative of Pakistan has followed for a further statement.
Now I can afford to Pakistan.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Today, India once again came to this council wearing the mask of a victim.
But the world can see the face behind that mask.
It is the face of a state that exports terrorism abroad, occupies people by force, persecutes minorities at home, weaponizes water, practises aggression in the region, and then tries to lecture others on the protection of civilians.
India's state sponsorship of terrorism against Pakistan is not abstract.
It has a human cost.
Its terrorist proxies, including TTP, Bla and Majid Brigade, have killed thousands of civilians, including women and children in our mosques, markets, schools and streets through networks financed, facilitated, operated from Afghanistan soil.
Mr.
president with regard to Afghanistan, based on credible intelligence, Pakistan carried out precise, deliberate and professional counterterrorism operations against terrorists hideouts, training camps, ammunition storage sites and support networks used for planning and launching attacks against Pakistani civilians, security forces and infrastructure.
These operations were directed solely against terrorists and their infrastructure, not against the brotherly people of Afghanistan and civilian facilities.
Allegations advanced by the Taliban regime and echoed by their Indian patrons, are part of a familiar disinformation campaign to hide their crimes against innocent civilians of Pakistan.
We can sense India's disappointment as its investments in the use of Afghan terrorist franchise against Pakistani are going to waste due to our effective counterterrorism operations.
Mr.
president, India can neither conceal nor deny its occupation of Jammu and Kashmir an internationally recognized, disputed territory that remains on the agenda of this council in the occupied territory.
Civilians are killed, detained, dispossessed and silenced.
Homes are demolished, freedoms are crushed and an entire people are denied their right to self-determination.
As corroborated by the facts presented by the international community and special procedures and highlighted in our statement today.
India's disregard for international law is also evident in its holding in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty, a state that threatens the water, food security and livelihood of millions of Pakistanis can certainly speak about protection of civilians cannot.
India's treatment of its minorities should alarm the conscience of the world and the genocide committed against Muslims under state sponsored Hindutva extremism.
Islamophobia has been normalised as policy hate speech rewarded.
As in politics mob violence met with impunity and discrimination turned into a daily reality for Muslims and other minorities, including six Dalits and Christians.
Mr.
president, Pakistan stands for peace, dialogue, peaceful settlement of dispute and adherence to international law.
India stands exposed by terrorism, occupation, aggression, repression and disregard for international law Pakistan remains a peace loving and international law abiding nation that seeks harmonious relations with all countries in its neighbourhood and beyond, based on mutual respect and sovereign equality.
Addressing all disputes in a peaceful manner in accordance with the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions.
I thank you.
I thank Pakistan for the statement.
There are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting.
I intend, with the concurrence of member of the Council, to suspend the meeting until May 21st, 3 p.m.
to resume the meeting.
The meeting is now suspended.