GUIDANCE: PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS, REMARKS FOR

UNCLAS STATE 003778 SIPDIS USUN FOR LAVIN AND MERCADO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC SUBJECT: GUIDANCE: PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS, REMARKS FOR JANUARY 14 OPEN DEBATE ¶1. USUN may draw from the following remarks during an January 14 open debate regarding the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Guidance regarding a draft PRST on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict will follow septel. ¶2. Begin suggested remarks: Mr. President: On behalf of the United States, I would like to thank Under Secretary General Holmes for his briefing. I would also like to thank him and his staff for their work in updating the aide memoire on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Discussion of this issue is important. The United States shares the concerns of the international community regarding the vulnerability of civilians who find themselves in the midst of conflict through no choice or fault of their own. While the need for protection of civilians is clear, how to achieve this goal is one of our most pressing collective challenges. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians lies with all parties to an armed conflict. The United Nations also has an important role. Protection of civilians is now specifically included in half of the mandates of current peacekeeping operations, and is a core mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Children's Fund, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Today I would like to make five points. First, the United States shares the view that we must stand ready to help promote the safety and security of the dedicated humanitarian workers who attempt to provide relief throughout the world. As we all know, there is a lack of humanitarian access in many areas of conflict that should be urgently addressed. With respect to Gaza, the United States reiterates the call recently made in Resolution 1860 for a durable and fully respected ceasefire. We must not forget, however, that this recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas. On December 19, Hamas announced an end to the cease-fire and soon unleashed a barrage of rockets and mortars that deliberately targeted innocent Israelis -- an act of terror that is opposed by the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people, President Abbas. Hamas has further victimized Palestinian civilians by firing from schools and mosques and other sites populated by innocent civilians so as to assure that even carefully controlled counter battery fire will kill Palestinian civilians. The rocket attacks by Hamas, including from sites utilized by relief agencies, have exacerbated the plight of the Palestinian people by making it more difficult for the international community to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance and goods to the people of Gaza. The United States supports the unimpeded provision and distribution of adequate humanitarian assistance to meet the growing humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza, including of food, fuel, shelter and protection for the displaced, and medical treatment throughout Gaza. The United States further notes an additional obligation of all parties to armed conflict to refrain from deliberately using the civilian population to shield active combatants, command and control facilities, and munitions stockpiles. The United States calls on Hamas to immediately cease this reprehensible, cowardly practice that places innocent civilians at grave and unacceptable risk. Israel has an unquestionable right to defend itself against terrorist attacks. We have urged the Government of Israel to take all appropriate steps to ease access and movement for humanitarian goods and workers, avoid civilian casualties and to minimize the impact on innocent civilians, and have welcomed Israel's commitment to do so. Turning to another area of the world, I would also like to discuss the situation in Sri Lanka. The fighting has been expanding there, heading towards the north. The United States is deeply concerned about the protection of innocent civilians who are caught in the conflict and humanitarian access for those who are working to care for the needs of those who are displaced and affected by the fighting. Second, my government believes that the use of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict situations throughout the world must be severely punished in order to deter a continuation of these despicable practices.. This is a significant protection challenge, and one that is too often ignored. Sexual and gender-based violence must be more effectively addressed, and UN peacekeeping missions have a clear role to play in preventing this violence and addressing its impact. The United States calls on all Member States to end this gross injustice. The United States urges all Member States to take concrete steps to end both the use of rape as an instrument of war by ending impunity for perpetrators. Member States should review their criminal legislation to ensure it is adequate to permit effective prosecution of those responsible. Third, the recruitment of child soldiers by both governments and rebel movements through wide swaths of Africa, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, by the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, by the Burmese regime, by the LTTE in Sri Lanka, by the FARC in Colombia, and by other groups and governments too numerous to name here must be effectively opposed by Member States. Fourth, the United States continues to seek comprehensive approaches to resolve protracted refugee situations in all parts of the world through support for durable solutions. We also seek innovative approaches to develop livelihood strategies and to maximize opportunities for refugees' self-reliance and empowerment. But fundamentally it is not acceptable that displaced persons remain in refugee camps for decades. Where conflict is causing civilians to flee and seek asylum, we are actively working with other governments to provide protection to those in need. We call on all Member States to renew their commitment to uphold the right to asylum, to protect civilians from forcible return to situations where they fear persecution, and to provide durable solutions for refugees and stateless persons. The United States for its part, provides a significant portion of the funds needed by UN agencies to do their good works, as evidenced, in part, by the United States' recent pledge of 85 million dollars to assist UNRWA in its work to care for Palestinian refugees. But keeping Palestinians in camps for decades is not a solution. Finally, the United States is working in other ways to actively promote the protection of civilians. A primary example is the United States' work in training peacekeepers through the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program, or ACOTA. Through ACOTA, the United States provides training for African peacekeepers preparing to deploy to international missions on their continent. As an example of its scope, in calendar year 2008, the United States trained 26,039 African peacekeepers - comprising 34 African battalions - through this program. 92 percent of these ACOTA-trained peacekeepers are deployed to UNMIL, MONUC, UNAMID, UNOCI, UNIFIL, and AMISOM, with the additional 8 percent standing by for planned deployment. In addition to the ACOTA program, the United States maintains similar programs in Central America and other areas of the world. The United States also provides logistics support on an ongoing basis, most recently, and perhaps dramatically, through an ongoing airlift of 75 tons of equipment for the Rwandan peacekeepers assigned to war ravaged Darfur. In addition, the United States also provides training for stability police units, again with a strong human rights component. Mr. President, the United States remains committed to the protection of civilians in armed conflict, both in connection with the work of the Council and our activities throughout the world. We applaud efforts by OCHA and other UN offices to assist the civilian victims of armed conflict, fully endorse the work of the UN is this realm, and pledge continued U.S. support to prevent and mitigate the effects of conflict on the civilian populaces of this world. The United States looks forward to continuing the close cooperation we have enjoyed with our fellow Member States and with the United Nation's professionals, as we work together to strengthen and foster peace. Thank you. End suggested remarks. RICE