GUIDANCE: PRST ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS,

UNCLAS STATE 003955 SIPDIS, USUN FOR LAVIN AND MERCADO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC SUBJECT: GUIDANCE: PRST ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS, JANUARY 14 ¶1. This is an action request. USUN may join consensus on a PRST on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, associated with the January 14 open debate regarding the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, with text as in para 2. Suggested remarks for the open debate have been sent septel. ¶2. Begin text: PRST ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to the full and effective implementation of its resolutions on the protection of civilians in armed conflict and recalls previous statements on the issue made by its President. The Security Council remains committed to addressing the impact of armed conflict on civilians. The Council expresses its deepest concern that civilians continue to account for the majority of victims of acts of violence committed by parties to armed conflicts, including as a result of deliberate targeting, indiscriminate and excessive use of force, use of civilians as human shields and of sexual and gender based violence, as well as all other acts that violate applicable international law. The Security Council condemns all violations of international law, including international humanitarian law human rights law and refugee law, committed against civilians in situations of armed conflict. The Council demands that all relevant parties immediately put an end to such practices. The Council reaffirms in this regard that parties to armed conflict bear the primary responsibility to take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected civilians and to meet their basic needs, including by giving attention to the specific needs of women and children. The Security Council recalls the obligations of all States to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including the four Geneva conventions, and emphasizes the responsibility of States to comply with their obligations to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity or other serious violations of international humanitarian law. The Security Council recognizes the needs of civilians under foreign occupation and stresses further, in this regard, the responsibilities of the occupying Power. The Security Council condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, however and by whomever committed. The Security Council underlines the importance of safe and unhindered access of humanitarian personnel, and of the timely, safe and unhindered passage of essential relief goods, to provide assistance to civilians in armed conflict in accordance with applicable international law. The Council stresses the importance of upholding and respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. Recalling that on 15 March 2002 the Security Council first adopted the Aide Memoire annexed in the Statement by its President (S/PRST/2002/6) as a means to facilitate its consideration of issues pertaining to protection of civilians and recalling further that in the Statements by its President of 20 December 2002 (S/PRST/2002/41) and 15 December 2003 (S/PRST/2003/27),the Security Council expressed its willingness to update the Aide Memoire regularly in order to reflect emerging trends in the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the Security Council adopts the updated Aide Memoire contained in the annex to this Presidential Statement. The Security Council reiterates the importance of the Aide Memoire as a practical tool that provides a basis for improved analysis and diagnosis of key protection issues, particularly during deliberations on peacekeeping mandates, and stresses the need to implement the approaches set out therein on a more regular and consistent basis, taking into account the particular circumstances of each conflict situation, and undertakes to remain actively seized of the matter. End text. RICE