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Security Council updates measures to protect civilians caught in war

Security Council updates measures to protect civilians caught in war

Council President Amb. Stefan Tafrov
Seeking to protect innocents caught and even targeted during armed conflict, the United Nations Security Council today updated a list of steps to shield women, children, refugees and other civilians from the ravages of war.

In adopting the document, called an Aide Memoire, the Council stressed the need to implement its provisions "on a more regular and consistent basis, taking into account the particular circumstances of each conflict situation," Ambassador Stefan Tafrov of Bulgaria, which holds the Council's rotating Presidency, said in a statement on behalf of the members.

Among other measures, the Aide Memoire calls for facilitating the "safe and dignified" return of displaced persons, better security in camps, armed escorts for humanitarian convoys, and counter-terrorism measures. The document also urges technical assistance for local police as well as the establishment of mechanisms for reporting human rights abuses. In addition, it underscores the need to fully disarm warring parties and reintegrate former fighters into society, while stemming the illegal flow of small arms. Special measures to protect women and girls from rape and other violence are also urged.

The Aide Memoire, which is not a blueprint for action but rather a source of guidance for the Council, deals with a number of other areas as well, including the effects of war on children, the special responsibility of peacekeepers, the media's influence on a given conflict, and the links between natural resources and fighting.

In his statement, read out at an open meeting of the Council, Ambassador Tafrov called attention to the plight of those trying to help mitigate the effects of war, reaffirming "the need for parties to armed conflict to take all possible measures to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of UN and associated personnel as well as personnel of international humanitarian organizations."

Warring factions were also called on to comply fully with the provisions of the UN Charter and the rules and principles of international law. The Council also emphasized that countries must "end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and serious violations of humanitarian law," Ambassador Tafrov said.

Towards this end, the Council noted "with interest" a 10-point action plan on the protection of civilians in armed conflict put forward earlier this month by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan Egeland.

In his presentation to the Council last week, Mr. Egeland cited the need to address humanitarian access, security for relief workers, the special protection of women and children, and measures to pressure armed groups and other non-State actors to protect civilians. Ambassador Tafrov said today the Council "looks forward to further discussions and consultations on this issue."