UNITED NATIONS: Speaking at a Security Council debate on the protection of civilians, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today that the United Nations is determined to work collectively to support governments to protect their people, and to persuade parties to conflict to abide by their obligations. “Protecting civilians is a United Nations system-wide responsibility. But the primary responsibility lies with parties to the conflict, non-belligerent States, and this Council,” the Secretary-General told the Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York. “Governments and parties to conflict also have an obligation to provide for the basic needs of civilians in conflict. When they fail to do so, they should facilitate principled humanitarian assistance by humanitarian organisations,” he further added. Noting that many parties are still failing to live up to these obligations, the Secretary-General said that it is essential for the UN to use all the means at its disposal to hold them accountable. “The ultimate solution to protecting civilians in conflict is finding sustainable political solutions, based on the rule of law and human rights standards,” he insisted, urging the Security Council to exercise this as its “core responsibility.” In his last report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Ban had underlined the urgent need for some concrete measures and to make recommendations to that end. “Enhancing the protection of civilians was a key focus of the World Humanitarian Summit and the Agenda for Humanity. It was one of the dominant themes to emerge from the recent reviews of peace operations, the peacebuilding architecture, and the ‘Women, Peace and Security’ framework,” he noted. Ban said that these reports, reviews and events had underscored “the modest but vital role” that UN peace operations can play in protecting civilians. “Peacekeeping operations are most effective in protecting civilians when protection is considered a mission-wide activity, driven by a sound political strategy,” he explained, adding that the political engagement of civilian staff and their dialogue with parties to the conflict, affected communities and partners is essential. Noting that the civilian staff also monitor and investigate abuses – which he said is the only basis for accountability – the Secretary-General highlighted that likewise, United Nations Police make an important contribution. “UN Police are currently protecting tens of thousands of internally displaced people at peacekeeping missions in South Sudan,” he recalled. “I urge this Council to give precedence to political strategy and whole-of-mission approaches when you consider mandates to protect civilians. These can be even more critical than military assets and troop numbers,” he remarked.
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