Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, June 2016

Indeed, as you know, the Niger is a country resolutely committed to peacekeeping operations through our significant contribution of civilian, military and police components. To date, we have more than 1,820 men and women serving in those operations, making our country, the Niger, the 17th global contributor in that regard.

The first is that the nature of conflict has evolved considerably to the point that most conflicts are not inter-State wars involving regular armies in which the men and women involved are conventional soldiers known and recognized as part of a regular army and identifiable by their uniform or their units.

Since the establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force, considerable success has been recorded in the battle against Boko Haram. Over a thousand kidnapped women and children have been rescued, and all territories once controlled by the group have been recovered.We pay tribute to the men and women who have lost their lives while serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions, and we offer our deep condolences to their families, their friends and their Governments.

Conflict prevention is closely linked to women and peace and security agenda, to which Spain is also particularly committed. My country led the review of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, and is now working to put it into practice. Last October, the Security Council held an open debate (S/PV.7533) with a record number of speakers, at which it unanimously adopted resolution 2242 (2015). The big challenge now is to move from rhetoric to fulfilling our commitments in deed. Spain continues to work in that direction. Among other measures, alongside the United Kingdom it has headed the creation of an informal group of experts of the Security Council on women, peace and security, which we want to become a key tool for integrating gender issues into the discussions of the Council on the situation the countries on its agenda.

Naturally, the women and peace and security agenda is not relevant solely to the protection of civilians, given its aspects related to conflict prevention. Unfortunately, women and children are the primary victims in conflict, and as such are the first in line in need of protection. In that sense, I would stress the importance of deploying protection of women advisers in all United Nations missions. The same is true of child protection advisers. Protection mandates should also continue to enjoy support at the highest level to fulfil their essential task of ensuring effective and consistent protection.

As far as Mexico is concerned, the work of women Blue Helmets fosters trust and contributes to an enhanced understanding of the essential needs of protection of local populations, thereby paving the way for more effective responses. For that reason, we would like to reiterate to encourage greater participation by women in peacekeeping operations.

The protection-related tasks of the United Nations have a central role to play in the context of the new emphasis placed by the Organization on conflict prevention and the achievement of sustainable peace and development, on the basis of the three reviews that took place focusing on peacekeeping operations, peacebuilding and the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security. There can be no doubt that such protection tasks, particularly those carried out by peacekeeping operations of the United Nations, are vital when it comes to sustaining peace before, during and after conflict.

It is critical for peacekeepers and humanitarian actors to work in tandem in a protection crisis so as to be able to respond to the particular needs of those affected, especially women, children and the elderly.

That tragic reality is evident in the conflicts that are rocking the Middle East and Africa, where women, children and the elderly have become targets of attacks perpetrated by the actors involved in those bloody wars, particularly terrorist groups, in violation of international humanitarian law.

Unfortunately, the most flagrant violations of human rights occur in the circumstances surrounding armed conflict, wherein innocent civilian populations, especially women and children, constitute the overwhelming majority of victims.

Thirdly, the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is a valuable tool to advance the protection of civilians. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a milestone for the Council. It acknowledged that women and girls face specific risks in conflict settings, which require specific actions for protection. Ireland works to mainstream gender throughout military operations by appointing gender advisers in each brigade and formation, and we have prioritized diversity in our Defence Forces’ recently launched recruitment drive.

The first workshop of gender advisers from across regional organizations, which Ireland hosted this month, is another firm step towards ensuring the participation of women in peacekeeping. Furthermore, Ireland is resolute in its belief that the heinous crime of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers can be fully stamped out, including by strengthened pre deployment and ongoing professional training programmers.

To that end, Japan has provided financial support to the United Nations training-the-trainers course on the protection of civilians, in which Japanese trainers also participate. Furthermore, Japan assists in the development of training materials for women’s protection advisers in missions, who play a critical role in protecting women. Finally, Japan also supports the development of an e-learning programme on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse that targets all categories of field personnel, including military, police and civilian.

The effective protection of civilians and, for that matter, the safety of peacekeepers themselves depend also on close ties with and the trust of local communities, including women, youth and marginalized groups.

We think that mixed teams can be quite useful. Women in peacekeeping operations can facilitate contact with women and with the most vulnerable members of local communities.

Romanians who participate in missions under the United Nations flag are given very strict training prior to deployment, including with regard to respect for civil and human rights, with particular attention to the protection of women and children. Over the past 25 years, more than 10,000 Romanian Blue Helmets have contributed to peace and security everywhere in the world and have never been implicated in incidents reflecting non- respect for the local civilian populations, because we apply a zero-tolerance policy for all violations.

The recourse to violence and terrorism to undermine societies, civilizations, religions and beliefs is assuming terrible manifestations, such as the recruitment of children, abductions, the destruction of the cultural heritage of humankind, slavery and sexual violence as weapons of war, as well as the use of chemical weapons.

Civilians, in principle, are not fighters but nevertheless count among the largest number of casualties in armed conflict. They are subject to mass killings, rape and often forced displacement — in a word, all types of violence.

The protection of civilians in armed conflict remains a deep concern for Estonia, as do the particular needs of women and children. As was expressed by my delegation in this Chamber last week (see S/PV.7704), sexual violence in conflict is also a continuing concern.

Pre-deployment and in-mission training should also include issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse as well as child protection.

In this context, let me once again express serious concern over the significant increase in the number of allegations of sexual exploitation by United Nations peacekeepers. In this regard, Estonia fully supports the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy.

Georgia is fully committed to a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeeping personnel. On 5 June, an inter-agency investigative team, set up at the initiative of the Defence Minister of Georgia, left for the Central African Republic to carry out investigative activities on the ground. Also, in response to a Secretariat request, the Government of Georgia presented the candidature of an officer, on a gratis basis, to serve with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, whose focus would be on the legal issues surrounding the sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by international peacekeeping forces.

Thirdly, the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is a valuable tool to advance the protection of civilians. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a milestone for the Council. It acknowledged that women and girls face specific risks in conflict settings, which require specific actions for protection. Ireland works to mainstream gender throughout military operations by appointing gender advisers in each brigade and formation, and we have prioritized diversity in our Defence Forces’ recently launched recruitment drive.

The first workshop of gender advisers from across regional organizations, which Ireland hosted this month, is another firm step towards ensuring the participation of women in peacekeeping. Furthermore, Ireland is resolute in its belief that the heinous crime of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers can be fully stamped out, including by strengthened pre deployment and ongoing professional training programmers.

To that end, Japan has provided financial support to the United Nations training-the-trainers course on the protection of civilians, in which Japanese trainers also participate. Furthermore, Japan assists in the development of training materials for women’s protection advisers in missions, who play a critical role in protecting women. Finally, Japan also supports the development of an e-learning programme on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse that targets all categories of field personnel, including military, police and civilian.

The horrors of conflict became even more gruesome when women and girls became targets of terror groups like Da’esh and Boko Haram and were sold into sexual slavery or were used as objects for recruitment or ransom. We have seen too many deaths and the numbers presented to us represent our fellow human beings — human faces that we must not ignore. They include those suffering from sexual abuse. The only way to conclude is to reaffirm our commitment and resolve to help those who beg us to intervene and save their lives.

The report confirms our worst fears about conflict-related sexual violence. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, especially when they are displaced and seek refuge in another country. They can fall victim to human trafficking, abuse and forced prostitution. That includes women and girls in Europe. I fully support the Secretary-General’s call to redouble our efforts to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and take action to stop it. Let us not forget that, in the end, peacekeeping missions are about all those vulnerable men, women and children in conflict situations who depend on us, the United Nations, for their protection.

Portugal reiterates its commitment to continue to conduct training programmes for members of its national security and armed forces who have been deployed to international peacekeeping missions. Such training programmes cover such issues as gender equality, violence against women and girls, including all forms of sexual violence and gender-based violence, as well as trafficking in human beings.

We all recognize that States have the primary responsibility to put an end to impunity and to prosecute perpetrators responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes, including those relating to sexual violence against women and girls.

South Africa condemns sexual exploitation and abuses committed during armed conflict. We believe that protecting the most vulnerable populations — that is, women, girls and children — is central to any protection of civilians mandate. It is for that reason that any acts of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers are particularly deplorable.

Displaced populations and ethnic and religious minorities are at particular risk of violence, while women and children all too often suffer from gender-based violence and are victims of recruitment by armed groups.

Sexual violence destroys the lives of women and girls and young men.

Today’s debate is a reminder once again that an ample knowledge base exists on what is needed to improve the protection of civilian populations by peacekeeping missions, including as reflected in the recommendations of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (S/2015/446) and last year’s reviews on peacebuilding and women and peace and security.

As noted by many delegations today, clear, credible and achievable mandates matched by the reliable and readily availability of the necessary materiel, equipment and critical enablers; strong mission leadership and personal responsibilty; the pre-deployment training of troops, including on the protection of civilians; inclusion of thematic advisers on women, children and the protection of civilians in peacekeeping missions; a more robust, proactive protection posture; and the existence of specific protection-of-civilians strategies for each peacekeeping mission with a protection mandate all play an important role in the protection of civilians.

Since the early 2000s, the Council has endowed itself with a normative framework and ambitious mandates in particular with respect to the most vulnerable groups — children and women — by developing its children and armed conflict agenda and its women and peace and security agenda. It is important to implement these with rigour and without exceptions or restrictions.

To that end, the majority of the peacekeeping operations deploy specialist advisers — women’s protection advisers and child protection advisers.

Nepali peacekeepers are fully oriented towards protecting civilians, particularly women and girls, during and after conflict. The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force Nepal have all integrated United Nations policies regarding the protection of civilians, sexual exploitation and abuse, and protection of human rights into the predeployment training of peacekeepers. Together, we have already started placing investigation officers in every contingent to investigate disciplinary issues, gender-based violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse.

Portugal reiterates its commitment to continue to conduct training programmes for members of its national security and armed forces who have been deployed to international peacekeeping missions. Such training programmes cover such issues as gender equality, violence against women and girls, including all forms of sexual violence and gender-based violence, as well as trafficking in human beings.

We think that mixed teams can be quite useful. Women in peacekeeping operations can facilitate contact with women and with the most vulnerable members of local communities.

Romanians who participate in missions under the United Nations flag are given very strict training prior to deployment, including with regard to respect for civil and human rights, with particular attention to the protection of women and children. Over the past 25 years, more than 10,000 Romanian Blue Helmets have contributed to peace and security everywhere in the world and have never been implicated in incidents reflecting non- respect for the local civilian populations, because we apply a zero-tolerance policy for all violations.

Portugal reiterates its commitment to continue to conduct training programmes for members of its national security and armed forces who have been deployed to international peacekeeping missions. Such training programmes cover such issues as gender equality, violence against women and girls, including all forms of sexual violence and gender-based violence, as well as trafficking in human beings.

Thirdly, the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is a valuable tool to advance the protection of civilians. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a milestone for the Council. It acknowledged that women and girls face specific risks in conflict settings, which require specific actions for protection. Ireland works to mainstream gender throughout military operations by appointing gender advisers in each brigade and formation, and we have prioritized diversity in our Defence Forces’ recently launched recruitment drive.

The first workshop of gender advisers from across regional organizations, which Ireland hosted this month, is another firm step towards ensuring the participation of women in peacekeeping. Furthermore, Ireland is resolute in its belief that the heinous crime of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers can be fully stamped out, including by strengthened pre deployment and ongoing professional training programmers.

Since the early 2000s, the Council has endowed itself with a normative framework and ambitious mandates in particular with respect to the most vulnerable groups — children and women — by developing its children and armed conflict agenda and its women and peace and security agenda. It is important to implement these with rigour and without exceptions or restrictions.

To that end, the majority of the peacekeeping operations deploy specialist advisers — women’s protection advisers and child protection advisers.

Nepali peacekeepers are fully oriented towards protecting civilians, particularly women and girls, during and after conflict. The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force Nepal have all integrated United Nations policies regarding the protection of civilians, sexual exploitation and abuse, and protection of human rights into the predeployment training of peacekeepers. Together, we have already started placing investigation officers in every contingent to investigate disciplinary issues, gender-based violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse.