The effective delivery of humanitarian assistance is intrinsically linked t...

The effective delivery of humanitarian assistance is intrinsically linked to timely access to populations in need, as well as to the safety and security of those who provide assistance. The safety of humanitarian workers remains precarious. The Council has a particular obligation to provide for the security of United Nations staff and to ensure that there is no impunity for attacks on humanitarian and peacekeeping personnel, which may constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute. We welcome in this regard the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, which expands the legal protection of the 1994 Convention. Significant concerns often exist in relation to the protection of civilians in situations that are not formally on the agenda of the Council. It is therefore essential for the Council to develop innovative ways to address protection concerns in such situations and to enhance its preventive and early warning capacities. The informal Expert Group on the Protection of Civilians could play a central role in that regard by receiving briefings and assessments on emerging violations of international humanitarian law by non-State and State actors.