Russia
Last year's thematic report provided by Ms. Zerrougui to the Security Council...
Last year's thematic report provided by Ms. Zerrougui to the Security Council (S/2013/245) cites specific information on the use of drones in Pakistan that have killed or wounded children. Information is available on reports of child victims of United States air strikes in Yemen. One such case was an attack by unmanned aerial vehicle on 2 September 2012 in the region of Rada, as a result of which there were 12 civilian deaths, including those of three children and one pregnant woman. We should also recall the civilian deaths occasioned by NATO military operations in Libya. We do not accept attempts to categorize civilian victims, above all children, as so-called collateral damage. That contravenes, inter alia, the provisions of international humanitarian law. We advocate scrupulous investigation of such incidents and the punishment of their perpetrators.
The report of Mr. Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protectio...
The report of Mr. Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, prepared for the twenty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, cites 37 cases in which unmanned aircraft have carried out attacks leading to civilian casualties. According to the data of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, in 2013 19 confirmed uses of drones led to 59 civilian casualties, 45 of which were deaths. As a result of 54 combat air operations carried out by the International Security Assistance Force, there were 182 casualties, of which 118 were killed. Women and children comprised some 45 per cent of civilian victims of such operations.
We believe that the Children, not soldiers campaign, launched yesterday to en...
We believe that the “Children, not soldiers” campaign, launched yesterday to end the recruitment and use of children in Government armed forces by 2016, is an important step in the right direction. We believe that openness with respect to that issue will not only lead to tangible results to prevent the recruitment by Government armed forces, but also set an example to be followed forthwith by many armed groups. We hope that the campaign, having demonstrated its balanced and impartial nature, will enhance the attractiveness and effectiveness of the engagement of parties to conflict with the United Nations in the prevention of violence against women.