In addition to the various recommendations aimed at the Council and Member St...

In addition to the various recommendations aimed at the Council and Member States, the Secretary-General's report identifies three actions that are implicit yet fundamental to enhancing our collective efforts to bring about more effective protection for civilians. First, we must ensure a comprehensive approach to protection. Resolution 1894 (2009) expresses the Council's willingness to respond to situations of conflict where civilians are being targeted or humanitarian assistance is being deliberately obstructed, including through the consideration of appropriate measures at its disposal. I would urge the Council to extend that willingness to act to conflicts of which it is not already seized. These often raise many of the same, and sometimes more acute, protection concerns than we see in those situations already on the Council's agenda, and may equally warrant or demand Council attention. Secondly, we must ensure a consistent approach. We need greater consistency in the manner and extent to which the Council addresses protection in those contexts of which it is seized. The systematic application of the aide-memoire — an updated version of which has been adopted today — is crucial in that regard. So too is the continued use of the informal Expert Group and the consideration of other ways in which it could further inform the Council's deliberations. Those would be important steps in this direction.