Ukraine

Ukraine is alarmed by the fact that civilians continue to account for the majority of casualties in conflicts, as well as a high number of displaced persons. We are deeply concerned by the frequency and gravity of attacks against civilians, especially women and children, and by issues of safety for humanitarian personnel and of timely humanitarian access to those in need, particularly vulnerable groups. My country attaches great importance to such issues, especially in its capacity as an active participant in peacekeeping operations and as a member of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Executive Board of UN-Women.

It is the same unshakable commitment and sense of responsibility for the protection of civilians under threat of imminent violence that lies behind Ukraine's decision to be an active participant in the provision of temporary reinforcements to the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire. We are proud of the contribution that the Ukrainian aviation unit made to the United Nations efforts to save civilians in Abidjan, thanks to which thousands of innocent lives, mainly of women and children, were spared the imminent danger posed by deadly heavy weaponry. As in the first case I mentioned, Ukraine acted strictly in accordance with international law, and in particular with the unanimously adopted resolution 1975 (2011).