Objective reporting is a basic prerequisite for the consideration of this important issue. Systematic and consistent violations of the rights of civilians are frequent and pervasive around the world, especially in situations of foreign occupation.

While our primary concern is to prevent the commission of violations, where prevention fails we collectively bear the responsibility to ensure accountability. The Secretary-General's report rightly identifies accountability as one of the core elements of the protection of civilians. Not only is accountability required to fulfil international legal obligations; it is also our best tool for preventing the recurrence of violations.

Protecting civilians from the atrocities of war is an essential element of our human rights work. It is also an indispensable part of any strategy for managing threats to international peace and stability.

Over time, in responding to emerging threats to civilians, the Council has looked beyond situations of actual armed conflict to situations of civil strife preceding full-fledged conflict, as well as post-conflict and natural disaster situations. In situations such as the ones in Haiti, Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, the Council has established broader protection mandates to ensure that the populations' human rights are protected.

Our expertise has also increasingly been called upon to conduct commissions of inquiry in the context S/PV.6427 10 10-64592 of political crises where there is no peace mission but where the lack of protection of civilians and of accountability for violations of their rights represents a threat to peace.

Our approach to protection is first and foremost to prevent the commission of human rights violations. Where that fails, as regrettably it sometimes does, we also contribute to mitigating the effects of conflict on populations at risk and to ensuring proper accountability for violations once they have occurred.

My Office's efforts to enhance accountability are multifaceted. As Council members will be aware, my Office has recently concluded a mapping report of the most serious violations of human rights committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1993 and 2003.

Monitoring and reporting on human rights and the protection of civilians can also play a role in raising awareness of the impact of military operations on civilians and in encouraging the parties to a conflict to take steps to strengthen the protection of civilians.

In some cases, the longer-term challenge is to build up the capacity of non-United Nations security forces, including national forces and institutions, to take on the task of effective protection of civilians once the international presence has been withdrawn.

In conclusion, my Office stands ready to assist the Council as it seeks to strengthen the protection of civilians threatened or affected by the effects of armed conflict. Every day around the world, human rights officers mandated by this Council make a vital contribution to protecting civilians, often working in very challenging conditions and with limited resources.