It is evident that composite measures are required to protect civilians, prevent conflicts and deal with their consequences. There is the need for States to ratify and implement existing conventions and protocols on armed conflict. Efforts should be intensified to strengthen legal frameworks and mechanisms for monitoring and reporting attacks against civilians by State and non-State actors alike.

In that respect, we firmly support the recommendation that the Council should avoid a selective approach to the protection of civilians in armed conflict. All cases requiring protection should be given equal emphasis, whether in Southern Sudan, Darfur, Somalia, Afghanistan or Western Sahara.

Despite those notable developments, the grim reality of today is that civilians are still casualties of conflicts and the direct targets of abduction, sexual violence and the denial of humanitarian access. Recent developments underscore the increasing difficulty that we face in addressing the five core challenges articulated in the Secretary-General's report, contained in document S/2009/277.

Conflict prevention is fundamental to the protection of civilians. Practice has shown that it costs less to prevent than to control conflicts. That is why Nigeria fully supports region and subregional conflict prevention initiatives, and we encourage the Council to do the same.

At the international level, we commend the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Department of Field Support and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for keeping the Security Council sharply focused on this issue.

As a major troop-contributing country, Nigeria is aware of the acute resource constraints that United Nations peacekeepers face in the field daily. Such constraints limit their ability to effectively protect civilians, guarantee safe passage for IDPs, facilitate the movement of humanitarian actors and, crucially, establish assessment and early-warning mechanisms to prevent a crisis.

We commend the Council's efforts to provide greater assistance to populations at risk. These efforts are strengthened by the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) will undoubtedly help us to provide better protection for women.

The best way to protect civilians in armed conflict is to prevent conflicts from erupting and to find lasting solutions to those that exist. In many situations, it is important that the parties involved demonstrate the political will and resolve necessary to finding lasting compromise solutions to end the suffering of affected populations.

Refugees are the very first to suffer from the eruption or continuation of conflicts. Host States have the obligation to ensure that they fully enjoy their rights, including the right of return. In protecting refugees, it is vital that the humanitarian and civilian nature of refugee camps not be compromised by the presence of armed elements and that refugees be able to exercise their right of voluntary return in security and dignity.

My delegation strongly condemns all attacks on humanitarian personnel and convoys and calls for their protection. We equally condemn the diversion by a number of armed groups of humanitarian assistance, which, rather than reaching the populations in need, serves to enrich the leaders of these groups, who must be held accountable by the international community as perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law.