I would like to take this opportunity to inform the Security Council that Georgia recently became a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. By doing so, Georgia reaffirmed its strong commitment to consolidated international efforts aimed at protecting the rights of children affected by armed conflicts worldwide.

I would like once again to draw the Council's attention to the problem of humanitarian access to the Tskhinvali region of Georgia, where the occupying Power continues to block humanitarian aid and international humanitarian actors and demands that the region be entered exclusively from its own territory.

With respect to MONUC, solutions were attempted in the framework of resolution 1856 (2008), but they were unable to put an end to the abuse against civilian populations. The reconfiguration of MONUC and its transformation into the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) made it possible to take into account in MONUSCO's mandate the commitments set out in resolution 1894 (2009).

We should recall that the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians belongs to States. Therefore, it seems to us essential to strengthen their capabilities in order to enable them to better respond to that obligation.

The protection of civilians in armed conflict is a subject of great concern. I take the opportunity of this debate to reaffirm Gabon's commitment to work in this area. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/579) and the briefings by Ms. Valerie Amos, Ms. Navanethem Pillay, Mr. Alain Le Roy and Mr. Yves Daccord — and I welcome their clarity — show unambiguously that the situation remains alarming.

The progress made relates mainly to the mandates of peacekeeping operations. During previous meetings on the agenda item under consideration, the Council has acknowledged the need to include a strong civilian protection dimension in the mandates of peacekeeping operations.

The adoption of resolution 1923 (2010), which extended MINURCAT's mandate until 31 December, also addressed the demand for the protection of civilians.

Given these continued abuses, the protection of civilians in armed conflicts remains an enormous task that is difficult to carry out. Although it is true that through its Operation Shop Window MONUSCO was able to restore calm in the east of the country after the events of Walikale, there is reason to question its ability fully to carry out its mission to protection civilians.

Gabon invites the Council to continue its reflection on those two issues. The fight against impunity is another area where there are clear shortcomings and where Governments should work harder to avoid giving legitimacy to the crimes that are committed. It is true that, in some places, timid initiatives have been taken and, in many countries weakened by crisis, the rule of law is still in its early stages.

We must have access to such information in all of our areas of action. We welcome the intention of the Secretary-General to set up monitoring indicators to follow up the protection of civilians in countries at risk. We have to continue developing synergies between peacekeeping operations, the teams of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the humanitarian community.