Security Council 7109th Meeting (AM)
Note: A complete summary of today’s Security Council meeting will be available after its conclusion.
Background
The Security Council met this morning for an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. For consideration by members were the relevant report of the Secretary-General (document S/2013/689), and a 3 February letter from the Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the Secretary-General (document S/2014/74).
Briefings
NAVI PILLAY, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that, with nine peacekeeping operations currently carrying explicit civilian protection mandates, her Office was working with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to develop relevant policies, guidance and training. Experiences in the field confirmed that timely and well-resourced human rights monitoring, advocacy and reporting were essential for the effective implementation of protection mandates. In South Sudan, beyond the physical protection of more than 80,000 civilians sheltering in United Nations bases, it was clear that human rights investigations, monitoring, advocacy and reporting were more important than ever. In the Central African Republic, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had focused on much-needed fact-finding, public reporting and promotion of accountability, among other objectives.
United Nations efforts had been strengthened, thanks to the Secretary-General’s “Rights up front” action plan, which placed human rights at the centre of responses to potential or emerging crises, she continued. However, greater support from the Security Council and Member States would be welcome in a number of areas. A clearer understanding of the meaning of “protection of civilians” was needed in peacekeeping operations, and greater support was needed for humanitarian access, because sound and compelling human rights information and analysis must be at the core of civilian protection strategies. Greater support from the Council was also needed in particularly difficult situations when protecting civilians required bold action and swift decisions, she said, adding that States must do more to ensure that violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law were investigated and perpetrators held accountable. Armed conflicts in which civilians suffered greatly but where no peacekeeping operations were deployed must also be addressed, including the one in Syria, where at least 240,000 civilians, including women and children, remained trapped and struggling to survive.
VALERIE AMOS, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, expressed regret that, despite the existence of extensive norms and standards under human rights law and humanitarian law, and the widespread availability of social media now used to track violations, civilians in conflict situations continued to be killed, injured and maimed on a regular basis. In Syria, they have been subjected to brutal violence for almost three years, including the deliberate denial of humanitarian assistance to those in desperate need. Atrocities also continued in the Central African Republic, where 100,000 people had sought refuge at the airport and thousands had fled into the bush. In South Sudan, nearly 75,000 people were still receiving protection and assistance in United Nations bases, crowded into unsustainable conditions. Mandating peacekeeping missions to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence remained among the most significant actions taken by the Security Council to save lives, she said.
However, it was essential to ensure effective coordination between missions and humanitarian actors, she emphasized. It was also important that United Nations and other humanitarian actors were seen to be neutral, impartial and independent, not always easy in volatile, fast-moving conflict situations. Of additional importance was ensuring that civilian contributions to the implementation of protection mandates were not overshadowed by a focus on the military’s role and the physical protection of civilians. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas was also extremely concerning, she said, noting that an estimated 38,000 people around the world had been killed or injured by explosive weapons in 2012, 78 per cent of them civilians. They were also displaced, often for long periods. Explosive weapons caused horrific injuries requiring emergency and specialist medical treatment, rehabilitation and psychosocial support services, which were often unavailable because health facilities were damaged or destroyed. Livelihoods were also devastated, as land and other means of production were rendered unusable due to explosive remnants of war, she said.
HERVE LADSOUS, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, said that supporting the efforts of host Governments to meet protection responsibilities lay at the heart of modern peacekeeping. While peacekeepers may need to stand up against rogue Government elements to protect civilians, peacekeeping could only be viable with the consent of the host Government. The protection of civilians by United Nations peacekeepers should, therefore, never be confused with non-consensual intervention under Pillar III of the Responsibility to Protect framework. With the increasing complexity of field situations, peacekeepers were vital actors in improving the protection of civilians in armed conflict and played a central role in the Secretary-General’s “Rights up front” framework. They supported accountability for human rights violations and promoted compliance with international human rights law and humanitarian law, he said, adding that peacekeepers were also important in facilitating humanitarian assistance while also ensuring respect for humanitarian space.
However, the limits of peacekeeping were real, he cautioned. Within their capacities, missions must do their utmost to protect, but beyond those limits, other means must be found. No peacekeeping operation could physically protect all civilians, or even most, where serious conflict broke out, but missions were often judged by journalists seeking headlines or analysts who emphasized the use of force too strongly. The Security Council had an important role in articulating its expectations for the protective capacities of peacekeepers — expectations that would form the basis for clear standards for action. Today, in many respects, the world was more dangerous than it had been in 1994, he warned, stressing that such an environment called for greater flexibility, learning and adaptation as an organization. Exploring new capabilities and adopting new technologies would not be optional in future peacekeeping, he cautioned, underlining the crucial need to improve early warning and rapid-reaction capacities. In that regard, he thanked the Council for having approved the use of unarmed aerial systems, with the consent of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Please don’t mistake me,” he said, emphasizing that, although much had been put in place, challenges remained. There was a great deal farther to go, he added.
YVES DACCORD, Director-General, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), underlined the need for decisive action, rather than mere words, as a critical matter of life or death. The ICRC’s role in helping to alleviate the consequences of fighting was becoming increasingly difficult to fulfil in many of the most complex and violent crises. The overt politicization of aid and the polarization of States around humanitarian issues was a huge challenge. The widening gap between humanitarian needs and the ability to deliver effective responses, in addition to the decreasing proximity of many humanitarian actors from the people they were trying to help, raised additional hurdles. Adding to the problem were parties to armed conflict that did not respect or accept impartial humanitarian actors, as well as administrative hurdles, unjustified or arbitrary restrictions and other delays.
The single most pressing issue facing ICRC was gaining greater humanitarian access to people directly affected by violence, he said. The question of access by neutral, impartial and independent organizations could not be interpreted as a challenge to State sovereignty, he emphasized. One of the most widespread and daunting problems arising from violations of international humanitarian law was internal displacement, which affected not only those displaced, but countless host families and communities. The internally displaced were often exposed to further abuses and had wide-ranging subsistence needs, while, in some cases, people were sometimes forcibly prevented from fleeing when they wished to do so. The prevalent use of wide-impact explosive weapons in densely populated areas further fuelled displacement and inhibited returns, he said.
Statements
[NAME TO COME] ( United Kingdom) recalled the Council’s formal commitment to the protection of civilians in armed conflict in the wake of atrocities in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Yet, today, from Syria to South Sudan to the Central African Republic, “it is vital we step up efforts to prevent and respond to such atrocities”, he emphasized. “The Council can and must play a key role in alleviating the impact on civilians in crisis.” Voicing support for a humanitarian resolution on Syria, he said no country could stand in the way of a resolution designed to allow civilians access to food and other assistance. Early action to prevent conflict and human rights abuses was vital, and priority should be given to protecting civilians during mission planning, he stressed. Encouraging all mandated peacekeeping operations to develop protection strategies, he urged mission leadership to seek coordination mechanisms to enhance data collection and improve rapid response.
GARY QUINLAN ( Australia) recalled that, in the past year, the Council had taken important decisions to equip peacekeeping missions with robust protection mandates, with positive results in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mali. Central to those efforts was the “peacekeeping partnership” among the Council, the Secretariat and troop- and police-contributing countries, he said. Australia strongly supported briefings to the Council by United Nations police commissioners in order to help build consensus around protection challenges, he said, adding that, in order to effectively protect civilians, peacekeepers needed appropriate training, equipment and critical enablers. The international community should be prepared to use new technologies, such as unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles, to enhance early warnings of threats to civilians, deter armed groups and bolster the safety of peacekeeping personnel.
[NAME TO COME] ( United States) noted that the international community was still learning the highly complicated task of protecting civilians in armed conflict. Adopting a mandate was relatively simple, but implementing it was complex, entailing three key elements : prioritization, planning and prevention. Civilians must be identified at an early stage of conflict, he said, emphasizing that the Security Council must begin planning as soon as it received evidence of violations so that peacekeeping operations could be designed with civilian protection in mind. A case in point was the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), he said. The Department of Peacekeeping Operations had an important duty to share best practices, while the Council had a duty to ask questions and articulate mandates. Cautioning that nothing was more predictable than that the unpredictable would happen, he stressed the importance of prevention and learning from past experiences.
[NAME TO COME] (Russian Federation) expressed regret over reports of civilian deaths despite the steps taken in Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere, emphasizing that his delegation was particularly concerned about deaths arising from indiscriminate application of force, such as the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. While the protection of civilians was a priority for warring parties, it was not the only task for peacekeepers. The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may not work in other parts of the world, he said, cautioning against a one-size-fits-all approach to the inclusion of civilian protection in peacekeeping mandates. National authorities bore primary responsibility, and it was important that peacekeepers support them in a neutral manner. Action on the ground must be based on a clear Security Council mandate, he stressed, condemning any action by peacekeepers based on geopolitical ambitions.
SYLVIE LUCAS ( Luxembourg) welcomed the actions taken by MONUSCO, noting that its civilian protection mandate had been strengthened since the adoption of resolution 2098 (2013). The United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) was also protecting thousands of people sheltering within its facilities throughout the country, which showed how difficult it was for a mission to exercise its civilian protection mandate without sufficient capacity, intelligence or surveillance. Calling attention to places where no United Nations peacekeeping mission had been deployed, she cited the Central African Republic, where the Organization had identified the fight against impunity as a way to protect civilians. The Council had also called on the parties in Syria to adhere to international humanitarian law, yet its presidential statement on that matter had not been respected, notably by Syrian authorities.
[NAME TO COME] ( China) said all parties to armed conflict must comply with their obligation to protect civilians. Noting that primary responsibility lay with Governments, he said that in addressing human rights violations, the first priority should be accorded to the role of national judicial institutions. While conflicts must be prevented and their root causes addressed, the protection of civilians must be part of the political processes involved in conflict resolution he emphasized. For its part, the Council must carry out preventive diplomacy to prevent and contain conflicts, and peacekeeping operations must comply with their mandates, maintain impartiality and avoid taking sides. Protection mandates must consider the situation on the ground and be “clear, realistic and feasible”, he said, stressing that humanitarian aid operations must comply with the guiding principles of the United Nations and fully respect State sovereignty.
OCTAVIO ERRÁZURIZ ( Chile) said that when States could not act to protect civilians, the international community must do so, as outlined in the 2005 World Summit outcome document. “We have a comprehensive legal framework shared by majority of States to protect civilians and other vulnerable groups,” he emphasized, while pointing out that, in many cases, there was no willingness to act or to allow humanitarian aid. Some Governments lacked the will to understand that humanitarian organizations must establish contacts with non-State actors within the State concerned. Better civilian protection called for greater cooperation among the Council, troop- and police-contributors and the Secretariat, with a view to achieving clear and realistic mandates. Resources and capacities must be granted to missions in a timely manner, he said, also urging better early warning efforts and coordination on the ground. Chile also called for the creation of a registry of civilian casualties and accountability for war crimes.
[NAME TO COME] ( Argentina), recalling that the Council had authorized offensive operations against armed groups though the deployment of an intervention brigade in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said it was important to recall that protecting civilians was of fundamental importance. Mandates must be designed carefully and adequate resources provided in a timely manner, and there was a need for structures to protect women and children from sexual, gender-based violence. Peacekeepers must also respect international humanitarian law, he emphasized, noting that Argentina had created a manual for its troops on that matter.
[NAME TO COME] ( Republic of Korea) said that a peacekeeping mission with a protection mandate was one of the most effective instruments. The protection activities of United Nations missions in such places as Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were noteworthy. However, it was regrettable that civilians still accounted for a vast majority of causalities in armed conflict, in particular the grave situation in Syria. The Council needed to enhance its ability to create achievable protection mandates and provide them with necessary resources. Protection mandates must be implemented effectively, with all stakeholders fulfilling their responsibilities. Emphasizing that the protection of civilians must be given priority in resource allocation, he said there was also a need to intensify discussions on the impact on civilians of illicit transfers of small arms and light weapons. Accountability was also a key factor in civilian protection, he said, adding that perpetrators must be held accountable, and relevant cases referred to the International Criminal Court.
[NAME TO COME] ( Rwanda) said the normative framework and mission-wide strategies had both improved the ability of the United Nations to implement effective protection mandates. The challenges, however, could be seen in the case of South Sudan, where the relapse into conflict had cost thousands of innocent lives. Violence against civilians also persisted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, perpetrated by the army, as well as armed groups, including those who had carried out the 1994 Rwanda genocide. In Syria, more than 130,000 people had been killed while the Council had failed to speak with one voice on humanitarian access. All such situations demonstrated the gaps in protection mandates, he said. Peacekeeping operations required better coordination among the Council and other United Nations bodies, and more critically, with the host State. The best way to protect civilians was to prevent conflicts, he stressed, urging the Council’s five permanent members to agree on a “moral pact of conduct”, whereby they would refrain from wielding the veto in cases of genocide and other mass-atrocity crimes.
[NAME TO COME] ( Chad) said women should be protected from rape and discriminatory or degrading acts related to their gender during armed conflict. Regrettably, such obligations were rarely observed, and in fact, they were systematically violated. Nonetheless, Chad welcomed the Council’s tireless efforts to end humanitarian tragedies, he said. Regardless of the obstacles, primary responsibility for protecting civilians in armed conflict lay with the parties concerned, and the State must apply sanctions when ratified instruments were violated, including through civilian tribunals. The International Criminal Court was a vital instrument that should be promoted, he added.
[NAME TO COME] ( France) recalled that in Mali, where French forces were deployed, a robust civilian protection mandate had allowed the country to regain a certain level of stability and hold elections. In the Central African Republic, protection activities were taking place in affected areas, such as the airport, where civilians had sought shelter. However, the protection of civilians must be strengthened to prevent the country from turning into a hotbed for atrocities, he said, emphasizing also the importance of linguistic factors when the United Nations recruited liaison points among local populations. Expressing grave concern over the situation in Syria, he said the Council could not accept the conflict there, urging both sides to ensure immediate humanitarian access President [Bashar al-]Assad and other perpetrators must be brought to justice and the Council should refer the situation to the International Criminal Court, he added.
[NAME TO COME] ( Jordan) welcomed the adoption of the presidential statement, saying it provided guidelines for promoting political commitment to civilian protection. Recalling that the world had witnessed grave violence that human conscience could not accept, he said the use of explosives in populated areas was devastating to civilians. The international community must act decisively, otherwise today’s debate would remain “conceptual”. There was a need to spread a culture of protection that would not be confined to legislation at the national or international levels. Another critical factor was the need for better coordination among the Security Council, troop- and police-contributing countries and the Secretariat. Training was also key, he said, adding that Jordan provided civilian protection training to its forces, including those deployed in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
[NAME TO COME] ( Nigeria) said the protection of civilians in armed conflict posed enormous challenges and required more than “a conceptual shift in policy”, while the challenges that peacekeepers faced were often not appreciated. They often protected civilians in harsh conditions, with inadequate resources; operated with partners who lacked the capacity or will to play their part; faced unrealistic expectations that they would be able to protect all civilians at all times; and often operated in dynamic environments. A clear understanding of peacekeeping mandates was fundamental to efficient coordination, she emphasized. Calling for strategies that would empower populations by ensuring the mitigation of threats, she said there was also a need for strong national institutions that would enhance security and the rule of law. Pre-deployment and in-mission training for peacekeepers and civilian staff was also important, she added.
RAIMONDA MURMOKAITĖ (Lithuania), associating herself with the statement to be made on behalf of the European Union, said that, although primary responsibility to protect civilians rested with national Governments, recent conflicts in places like the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Mali demonstrated instances when the State was too weak to carry out its responsibility to protect. In the case of Syria, the State itself was the perpetrator, she noted. Effective implementation of protection mandates required improved situational awareness and analysis, as well as adequate resources, structures and training. Mission leadership was crucial, as was the sharing of best practices across missions. Ensuring accountability was a strong deterrent in itself, while international justice mechanisms also had an important role to play, she said.
URMAS PAET, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia, said that, while States bore the biggest responsibility for guaranteeing civilian safety, the international community, with the Council at its helm, must act when conflicts escalated despite preventive efforts. It had various tools to promote compliance with the obligation to protect civilians, including targeted measures, mandating commissions of inquiry or referring situations to the International Criminal Court. Since it was the Council that mandated peacekeeping operations, it was up to the 15-member body to set realistic margins for them. Assessments of situations on the ground must be in line with the allocation of resources and operational capabilities. To strengthen the means for protecting civilians, the Council should also remain involved in the implementation process, he said, adding that it should include provisions for human rights monitoring in peacekeeping mandates. He also urged the timely deployment of gender and child protection advisers within peacekeeping missions. Urging the Council to remind all parties in armed conflict of their obligations, he declared: “We have to strive for a deterrence-centred approach.” By ensuring that mechanisms were in place to investigate and prosecute crimes, the Council would strengthen accountability and reduce the chances of such injustices recurring.
GERT ROSENTHAL ( Guatemala) recalled that, over the past two years, his country had contributed to the development of the international framework for the protection of civilians, a fundamental responsibility of the parties to conflict and a legal obligation to be met by all. However, it was up to individual States to protect civilians in order to prevent humanitarian disasters, such as those recently seen in the Central African Republic and Syria. He cautioned that new technologies, such as drones and other remote-controlled weapons, made it difficult to determine responsibility and could increase the prevalence of impunity and violations of human rights. The International Criminal Court had an important role to play in determining responsibility for human rights violations, he said.
MÅRTEN GRUNDITZ ( Sweden), speaking also for Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway, said peacekeeping operations were increasingly granted robust mandates and deployed to places suffering high levels of violence. As such, efforts to protect civilians should begin at the very earliest stages of mission planning, he said, encouraging strengthened implementation of civilian protection mandates. Ensuring that missions had strong human rights monitoring mandates and adequate resources should be part of those efforts. Describing attacks against humanitarian workers as war crimes that should not go unpunished, he also expressed concern over the denial of food and health care, and over attacks on hospitals and schools, which inflicted harm on civilians in violation of the most fundamental principles of humanity. The tragedy in Syria was a case in point, he said, expressing support for the adoption of a resolution to address that urgent matter. Efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence in conflict must be strengthened, he added, welcoming the deployment of women protection advisers in five ongoing missions and urging the Secretariat to carry out an early evaluation of their work.
VLADIMIR DROBNJAK ( Croatia) strongly condemned the widespread, systematic and gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Syria, including targeted killings. It was of utmost importance to recognize rape and other forms of sexual violence in conflict as war crimes and crimes against humanity, falling under the purview of the International Criminal Court, he said, adding that the responsibility to protect was a vital part of the efforts required to protect civilians. Croatia strongly urged all parties in conflict to respect their international obligations, bearing in mind that the State bore primary responsibility for implementing international humanitarian law, as well as human rights law.
ASOKE KUMAR MUKERJI ( India) said that the dispatch of foreign troops did not automatically protect civilians, and questioned whether a robust peacekeeping mandate translated into civilian protection. In December, he recalled, some 2,000 armed youth had attacked the UNMISS base providing protection to internally displaced Dinka people. The 40 Indian peacekeepers there had been heavily outnumbered. Had they opened fire, hundreds of people would have been killed, he said, asking whether such casualties would have been described as “civilians” or “combatants”. Troop-contributing countries understood situations on the ground better than most and their advice could serve the Council well, he said.
JORGE MONTAÑO ( Mexico) said it was crucial to guarantee that the resources deployed to peacekeeping operations were aligned with the expectations of the mandates assigned to them. In parallel, the capacity of national Governments must be strengthened as they bore primary responsibility for protecting civilians. The Security Council had the necessary civilian protection tools, but effective protection must include respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law by all players, including the United Nations itself. The trafficking of small arms and light weapons impeded peacekeeping, and Member States should, therefore, ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, he said. Mexico supported the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, although they must be deployed in accordance with international humanitarian law.
RON PROSOR ( Israel) said the international community would soon mark the third anniversary of the Syrian conflict, which had reached catastrophic proportions. Endless meetings and good intentions were not good enough, as they did not change the outcome on the ground. The Council had often been divided over Syria, but time was running out as the wheels of diplomacy continued to spin in the mud of debate and dialogue. When conflict had erupted in the Central African Republic, the African Union had acted quickly to avoid a genocide, while France had quickly stepped in when violence had broken out in Mali. Now, each country must do its part with regard to Syria, he said, emphasizing that when Governments were unable or unwilling to protect its civilians, the United Nations was often the last line of defence. Because of “petty politics”, only a trickle of assistance had reached those in Syria who needed it most. The men, women and children of Syria should not stand alone, he declared. Rather, the international community should be standing at their side to ensure a safer and more secure future. It was time to stop talking and take decisive action because no nation was free from responsibility.
PAUL SEGER ( Switzerland), speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends, noted the Secretary-General’s intention to examine the issue of arbitrary withholding of consent to relief operations. Several drafting seminars for legal experts had taken place, and the Group was ready to discuss their findings. It also noted that civilian casualty tracking, where practicable, played an important role in efforts to reduce harm to civilians, he said, inviting parties to conflict, as well as United Nations peacekeeping missions, to recognize the potential value of such a capability. He also noted the continuing efforts to ensure effective and credible casualty recording mechanisms. Further discussions were needed on the issue of lethal autonomous weapons systems, he added.
CHRISTIAN WENAWESER ( Liechtenstein) said the Council must respond decisively when massive violations of international humanitarian law escalated, as in Syria. It was high time it adopted a resolution urging all parties to conflict to ensure that civilians in need could be reached and that humanitarian and medical personnel were protected. The prospect of accountability provided an incentive for warring parties to comply with their legal obligations. Furthermore, the Council had a crucial role in triggering the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction, and thereby realizing its full deterrent effect. Accountability must be pursued through a range of measures, beyond criminal proceedings, he said, emphasizing that efforts must be made to preserve the rights of victims, fight impunity on a larger scale, establish a common historical narrative and lay the foundations for long-term reconciliation.
HUSSEIN HANIFF ( Malaysia) said the practice of civilian protection did not match the international community’s vision of advancing it. “Our expectations are unreachable, while our efforts remain rudimentary,” he said. The idea of establishing a registry of civilian casualties warranted attention. The leaders of United Nations peacekeeping missions should brief the Council more often, thereby enabling it to keep abreast of developments in the field. In addition, missions should consider implementing civilian protection mandates in an integrated manner since military and police units could not work in “silos”. Prior to deployment, peacekeepers, as well as civilian personnel, should be trained through a common module on the protection of civilians, he said.
MOOTAZ AHMADEIN KHALIL ( Egypt) said a comprehensive framework for future peacekeeping mandates was essential to ensuring the protection of civilians and accountability for any violations occurring during their implementation. Missions should respect the sovereignty and cultural specificities of host countries, which bore primary responsibility for protecting civilians under imminent threat. All parties must comply with the principles of distinction and proportionality in armed conflict, refrain from targeting medical facilities, and grant access to humanitarian aid. Egypt called on the Council to ensure rapid and effective accountability for violations against civilians in armed conflict.
MICHEL SPINELLIS ( Greece), describing the use of new weapons technologies as a threat to civilians, questioned their compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law. The same technologies could, however, track and record civilian casualties, while helping to bring perpetrators to justice, he noted. He said attacks against journalists continued to rise, particularly as their role expanded and became increasingly dependent on their ability to provide independent and fair coverage of all sides of a conflict. Journalists were becoming more vulnerable, and combating impunity would undoubtedly reduce the number of civilian deaths, including those of journalists, he said, emphasizing that civilian protection must include elements that took the need also to protect journalists into account.
MARTIN SAJDIK (Austria), associating himself with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union, called on the Council to ensure a more coherent use of sanctions regimes, with criteria linked to violations of international humanitarian law and human rights laws. Austria had developed an interdisciplinary training course on the protection of civilians that was open to national and international participants, including senior decision makers within national armed forces, police services, civilian administrations and other stakeholders and experts. He welcomed calls for an end to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and for practical measures and guidelines for reducing their humanitarian impact. Austria also supported the Secretary-General’s call to ensure that attacks by armed drones complied fully with international humanitarian law and human rights laws.
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