Check against delivery
Mr President,
Thank you for inviting me to address the Council on this important topic.
In 1999, when former ICRC President Cornelio Sommaruga briefed this body, he spoke of 20 active conflicts. Today, there are more than 120 conflicts recorded by my organisation.
Over the past 25 years, and despite the many resolutions adopted by this Council, civilians have been attacked, displaced, violated, wounded or killed by most reprehensible means.
In parallel, there are more and more conflicts where humanitarian action is prevented. Neutral and impartial providers of humanitarian assistance and protection, such as the ICRC, are regularly pressured in the pursuit of political or military objectives.
What are the means to reverse some of these most devastating trends?
The Geneva Conventions represent the strongest universal consensus on the need to preserve humanity in war. They are key to maintaining a pathway to peace and stability. The principles enshrined in this fundamental legal framework are independent of culture, religion, or social status. They constitute a common denominator, a shared understanding that humanity is non-derogable and characterized by the equal worth of all human beings.
Mr President,
Today I want to bring to this Council’s attention two issues which are often critical to building trust among warring parties:
- The protection of persons deprived of liberty and those who are at risk of going missing.
- And secondly, compliance with international humanitarian law.