Norrænt ávarp í opinni umræðu í öryggisráði SÞ um verndun óbreyttra borgara í vopnuðum átökum

Kirsti Lintonen, fastafulltrúi Finnlands hjá Sameinuðu þjóðunum, flutti þann 14. janúar, ávarp fyrir hönd Norðurlandanna á opnum fundi í öryggisráði SÞ, sem helgaður var verndun óbreyttra borgara í vopnuðum átökum. Í ávarpinu var m.a. djúpum áhyggjum lýst yfir ástandinu á Gaza þar sem fjöldi óbreyttra borgarar hefur látist og særst að undanförnu. Einnig var lögð áhersla á að ríki stæðu við alþjóðlegar samþykktir og lög sem tryggja óbreyttum borgurum vernd í átökum. Sérstök áhersla var lögð á vernd barna og kvenna sem og mikilvægi þess að konur til jafnfætis körlum taki þátt í að fyrirbyggja átök, friðarviðræðum, enduruppbyggingarstarfi og stjórnmálum.

Mr. President,

I have the honour of delivering the following statement on behalf of all five Nordic countries, Denmark,

Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland,

The Nordic countries welcome this six-monthly open debate and wish to thank the Presidency of the

Security Council and the Secretary-General for organising the debate, as well as the Under-Secretary-

General John Holmes for his topical briefing. Timely and adequate briefings to the Security Council by

the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, the Special Advisor on

the Prevention of Genocide and by other relevant actors will help the Council to act sufficiently early on

in conflict situations to effectively protect civilians at risk.

Protection of civilians in armed conflicts is a cornerstone of international humanitarian law.

Regrettably, and in spite of the established status of the fundamental rule of distinction, called by the

International Court of Justice as an intransgressible principle of international customary law,1 civilians

often fall victims to disregard shown by states and armed groups of their obligations. Even state

signatories to the relevant instruments fail to abide by the provisions. The Nordic countries wish to

emphasize that unarmed men, women and children must not be targeted. All necessary measures must

be taken by the parties to the conflict to avoid civilian casualties.

The Nordic countries are deeply concerned of the escalation of violence in Gaza and the killing and

injuries inflicted upon large numbers of non-combatants. The ceasefire decided by the Security Council

must be given effect. Life-saving ambulances must be given unrestricted access to the wounded,

medical personnel, hospitals and other medical units must be respected and protected. It is also worth

recalling that disrespect of the rules by the other party to the conflict can never serve as a justification

for deliberate targeting of civilians or civilian objects.

Mr. President,

It is essential to strengthen local capacities to protect civilians at risk of grave human rights violations.

Through the Nordic Coordinated Arrangement for Military Peace Support (NORDCAPS), the Nordic

countries have offered PSO training support to partners, inter alia, in the Western Balkans and Ukraine.

Our additional focus is now on Africa, where we are examining potential Nordic projects to support the

development of the African Peace and Security Architecture.

In order to build sustainable peace and security there is a need for increased attention on women's equal

and active participation in conflict prevention, peace negotiations, reconstruction and political

participation. As women and children are vulnerable in conflicts, their situation should be addressed

accordingly. Comprehensive implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 is crucial. The

Nordic countries are committed to do their share in the implementation process. A concrete case in

point is that all five Nordic countries have drawn up national Action Plans on the implementation of

resolution 1325.

The scope and brutality of sexual violence against women and children in the eastern parts of The

Democratic Republic of Congo is particularly worrying. Hundreds of thousands of women in the region

have been raped, and they continue to lack adequate protection from further sexual violence, despite the

efforts by humanitarian actors, MONUC and others. Much more needs to be done in order to address

these horrible crimes. In this context the UN Security Council resolution 1820 on sexual violence in

armed conflict is crucial to implement.

Mr. President,

We support the need to enhance complementarity and coordination of national policies and strategies

related to security, development, human rights and humanitarian issues. The International Humanitarian

Law grants children special protection and sets a minimum age for participating in hostilities. The

short,- medium- and long-term impacts of armed conflict on children, adolescents and young persons

must be addressed in an effective, sustainable and comprehensive manner.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states that children have the right to express their

opinion in matters that affect them. We have to expand opportunities for children’s voices to be heard

and given due weight in peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts. More attention needs to be paid to

this aspect of the implementation of Security Council resolution 1612 on children and armed conflict.

The Nordic countries wish to emphasize the need to mainstream the rights of the child into all activities

in conflict and post-conflict situations.

The engagement of the Security Council has greatly elevated the relevance of child protection concerns

within its international peace and security agenda and has allowed for opportunities to improve efforts

and actions for the protection of children. While there has been progress in some field, there is an urgent

need to address all grave violations, in particular sexual violence against children is a heinous

consequence of war. We wish to join the call by the Special Rapporteur on Children and Armed

Conflict that strong action should be also taken against those who sexually violate children.

Mr. President,

On a more positive note, the Nordic countries recall the establishment of the International Criminal

Court as an achievement of historical significance. Now that the Statute is in force for 108 states, and

the system laid down in the Rome Statute is fully operational and functioning, there is much reason to

be confident of the Court’s future. The ideas of justice and accountability have been institutionally

anchored at the international level and have been more broadly embraced than ever before. The first

proceedings of the International Criminal Court highlight the duty to protect civilians in armed

conflicts. The Nordic countries urge all States to ratify the Rome Statute and to fully implement its

provisions in their national legislation.

We are also encouraged by the unequivocal statement by the UN Summit in 2005 of the responsibility

to protect civilian populations from genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and war

crimes. We are looking forward to the report of the Secretary-General on this notion, and believe it will

provide a basis for further deepening the international consensus on the necessary steps to be taken by

both states and international organizations to prevent humanitarian catastrophes.

Mr. President,

Let me conclude by ensuring that the Nordic countries will continue to be firmly committed on this

issue of great importance.

1 Nuclear Weapons Advisory Opinion