Ministry Statements & Speeches:
I thank the Secretary-General, the Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Ms Hanaa Edwar for their briefings, and Poland for organising this important debate.
As we have heard, there has rarely been a more dangerous time to be a civilian in a conflict zone than right now.
Two years ago New Zealand was pleased to work with four other elected Council members to secure the unanimous adoption of resolution 2286, in response to the horrific escalation in attacks against medical facilities and personnel in Syria, Yemen and beyond.
It was an important reaffirmation of our collective commitment to uphold international law in the face of such atrocities.
It was also a demonstration of how elected members can work together in the Council to tackle important issues.
Yet healthcare personnel and infrastructure continue to be targeted in conflict zones around the world.
Despite the best efforts of organisations such as the Red Cross and Medecins San Frontieres, large numbers of civilians are unable to access health care.
Medical supplies are blocked, hospitals bombed, and doctors killed.
Besieging civilians and denying them critical health care cruelly exacerbates the suffering of innocents.
This lack of respect for international humanitarian law is unacceptable.
But we must not become despondent or dispirited.
There are three areas where we need greater shared determination to reverse these trends.
Firstly, we need greater determination from this Council to discharge its responsibility to maintain international peace and security.
It must make use of all of the tools available to prevent conflict, defend fundamental international norms, and hold accountable those who violate them.
This Council should also consider practical measures, such as publicly calling out offending parties, or instituting humanitarian safe zones where civilians are at risk during heightened hostilities.
The ongoing attacks on healthcare workers and facilities demonstrate the urgent need for the Security Council to explore further ways in which it can use its authority to end attacks and ensure those responsible face justice.
Secondly, we need determination from all Member States to demand universal compliance, from both State and non-State actors, with international law.
This is a prerequisite for the protection of civilians and healthcare workers in conflict zones.
We cannot let the erosion of international rules become established as a new normal. Respect for accountability must stand.
While we support the establishment by the General Assembly of a mechanism for the crimes committed in Syria, we regret that this was necessitated by the failure of this Council to take action.
It is incumbent on all of us to ensure strict adherence to these rules and that violations of international law are met with appropriate consequences, including from the Council given its unique responsibilities.
Thirdly, we need continued determination from Member States to support the Secretary-General’s ambitious changes to how the UN works on management, development, and peace and security.
Taken together, these reforms promise a world where we can significantly reduce the risk of conflict.
More directly, the changes to the peace and security pillar should result in a Secretariat better positioned to use and collect information, to provide early warnings on threats such as those to civilians and healthcare facilities, and then to act on these.
It should also lead to a more integrated approach to peacebuilding and sustaining peace across the UN architecture, enabling the UN to more effectively protect civilian interests.
Mr President
New Zealand is determined to do its part, and we hope that this determination will be shared by others.
Thank you.