Check against delivery

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro^* and Albania^*, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement.

I would like to thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Jacek Czaputowicz, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, the Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross Yves Daccord, and Ms. Hanaa Edwar.

The protection of civilians remains of utmost concern for the EU and its Member States, and we welcome the opportunity today to speak on this important topic. We also welcome the Secretary General's report, along with the practical recommendations therein.

One does not need to look to official documents or reports to be made aware that we are facing a protection crisis. Every day, news reports remind us that civilians – including women, children and persons with disabilities – disproportionately suffer the consequences of conflict and instability. Schools and hospitals are regularly attacked, with negative effects also on the fulfilment of the right to education and on the possibility for children to pursue a better future. This was a worrying trend throughout 2017, which unfortunately has continued in the first months of 2018.

I would like to address four areas that are of particular concern to us, and where the EU and its Member States have taken steps to advance protection efforts; respect for international law, prevention of gender-based violence, reducing restrictions on humanitarian access, and protection of medical and humanitarian personnel.

Only a couple of days ago, this Council together with numerous Member States, reaffirmed its commitment to the respect and upholding of international law. Notwithstanding, civilian populations continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts across the globe, whether it is as victims of deliberate or indiscriminate attacks, as those suffering from the reverberating and long-term effects of urban warfare, or as those forcibly displaced from their homes. It is our collective responsibility to ensure respect for international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to hold those who violate it accountable. It needs to be said openly – civilian victims of unimaginable atrocities need elementary satisfaction of the sense of justice. We are morally obliged to bring perpetrators of crimes to justice, especially those who commit the most flagrant violations of the international law. Within the EU, there has been an increasing number of prosecutions under national legislation against those who breach norms of international humanitarian law. The EU maintains strong support for international justice and accountability, including the work of the International Criminal Court, and urges all UN Members to do the same. Let's bridge the gap between what is being said in this Council, and everyday practice.

Secondly, as noted in the Secretary General's report, sexual and gender based violence continues to be employed as a tactic of war, terrorism, torture and repression. It is a common and alarming trend across various, otherwise diverse, crises, and the victims – women and girls, men and boys – are often those already belonging to the most vulnerable groups. It is therefore absolutely imperative that a gender perspective is incorporated in protection efforts, including humanitarian action. To this end, the EU and its Member States remain committed to, among other initiatives, the 'Call to Action on Protection from Gender Based Violence in Emergencies', and encourage partners to urgently implement their commitments.

Thirdly, 2017 was a sombre reminder of the crucial link between the protection of civilians and humanitarian access - and more often - the lack thereof. Widespread and persistent constraints on the delivery of humanitarian aid prevented millions of civilians across the world from meeting their most basic needs. The EU condemns in the strongest terms the use of besiege and starvation tactics as a method of war. Politics have no role to play in the delivery of lifesaving assistance. The EU also opposes bureaucratic impediments, including delays in permits or visas, that challenge effective humanitarian action. Lastly, mindful of States' legitimate security concerns, we oppose the criminalization of principled humanitarian activities under the pretext of countering terrorism. Therefore, under the March 2017 European Union Directive on combating terrorism, the provision of humanitarian assistance by impartial humanitarian organizations recognized under international law does not fall within the scope of the Directive.

Fourthly, and related to my last point, the EU remains concerned about the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, including those providing of medical services in conflict. As facilitator of the UNGA resolution on this topic, we work tirelessly to strengthen the protection of those who risk their lives on a daily basis to help others, including national staff. We are also fully committed to the continued implementation of resolution 2286, adopted in this Council two years ago, and urge other States to join us in this effort. Principled humanitarian action, including the provision of medical services to the wounded and the sick, defines our humanity and must remain an undisputed priority. 

Finally, peace-keeping missions can play a pivotal role by having the protection of civilians at the core of their mandates, in line with the Kigali Principles. In this regard, we must seek a better definition of possible political strategies for the protection of civilians that can help to improve implementation on the field, also in the framework of the reform of the peace and security architecture envisaged by the Secretary General and of its focus on prevention. Additionally, Member States should strive to improve the gender balance in all components of peacekeeping operations, in order to achieve a more equitable gender representation and to improve the capacity of missions to reach all segments of the civilian population.

Thank you.

* The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.