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Spindelegger: UN agenda to protect civilians |
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Spindelegger: "Protection of civilians in conflict should be returned to the top of the UN agenda"
High-ranking seminar on Security Council issues in Alpbach headed by Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonVienna, 30 August 2009 –"Wherever in the world there are wars, it is particularly women and children who are the main sufferers: they get caught between the fronts, they are forced to leave their homes and are torn away from their families, injured and killed. Quite often, the civilian population is even the targeted victim of a conflict when civilians are used as human shields, when women and girls are systematically raped or children are recruited as soldiers. Here, vigorous counter-measures by the entire international community, and in particular the United Nations, are required," stated Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger in Alpbach at the beginning of a three-day seminar devoted to the topic The Protection of Civilians in Conflicts.
The seminar is being attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, high-ranking UN representatives, ambassadors from 26 countries and representatives of aid organisations. "For Austria, the protection of civilians has been a major concern for a long time now. Within the framework of our membership of the UN Security Council, and particularly during our chairmanship in November, we want this issue returned to the top of the UN agenda. The Alpbach seminar is designed to move the discussion forward and develop practical approaches to how civilians can be better protected by UN peace missions and what contribution the Security Council must make in this area. This is to lay the basis for an open debate at ministerial level in the Security Council to be chaired by Austria this November," stated Spindelegger.
"We must not harbour any illusions. In the brutal reality of conflicts, the requirements we formulate in the interest of civilians are often not met or, indeed, are ruthlessly flouted," continued Spindelegger. "However, this must not lead us to slacken our efforts. We must do everything to ensure that the people concerned are offered protection and the best possible support."
Ten years ago, the protection of civilians in conflicts was dealt with by the UN Security Council as a separate issue for the first time. When formulating the mandate for its numerous peace-keeping missions, the Security Council considers how compliance with international humanitarian law can be guaranteed by the conflicting parties, how the return of refugees can be supported in the best possible way and how quick access for humanitarian aid can be ensured.
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