Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Ronaldo Costa Filho, no debate aberto do Conselho de Segurança sobre Proteção de Civis - 25 de janeiro de 2022 (texto em inglês)
Statement by the Permanent Representative Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho in the Security Council Open Debate on Protection of Civilians
25 January 2022
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Mr. President,
Let me thank Norway for organizing this timely open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts carried out in urban settings. Protracted and asymmetric conflicts have nowadays become the norm, with dire consequences for the civilian population, which can be exacerbated in urban areas. Brazil reiterates its commitment to the protection of civilians, which is a priority of our mandate in the Council.
This Council cannot normalize the current situation where civilians account for the majority of deaths in armed conflicts, and are very often deliberately targeted. It is unacceptable that today, in many conflicts, the principle of proportionality has been turned upside down.
Mr. President,
Despite the heavy toll of armed conflicts in urban areas, there are tools that parties can resort to as a way to avoid or at least minimize civilian harm in such contexts. This Council is well placed to recommend some measures, and I take this opportunity to highlight four of them:
First, respecting and ensuring respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) is not only a legal obligation, but also an effective way to protect civilians. The Council must be united in demanding all parties to respect IHL and in encouraging actions to strengthen compliance. Specific training tailored to urban settings is key, as well as proper adaptation of the means and methods of warfare to the specificities of densely populated areas. It is also important to document civilian harm, including as a means to assess whether the predicted casualties of military operations correspond to the damage actually caused to civilians. Parties must plan their operations based on solid information regarding military objectives and the location of civilian personnel and objects.
Second, the choice of weapons is a key part of military considerations to protect civilians in armed conflicts in urban environments. Brazil has endorsed the Santiago Declaration, signed by Latin American and Caribbean States, in support of a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and has actively participated in the informal consultations on the subject coordinated by Ireland. For Brazil, such a political declaration should establish common standards, promote policies to reduce the risk of civilian harm and facilitate the exchange of good practices. It is also an opportunity to promote compliance with IHL and recognize the rights of victims and affected communities, providing them with adequate assistance.
Third, humanitarian actors must be able to provide assistance to civilians in need. Parties to armed conflicts should facilitate safe and unimpeded passage for relief actions that are humanitarian and impartial in character. In many instances, humanitarian actors might need to engage with non-state armed groups to facilitate humanitarian access, disseminate IHL, or even to ensure the provision of basic services in urban settings. These contacts, when carried out in respect for IHL norms and humanitarian principles, should not be criminalized. Moreover, the Council should adopt safeguards to ensure that sanctions and counterterrorism measures do not have adverse consequences to legitimate and impartial humanitarian action.
Fourth, meaningful accountability for civilian harm goes hand in hand with effective protection. When violations occur, they must be investigated impartially and their perpetrators held accountable.
Mr. President,
The fact that civilians live in areas controlled by non-state armed groups, or even by terrorists, does not make them combatants or terrorists. It does not make them targets. It generally makes them victims of a situation that they often did not create. These are important points to recall when addressing the situation of civilians in armed conflicts in urban areas, which poses specific challenges for humanitarian principles, specially the principle of distinction.
Finally, let us take this opportunity to renew our commitment to the prevention of armed conflicts and to the protection of civilians in all conflict zones, including in urban areas. The destruction of urban infrastructure, including historical sites and cultural property, the sight of abandoned cities and the ruins of once vibrant urban centers, have often become images of contemporary armed conflicts. They are also an eerie reminder of the costs of reconstruction. Prevention, diplomacy and de-escalation must therefore continue to be at the center of our joint efforts to promote respect for IHL and to protect civilians in all armed conflict situations, including in urban settings.
Thank you.