UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations Security Council will vote Friday on a resolution that strongly condemns attacks on humanitarians and U.N. personnel and demands that all combatants protect them in accordance with international law.
The Swiss-backed resolution expresses serious concerns about the growing number of attacks and threats against UN and humanitarian personnel, along with the continued disregard and violations of international humanitarian law by fighters.
“The purpose of the resolution is as simple as it is important,” Swiss U.N. Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl told The Associated Press on Thursday. “It’s about protecting the men and women who work and risk their lives every day to help people affected by armed conflict.”
The draft resolution does not mention any conflict, but it is being voted on as fighting rages in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and many other hotspots around the world.
However, it is the seven-month war in Gaza that has seen the greatest number of attacks on UN and humanitarian personnel. According to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, more than 190 UN staff have been killed, a death toll unprecedented in the almost 80-year history of the United Nations.
The war has also led to the deaths of other humanitarian workers, including seven World Central Kitchen employees who were killed in an Israeli airstrike last month.
Baeriswyl said in a statement to AP that the resolution is being voted on at a very timely moment. The Geneva Conventions, which Baeriswyl described as the cornerstone of international humanitarian law and a reflection of our common humanity, commemorate their 75th anniversary in August.
The draft resolution calls on all countries to respect and protect humanitarian and UN personnel, as required by international law. And it calls on all countries and parties to armed conflicts to respect international humanitarian law and their obligations under the Geneva Conventions. It “strongly condemns attacks and all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, threats and intimidation against humanitarian, United Nations and associated personnel.”
The draft urges combatants “to respect the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in the conduct of hostilities and to refrain from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.”
The proposed resolution also urges the warring parties to “facilitate full, safe, expeditious and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians in need, and to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel to promote staff.”
At another point, the draft condemns “disinformation, information manipulation and incitement to violence” against humanitarians and UN personnel and encourages all countries and the United Nations to take action to address these threats.
If approved, the resolution would express the council’s determination to take steps to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian and UN personnel. It would ask the UN Secretary-General to make recommendations within six months on measures to prevent attacks, ensure accountability and improve protection of humanitarians and UN personnel.
