Viet Nam calls for more vigorous efforts in protecting civilians in conflicts
VGP – Viet Nam has called on parties involved in conflicts to strictly comply with international law and international humanitarian law, especially the four 1949 Geneva Conventions and relevant UN resolutions, thus better-protecting civilians in conflicts.
People receive food relief in the southern Gaza Strip of Rafah on March 30, 2024. Photo: VNA
The call was made by Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)'s open debate held on May 21-22 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in combination with the marking of the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1265, and the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
Under the chairmanship of Mozambique, President of the United Nations Security Council in May 2024, the debate attracted representatives from more than 90 member countries, UN observers and international organizations.
Citing the conflict in Gaza that has killed an average of more than 150 civilians every day over the past seven months, Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen stressed that the international community and the UNSC should take more effective measures to protect civilians and civil infrastructure works.
The official held that the best way is to unroot the causes of conflict and create favorable conditions for dialogue and reconciliation.
He also highlighted Viet Nam's efforts in promoting the protection of civilians, including the bringing of crimes of undermining peace, waging wars of aggression, crimes against humanity, and war crimes into the Penal Code.
As a non-permanent member of the UNSC in the 2020-2021 tenure, Viet Nam took charge of drafting and promoting the adoption of Resolution 2573 on protecting essential civil infrastructure in conflicts while chairing several meetings on overcoming the consequences of land mines, preventing sexual violence, and caring for children in conflict.
Through participating in UN peacekeeping operations, Viet Nam has also effectively contributed to the protection of civilians affected by conflicts on site.
Resolution 1265, dated September 17, 1999, for the first time, recognized the protection of civilians in conflict as an essential issue for international peace and security and became an official annual item on the agenda of the UNSC.
Meanwhile, the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and three Additional Protocols are considered the foundation of international humanitarian law to protect victims of armed conflict./.
