UNRIC Library Backgrounder: “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict” – Selected Online Resources

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A/RES/ES-10/22: Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations / Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 12 December 2023:
https://undocs.org/A/RES/ES-10/22

A/RES/ES-10/21: Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations / Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 27 October 2023:
https://undocs.org/A/RES/ES-10/21

 


Protection of Civilians Week: 22 – 25 May 2023

https://www.unocha.org/protection-civilians-week-2023

 

Protection of civilians in armed conflict: Reports of the Secretary-General

 

Security Council Meetings: “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”
(links to meeting records, presidential statements, resolutions, and press releases)

  • 2024: 20 March, 27 February
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2024
  • 2023: 23 May
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2023

    • S/2023/307 (3 May 2023): Letter dated 1 May 2023 from the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: https://undocs.org/S/2023/307
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council high-level open debate at the ministerial level on “Ensuring the security and dignity of civilians in conflict: addressing food insecurity and protecting essential services”, to be held on 23 May 2023.
  • 2022: 15 September, 25 May, 25 January
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2022

    • S/2022/23 (10 January 2022): Letter dated 10 January 2022 from the Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/S/2022/23
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council high-level open debate on the topic “War in cities : protection of civilians in urban settings”, to be held on 25 Jan. 2022.
  • 2021: 16 July, 25 May, 27 April
    https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/meetings-2020-vtc
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2021

    • S/2021/618 (2 July 2021): Letter dated 1 July 2021 from the Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/S/2021/618
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council open debate on the topic “Protection of humanitarian space”, to be held on 16 July 2021.
    • S/2021/468 (14 May 2021): Letter dated 14 May 2021 from the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2021/468
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council open debate on the topic “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”, to be held on 25 May 2021.
    • S/RES/2573 (2021): http://undocs.org/S/RES/2573(2021)
      on protection of civilian infrastructure in armed conflicts
    • S/2021/335 (7 April 2021): Letter dated 6 April 2021 from the Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/S/2021/335
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council open debate on the topic “Protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population”, to be held on 27 Apr. 2021.
  • 2020: 17 September, 27 May, 29, 21 April
    https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/meetings-2020-vtc
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2020

    • S/2020/402 (8 May 2020): Letter dated 14 May 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/S/2020/402
      Transmits concept note and guidelines for the Security Council open high-level video teleconference on the topic “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”, to be held on 27 May 2020.
    • S/PRST/2020/6 (29 April 2020): Statement [made on behalf of the Security Council, issued on 29 Apr. 2020, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”]: http://undocs.org/S/PRST/2020/6
    • S/2020/340 (29 April 2020): Letter dated 23 April 2020 from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General and the Permanent Representatives of the members of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2020/340
      Transmits copy of the briefings by the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme and the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council and of the statements delivered by the representatives of Belgium, China, Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Niger, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States and Viet Nam, in connection with the videoconference convened on 21 Apr. 2020.
  • 2019: 20, 11 June, 23 May
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2019

    • S/2019/588 (24 July 2019): Letter dated 19 July 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2019/588
      Transmits summary of events held by Member States on the sidelines of the Security Council open debate on the topic “Protection of civilians in armed conflict” on 21, 22 and 24 May 2019.
    • S/2019/586 (23 July 2019): Letter dated 5 July 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2019/586
      Transmits summary of the Security Council open debate on the topic “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”, held 23 May 2019.
    • S/RES/2475 (2019): http://undocs.org/S/RES/2475(2019)
      on protection of persons with disabilities in armed conflict
    • S/RES/2474 (2019): http://undocs.org/S/RES/2474(2019)
      on persons missing as a result of armed conflict
    • S/2019/458 (3 June 2019): https://undocs.org/S/2019/458
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council briefing on the subject “Missing persons in armed conflict” on 11 June 2019.
    • S/2019/385 (14 May 2019): https://undocs.org/S/2019/385
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council open debate on the theme “Protection of civilians in armed conflict” on 23 May 2019.
  • 2018: 21 September, 24, 22 May
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2018

    • S/PRST/2018/18: Statement / by the President of the Security Council [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 8359th meeting, 21 Sept. 2018, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”]: http://undocs.org/S/PRST/2018/18
      Transmits updated Aide Memoire for the consideration of issues pertaining to the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
    • S/2018/684 (10 July 2018): Letter dated 29 June 2018 from the Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/S/2018/684
      Transmits presidential summary of the Security Council open debate on the topic “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”, held on 22 May 2018.
    • S/RES/2417 (2018): http://undocs.org/S/RES/2417(2018)
      on conflict-induced food insecurity
    • S/2018/444 (10 May 2018): Letter dated 9 May 2018 from the Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/S/2018/444
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council Ministerial open debate on the subject “Protection of civilians in armed conflict” on 22 May 2018.
  • 2017: 25 May
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2017

    • Secretary-General says ‘No one is winning today’s wars, everybody is losing’, as Security Council debates Protection of civilians in armed conflict (SG/SM/18537-SC/12842-HR/5362, 25 May 2017): http://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18537.doc.htm
    • S/2017/365 (28 April 2017): Letter dated 26 April 2017 from the Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/S/2017/365
      Transmits concept note for the Security Council open debate on the topic “Protection of civilians and medical care in armed conflict”, to be held on 25 May 2017.
  • 2016: 28 September, 10 June, 3 May, 19 January
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2016

    • S/2016/722 (18 August 2016): Letter dated 18 August 2016 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2016/722
      Transmits recommendations pursuant to para. 13 of Security Council resolution 2286 (2016) on measures to protect medical care in armed conflicts.
    • S/2016/503: http://undocs.org/S/2016/503
      Transmits concept note prepared for the High-level open debate on protecting civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations, held 10 June 2016.
    • S/RES/2286 (2016): http://undocs.org/S/RES/2286(2016)
      on protection of the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel in armed conflict
    • S/2016/22 (8 January 2016): http://undocs.org/S/2016/22
      Transmits concept note prepared by Uruguay for the Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, held on 18 January 2016.
  • 2015: 25 November, 27 May, 30 January
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2015

    • S/PRST/2015/23: Statement / by the President of the Security Council [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 7568th meeting, 25 Nov. 2015, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”]: http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc12138.doc.htm
    • S/RES/2222 (2015): http://undocs.org/S/RES/2222(2015)
      on protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict
    • S/2015/307 (1 May 2015): http://undocs.org/S/2015/307
      Transmits note prepared by Lithuania for the Security Council open debate on the protection of journalists in conflict situations, held on 27 May 2015.
    • S/2015/32 (19 January 2015): http://undocs.org/S/2015/32
      Transmits concept note prepared by Chile for the Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict: protection challenges and needs faced by women and girls in armed conflict and post-conflict settings (30 January 2015).
  • 2014: 29 August, 19 August, 12 February
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2014

    • S/RES/2175 (2014): http://undocs.org/S/RES/2175(2014)
    • S/2014/571 (6 August 2014): http://undocs.org/S/2014/571
      Transmits concept note prepared by the United Kingdom for Security Council open briefing on World Humanitarian Day, 19 Aug. 2014, focusing on the protection of humanitarian workers, under the agenda item on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
    • S/PRST/2014/3: Statement / by the President of the Security Council [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 7109th meeting, 12 Feb. 2014, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”]: http://undocs.org/S/PRST/2014/3
    • S/2014/74 (3 February 2014): http://undocs.org/S/2014/74
      Transmits concept note prepared by Lithuania for the Security Council open debate on the subject “Protection of civilians in armed conflict” on 12 February 2014.
  • 2013: 19 August, 17 July, 12 February
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2013

    • S/2013/447 (1 August 2013): http://undocs.org/S/2013/447
      Transmits concept note prepared by Argentina for the Security Council open debate on the subject “Protection of civilians in armed conflict” on 19 August 2013.
    • S/2013/393 (3 July 2013): http://undocs.org/S/2013/393
      Transmits concept paper entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict: protection of journalists” prepared by the United States for the open debate of the Security Council on 17 July 2013.
    • S/PRST/2013/2: Statement / by the President of the Security Council [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 6917th meeting, 12 Feb. 2013, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”]: http://undocs.org/S/PRST/2013/2
    • S/2013/75 (5 February 2013): http://undocs.org/S/2013/75
      Transmits concept note prepared by the Republic of Korea for the Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on 12 February 2013.
  • 2012: 25 June
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2012
  • 2011: 9 November, 10 May
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2011
  • 2010: 22 November, 7 July
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2010

    • S/PRST/2010/25: Statement / by the President of the Security Council [made on behalf of the Security Council, at the 6427th meeting, 22 Nov. 2010, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”]: http://undocs.org/S/PRST/2010/255
      Annex: “Protection of civilians in armed conflict: Aide Memoire”
  • 2009: 11 November, 26 June, 14 January
    http://research.un.org/en/docs/sc/quick/meetings/2009

    • S/2009/567 (3 November 2009): http://undocs.org/S/2009/567
      Transmits concept paper for the Security Council open debate on the theme “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”, to be held on 11 Nov. 2009 under the Austrian Presidency of the Security Council.
  • Further information: “Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council”
    https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/repertoire/thematic-items#P

 

Children and armed conflict: Reports of the Secretary-General

 

Security Council Meeting: “Children and armed conflict”
(links to meeting records, presidential statements, resolutions, and press releases)

 

Selected UN Publications & further UN documents

 

Further Information

 

Non-UN Sources

3 April 2024
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-civilians-in-armed-conflict

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