“Our objective is to attract the (UN Security) Council’s attention to the situation of civilians in armed conflicts. In this vein, we will pay special attention to groups that are particularly vulnerable to negative consequences of armed conflicts: children and religious minorities,” said Polish Foreign Ministry
By Genc Mlloja
Senior Diplomatic Editor
Poland will convene an open debate of the Security Council of the United Nations in New York on August 2 this year under the sensitive humanitarian topic ‘Children and armed conflict’.
“During the meeting we will discuss ways to enhance international system of protecting children exposed to violence and abuse in armed conflicts. The Council will be briefed by Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba; UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, and civil society representatives,” a press release issued by the Polish Foreign Ministry has recently said which unveiled the priorities and main events of the agenda of the UN Security Council’s work under Poland’s presidency in August 2019.
Poland, which will preside over the Security Council’s work for the second time in August having been a member of the UNSC since 1 January 2018, said it intends to remind the international community of the necessity to respect international humanitarian law.
“Protection of civilians during military conflicts is a priority area strictly related to international humanitarian law. We focus primarily on the groups most affected by military operations and discrimination, that is women, children, people with disabilities and religious minorities,” said Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz during a meeting on July 29 with the diplomatic corps on the occasion of Poland taking over the UN Security Council presidency in August.
The aim of Minister Czaputowicz’s meeting with the representatives of the diplomatic corps was to present the agenda for the Polish presidency of the UN Security Council in August.
2018 marked highest levels of children affected in armed conflicts
The plight of children affected by war has galvanized the international community to find new and effective ways to protect the most vulnerable members of the human family. The year 2018 was marked by the highest levels of children killed or maimed in armed conflict since the United Nations started monitoring and reporting this grave violation, shows the latest Annual Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict released on 30 July 30, 2019 as quoted by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.
Overall, more than 24,000 violations were verified in 2018 in the 20 conflict situations on the Children and Armed Conflict agenda. While the number for other violations decreased or remained relatively steady, more than 12,000 children were killed or maimed, mostly by cross-fire incidents, ERW, IEDs, landmines and active combat actions by non-state actors, state actors and multinational forces.
The mandate of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1996 to strengthen the protection of children affected by armed conflict, raise awareness, promote the collection of information about the plight of children affected by war and foster international cooperation to improve their protection. Strong engagement from the international community and the United Nations’ highest bodies has enabled the Special Representative’s mandate to remain in constant evolution to better address the needs of children affected by war. The mandate of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict has been renewed and expanded by the General Assembly since 1996.
“Our objective is to attract the Council’s attention to the situation of civilians in armed conflicts. In this vein, we will pay special attention to groups that are particularly vulnerable to negative consequences of armed conflicts: children and religious minorities,” said the press release of Polish Foreign Ministry emphasizing the need for protection of groups that are most affected by hostilities – children, women, and people with disabilities.
“One of Poland’s biggest successes in the Council was the adoption of the UNSC Resolution 2475 in June 2019. It is the first UN Security Council resolution pertaining to persons with disabilities in armed conflicts,” it was pointed out.
Besides the event on the agenda item ‘Children and armed conflict’ the Polish Presidency will lead the UN Security Council proceedings on other humanitarian issues among which the high-level briefing on international humanitarian law to be held on 13 August can be sorted out. The meeting will mark the special occasion of 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, which falls on 12 August. As it is reported the Council will be briefed by Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as representatives of the UN Secretariat and civil society.
In the meantime, on 22nd of August Poland will host an informal UNSC meeting in so called ‘Arria-formula‘ on safety and security of religious minorities. The date of the meeting coincides with the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, which was proclaimed by the resolution adopted on Poland’s initiative by the UN General Assembly in May 2019.
Warsaw’s drive to solve urgent global problems
During the last eighteen months Poland has played an active role in the Security Council, seeking to bring added value and contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.
“As a member of the Security Council, Poland shares the responsibility for the solution of the most urgent global problems,” noted Minister Czaputowicz.
International issues like the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine etc. have been in the focus of the UN Security Council under the Polish Presidency. According to Council’s agenda, on 20 August it is planned the organization of a debate on challenges to peace and security in the Middle East.
“The discussion will be built around the root causes of conflicts in the region, current developments and possible solutions to crises. Poland’s initiative to organize a meeting on the Middle East shows our long-lasting active engagement in the discussion on the situation in the region, also in the framework of the Warsaw Process,” said Polish Foreign Ministry.
In the meantime Warsaw’s top diplomat Czaputowicz said the issue of security in Ukraine is among priorities of Poland’s one-month presidency of the UN Security Council in August.
“We observe certain dynamics of the political process in Ukraine. We support the actions of President Zelensky and his party in reforming the country and guaranteeing peace,” Mr. Czaputowicz told journalists in Warsaw as quoted by Ukrinform portal on July 30, 2019. He recalled that the actions of Poland as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council already had a practical dimension in the Ukrainian direction. In particular, Warsaw initiated setting up a position of Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Ukraine.
“This is not yet accepted, but the discussion is ongoing,” the Polish minister said.
Poland eyes membership in UN Human Rights Council
Minister Czaputowicz underlined Poland’s invariable commitment to the observance of international law, including international humanitarian law, protection of civilians and the security in our immediate vicinity.
Poland is ambitious in its membership in the UN Security Council after the August presidency planning to continue to be active in its priority areas until the end of its mandate. “We would like to capitalize on our experience to finalize ongoing projects and initiatives on three priorities: strengthening the role of international law; protection of civilians, and new threats to security.”
Poland’s goal is to continue engagement in its main priority areas, most of all in the framework of the UN General Assembly, but also at the Human Rights Council if it wins a seat in the October 2019 elections.
Warsaw is seeking membership of the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2020-2022, considering it to be a natural continuation of its involvement in the multilateral fora, including the current non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
“Our human rights priorities include the fundamental freedoms and rights of marginalized people, in particular children, persons with disabilities and religious minorities, as well as good governance and strengthening of civil society,” said the Polish Foreign Ministry.
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