On 25 May 2017 the UN Security Council held an open debate on the protection of civilians and healthcare in armed conflict. In her statement, H. E. Ambassador Katalin Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN called on the international community to step up all its efforts in enhancing the respect of international humanitarian law.
On the one year anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Resolution 2286 on the protection of medical care in armed conflict, the Security Council – under the Presidency of Uruguay – held a ministerial level open debate to take stock of the implementation Resolution 2286 and to discuss the broader issues of the Protection of Civilians (PoC).
In her statement, Ambassador Katalin Bogyay underlined that while we regularly call the attention of the international community upon the protection of civilians and the atrocities committed against innocent people and medical personnel, the daily facts on the ground are revealing hardly any changes for the better. In cases where international efforts fail and atrocity crimes – including attacks against healthcare institutions and medical personnel – are committed, accountability is crucial. Hungary is therefore committed to support institutions dedicated to ensuring accountability.
The Permanent Representative reconfirmed Hungary’s commitment and voluntary financial contribution to the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011, as well as the dedication to work towards the prevention of atrocity crimes also as a member of the Human Rights Council for the term 2017-2019.
Ambassador Bogyay also invited Member States to join the ACT Code of Conduct, and by doing so to pledge to support timely and decisive action by the Security Council aimed at preventing or ending the commission of atrocity crimes.
In closing, the Ambassador reminded that the best way to protect civilians is through the prevention of armed conflicts; therefore, we must all support actively the Secretary-General in his endeavors to “put peace first”. Being committed to this vision, the Government of Hungary has decided once again to make voluntary contributions in support of the work of the Department of Political Affairs in preventive diplomacy and mediation.
To read the full statement of the Ambassador, please click here.
