(UN/DPI/A. Brizzi)

 

International efforts to protect civilians can only complement the efforts of Government.

The Secretary General in his 2001 report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, extended the call made to the parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo to a wider audience: the United Nations and its Member States, as well as other relevant agencies, can only assist where those most responsible are themselves reliably committed.

In particular, every government must show the necessary commitment to fulfill its international obligations to protect civilians. This entails the initiation, organization, coordination, and implementation of humanitarian assistance within its territory. Where a government is prevented from protecting its civilians, for lack of either resources or de facto control over part of its territory, it may need to seek the support of the international system, which has been established for precisely this purpose.

Regrettably, in times of conflict, many governments are unwilling or unable to live up to this responsibility; in fact, they often constitute the major impediment to any meaningful humanitarian assistance and protection. This interface between national responsibility and international support continues to pose a major challenge to the international community."

Member States, supported by the United Nations and other actors, must work towards creating a culture of protection. In such a culture, governments would live up to their responsibilities, armed groups would respect the recognized rules of international humanitarian law, the private sector would be conscious of the impact of its engagement in crisis areas, and Member States and international organizations would display the necessary commitment to ensure decisive and rapid action in the face of crisis. The establishment of a culture of protection will also depend on the willingness of Member States to deal with the reality of armed groups and other non-state actors in conflicts, and the role of civil society in moving from vulnerability to security and from war to peace.