The Council met in New York on Wednesday for its annual open debate on the protection of civilians, amid growing concern about attacks on humanitarian workers and widespread destruction of homes and critical infrastructure.
Zenon Ngay Mukongo, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said rising civilian deaths reflect a collapse in respect for international humanitarian law. Mukongo said ongoing violence is also driven by persistent impunity, warning that failure to act allows abuses to continue unchecked.
Mukongo said the experience of the UN mission in eastern DRC shows both the importance and limits of international protection mechanisms. Mukongo said lasting solutions require stronger national capacity, political commitment and long-term peace efforts.
Mukongo said protecting civilians should not be treated only as a security matter. Mukongo called for a broader approach that includes development, justice, peacebuilding and political dialogue.
Somalia’s Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman stressed the need to prioritise accountability. Osman said international law must be central to efforts to protect civilians, calling for stronger investigations and support for global judicial mechanisms.
Osman warned that when violations go unpunished, cycles of violence deepen. Osman also supported calls for a legally binding framework to regulate autonomous weapons systems.
Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said current conflict patterns are becoming more brutal across multiple regions, including Africa. Egger said wars without clear rules are increasingly targeting civilians rather than combatants.
Egger warned that dehumanising language and actions by leaders risk encouraging war crimes and undermining humanitarian principles. Egger said such trends threaten the moral foundations of society and make violence easier to justify.
The debate highlighted growing concern that global conflicts are eroding long-established protections for civilians. Delegates called for coordinated international action to strengthen accountability, enforce humanitarian law and protect vulnerable populations.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
