Attachments
Monday, 19 May
10:30 - 12:00 EST
Permanent Mission of Poland (750 Third Ave, 30th floor)
Organized by: Permanent Mission of Poland, Permanent Mission of Spain
Co-Sponsors: Denmark, Egypt, Japan, Uruguay (TBC); the European Union, International Rescue Committee, Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition, Physicians for Human Rights, Médecins Sans Frontières (TBC), WHO (TBC).
Background and Rationale
The protection of healthcare in armed conflict, emergencies, and fragile contexts remains a pressing global challenge. Attacks on healthcare workers and facilities, misinformation during pandemics, and breakdowns in accountability mechanisms continue to cost lives and erode trust in health systems. Attacks on health care, be they visible or hidden, systematic or arbitrary, are an all-too common element of armed conflicts. The consequences of these attacks are far-reaching, impacting not only immediate victims but also further undermining the broader health systems which are usually already very fragile in conflict-affected contexts.
In 2016, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2286, a landmark document reaffirming the relevance of international humanitarian law, and in particular its rules relating to the protection of the wounded and sick. Since then, the issue of protection of healthcare during armed conflict has been high on the agenda of many member states. Unfortunately, effective action to prevent such attacks and hold their perpetrators accountable has been very limited.
The direct impact of attacks is catastrophic for healthcare delivery in conflict zones. They lead to the closure of hospitals and clinics, a shortage of medical professionals, and a significant decrease in the availability of essential healthcare services to people in conflict settings, including children. In particular, the consequences of attacks extend far beyond the present conflict, delaying population’s recovery for years to come and impeding the health system's ability to strengthen its resilience. They also impact the ability of humanitarian organizations to scale up support to meet urgent needs.
Amid these challenges, emerging technologies — including AI, satellite imagery, and mobile platforms — offer new tools to safeguard healthcare delivery, enable early warning systems, and enhance transparency and accountability for violations.
This side event will explore how technology can be harnessed responsibly to better protect healthcare systems and workers, prevent violence, and reinforce accountability mechanisms at local, national, and international levels. It will also examine potential risks, such as surveillance abuses, misinformation, or digital exclusion, new and emerging forms of attack, such as the weaponization of drones against healthcare facilities, and propose safeguards to ensure ethical and equitable application of new technologies.