Report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/2016/447) [EN/AR/RU]

I. Introduction

1. This report, which covers the period from January to December 2015, is submitted pursuant to the request contained in the statement by the President of the Security Council of 25 November 2015 (S/PRST/2015/23). That statement modified the reporting period from 18 months to 12 months and affirmed that the Council would formally consider the report each ear within the same General Assembly session. These are welcome developments. The new annual reporting cycle, coupled with the assurance of regular consideration by the Council, will facilitate systematic monitoring and reporting in support of the Council's efforts to strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflict. This report reviews the state of the protection of civilians across a range of conflicts, discusses progress and achievements, identifies upcoming opportunities, and provides recommendations aimed at enhancing the protection of civilians and promoting a more consistent and systematic approach by the council.

2. Last year marked the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations, a unique opportunity to reflect on achievements and prospects. Significant progress has been made, particularly at the normative level, since the Council took the historic step in 1999 of recognizing the protection of civilians as central to its mandate. Nonetheless, the huge number of civilians whose lives are being devastated by armed conflicts makes it clear that much more is needed to fulfill the raison d'etre of the United Nations, "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war". By the end of 2015, more than 60 million people had been forced to flee their homes as a result of conflict, violence and persecution. Humanitarian needs are at record levels, and more than 80 per cent of the United Nations humanitarian funding is directed at conflict response. The plight of civilians in conflict is so grave that I issued an unprecedented joint statement with the President of the International Committee of teh Red Cross (ICRC) on 31 October 2015, calling for urgent action to uphold international law and address human suffering.

3. In the majority of today's armed conflicts, it is civilians who suffer most severely. Every day, civilians are deliberately or indiscriminately killed or injured, often with total impunity. Sexual violence shatters the lives of women, men, girls and boys. Towns and cities are pummeled by heavy artillery or airstrikes that kill thousands of civilians, destroy vital infrastructure and trigger mass displacement. Data collected in 2015 indicate that when explosive weapons were used in populated areas, an astonishing 92 per cent of those killed or injured were civilians - in playgrounds and hospitals, in crowded streets and queuing for food. Behind these figures are families separated and in mourning, whole communities devastated, a cultural heritage lost to the world and a generation of children without an education.

4. The Council's reaffirmation, in its Presidential Statement of 25 November 2015, that the protection of civilians remains "one of the core issues on its agenda" is an important signal. This must be translated into action. Last year showed that remarkable results can be achieved when the international community acts together. We agreed on an ambitious sustainable development agenda to end global poverty. We adopted a universal climate change agreement. We established a new framework to reduce disaster risk and enhance resilience. And we initiated major peace and security reforms. On 23-24 May 2016, the first ever World Humanitarian Summit will bring together world leaders, national and international aid organizations, representatives of conflict-affected communities, and many others. This will be the first major opportunity to demonstrate that those furthest behind must be put first. In preparation for the Summit, I have laid out an Agenda for Humanity calling on world leaders to take action to prevent and end conflict, improve respect for international law, enhance the protection of civilians and strengthen the response to forced displacement.

5. The international community stands at a critical juncture. Member States must seize the opportunity of the World Humanitarian Summit to take concrete and collective action to uphold international law and protect civilians in armed conflict, with clear targets and indicators. The Council must also make concerted and consistent efforts to protect the lives and dignity of civilians affected by conflict. We must all work together to deliver on our pledge to leave no one behind to reach those furthest behind first.