STATEMENT BY
H.E. AMBASSADOR HASMY AGAM,
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ON THE AGENDA ITEM: THE PROTECTION OF UNITED NATIONS AND ASSOCIATED
PERSONNEL, AND HUMANITARIAN PERSONNEL IN CONFLICT ZONES
WEDNESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2000
Mr. President,
I should like to extend my delegation’s sincere appreciation to Argentina for the initiative in organising this open meeting of the Council on the important question of the protection of United Nations and associated personnel, and humanitarian personnel. We are particularly pleased to see you, Sir, preside over today’s meeting. My delegation also wishes to extend its deep appreciation to the Deputy Secretary-General for her opening remarks, which has set the tone for this meeting and voiced the urgent need for action. We are equally appreciative of the invaluable and impassioned contribution by the Executive Director of the World Food Programme. We look forward to the statement from the Representative of the ICRC many of whose personnel also operate in vulnerable environment.
2. Most of the conflicts, which now come before the Council, constitute internal armed conflicts. In many of them there have been frequent and flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law, in which civilians have increasingly become deliberate targets of the combatants. In many, if not all, of these conflicts, the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel has become more difficult because of the very often blurred dividing line between combatants and non-combatants, and between peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel. There has been a disturbing increase in the number and scale of direct and calculated attacks against United Nations and associated personnel, and humanitarian personnel in the field. Malaysia condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on these personnel who carry out their selfless missions in very often difficult circumstances and at great risks to themselves, on behalf of the international community.
3. The two open debates held in the Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, culminating in Security Council resolution 1265 on this subject last year, have been important steps in highlighting the issue and the need for political will and action in the search for solutions to complement humanitarian efforts in complex conflict situations. The General Assembly, in adopting resolutions 54/192 without a vote, clearly demonstrated its deep concern for the security and safety of humanitarian personnel and the protection of United Nations personnel. In doing so, it called on all Governments and parties in countries where these personnel are operating to take all possible measures to ensure that the lives and well-being of humanitarian personnel are respected and protected.
Mr. President,
4. There are a number of legal instruments under which the security and safety of officials of the United Nations system is guaranteed. These include Articles 100 and 105 of the Charter; the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations; the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies; the United Nations Development Programme Standard Basic Assistance Agreements and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. Nonetheless, the security and safety of staff is still perilous in many areas of the United Nations operations.
5. A major concern is that the response by the host governments to various incidents affecting these personnel has often been tardy and inadequate. The Organisation must insist that concerned governments conduct thorough investigations into all incidents affecting the security of the Organisation's personnel. My delegation considers it vital that those who incite and perpetrate acts against humanitarian personnel are held accountable both by governments and by the international community. In this regard, we welcome the timely entry into force of the 1994 Convention on the Safety of UN and Associated Personnel.
Mr. President,
6. In recognising that the security and safety of these peacekeeping and humanitarian missions are of paramount importance, especially in highly volatile and extremely dangerous conflict areas, this Council has an obligation to ensure that the United Nations and associated personnel and humanitarian personnel are able to carry out their missions in responding to the needs of civilians who should have unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance. While proper training about the real situation and risks on the ground would better equip humanitarian personnel in handling risky situations in their mission areas, this does not absolve the combatants of their own obligations and responsibilities vis-à-vis humanitarian workers who perform noble tasks in the name of humanity. My delegation had suggested, on several occasions in the past, on the appropriateness of paying tribute to the courage and sacrifices of these humanitarian workers in the way that the Organisation honours its peacekeepers. This would be a fitting recognition of their selfless contribution and commitment to their vastly important humanitarian work, which, for the most part, is taken for granted.
7. It is an undeniable fact that the widespread availability and use of small arms, light weapons and anti-personnel landmines has had an adverse impact on the scope and level of the violence that not only effects civilian populations but also the United Nations and associated personnel, and humanitarian personnel in conflict zones. Most of the incidents of deaths or injuries inflicted upon these personnel are due to gunshot wounds and the effects of indiscriminate shellings and landmines. We must redouble our efforts to curb illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons, and also vigorously support the global efforts towards the effective implementation of the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel landmines. The effects of these anti-personnel landmines are particularly pernicious because they kill or maim not only combatants, but more often, innocent civilians, including humanitarian personnel and, especially, children and women - years after the conflict has ended. My delegation, therefore, supports the imposition of arms embargoes in situations where civilians and protected persons are deliberately targeted by the parties to the conflict.
Mr. President,
8. Given the nature and scope of the matter, there is a general recognition of the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to handling humanitarian crises, bringing together political, humanitarian development and human rights actors within an agreed framework of action. Today's debate is testimony to this approach. Malaysia strongly supports efforts at strengthening the relevant United Nations organs. The Organization would also greatly benefit through closer cooperation and coordination beyond the UN system, to include regional organizations, bilateral actors, governments and non-state actors as well as civil society, including internationally recognized non-governmental organizations and the private sector.
9. My delegation acknowledges and appreciates the fact that the United Nations has taken a number of important and effective steps to enhance the security and safety of UN system personnel, in spite of severely limited resources. These have been highlighted by the Deputy Secretary-General. Nevertheless, such efforts need to be intensified. We look forward to the comprehensive report of the Secretary-General which is expected to be issued by May this year. We trust that the report will contain recommendations that would contribute substantially to enhancing, indeed ensuring, the safety and security of United Nations and associated personnel, and humanitarian personnel. We earnestly hope these recommendations will receive the strong and unqualified support of the Council and the international community, not only politically but more importantly in terms of the necessary resources.
10. In conclusion, Mr. President, my delegation gives its unqualified support to the Presidential Statement that will be adopted by the Council at the end of this meeting.
Thank you, Mr. President.