STATEMENT BY
H.E. DR. MICHEAL IMRAN KANU
AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
Thank you, Mr. President.
I wish to extend our warm congratulations to France on assuming the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of April (2025). I assure you of our full support.
I also take this opportunity to commend Denmark for its successful and effective presidency of the Council in March (2025).
I thank ASG Joyce Msuya and USG Mr. Gilles Michaud, for their comprehensive and sobering briefings, as well as the call to action. I also thank Mr. Nic Lee, for his contribution. We agree with the briefers – Attacks on UN and other humanitarian personnel must end. As said by ASG Msuya, being shot at is not a part of their job.
Sierra Leone approaches this important issue the protection with a strong conviction and lived experience. It was through a combination of national will, unwavering international solidarity, humanitarian work, robust peacekeeping, and a focus on justice and reconciliation that we emerged from that dark chapter. We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that no community endures such suffering again.
Mr President, Almost twenty-six years since the Security Council first considered the protection of civilians (POC) as a formal agenda item, millions of civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflict, with indiscriminate violence, displacement, and humanitarian suffering persisting across conflict theatres. Despite the robust legal frameworks of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL), and repeated calls by this Council, belligerents continue to disregard their obligations to protect civilian populations.
For instance, the 2024 report of the Secretary-General is a stark reminder of the prevailing challenges. Civilian harm from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas remains devastating, with over 67,000 casualties recorded in 2024 alone, a majority of whom were killed or injured in urban settings. These figures are not just statistics, they are individual lives, families torn apart, and communities destabilized.
In this regard, Sierra Leone reiterates its support for the Secretary-General’s call on States to endorse and implement the 2022 Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Workers. We continue to reaffirm the principles and provisions SCR 2730.
Mr. President, the protection of humanitarian personnel is part of a broader picture, which is bleak.
Sierra Leone is deeply concerned by the continuing breaches of POC obligations by parties to conflict across various situations before the Security Council. In Gaza, we continue to witness alarming reports of indiscriminate bombardments, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and attacks on humanitarian personnel, which contravene the basic tenets of IHL. In Sudan, the conflict has generated one of the worst displacement crises globally, with systematic targeting of civilians, sexual violence, and obstruction of humanitarian access. In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, civilians are caught in the crossfire of armed group activity, often driven by competition over natural resources, and frequently subject to forced recruitment and gender-based violence. In Haiti, violence from armed gangs has engulfed urban centers, displaced thousands and leaving civilians at the mercy of lawlessness. The security and humanitarian toll in Ukraine and Syria continue to be marked by extensive civilian suffering amid ongoing hostilities. These examples point to an urgent need for greater accountability and compliance by all parties, and a reinvigoration of this Council’s protection mandate.
Mr. President,
By reason of the foregoing, allow me to highlight three points to reinforce the protection of civilians agenda: First, the protection of civilians must be anchored in respect for international law, particularly IHL and IHRL. Both State and non-state actors must be reminded that the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects, or the failure to take precautions, constitutes a violation of international law and may amount to war crimes. Compliance must be matched with accountability, ensuring that violators are brought to justice through national or international mechanisms.
Second, we welcome and support initiatives that galvanize political commitment to uphold IHL. In this regard, Sierra Leone welcomes the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to IHL, launched in September 2024 by Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Sierra Leone is pleased to serve as Co-Chair of the workstream on ‘Protecting Civilian Infrastructure’, and we remain committed to contributing actively to its implementation.
Third, the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance is a fundamental component of civilian protection. Humanitarian personnel must be protected from attacks, threats, and obstruction. The disturbing increase in targeted attacks on aid workers, including in Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti, undermines not only assistance delivery but the very values that underpin the UN Charter. Parties to conflict must take concrete steps to enable safe humanitarian access and uphold the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
In closing, Mr. President, Sierra Leone urges all parties to conflict to distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants, to refrain from direct attacks on civilians or civilian objects, and to take all feasible precautions to avoid, or in any event minimize, incidental loss of civilian life and damage. Particular attention must be paid to the protection of vulnerable populations, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, who often face compounded risks in conflict situations.
Finally, we pay tribute to all humanitarian workers who represent the best of humanity and honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I thank you.
