Statement by Mr. Zhirayr Ananyan, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the UN at the Security Council Open Debate «Protection of civilians in armed conflict»

20 May, 2026

Mr. President,

We welcome the UN Security Council's continued focus on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. In this regard we’d like to thank the Presidency of China for holding this Open Debate and extend our gratitude to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Director of the Crisis Response Division of UN OCHA for their exhaustive remarks.

We observe with deep regret that 80 years after the adoption of the UN Charter and 77 years after the adoption of Geneva Conventions civilians continue to bear the heaviest burden of war and go through the erosion of the most basic conditions necessary for human dignity. Moreover, we are witnessing an alarming normalization of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, humanitarian and medical personnel.

In addition, the rapid development and deployment of new technologies in warfare expand the accountability gap and multiply the threats to civilians in armed conflict. The inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners of war and civilians also remains a pressing concern. The denial of international humanitarian access, including for the ICRC, the reduction of international presence and suppression of voices of free media and independent civil society further complicate efforts to address the protection needs of the affected populations.

Surging statistics presented in the most recent reports by international organizations, human rights specialized organizations, humanitarian workers and independent media showing a grim picture of continuous disregard for the human rights and special protections afforded to the civilians in armed conflict manifest that the issue deserves greater attention of the Security Council going beyond holding only one Security Council Open Debate within a year.

Mr. President,

We all recognize that despite the universal ratification of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, serious challenges remain in ensuring full compliance. Unfortunately, the protections enshrined in international humanitarian law are not adequately respected in practice.

A collective commitment to ensure that the Geneva Conventions are also universally respected in practice is a matter of urgency. In this regard, we would like to recall that all four Geneva Conventions share Common Article 1, which establishes a foundational obligation for all High Contracting Parties not only to respect, but also to ensure respect for the Conventions in all circumstances. This provision implies a shared responsibility that extends beyond the conduct of individual States to the broader international community. We believe that full implementation of this obligation requires more consistent efforts by the UN Security Council.

Although national authorities bear the responsibility to investigate violations and ensure accountability for breaches of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the scale and complexity of contemporary armed conflicts demonstrate the need to strengthen the accountability mechanisms. Reports by reputable human rights and humanitarian organizations, independent media and civil society are crucial in helping the UN system identify early warning signs of potential risks that, if left unaddressed, can affect civilians and lead to violations of international humanitarian law.

Mr. President,

Armenia reiterates its full commitment to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. In cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies and the ICRC, the Government of Armenia has been addressing the remaining grave humanitarian consequences for the affected population, including over one hundred thousands of refugees and embarked on the path of long-term development. As a member of the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law, Armenia looks forward to cooperation with the partner countries to operationalize the existing frameworks and instruments, including Council resolutions 2286 and 2573.

In conclusion, I would like to stress that the gap between legal obligation and operational reality can be narrowed only through coordinated and principled engagement by the Security Council and the international community.

I thank you, Mr. President.

MFA RA
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