May 2024 – 2024 marks both the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council’s adoption of the protection of civilians (POC) in armed conflict agenda and the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
Ahead of this year’s UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians, a group of 20 NGOs collectively urge UN Security Council members, the UN Secretary-General, and all UN Member States to take full advantage of the opportunity of these important anniversaries to
inject renewed urgency into ensuring the implementation of international laws and standards, and UNSC Resolutions, for the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
In a joint statement, Watchlist and 19 organizations urge UN Member States to address three critical issues: 1) at the national level, states must take meaningful action to improve civilian protection in conflict; 2) at the global level, states must take urgent steps to end impunity and promote accountability; and 3) states should recommit to POC in the face of emerging challenges.
The statement has been released ahead of the Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians, which will be held on May 21, 2024.
Read the joint statement here.
