PH articulates support for protection of civilians in urban conflicts

Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative Ariel R. Peñaranda says the need for protection of civilians in urban settings compels us to pursue the right tactical choices in the context of long-term political solutions, 25 January 2022, Security Council Chamber, UNHQ, New York (Photo Credit: United Nations Photo Library)

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 26 January 2022 – The Philippines expressed support for measures to protect civilians in urban settings affected by war and conflict, and the need to pursue the right tactical choices in the context of long-term political solutions. This was conveyed by Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative Ariel R. Peñaranda of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations at the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate on “War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings” on 26 January 2022.

DPR Peñaranda, noting the importance of humanitarian assistance, cited that the Philippines adheres to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in the provision of humanitarian assistance. 

He made a reference to Philippine laws demonstrating the country’s strong commitment to the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. He emphasized the obligation to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law under all circumstances, noting that generally accepted principles of international law, including the Geneva conventions and international humanitarian law, are part of the law of the nation.

DPR Peñaranda also stressed that a more proactive approach must be employed by using advanced weapon systems designed for effective and responsible military operations in urban settings in view of a highly volatile and complex urban warfare. He said, “The decision to employ the kind of weapons to gain military advantage must fully take into account domestic laws and international legal obligations.”

 “The use of an advanced weapon system, combined with an acute focus on humanitarian assistance, while taking heed of domestic and international laws, and respect for sovereignty, would allow nations to better protect civilians during armed conflict in urban settings,” DPR Peñaranda concluded. 

The Open Debate was convened by the Security Council under the presidency of Norway. Presiding over the Open Debate, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway stated that the “effective protection of civilians and civilian objects must be made a strategic priority in the planning and conduct of military operations in urban areas.” He added that ensuring protection of civilians will also lead to a more sustainable peace after conflict.

Secretary General António Guterres encouraged all parties to conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law. “Respect for these rules is all the more critical when armed conflict is waged in urban areas,” the Secretary General said. 

The Security Council first took up the protection of civilians in armed conflict (POC) as a thematic issue in 1999. The Secretary-General’s latest annual POC report, issued on 03 May 2021, highlighted the disproportionate impact of explosive weapons on civilian populations in urban settings. The report acknowledged that efforts to estimate and minimize collateral damage from explosive weapons may be ineffective in urban settings because of the unanticipated ways in which narrow streets and tall buildings channel blasts. It welcomed member states’ efforts to develop a political declaration against the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas (or EWIPA). END

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines, or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.