United Nations Radio

The protection of civilians has come to occupy a prominent place on the agenda of the Security Council, according to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Ban Ki-moon

In his latest report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, he notes that 2009 marks the tenth anniversary of the consideration by the Security Council of the protection of civilians in armed conflict as a thematic issue.

The report notes that there are now concrete proposals and decisions intended to improve the situation of countless men, women, girls and boys affected by the horrors and indignities of war.

But the report points out that actions on the ground have not yet matched the progress in words and the development of international norms and standards.

UN spokesperson, Michele Montas, says that further efforts to strengthen the protection of civilians remain crucial.

"The Secretary-General calls for determined action to meet five core challenges: enhancing compliance by parties to conflict with international law; enhancing compliance with the law by non State armed groups; enhancing protection through more effective and better resourced peacekeeping and other relevant missions; enhancing humanitarian access; and enhancing accountability for violations of the law."

The Secretary-General says the last ten years have provided a tantalizing sense of the potential of the protection of civilians agenda.

He adds that the task now is to take the necessary steps to fully realize that potential and meet the core five challenges identified in the report.

Dianne Penn, United Nations Radio.

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