Update Report

Update report No. 7: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

Update in Word format • in PDF format

Expected Council Action
On 13 April 2006, in order to try to break the stalemate which had developed over the draft resolution on protection of civilians which has been under negotiation for four months, the UK circulated to all Council members a new draft resolution. It seems, after consultations amongst the P5, that the new draft has good prospects for wide acceptance in the Council. Adoption next week seems likely.

Background
An open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict was held on 9 December 2005. A draft resolution submitted by the UK met opposition, particularly within the P5. As a result it was agreed that negotiations should be progressed at the bilateral level and among the P5 before a text came back to all Council members.

For full background on the Council’s work on this issue, please consult our December 2005 Forecast Report.

For many Council members it was frustrating that the Council was having difficulties agreeing on language relating to the “responsibility to protect”, especially since that concept had been endorsed by the Heads of State so recently in the September 2005 Summit Outcome Document.

The New Draft
The new draft will address all of the key issues relating to civilians, including:

But the new draft also inevitably presents some compromise on various points of contention:

The draft is currently being considered by all Council members and should be ready for adoption next week, subject to further input from the members. Whether the resolution will be adopted by the end of the month will depend in part on the availability of time – given the heavy pressure of issues already in the programme of work. It may also be affected by the preferences of the outgoing and incoming Presidents.

Subscribe to receive SCR publications