I also took note of the support for improving monitoring against established benchmarks and indicators. I consider that a key gap in more successful implementation of protection measures on the ground and in reporting progress made in protecting civilians. I will report back to the Council on that in my next report.

Humanitarian actors face potential criminal liability and prosecution for engaging with designated terrorist organizations in the course of, for example, securing the release of child soldiers or for simply delivering aid to civilian populations in an area controlled by such an organization. Measures of this sort can take us further from, rather than nearer to our goal of protecting civilians.

From Chad to Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo to Liberia, to Sierra Leone and the Sudan, United Nations peacekeeping missions have had a significant impact on enhancing the protection of civilian populations.

First, I welcome the support expressed for the informal Expert Group and the interesting proposals from a number of States to expand its use and increase its utility to the Council. I also welcome today's adoption of the updated aide-memoire (S/PRST/2010/25, annex).

Finally, we must ensure an accountable approach. Systematic monitoring and reporting on the impact of our efforts to improve the protection of civilians is essential. We need to assess and report on the extent to which our actions are making civilians safer. That also applies to all relevant actors, not only peacekeeping missions, as well as all relevant situations, not only those in which peacekeepers are present.

Finally, reference has been made to the nature of contemporary conflict marked by the struggle against non-State armed groups in so-called asymmetric warfare. I acknowledge the complexity of those challenges and would emphasize that international humanitarian law is no less relevant in those contexts.

As the Secretary-General's report notes, the progress made in the last 18 months has been in the further strengthening of the Council's approach to protection. That has been embodied in the Council's thematic resolutions on the protection of civilians, on women and peace and security, and on children and armed conflict.

As emphasized in resolution 1894 (2009), the primary responsibility for ensuring accountability for violations of humanitarian and human rights law rests first and foremost with States. In practical terms that means disseminating information about international humanitarian and human rights law. It means training combatants and ensuring that their orders and instructions comply with international law and are observed.

Access is a fundamental prerequisite to humanitarian action and yet, as the annex to the report demonstrates, it is frequently compromised. Bureaucratic constraints, active hostilities, deliberate attacks against humanitarian workers and the economically motivated theft of humanitarian supplies and equipment continue to undermine efforts to protect and assist those in need.

We believe that full compliance with existing international humanitarian law is essential for safeguarding civilians in armed conflicts. Our focus must be on where the consequences of armed conflict are felt, that is, on the ground.