Drone strikes have violated Pakistan's sovereignty, killed hundreds of civilians — men, women and children — and radicalized more people. The use of drones has therefore been counterproductive. In the past month or so, there has been a pause in drone strikes. That has given some respite to civilians in the areas affected. What we have called for and continue to call for is a cessation in the use of armed drones.

Civilians continue to bear the brunt of wars and conflicts. What is euphemistically called “collateral damage” results in civilian deaths, injury and displacement. Women and children become the primary victims of violence and brutalization during conflicts.

When it comes to protection, international humanitarian law should be respected by all parties to a conflict. That is why, in January in Kenya, the Netherlands organized a training course for military and civilian representatives from 11 African countries on gender awareness and the prevention of sexual violence in peacekeeping.

Peacekeeping missions must be better prepared and outfitted for that part of their mandate, and we must all chip in. The Netherlands is sending a peacekeeping unit to Mali, and we deploy experts in the protection of civilians and sexual and gender-based violence in various United Nations missions

The picture painted in the tenth report of the Secretary-General shows that the current state of the protection of civilians “does not give much cause for optimism” (S/2013/689, para. 8). Civilians in many parts of the world continue to suffer the tragic and devastating consequences of armed conflict and are regularly targeted during attacks and indiscriminate reprisals committed in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

We believe that protection mandates should involve a broad range of activities, including, but not limited to, ensuring respect for international human rights and humanitarian law, facilitating humanitarian access, the return of refugees and displaced persons, human rights monitoring, the protection of women and children, and addressing sexual violence in conflict.

Civilian protection is complex and requires multidimensional provisions and different competencies and skills for each vulnerable group: women and children subject to horrific atrocities; child soldiers; survivors displaced by force or, for lack of choice, taking refuge in camps where they are often defenceless against armed attacks and harassment; victims maimed by mines and other indiscriminate munitions; and those dying of the indirect effe

The responsibility to protect belongs primarily to States. That is a consolidated principle of international law from which we cannot waver. But there are, unfortunately, far too many situations in the real world where that principle simply does not work because States are too weak or somehow unable to deliver. That is where the United Nations needs to grab hold of the reins, which it can do only if its Members allow it to.

This year we are marking the twentieth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. It is also 15 years since the adoption of resolution 1265 (1999). During this period, we have seen a number of positive developments relating to the role of United Nations peacekeepers in protecting civilians.

Nowhere, finally, is the need for protection of civilians more apparent than in Syria, where more than 3 million people remain trapped in areas of heavy fighting which are besieged by Government or opposition forces. Under-Secretary-General Amos has spoken frequently and eloquently of the humanitarian plight of ordinary Syrian men, women and children.