Implementation

Portugal believes that the lack of accountability and the impunity that benefit many parties to armed conflict throughout the world are extremely disturbing. This situation obviously encourages perpetrators even as it discourages victims from denouncing violations and seeking redress. Furthermore, it renders the tasks of peacekeepers even more difficult in protecting civilians in situations of conflict.

Finally, the growing complexity and diversity of mission-mandated tasks demand an integrated approach to United Nations peacekeeping. There is a growing understanding of the concept of the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, and in this sense the guidance given to United Nations missions on how to effectively protect civilians is particularly important.

Despite all the difficulties, the protection of civilians — whether directly targeted or accidental victims of conflict — must be of paramount concern, and we strongly support the Secretary-General's recommendation for its enhancement. Civilians continue to account for the majority of conflict-related casualties and are constantly exposed and fall victim to serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law.

The Philippines is grateful for this opportunity to address the Security Council on today's open debate on the agenda item “Protection of civilians in armed conflict”. The Philippines has always considered this issue to be of special importance, taking into account its national and international dimensions.

The Philippines has taken those recommendations into account. In fact, we have taken appropriate measures to integrate them in the implementation of our national policies and work plan. I am therefore pleased to inform the Council of the following concrete steps that the Philippines has taken.

The adoption of resolution 1894 (2009) on 11 November last year once again reinforced the Council's commitment to the protection of civilians by taking concrete steps towards this end by ensuring humanitarian access, providing protection mandates to peacekeeping missions, and recognizing the need for the effective monitoring and reporting of cases.

Secondly, the Philippines has consistently called for a system-wide approach where the work of United Nations bodies — namely, that of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council — on this issue is effectively integrated into the work of other entities, specialized agencies and, in applicable cases, non-governmental organizations and civil society.

In recent years, the various reports and recommendations on the protection of civilians caught in armed conflict have given us a good panoramic view of the problems associated with this issue.

In conclusion, the Philippines strongly believes that a culture of protection of civilians can be truly instilled if there is genuine domestic ownership of a culture of protection.

I cannot overemphasize the commitment of the Philippine Government to ensure the protection of civilians caught in armed conflict. We have put in place mechanisms for investigation and prosecution to deal with such cases. In that context, the Philippines enacted a new law in December of last year, namely, Republic Act No.