Implementation

The second theme is that of coordination among all stakeholders. We believe that the protection of civilians is the primary justification for a United Nations presence in the field.

Peacekeeping operations are one of the most important tools available to the United Nations for the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

The attention of the Security Council to the situation of civilians in armed conflict remains vital and must be at the centre of the Council's deliberations and actions. As the Secretary-General pointed out in his report, that is particularly the case in the many protracted violent crises and conflicts with little prospect of a peaceful resolution in the near future.

While we share the Secretary-General's assessment that more needs to be done to meet the five core challenges, we are also encouraged by the progress made over the past year in implementing resolution 1894 (2009). I would like to thank the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for their consistent work and support.

While our membership of the Security Council comes to an end next month, let me assure you, Mr. President, that my country will remain strongly committed to the subject of today's debate. In this context we are very much encouraged by the continuing strong interest of the membership of the United Nations in issues regarding protection of civilians, as is demonstrated by the broad attendance at today's debate.

We share the concern of the Secretary-General over the threat posed to civilians by explosive weapons, particularly when used in densely populated areas, and I am grateful for the very clear words of Under- Secretary-General Amos on this subject. On 16 September, Austria, together with OCHA, hosted a panel discussion on that subject that clearly demonstrated the need for more systematic data and analysis.

We are encouraged by the fact that the Secretary- General's report has noted a change in the way and extent to which protection is addressed in Council resolutions, including in the mandates of peacekeeping operations.

Secondly, we support the Secretary-General's call to move away from a selective approach to addressing the protection of civilians. We must acknowledge that peacekeeping is but one tool at the disposal of the Council in protecting civilians. The most effective way, of course, is to prevent the conflict in the first place.

Despite some progress, much work obviously and inevitably remains to be done. Public information strategies are needed to manage international and local expectations regarding the ability of a peacekeeping mission to protect civilians, including the reality that peacekeepers cannot possibly protect everyone, everywhere, all of the time.

With the adoption of resolution 1894 (2009) exactly a year ago, the Council introduced new provisions focusing on humanitarian access in the implementation of protection mandates in peacekeeping operations.