United Nations S/ PV.7685 Security Council Provisional Seventy-first year 7685th meeting Tuesday, 3 May 2016, 10 a.m. New York President: Mr. Aboulatta .................................. (Egypt) Members: Angola. Mr. Gaspar Martins China ......................................... Mr. Liu Jieyi France ........................................ Mr. Delattre Japan ......................................... Mr. Yoshikawa Malaysia ...................................... Mrs. Adnin New Zealand ................................... Mr. Van Bohemen Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Zagaynov Senegal ....................................... Mr. Ciss Spain ......................................... Mr. Oyarzun Marchesi Ukraine ....................................... Mr. Yelchen ko United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Mr. Rycroft United States of America .......................... Ms. Sison Uruguay ....................................... Mr. Rosselli Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) ................... Mr. Ramírez Carreño Agenda Protection of civilians in armed conflict Health care in armed conflict This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 16-12476 (E) *1612476* S/PV.7685 Protection of civilians in armed conflict 03/05/2016 The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m. Members of the Council have before them document S/2016/380, which contains the text of Expression of thanks to the outgoing President a draft resolution submitted by Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, The President (spoke in Arabic): As this is the first Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, formal meeting of the Council for the month of May, I Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Ambassador Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Liu Jieyi, Permanent Representative of China, for his Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, service as President of the Council for the month of Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemborg, April. I am sure that I speak for all members of the Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Liu and his delegation for the great diplomatic skill Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the with which they conducted the Council’s business Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic last month. of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Adoption of the agenda Somalia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, The agenda was adopted. Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Protection of civilians in armed conflict the United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Health care in armed conflict the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, . The President (spoke in Arabic): In accordance The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution procedure, I invite the representatives of Andorra, to the vote now. Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cabo A vote was taken by show of hands. Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, In favour: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Eritrea, Estonia, Angola, China, Egypt, France, Japan, Malaysia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Northern Ireland, United States of America, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Micronesia, Uruguay and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the The President (spoke in Arabic): The draft Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, the Republic resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, 2286 (2016). Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, I wish to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, the United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu to participate in His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and I give him this meeting. the floor. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s The Secretary-General: Let me begin by welcoming provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following the presence of Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Peter Maurer, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and President of the International Committee of the Red Ms. Joanne Liu, International President of Médecins Cross, and Ms. Joanne Liu, International President of Sans Frontières (MSF). The ICRC and MSF are our Médecins Sans Frontières. good partners, playing unique and vital roles in conflict The Security Council will now begin its consideration and disaster areas. Through their leaders here today, I of the item on its agenda. want to thank and commend all of their personnel for 2/24 16-12476 03/05/2016 Protection of civilians in armed conflict S/PV.7685 their professionalism and dedication in serving people forces systematically remove medical supplies from in danger and distress across the world. humanitarian convoys. In Syria and elsewhere, Governments impose cumbersome procedures that Last week, MSF’s head of mission in Aleppo restrict access to health care. This is strangulation by underscored the urgency and importance of efforts such red tape. It is violence by bureaucratic means rather as resolution 2286 (2016), which has been adopted today. than force of arms, but it is just as devastating. “No corner is being spared”, he said. And he added: “Aleppo is already a shell of what it once was; this most Let us be clear. Intentional and direct attacks on recent assault appears determined to eliminate even hospitals are war crimes. Denying people access to that”. He was reacting to an air strike, by all accounts essential health care is a serious violation of international by the Government of Syria, that destroyed a hospital, humanitarian law. All State and non-State parties to killing at least 20 people, including three children and conflict are bound by a strict obligation to respect the area’s one and only pediatrician, Dr. Mohammed and protect medical personnel, facilities and vehicles, Wassim Maas. as well as the wounded and sick. Parties to conflict must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded Yet this appalling act was only the latest wartime passage of impartial humanitarian relief, including assault on health care in Syria. Since the beginning medical missions. These obligations are at the very of the conflict, Physicians for Human Rights has heart of international humanitarian law. The Council documented more than 360 attacks on some 250 medical and all Member States must do more than condemn facilities. More than 730 medical personnel have been such attacks. They must use every ounce of influence killed. Today, almost half of all medical facilities in to press parties to respect their obligations. They must Syria are closed or only partially functioning. Millions press for perpetrators to be held fully accountable. of Syrians lack life-saving health care. The resolution that the Council has just adopted A similarly pattern of systematic destruction of demonstrates the Council’s determination to strengthen health facilities is evident in Yemen. More than 600 the protection of health care in armed conflict. For the medical facilities have closed because of damage sake of humanity, I urge all Member States, parties to sustained in the conflict and shortages of supplies and conflict and other relevant actors to heed the Council’s medical workers. Last year, the United Nations verified demands, facilitate humanitarian access, develop 59 attacks against 34 hospitals. In January this year, domestic legal frameworks that protect health facilities coalition air strikes hit the Shiara hospital, which and medical workers, train armed forces so that they serves around 120,000 people in Sa’dah governorate. understand their obligations, and prosecute those Following the attack, pregnant women were reportedly responsible for such attacks and other violations. forced to give birth in caves rather than risk travelling to the hospital. And last October in Kunduz, Afghanistan, The growing insecurity of medical services is part a bombing by United States military destroyed another of a broader trend of blatant disregard for international MSF hospital and killed dozens as patients were law in armed conflict.