Pakistan’s statement on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. #unsc May 20 2026

Summary

Key Points

• The protection of civilians is a binding legal obligation, a moral imperative, and a central responsibility of the UN Security Council. 0:35
• Civilians in conflict zones, including those under foreign occupation in Palestine and Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, face immense suffering, denial of rights, and human rights violations. 1:50
• The crisis in civilian protection stems not from unclear international law but from a lack of compliance, accountability, and political will. 3:36
• International humanitarian law, including principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, must be respected by all parties without selectivity or double standards. 4:27
• Accountability for attacks against civilians, forced displacement, collective punishment, and destruction of civilian infrastructure must be strengthened to deter future violations. 4:45
• Humanitarian access must be safe, rapid, sustained, and unhindered, ensuring civilians are never punished through the denial of essential resources. 4:57
• The Security Council must prioritize prevention, conflict resolution, and the peaceful settlement of disputes to alleviate civilian suffering. 5:15
• Emerging technologies like drones and AI must be governed by international law to prevent increased civilian harm and ensure accountability, rather than deepening suffering. 5:37
• Pakistan commits to supporting all efforts to uphold international law, ensure accountability, advance peaceful settlement of disputes, and protect civilians wherever they are threatened. 6:34
• Civilians are not collateral damage but the very people the United Nations was created to save, necessitating a recommitment to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war and conflict. 6:50