Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Christina and Hector. Good afternoon everyone.
Allow me to begin by thanking Denmark for taking the initiative to gather us to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Resolution 2286, and to keep the spotlight on the terrible phenomenon of attacks against medical workers and facilities.
I was New Zealand’s Deputy Permanent Representative on the Security Council at the time and worked intensively on the resolution with colleagues from Spain, Egypt, Japan and Uruguay.
On one hand, I am naturally pleased to be here today. But on the other hand, it is painful to know that violations of international humanitarian law and attacks on healthcare workers have continued unabated around the world.
New Zealand’s 2015-2016 term on the Council coincided with a time when surgical strikes were literally hitting surgical wards. Our purpose in progressing the resolution was to try and reverse this alarming trend.
From the outset, we knew we had to keep the issue depoliticised or the resolution would not succeed. We purposefully avoided singling out any particular perpetrator or conflict and instead took a thematic approach, emphasising obligations under international law and accountability.
We wanted to remind all Member States that when rules are broken, it is our collective responsibility to bring these breaches to the attention of all and to hold perpetrators to account. That was true ten years ago - it remains true today.
Insights and recommendations from experts in the field, particularly MSF and ICRC, were critical in the resolution’s development. We greatly appreciated our collaboration with them then and look forward to hearing their briefings today.
Resolution 2286 was one of the most widely co-sponsored Council resolutions ever at the time. The high level of backing it enjoyed demonstrated a universality of support for the protection of healthcare workers and abhorrence at the attacks on them.
This afternoon, as we discuss healthcare workers in armed conflict, it is important to remember that we already have the rules and tools necessary to protect them. What is missing is the political will to implement them.
I look forward to hearing all the interventions.