Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

On 25 June 2012, the Security Council held an Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians (PoC) in Armed Conflict. The discussion, which pivoted upon the Secretary-General's recent report (S/2012/376) on current challenges to effective PoC, did not result in the adoption of an outcome document. The debate featured 50 statements, including 3 UN officials, a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the permanent and non-permanent members of the Council, and 31 other member states. Consistent with the previous Council debate on this issue, approximately 23, or 46% of these statements addressed the gendered dimension of protection of civilians. In anticipation of the upcoming Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Conference, Austria addressed the critical relationship between arms trade, the protection of civilians, and gender. Austria urged that the ATT should set robust, ambitious, and legally binding standards that prevents transfers if there exists a substantial risk that the weaponry will be used to commit gender-based violence.

Read the full report here.