S/RES/2286 (2016)
Stressing that identification of medical personnel and humanitarian personnel
exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as
well as hospitals and other medical facilities may enhance their protection, and in
this regard, recalling also the obligations, in situations of armed conflict, pertaining
to the use and the protection of the distinctive emblems under the Geneva
Conventions of 1949 and where applicable, their Additional Protocols,
Recalling further the specific obligations under international humanitarian law
to respect and protect, in situations of armed conflict, medical personnel and
humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of
transport and equipment, and hospitals and other medical facilities, which must not
be attacked, and to ensure that the wounded and sick receive, to the fullest extent
practicable and with the least possible delay, the medical care and attention
required,
Recalling also the obligation under international humanitarian law to
distinguish between civilian populations and combatants, and the prohibition against
indiscriminate attacks, and the obligations to do everything feasible to verify that
the objectives to be attacked are neither civilians nor civilian objects and are not
subject to special protection, including medical personnel their means of transport
and equipment, and hospitals and other medical facilities, and recalling further the
obligation to take all feasible precautions with a view to avoiding and in any event
minimizing harm to civilians and civilian objects,
Deeply concerned that despite these obligations, acts of violence, attacks and
threats against medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged
in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and
other medical facilities, are being perpetrated in situations of armed conflicts and
that the number of such acts is increasing,
Recalling that locally recruited medical personnel and humanitarian personnel
exclusively engaged in medical duties account for the majority of casualties among
such personnel in situations of armed conflict,
Further concerned that the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including
medical assistance, to populations in need is being obstructed by parties to armed
conflicts in many conflict situations,
Recalling that under international humanitarian law, persons engaged in
medical activities shall not be compelled to perform acts or to carry out work
contrary to the rules of medical ethics or to other medical rules designed for the
benefit of the wounded and the sick,
Convinced that acts of violence, attacks and threats against medical personnel
and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of
transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities, and
obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance,
may exacerbate ongoing armed conflicts and undermine the efforts of the Security
Council to maintain international peace and security under the Charter of the United
Nations,
Reaffirming the need for all parties to armed conflict to respect the
humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in
the provision of humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance, and
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