A/RES/58/122
and noting in that context the range of views expressed during all open debates of
the Council on these issues,
Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules
of international humanitarian law,
Concerned by the increasingly difficult context in which humanitarian
assistance takes place in some areas, in particular the continuous erosion, in many
cases, of respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law,
Deeply concerned by the dangers and security risks faced by humanitarian
personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel at the field level, and
mindful of the need to improve the current security management system in order to
improve their safety and security,
Gravely concerned at the acts of violence in many parts of the world against
humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel, in
particular deliberate attacks, which are in violation of international humanitarian
law as well as other international law that may be applicable,
Expressing profound regret at the deaths of all international and national
humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel who were
involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance, and strongly deploring the
rising toll of casualties among such personnel in complex humanitarian
emergencies, in particular in armed conflicts and in post-conflict situations,
Commending the courage and commitment of those who take part, often at
great personal risk, in humanitarian operations, especially of locally recruited staff,
Strongly condemning acts of murder and other forms of violence, rape and
sexual assault, intimidation, armed robbery, abduction, hostage-taking, kidnapping,
harassment and illegal arrest and detention to which those participating in
humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed, as well as attacks on
humanitarian convoys and acts of destruction and looting of their property,
Emphasizing that there are existing prohibitions under international law
against attacks knowingly and intentionally directed against personnel involved in a
humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission undertaken in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations, which in situations of armed conflicts constitute war
crimes,
Recalling the inclusion of attacks intentionally directed against personnel
involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission in accordance with
the Charter as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, 7
which entered into force on 1 July 2002, and noting the role that the Court could
play in appropriate cases in bringing to justice those responsible for serious
violations of international humanitarian law,
Expressing concern that the occurrence of attacks and threats against
humanitarian personnel and United Nations and its associated personnel is a factor
that increasingly restricts the ability of the Organization to provide assistance and
protection to civilians in fulfilment of its mandate under the Charter,
_______________
7
See Official Records of the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the
Establishment of an International Criminal Court, Rome, 15 June–17 July 1998, vol. I: Final documents
(United Nations publication, Sales No. E.02.I.5), sect. A.
2