President.

I would like to begin by congratulating France on assuming the Presidency of the Council for this month, and congratulate Denmark on its successful completion of its Presidency last month. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya and Under-Secretary-General Gilles Michaud for their briefings. I have also listened carefully to the statement of the civil society representative Mr. Nic Lee. 

China supports the Council’s discussion on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel. I would like to take this opportunity to pay high tribute to humanitarian and UN personnel on the front lines of conflicts and to express our deep condolences to those who have lost their lives. 

President, 

In 2024, 377 humanitarian workers lost their lives in conflicts, which was unprecedented. The Council adopted Resolution 2730, which sets out clear requirements for the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel, and the Secretariat has made arduous efforts in this regard. However, we are saddened to see that attacks against humanitarian and UN personnel are still frequent occurrence, the basic principles of international humanitarian law are still being violated, and the humanitarian situation in conflict zones continues to deteriorate. 

In Gaza, the hard-won ceasefire has been breached, access to supplies and electricity cut off, UNRWA systematically suppressed, and other humanitarian workers attacked in the course of their duties. In Lebanon, South Sudan, and the DRC, peacekeeping forces have been targeted, resulting in casualties among peacekeepers. In Sudan, humanitarian workers carried out their work in extremely dangerous conditions. In Yemen, dozens of UN personnel are still being detained. These harsh realities require the international community to enhance its sense of urgency, to speak with a more unified voice, and to take stronger actions to protect humanitarian and UN personnel. 

We urge greater efforts to promote a ceasefire to end the fighting. Ending armed conflicts provides the most fundamental protection for humanitarian workers. The Security Council should discharge its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and take necessary actions to effectively implement the ceasefire to end the fighting. To this end, parties to the conflict should implement relevant Council resolutions, abandon the option of force, and resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation. Countries with influence should play a positive and constructive role. 

We call for a greater resolve to revitalize the authority of international humanitarian law. It is a fundamental principle of international humanitarian law that humanitarian and UN personnel must not be the target of military operations. In conflict situations, all parties must guarantee safe and unhindered humanitarian access and the safety and security of humanitarian agencies and their staff. On occupied territories, the occupying power is obligated to protect the humanitarian needs of the civilians by facilitating humanitarian operations. The mandate of the UN missions should be respected and freedom of movement guaranteed. Violations of international humanitarian law must be strictly investigated and prosecuted. 

We champion the improvement of the protection system through more pragmatic measures. The Secretary-General has proposed measures to protect humanitarian and UN personnel. We hope the Secretariat will strengthen communication with the countries concerned to promote effective implementation. Missions and TCCs should, in light of the situation on the ground, provide targeted training for peacekeepers and enhance their situation awareness, emergency response, and rescue capabilities. Missions should accurately study and assess changing risks, improve contingency plans in a timely manner, and minimize casualties among peacekeepers through preventive actions. 

We support the harmonization of protection standards with more strict requirements. Humanitarian and UN personnel work for a noble cause by bringing peace and hope to conflict areas. Their safety should be prioritized without hierarchy, and there must be no differentiation in their protection. Double standards and selective application on this question will only squeeze out the space for humanitarian work and condone more violations of the law, and therefore should be completely rejected. 

President, 

Last September, China, together with the ICRC, France, and others, jointly launched the Global Initiative on International Humanitarian Law, with the aim of promoting the reaffirmation by the international community of its firm commitment to international humanitarian law, gathering the greatest possible synergy in upholding international humanitarian law, and promoting the realization of lasting peace. We welcome more countries to join this initiative. China stands ready to work with all parties to continue to make unremitting efforts to protect the safety and security of humanitarian and UN personnel. 

Thank you, President.