Remarks by the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly,?
Mr. Dennis Francis,?
at the Protection of humanitarian personnel, infrastructure and respect for international humanitarian side-event organised by the French Permanent mission to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ
[As Delivered]?
22 September 2023?
?
?
?
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Humanitarianism is under siege.
We are witnessing a worrying trend of growing disregard ¨C not to mention contempt ¨C for international humanitarian and human rights law.
If this continues, 2023 is set to be yet another bloody year in the humanitarian field.
This year has seen some of the highest number of conflicts since 1945, with over 100 million forcibly displaced people, as we speak.
And this year has also seen an unprecedented surge of attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, humanitarian aid workers and services.
Let me emphasise with unwavering clarity ¨C the harming of civilians, under any circumstance, is a violation of international human rights law.
Equally, any disruption or restraint imposed upon humanitarian work, regardless of the pretext, violates the principles of humanitarian law.
The very concept of humanitarian access is the bedrock upon which we safeguard people¡¯s rights, preserve their dignity, and ensure their safety during times of conflict.
Every day, humanitarian workers risk their lives to provide lifesaving services and aid ¨C yet they see their movements restricted, their work criminalized, and, in the most tragic cases, their lives brutally upended.
Excellencies,
The trends we are seeing are grounds for serious concern.
Six months ago, a convoy of over 100 trucks transporting vital foodstuffs and other assistance supplies was ambushed in South Sudan.
The World Food Programme¡¯s indispensable work was temporarily halted as a result, putting those most vulnerable at risk.
We cannot let this happen.
Let us not forget: If humanitarian workers are unsafe, civilians are unsafe. If humanitarian lifelines are severed, civilians bear that cost with their lives.
It is imperative that we adequately resource humanitarian operations, ensuring appropriate predictable funding.
Colleagues,
All humanitarian spaces must be safeguarded ¨C without exception.
The sanctity of civilians and civilian infrastructure must remain inviolable, and access to those in need must never be withheld or denied, particularly when basic needs remain unmet.
I urge all parties involved in armed conflict to respect human life, human rights and international human rights and humanitarian law.
Let us redouble our efforts to shield civilians from harm, protect humanitarian personnel and infrastructure, and enforce justice.
Let us collectively strive to end all hostilities and violence.
In closing, let me express my gratitude to this event¡¯s organisers ¨C?France, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ¨C for consistently raising awareness about this issue.
With this, I strongly encourage all Member States to join the Call for Humanitarian Action launched by?France?and Germany in 2019.
Harnessing the tools we have, leveraging our resources and working collaboratively, we can make this world safer for all.
I thank you.