United Nations Security Council Resolution 1265
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1265, adopted unanimously on September 17, 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council discussed the protection of civilians during armed conflict
.
concerning the situation in Africa
and the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Civilians accounted for the majority of victims in armed conflicts and had increasingly become targets of warring parties. Women, children, refugee
s and internally displaced person
s were particularly the target of violence and this had an impact on lasting peace and reconciliation.
The Council stressed the importance of addressing the issues driving armed conflict around the world and the protection of civilians through economic growth
, eradication of poverty
, sustainable development, national reconciliation, good governance, democracy
, rule of law
and respect for human rights
. It expressed concern that, during armed conflict, there was little respect for international humanitarian
, human rights and refugee law. Vulnerable groups, particularly children, also had specific rights and needs during armed conflicts, as noted in Resolution 1261
(1999) and women were also affected.
and Geneva Conventions
. States that had not ratified
international instruments were urged to do so and take steps to implement the instruments at a domestic level.
The importance of safe, secure and unhindered access with freedom of movement
for international humanitarian agencies during armed conflict was underlined. The Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel of 1994 and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Treaty) of 1997 had come into force and the Council recalled the positive impact this would have on civilians in armed conflict. The training of staff and presence of civilian police
in peacekeeping operations was stressed, while the destabilising effect of the proliferation of weapon
s and ammunition
was emphasised.
The resolution expressed willingness to examine how peacekeeping
mandates
addressed the negative impact of armed conflict on civilians and to respond to situations where civilians were deliberately targeted and humanitarian aid
obstructed. The Council would also work with international organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross
and regional organisations to find ways to enhance civilian protection. Lastly, the Council established a mechanism to review the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General and announced that it would consider measures to be taken by April 2000.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1265, adopted unanimously on September 17, 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council discussed the protection of civilians during armed conflict
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
.
Observations
The Security Council noted reports from the Secretary-General Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
concerning the situation in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Civilians accounted for the majority of victims in armed conflicts and had increasingly become targets of warring parties. Women, children, refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s and internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s were particularly the target of violence and this had an impact on lasting peace and reconciliation.
The Council stressed the importance of addressing the issues driving armed conflict around the world and the protection of civilians through economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
, eradication of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, sustainable development, national reconciliation, good governance, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
and respect for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. It expressed concern that, during armed conflict, there was little respect for international humanitarian
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
, human rights and refugee law. Vulnerable groups, particularly children, also had specific rights and needs during armed conflicts, as noted in Resolution 1261
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1261
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1261, adopted unanimously on August 25, 1999, in the first resolution to address the topic, the Council condemned the targeting of children in armed conflict including the recruitment and use of child soldiers....
(1999) and women were also affected.
Acts
The Security Council condemned the intentional targeting of civilians during armed conflicts. All concerned parties were called upon to respect international humanitarian law, especially the HagueHague Conventions (1899 and 1907)
The Hague Conventions were two international treaties negotiated at international peace conferences at The Hague in the Netherlands: The First Hague Conference in 1899 and the Second Hague Conference in 1907...
and Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
. States that had not ratified
Ratification
Ratification is a principal's approval of an act of its agent where the agent lacked authority to legally bind the principal. The term applies to private contract law, international treaties, and constitutionals in federations such as the United States and Canada.- Private law :In contract law, the...
international instruments were urged to do so and take steps to implement the instruments at a domestic level.
The importance of safe, secure and unhindered access with freedom of movement
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
for international humanitarian agencies during armed conflict was underlined. The Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel of 1994 and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Treaty) of 1997 had come into force and the Council recalled the positive impact this would have on civilians in armed conflict. The training of staff and presence of civilian police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
in peacekeeping operations was stressed, while the destabilising effect of the proliferation of weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s and ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
was emphasised.
The resolution expressed willingness to examine how peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
mandates
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
addressed the negative impact of armed conflict on civilians and to respond to situations where civilians were deliberately targeted and humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
obstructed. The Council would also work with international organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
and regional organisations to find ways to enhance civilian protection. Lastly, the Council established a mechanism to review the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General and announced that it would consider measures to be taken by April 2000.
See also
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1201 to 1300 (1998 – 2000)
- List of ongoing political conflicts