STATEMENT BY
H.E. AMBASSADOR AHMAD FAISAL MUHAMAD
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE OPEN DEBATE OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
ON PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN ARMED CONFLICT: 25th ANNIVERSARY OF UNSCR 1265 (1999)
21 MAY 2024, NEW YORK
Mr. President,
Malaysia thanks Mozambique for convening this important debate. Our gratitude also goes to the briefers for their valuable insights.
2. Malaysia condemns violent attacks on civilians during armed conflicts. Regrettably, in many parts of the world, for example in Palestine and Myanmar, innocent civilians including women and children, media personnel and humanitarian workers continue to bear the brunt of war.
3. The 2024 Report by the UN Secretary General on the Protection of Civilians paints a distressing picture that armed conflicts continue to cause great sufferings among civilians, marked by unacceptable levels of death, destruction to civilian infrastructure, conflict-induced hunger and forced displacement.
Mr. President,
Here, my delegation wishes to make the following points:
- First, Malaysia advocates peaceful settlement of disputes, in line with the UN Charter. Ending armed conflict is the most effective way to protect civilians. Thus, there must be real efforts to end ongoing armed conflicts through durable and permanent ceasefires, to give way to dialogue and peaceful resolution. Ceasefires, and end of hostilities in general, is also crucial to enable humanitarian assistance to be delivered more effectively, to affected civilians.
- Second, the virulence of conflict is partly caused by a culture of impunity. Genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression are among the most serious crimes under international law. Perpetrators of such crimes must be held accountable and brought to justice. The important role of accountability mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court and international tribunals set up by the UN, cannot be overstated. There must not be selectivity nor double standard in the application of accountability processes. Selectivity and double standard will only undermine the legitimacy and trust in the processes and also international law, more broadly.
- Third, the responsibility and obligations of Member States to protect civilians in armed conflict are clearly stipulated in International Humanitarian Law and relevant Security Council resolutions. We must remember that there are laws even in war, although war must be avoided by all means. Protection of civilians is central to the rules of war as stipulated in the Geneva Conventions. Compliance with these laws is not optional, it is a moral and legal obligation.
- Finally, Malaysia considers the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) as an indispensable instrument in the protection of civilians in armed conflicts. Malaysia is one of the longstanding contributors of the UNPKO and there are currently 865 personnel of the Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police in five UN Peacekeeping operations.
Mr. President,
With so many armed conflicts still raging around the world, our discussion today is extremely vital and relevant. While we continue striving towards ending these armed conflicts, we must also do more to uphold international humanitarian law and implement relevant UN resolutions, to ensure the protection of civilians. Malaysia will continue to do its part in contributing constructively in this endeavour.
I thank you.