Security Council Resolution 2573 (2021) [on Protection of Civilian Infrastructure in Armed Conflicts]

S/RES/2573(2021)View PDF

Who created this mandate?

A document of the Security Council, under agenda item 189Protection of civilians in armed conflict, published in 2021.

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

1 entity

Extracted automatically from each entity’s budget submission.

What subjects does this mandate have?

4 topics

Human Rights in Armed Conflicts Humanitarian Assistance International Humanitarian Law Physical Infrastructure

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

5 reports of the Secretary-General submitted under this mandate, 2022–2026.

Reports

Span

2022–2026

5 years

Cadence

Annual

one report each year

2026S/2026/390Protection of civilians in armed conflict report of the Secretary-General
2025S/2025/271Protection of civilians in armed conflict report of the Secretary-General
2024S/2024/385Protection of civilians in armed conflict report of the Secretary-General
2023S/2023/345Protection of civilians in armed conflict report of the Secretary-General
2022S/2022/381Protection of civilians in armed conflict report of the Secretary-General

Identified automatically from the metadata in each report’s UN Digital Library catalogue record.

What does this mandate say?

14 operative paragraphs

Strongly condemns attacks in situations of armed conflicts directed against civilians as such and other protected persons or civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks, resulting in the deprivation of the civilian population of objects indispensable to their survival, as flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, deplores the long-term humanitarian consequences of such attacks for the civilian population and demands that all parties to armed conflict immediately put an end to such practices;

Demands that all parties to armed conflicts fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including regarding distinguishing between, on the one hand, civilian populations, civilian objects and all other persons and objects afforded protection, and, on the other hand, combatants and military objectives, prohibiting indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, taking all feasible precautions in planning, deciding and conducting attacks to avoid, and in any event minimize, harm to civilians and civilian objects, and taking all feasible precautions to protect the civilian population and civilian objects within their control against the effects of attacks;

Further demands that all parties to armed conflict fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law regarding taking due care to spare the civilian population, civilians and civilian objects, refraining from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, and respecting and protecting humanitarian personnel and consignments used for humanitarian relief operations;

Strongly condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in a number of armed conflict situations which is prohibited by international law and may constitute a war crime;

Strongly condemns the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival in situations of armed conflict, as well as the misuse of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population in violation of international law by all parties to armed conflict;

Urges all parties to armed conflict to protect civilian infrastructure which is critical to the delivery of humanitarian aid including for the provision of essential services concerning vaccinations and related medical care and other essential services to the civilian population in armed conflict and to ensuring the proper functioning of food systems and markets in situations of armed conflict;

Reiterates its demand that all parties to armed conflict engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause to facilitate safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance, provision of related services by impartial humanitarian actors, consistent with humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and medical evacuations, in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law and refugee law as applicable, as well as equitable, safe and unhindered delivery and distribution of COVID-19 vaccination in areas of armed conflict;

Reiterates the important role that capacity building in international humanitarian law can play in supporting efforts to protect objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population and welcomes efforts by all parties to integrate or continue to integrate measures in this regard;

Encourages all efforts to protect objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population and civilian infrastructure that is critical to enable the delivery of essential services in armed conflict, upon request, to meet the basic needs of the civilian population, including by:

Protection of civilians operating, maintaining or repairing these objects, as well as their movement for the purpose of maintaining, repairing or operating such objects;

Allowing and facilitating safe passage of equipment, transport and supplies necessary for the reparation, maintenance or operation of such objects;

Stresses the need to ensure better cooperation and coordination at the international level, including among the United Nations and relevant international, regional and sub-regional organizations, including through technical assistance and capacity building, with a view to supporting those affected by armed conflict to reduce humanitarian needs, enhance long-term recovery, protect livelihoods, improve access to essential services, build resilience of conflict-affected populations, and recover from the pandemic, while ensuring full, equal and meaningful participation of women in efforts to promote and maintain peace and security and promoting the inclusion of young people, and contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

Encourages the enhancement of technical expertise as appropriate within United Nations country teams so that they may, where appropriate and within their respective mandates and capabilities, respond effectively to support the provision of essential services;

Requests the Secretary-General to include as a sub-item in the reports on the protection of civilians the issue of protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.

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Who created this mandate?

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What does this mandate say?

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