Statement to the 62nd Human Rights Council

General comment on the draft resolution "Human rights implications of the obstruction and denial of humanitarian access and threats to the safety of humanitarian personnel in armed conflict", delivered by Mr Indra Sipayung, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Indonesia in Geneva, on behalf of some members of the Group of Friends for the protection of humanitarian personnel.

Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of some members of Group of Friends on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. The list of co-sponsors will be uploaded.

We welcome continued attention by the Human Rights Council on the protection of humanitarian personnel and to the human rights implications of attacks, threats, violence and obstruction affecting humanitarian action.

This timely resolution responds to an alarming reality: humanitarian personnel face unprecedented dangers in reaching civilians in need. Their safety is essential to principled humanitarian assistance and to the protection and enjoyment of human rights.

We stress that attacks, threats, and acts of violence against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, as well as against humanitarian consignments, assets and facilities, may constitute violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

We also condemn in the strongest terms actions that have killed UN peacekeepers as well as the heightened risks faced by medical personnel.

This must stop.

Mr. President,

The objectives of this resolution closely align with the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the protection of humanitarian personnel and upholding full, safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access.

We encourage efforts across the United Nations system, including in relevant human rights fora, to strengthen respect for international law, improve prevention and accountability, and ensure that humanitarian personnel, including national and locally recruited personnel and volunteers, can work safely and without obstruction.

We emphasize the Human Rights Council's vital role in maintaining international attention on the human rights implications of attacks against humanitarian personnel and restrictions on humanitarian access.

Against this backdrop, we call on all delegations to support this resolution, with a view to adopting it by consensus.

I thank you.

_{Statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of some members of the Group of Friends for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel,}_{including Armenia, Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), The Philippines, The State of Palestine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.}