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Civil Society Statement for the Protection of Civilians in Urban Conflict 2022

Date: May 21, 2022

Nonviolent Peaceforce has joined 22 organizations in a joint statement to the UN Security Council, calling for immediate actions to address civilian harm and protect civilian lives in armed conflict, particularly in the context of urban warfare.

As the UN Security Council prepares to hold its annual open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on May 25, 2022, more than 20 international NGOs are urging the UN Security Council, member states, and other entities within the UN system to take three concrete actions to prevent and mitigate civilian harm, and to ensure accountability and redress for civilian victims.

Today, civilians account for up to 87 percent of the casualties during war. At the same time, armed conflicts are increasingly fought in urban and populated areas, leading to further harm to civilian populations and civilian infrastructure.

“Member States engaged in protection of civilians should recognize that diverse local civil society actors are indispensable to POC. All actors in or responding to urban conflict should make use of and build on the local expertise of affected communities and civil society organizations and support their unarmed self-protection efforts, while ensuring the meaningful engagement of women, youth, and members of marginalized communities,” reads the joint statement.

Read full statement and three key recommendations here.

You can protect civilians who are living in or fleeing violent conflict. Your contribution will transform the world's response to conflict.
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