Mr. President,
Italy aligns itself with the statements delivered by the Group of Friends on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts and by the European Union.
The protection of civilians in armed conflict is not only a moral duty, but a legally binding obligation under the Geneva Conventions. Despite this, as highlighted by the Secretary General’s 2025 Report, civilian suffering continues to reach devastating levels worldwide.
Italy is deeply concerned by the ongoing conflicts affecting millions of people, exacerbated by new technologies in warfare and continuous violations of fundamental rights that endanger civilians, journalists, UN and humanitarian personnel. Civilian protection must remain at the core of the international agenda and we will continue to promote concrete initiatives to strengthen policies in this area.
In this regard, last January we joined the Red Cross Global Initiative to galvanize political commitment to international humanitarian law.
We devote our efforts to the protection of vulnerable categories, such as women, children, elders and persons with disabilities, which remain the most disproportionally affected by the effects of armed conflicts.
The protection of children in armed conflicts lies at the core of our 2026-2028 mandate to the Human Rights Council, in line with our traditional commitment to the Vancouver Principles. Importantly, we promote universal adherence to the “Safe Schools Declaration”, aimed to ensure the right to education during armed conflicts.
Italy is also engaged in combating all forms of violence against women during armed conflicts, including sexual violence, by encouraging States to adopt and implement measures to ensure that violations are criminalized and perpetrators are brought to justice.
The safeguard of the rights of persons with disabilities in armed conflicts, which was the subject of an Italian pledge at the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, remains pivotal to ensuring the respect of human dignity.
In this regard, Italy reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the United Nations’ central role in protecting civilians and stresses the importance of accountability mechanisms. Let us remember that the strength of international humanitarian law lies in our collective commitment to its principles.
I thank you.
