World: Joint Commitments to Uphold the Protection of Civilians amid Reforms and Constraints

Country: World

Sources: Government of Algeria, Government of Andorra, Government of Australia, Government of Austria, Government of Belgium, Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Government of Botswana, Government of Brazil, Government of Bulgaria, Government of Cabo Verde, Government of Cambodia, Government of Canada, Government of Chile, Government of Colombia, Government of Costa Rica, Government of Croatia, Government of Cyprus, Government of Denmark, Government of El Salvador, Government of Estonia, Government of Finland, Government of France, Government of Gabon, Government of Georgia, Government of Germany, Government of Greece, Government of Guatemala, Government of Guyana, Government of Hungary, Government of Iceland, Government of Indonesia, Government of Ireland, Government of Italy, Government of Japan, Government of Jordan, Government of Kenya, Government of Kyrgyzstan, Government of Latvia, Government of Lebanon, Government of Liberia, Government of Montenegro, Government of Mozambique, Government of Myanmar, Government of New Zealand, Government of Norway, Government of Panama, Government of Peru, Government of Poland, Government of Portugal, Government of Romania, Government of San Marino, Government of Senegal, Government of Sierra Leone, Government of Singapore, Government of South Africa, Government of Spain, Government of Sudan, Government of Sweden, Government of Switzerland, Government of the Bahamas, Government of the Central African Republic, Government of the Czech Republic, Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Government of the Dominican Republic, Government of the Netherlands, Government of the Philippines, Government of the Republic of Armenia, Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Government of the Republic of Korea, Government of the Republic of Moldova, Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Government of the Slovak Republic, Government of the State of Palestine, Government of the United Kingdom, Government of Timor-Leste, Government of Türkiye, Government of Ukraine, Government of Uruguay, Government of Viet Nam, League of Arab States

Please refer to the attached file.

We, 88 delegations, stand together to reaffirm that the protection of civilians must remain at the center of the United Nations’ peace and security, humanitarian, and human rights efforts. At a time of growing needs, shrinking resources, and institutional reform, we commit to translate political will into concrete action to make civilian protection a reality on the ground.

Accordingly:

1) We commit to place the Protection of Civilians agenda as a core political priority across the United Nations system, including the Security Council, General Assembly, and other relevant fora throughout the cycle of conflict.

To this end, through our multilateral engagement, we will advance dialogue, diplomacy, mediation, and the peaceful settlement of disputes as the most effective means of protecting civilians.

We will strive to prevent conflict escalation and address drivers of violence before they result in civilian harm.

We will respect international humanitarian law, as well as international human rights law and refugee law, and we will use our diplomatic influence to promote its respect, recognizing that respecting international law is an essential prerequisite for the protection of civilians.

We will ensure timely, consistent, and decisive political action wherever civilians are at risk or suffering serious harms during armed conflict, advocate for safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need and seek accountability for attacks on humanitarian personnel.

We will also engage to ensure accountability for all violations, including by advocating for systematic investigations and prosecution of suspects, acknowledgement of harm caused, and meaningful amends to affected civilians

2) We commit to support ongoing reform processes, including institutional restructuring and system-wide efficiency measures, with a view to strengthen rather than weaken protection outcomes for civilians.

To this end, in the framework of UN80 and other reforms, we will advocate for reforms that sustain field-level protection capacities and preserve information gathering to allow for evidence-based reporting and decision-making.

We will leverage ongoing discussions to strengthen protection mechanisms and further deepen synergies across the Peace and Security, Development, and Human Rights pillars of the United Nations.

We will support a humanitarian reset that enables principled humanitarian action with protection at its core. We will work to ensure that any changes in humanitarian financing, coordination, and operational models do not increase risks to local actors or leave vulnerable populations behind.

3) We commit to prioritize the protection of civilians in times of financial constraints and limited resources.

To this end, we will strive so that budget reductions and financial austerity do not undermine protection functions and enable the adequate implementation of protection mandates. We will guide resource allocation decision with a view to protect civilians.

We will strive to provide sustained, flexible, and direct funding to local and national protection actors, recognizing that they are the first to respond and last to leave.

We will promote the strategic use of limited resources to strengthen protection outcomes and pursue predictable and sustainable financing for activities that reduce harm to civilians and uphold their rights.

We will repeat it as long as it is needed: civilians must be protected. It is not only an obligation under international law, but also a moral duty.

I thank you.

1. Switzerland

2. Algeria

3. Andorra

4. Armenia

5. Australia

6. Austria

7. Bahamas

8. Belgium

9. Bosnia and Herzegovina

10. Botswana

11. Brazil

12. Bulgaria

13. Cabo Verde

14. Cambodia

15. Canada

16. Central African Republic

17. Chile

18. Colombia

19. Costa Rica

20. Croatia

21. Cyprus

22. Czech Republic

23. Democratic Republic of the Congo

24. Denmark

25. Dominican Republic

26. El Salvador

27. Estonia

28. Finland

29. France

30. Gabon

31. Georgia

32. Germany

33. Greece

34. Guatemala

35. Guyana

36. Hungary

37. Iceland

38. Indonesia

39. Ireland

40. Italy

41. Japan

42. Jordan

43. Kazakhstan

44. Kenya

45. Kyrgyzstan

46. Latvia

47. League of Arab States

48. Lebanon

49. Liberia

50. Liechtenstein

51. Lithuania

52. Luxembourg

53. Malta

54. Mexico

55. Monaco

56. Mongolia

57. Montenegro

58. Morocco

59. Mozambique

60. Myanmar

61. Netherlands

62. New Zealand

63. Norway

64. State of Palestine

65. Panama

66. Peru

67. Philippines

68. Poland

69. Portugal

70. Republic of Korea

71. Republic of Moldova

72. Republic of Türkiye

73. Romania

74. San Marino

75. Senegal

76. Sierra Leone

77. Singapore

78. Slovakia

79. Slovenia

80. South Africa

81. Spain

82. Sudan

83. Sweden

84. Timor-Leste

85. Ukraine

86. United Kingdom

87. Uruguay

88. Viet Nam

Signatories as of 22 May 2026 ...