A Chinese envoy to the United Nations Tuesday called for efforts to tackle root causes of conflicts so as to protect civilians from sufferance.
"All parties to an armed conflict should fulfill their responsibility to protect civilians, "Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN told a Security Council debate, noting that national governments bear the primary responsibility.
"The warring parties should effectively following international law, international humanitarian law and relevant Security Council resolutions and commit themselves to protecting civilians," he added.
The envoy stressed that in cases of human rights and international humanitarian law violations committed during armed conflicts, the countries concerned should investigate and punish the act according to law.
Liu also called on all parties to a conflict to ensure timely access of humanitarian relief to civilians.
"China supports the international community in taking practical and effective measures to promote the protection of civilians in armed conflicts," he said, calling for strengthening conflict prevention and resolution so that civilians will not suffer from armed conflicts.
"The international community should pay great attention to resolve the deep-seated root causes that breed conflicts, and through easing tension and controlling crisis, realize economic and social development and advance inclusive political dialogue as well as national reconciliation, so as to create an environment of peace and stability," he said.
He said that the UN Security Council should strengthen preventive diplomacy, work to de-escalate tensions and promote political settlement so as to minimize effects of armed conflicts on civilians.
Protecting civilians in armed conflicts, especially women and children, has become an important mandate of the relevant UN peacekeeping operations.
"Peacekeeping operations should strictly abide by the mandate given by the council, maintain objectivity and neutrality and avoid becoming a party to the conflict," he said.
