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Statement of the Republic of Lithuania at the Security Council Open Debate on "Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict" on Tuesday, 23 May 2023.

I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his informative briefing today. I also want to express my appreciation to the President of the ICRC and the civil society speaker from Niger, Ms. Aichatou Mounkaila. While Lithuania fully supports the EU's statement, I would like to add some national remarks.

It has been more than 20 years since UNSC Resolution 1265 was unanimously adopted. This resolution was a significant step in addressing the protection of civilians during armed conflicts. Since then, the Security Council has issued numerous resolutions emphasizing the need to protect civilians and abide by international humanitarian law. However, we still witness active conflicts worldwide where civilians suffer the most, leading to millions of people being displaced from their homes. According to the Secretary-General's report, there were at least 16, 988 civilian deaths in 2022 across 12 armed conflicts. Shockingly, almost half of these deaths were caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine, resulting in 7, 957 casualties. The actual numbers may be much higher.

It is deeply disconcerting that Russia, a member of the UNSC, has been waging an aggressive war against Ukraine for over 15 months. As Lithuania shares a border with Russia, we witness with great concern the severe impact of this aggression. Russia's continuous attacks on civilians in Ukraine, along with the deliberate destruction of 700 critical infrastructure facilities and cyber operations targeting electricity, internet, and transportation services, represent serious violations of international humanitarian law. Furthermore, the occupation of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant by Russia’s armed forces and the presence of military equipment at the plant poses a grave threat to nuclear safety and security and the risk of a nuclear disaster. In recent weeks, Russia has escalated its long-range missile strikes on cities deep within Ukraine, including Kyiv.

Children are particularly affected by armed conflicts. In Ukraine, according to a report from UNICEF, around 5.7 million children have had their education disrupted, and 1.5 million children are facing mental health issues. We also highlight the large-scale attempts by Russia to abduct and transfer children from Ukraine to Russia. We fully support the investigation and the decision of the ICC to issue arrest warrants against V. Putin and M. Lvova-Belova for possible war crimes involving unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine. We strongly condemn Russia’s attempts to intimidate the ICC and undermine international efforts to secure justice as well as issuing an arrest warrant for ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. We also underline the importance to resist all attempts by Russia to instrumentalize the UN system in covering up and shifting the blame for these serious crimes.

Another crucial document, UNSC Resolution 2417, adopted in 2018, strongly condemned the deliberate use of starvation as a tactic of warfare and the obstruction of humanitarian aid aimed at alleviating hunger among civilian populations affected by conflicts.

We fully support the Secretary-General's efforts to break the cycle connecting armed conflicts with food insecurity and seek political solutions that strengthen the economies of vulnerable nations. Extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative is a positive development, and we are grateful to the United Nations, Türkiye, and others involved for their dedicated work. However, it is crucial for Russia to stop using food as a weapon and demonstrate a genuine commitment to fully comply with the agreement. We also urge countries, especially developing ones involved in fertilizer production, to seize the opportunity to enhance their production capabilities and play a stronger role in the global fertilizer market. This will not only contribute to global food security but also enhance the stability of agricultural systems worldwide.

We want to emphasize the significance of the G7 Leader's Statement, agreed upon during their annual Summit in Hiroshima last week, to address the current global challenges and pave the way for a better future. We appreciate their decision to continue supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia's unlawful aggression and to address the pressing issue of global food insecurity.

Lithuania fully supports the Secretary-General's recommendations in his report, which include calling for investigations into alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide. It is crucial to hold those responsible accountable, provide reparations to victims, and establish measures to prevent similar atrocities in the future. The International Criminal Court should exercise its jurisdiction whenever appropriate.

The Security Council holds a crucial responsibility in this matter, as it has the global mandate to refer cases to the Court. Regrettably, when a permanent member of the Security Council engages in aggression against a neighboring sovereign state and misuses its right of veto, it becomes clear that the Council has not effectively fulfilled its duty in responding decisively to serious breaches of international law.

We recognize and appreciate the efforts of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, regional organizations, and non-governmental organizations in implementing international humanitarian law. Their dedication to protecting civilians, safeguarding civilian infrastructures, and addressing food insecurity is commendable. However, it is important for the international community to ensure full accountability for the core international crimes committed during Russia's war against Ukraine, including by establishing a Special International Tribunal specifically designed to prosecute crimes of aggression.