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"Far from being able to prevent civilian suffering, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council have played a part in causing it," @SherineT said ahead of a debate later today on protection of civilians https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/un-security-council-failing-civilians-caught-in-conflict/
Just a handful of recent examples: 1) #Russia-n forces are carrying out war crimes and bolstering Syria’s campaign of crimes against humanity in NW Syria https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/syria-un-must-not-cut-vital-aid-lifeline-to-north-west-amid-russian-and-syrian-war-crimes/
2) @USAfricaCommand's aerial bombardment of #Somalia, which has killed and injured dozens of civilians since 2017. More than 1,000 civilian casualties were recorded in Somalia last year, mainly from Al-Shabaab attacks. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/04/somalia-zero-accountability-as-civilian-deaths-mount-from-us-air-strikes/
3) the UK & France hiding behind the US-led @CJTFOIR to downplay their role 1,600+ civilian deaths in Raqqa, Syria alone and more elsewhere in Syria and Iraq https://raqqa.amnesty.org/
4) the Saudi Arabia & UAE-led Coalition’s catastrophic assault on civilians in #Yemen, bolstered by arms transfers and military support from many countries, including several UNSC members https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/09/yemen-the-forgotten-war/
5) and Myanmar, which has been accused of genocide and which the outgoing UN Special Rapporteur @YangheeLeeSKKU warned could again be responsible for war crimes & crimes against humanity. Myanmar is a close ally and key buyer of arms from UNSC member China https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/asia-and-the-pacific/myanmar/report-myanmar/
#UNSC can & should do much more to protect civilians. 3 upcoming examples: UNSC should
renew the UNAMID peacekeeping force mandate in Darfur, Sudan
renew sanctions/arms embargo regime on South Sudan
extend resolution allowing cross-border humanitarian aid into NW Syria
renew the UNAMID peacekeeping force mandate in Darfur, Sudanrenew sanctions/arms embargo regime on South Sudan extend resolution allowing cross-border humanitarian aid into NW Syria
Also, action needed on #explosiveweapons: @amnesty is among civil society groups supporting the ongoing diplomatic process calling on states to make a clear and strict commitment against using explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas https://twitter.com/explosiveweapon/status/1265598736740343808?s=20
