Statement by Mr. Oļegs Iļģis, Chargé d'affaires of Latvia to the United Nations at the UNSC briefing on Protection of Civilians (Res 2730)
8 April 2026
[as delivered]
Thank you,
Mr President,
At the outset, I would like to thank Bahrain for convening this meeting on resolution 2730: a matter of significant importance that warrants the Council's close consideration. We also welcome the participation of Switzerland, which led the work on the resolution 2730 in this Council two years ago. Latvia was proud to co-sponsors together with many other UN Member States. I also thank USG Michaud and USG Fletcher and Permanent Observer Ms Mosquini of the ICRC for their informative briefings.
Latvia commends the efforts of local and international organizations, UN personnel, assistance providers and humanitarian workers who continue to risk their lives in the most dangerous environments. Local and national humanitarian workers – those closest to affected communities - face disproportionate risk.
We see this pattern across the globe. In South Sudan, an MSF hospital in Lankien was struck, forcing lifesaving services to cease. In Ukraine, the Russian Federation continues with targeted attacks on clearly marked humanitarian convoys – from World Food Programme in October 2025 to local humanitarian workers last month. In Gaza, humanitarian workers continue to risk their lives to help Palestinian civilians under extremely difficult conditions.
Mr President,
Accountability is important.
As State involvement in armed conflicts increases, the responsibility of ceasing these attacks rests largely with UN Member states. Violations of international humanitarian law must not go unpunished. When a military attacks a humanitarian convoy because it was supposedly transporting weapons, the proof must meet international standards. When the attacked ambulance was allegedly hiding combatants not hors de combat, the State must grant access to international monitoring, so that this claim can be verified. To uphold accountability, we must support effective investigations, name and sanction those responsible and prevent impunity from further endangering international and local humanitarians.
Often, threats to humanitarian personnel are fuelled by hate speech, disinformation and information manipulation campaigns, frequently propelled by algorithms on online platforms. Unverified accusations of militarised or compromised humanitarian aid workers have put countless volunteers at risk. States cannot justify their blatant violations or interpret their obligations contrary to established international humanitarian law, by hiding behind disinformation. If we want the UN to function effectively, we must ensure that the UN personnel are able to operate safely.
Mr. President,
Technology is playing an increasingly visible role in shaping the environment in which humanitarian personnel operate. Proliferation of use of drones in conflict leads to new security risks. The incident with a UNICEF staff member killed in Goma in March clearly illustrates this reality. Technology is becoming cheaper and more accessible also to non-state groups. This underscores the importance of upholding International Humanitarian Law and its core principles by all actors, in all circumstances, including in relation to emerging technologies.
At the same time, technology can also serve as instrument that helps humanitarian efforts. Such tools as UNDP Rapid Digital Assessment can help to speed up action and make humanitarian support more efficient. Technology-enabled protection instruments can also contribute to the safety of humanitarian personnel, for instance, through early warning. Therefore, we must adapt our approach to protection of humanitarian personnel in a way that addresses the emerging risks, but also takes advantage of new technological developments.
Mr President.
I conclude by reiterating Latvia's firm and unwavering commitment to the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. We will continue to advocate for the safety of humanitarian personnel, both within and outside the UN system, and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Thank you.