Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Saša Jurečko at the UNSC meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict

Thank you, Mr. President.

I would also like to thank the briefers, ASG Khiari as well as Ms. Lee and Mr. Chen, for their courage to deliver their testimonies. Your harrowing accounts emphasize the need to address the issue of missing persons also by this Council.

Ms. Lee, Mr. Chen, I wish to extend our condolences. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the release of American hostage Edan Alexander. Slovenia repeats its call for release of all remaining hostages in Gaza and for the ICRC to be granted full access until their release.

Mr. President,

Last year the number of missing persons has reached record high. More than 56 000 missing persons, surpassing the record number of the year before last. This horrific number is one of the results of the unprecedented number of conflicts in the world, accompanied with continued blatant violations and disregard of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

We should not be looking at this as mere statistics.

This is real life for many thousands of victims and for their families who are, sometimes decades after the end of armed conflicts, still searching for their loved ones.

Mr. President,

I come from a country that witnessed this in its own region. The wars in the countries of the former Yugoslavia have ended decades ago, yet their legacy remains deeply felt. Of more than 40.000 people who went missing during the armed conflict in the 1990s, around 10.000 have still not been found.

There are mothers still searching for their children. Wives that are still preparing dinner for their husbands and sons. Just in case they return.

There are families that continue the harrowing journey of establishing the truth about  the fate of their loved ones and this prolonged search has consequences; for their own healing, for appeasement between nations, for the much needed reconciliation in the region.

Addressing the issue of missing persons is thus not only a moral duty, it is a cornerstone for ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region. In this context, I want to highlight the importance of initiatives such as the Berlin Process, particularly the work of the Missing Persons Group. I must also mention the invaluable assistance and contribution of the ICRC in this regard.

Regional cooperation and renewed political commitment are essential to make progress. We look forward to actively participating in the upcoming Berlin Process Summit, which will take place later this year in London.

Mr. President,

We believe this debate and any debate that concerns the IHL is needed and necessary.

The rules of IHL protect the civilians, they protect the missing and their families. The states and parties to conflicts are required to clarify the fate of the missing and they are required to investigate and prosecute crimes resulting in persons going missing.

This is a moral imperative and this is also a legal obligation, reaffirmed in UN Security Council resolution 2474.

Mr. President,

The horrors that we have wowed to never repeat, are being replayed before our eyes every day.

There are tens of thousands of missing persons in ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, and in Gaza, where hostages are still being held and thousands of Palestinians are missing, many under the rubble, some in mass graves.

There are thousands left missing still in Colombia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Iraq, long after the conflicts and wars have ended.

We call once again for all states and parties to conflicts to respect the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law at all times and in all circumstances. We call for more accountability and a strong commitment to fight against impunity, including cooperation with the ICC. We call for stronger cooperation between states in finding missing persons and for cooperation with the ICRC.

And finally, we call for the respect and full implementation of this Council’s resolution 2474.

Thank you.

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