Geneva: The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva unanimously adopted the resolution entitled "Protecting Healthcare in Armed Conflicts" during its 62nd session on Tuesday.
According to Qatar News Agency, this is the first resolution that the State of Qatar has drafted entirely on its own, led the negotiations on, and submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, garnering broad consensus among member states, with 62 countries from various geographical groups joining in its sponsorship. This reflects the growing role that the State of Qatar plays in leading initiatives within the Human Rights Council and building consensus on priority issues at the international level.
Introducing the resolution for adoption, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah affirmed that the resolution was submitted in response to the unprecedented escalation in attacks on health facilities and health workers in situations of armed conflict, and the resulting grave humanitarian consequences that threaten the lives of civilians and undermine health systems in conflict zones.
Her Excellency indicated that the decision is based on the principles of the United Nations Charter, international human rights law, and international humanitarian law. She stressed that providing health care is a fundamental right and an inalienable human duty, even in times of armed conflict and occupation.
Her Excellency highlighted the need for States and parties to armed conflicts to comply with their international obligations, respect and protect medical facilities, medical transport and health workers, and ensure that all those affected have access to safe and high-quality health services without discrimination, in addition to strengthening the protection of health systems and ensuring unhindered access to humanitarian and medical aid, which are the principles enshrined in the resolution.
Her Excellency added that armed conflicts have far-reaching effects on public health, including the collapse of basic health services, the spread of diseases, increased rates of malnutrition and mortality, and the impact on maternal and child health and mental health services, with serious consequences for the most vulnerable groups, such as women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities and displaced persons, issues to which the resolution pays special attention.
Her Excellency also affirmed that the resolution emphasizes that protecting hospitals and other medical facilities is a legal obligation incumbent upon all parties to the conflict, and that targeting them or obstructing access to them constitutes a serious violation of international law, and may in some cases amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity, which necessitates strengthening monitoring, documentation and accountability mechanisms, and ensuring that victims receive justice and reparation.
HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva indicated that the resolution stipulates holding a panel discussion with the participation of experts during the 66th session of the council in September/October 2027, in addition to preparing a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to be presented at the 67th session of the council in February/March 2028.
Her Excellency noted that during the drafting of the resolution, the State of Qatar was keen to adopt a consensual and constructive approach, through holding a series of informal consultations and conducting bilateral contacts with various delegations and relevant international organizations, with the aim of reaching a balanced formula that takes into account the integration between the provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and accommodates as many opinions and positions as possible. She thanked all the countries and organizations that contributed their observations and suggestions during the consultations.
During the session to adopt the resolution, several representatives of states and groups made statements supporting it.
They commended the initiative put forward by the State of Qatar and the consensual and transparent approach it adopted throughout the negotiation process.
They emphasized the importance of strengthening the protection of healthcare in armed conflicts and called on the council to adopt the resolution unanimously, which was achieved by its adoption without a vote. Statements included remarks delivered by Kuwait on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as well as by Egypt, Iraq, Indonesia, and other countries.
This decision comes within the framework of the efforts made by the State of Qatar to promote and protect human rights globally, and to contribute to the development of international standards related to responding to urgent humanitarian challenges, in line with its priorities in the Human Rights Council.
The broad support for the resolution is attributed to the intensive diplomatic efforts led by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar in Geneva, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the openness and constructive dialogue with various regional groups and member states that characterized the negotiation process, which contributed to reaching a broad consensus on the text of the resolution and its unanimous adoption.