Ian Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lucas on 2014-06-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that UNMISS protects civilians by (a) regular patrols and consultation with communities and (b) involvement of civilians experts in UNMISS programmes.

Mark Simmonds

As a permanent member of the Security Council, the UK is a leading advocate of ensuring that protection of civilians from violence is prioritised in the mandates of UN Missions working in conflict-affected countries. UN Security Council Resolution 2155 of 27 May 2014, which renewed UNMISS’s mandate (and which the UK fully supported) demonstrates that, including through requiring UNMISS troops to conduct regular patrols to safeguard the security of communities within high risk areas. It also provides for civilian expertise to support and complement the work of the military troops and formed police units in monitoring and investigating human rights abuses