Sixth Committee, 19th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session
Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts - Item 81 (A/81/290)
Observer status for the Parliamentary Assembly of la Francophonie in the General Assembly - Item 178 (A/81/191)
Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its fifty-ninth session - Item 76 (A/81/17)
Agenda items · 381st session
Item 81
Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts
Item 178
Observer status for the Parliamentary Assembly of la Francophonie in the General Assembly
Item 76
Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its fifty-ninth session
Source: United Nations (un.org, igov.un.org)
Rights of reply
1 reply by 1 delegation
🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of Iran
🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of IranFirst reply
For us, it's not a surprise that the United States claims adherence to international humanitarian law, but does exactly up the opposite. And the US flagrant disregard for civilian lives and civilian infrastructure. have been de has been demonstrated uh in the course of the aggression against my country, uh both by words and in deeds. In deeds. In words, the US openly threatened our bridges, power plants, among others. And I can quote from official statements of the United States, for example, quoting that every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night and this quotation belongs to April 2026. And then the the the leak the list is comprehensive, I can go on But in practice, these uh statements were followed or preceded by destruction of our civilian infrastructure, and they have been well documented in uh reports that we have duly submitted before the UN Security Council, including document Slash 2026 slash seven three nine. Among the horrific atrocities was the attack against the Shahjaratayev Elementary School in Minab, where 168 uh school children and teachers were killed. And uh as I mentioned in our statement, the remains of Makan Nassiri was never were never found, uh, given the devastating impacts of the the U.S. attack on this elementary school. We have so many cases, unfortunately, where civilian infrastructure and civilians have been killed in the course of the aggression. Another example is uh on the same day 28 February where aggressors killed children attending sport facilities in La Merde and they hit that facility With a missile capable of dispersing approximately 180,000 high velocity fragments. And the question is that which part of killing of children by the United States corresponds to the principles of distinction, precaution, and proportionality? None of them, this is war crime. Or which part of targeting civilians, including children in Lawmart? By US missiles that kills and injures everyone with little fragments in 360 degree radius are consistent with IHL. Again, none, these are war crimes. And I I believe everyone knows that our civilization was also threatened, but we know from our rich history that our civilization will not be uh threatened or uh obliterated by missiles or attacks as such. We have been in the region for thousands of years and we will continue to be there. Uh the fact remains that is that the United States does not believe in IHL, both in words and in deeds. In relation to another statement regarding my country, um I have to mention that uh well we categorily categorically reject the baseless statements uh leveled against my country. Our defensive responses were in full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law. And uh political rhetoric could not change the place of uh victim and the culprit. Um as we have mentioned time and again, this aggression, during which the aggressors violently breached international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, was enabled and facilitated by certain countries in the region that placed their territories, air airspace, and facilities at the disposal of the aggressors. And as per relevant international law, this is not a mere aid and assistance to the aggressor, this is actually an act of aggression as defined in resolution 3314 of General Assembly and entails international responsibility under international law. Uh, we have to reiterate that our defensive measures were never intended against the people of neighboring states or their sovereignty. Iran, like always, remains committed to good neighborliness. We have demonstrated that through our thousands of years civilizational history. But good neighborness ne good neighborliness cannot be one sided commitment. We expect all states to transpose this principle as well as peremptory norm of prohibition of aggression. Into concrete conduct by refraining from any support to the aggressors against any aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. And finally, Madam Chair, our position in relation to the UN Security Council, so called Resolution 2817, is clear and has been reflected in document contained in Slash 2026 slash 202 and another document entitled S slash 2026 slash 389. Thank you.
Verbatim from the transcript. A reply is identified from its own words, the Chair's grant, or its place in the right-of-reply sequence; delegations and addressees follow the transcript's attribution.
Speaking timeChair (9.1%) · Islamic Republic of Iran (6.3%) · Kuwait (5.1%) + 26 more
Sixth Committee, 19th meeting of the 81st session. Agenda items taken up: “Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts - Item 81 (A/81/290)”; “Observer status for the Parliamentary Assembly of la Francophonie in the General Assembly - Item 178 (A/81/191)”; “Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its fifty-ninth session - Item 76 (A/81/17)”. 28 speakers were heard, representing 27 delegations. The right of reply was exercised once.
Rights of reply · 1
🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of IranFIRST REPLY
Islamic Republic of Iran stated that the United States and the Israeli regime, in what it called blatant aggression against its country, deliberately attacked Iranian civilians and civilian objects, including the Shahjarata Tayyib Elementary School in Minab on 28 February 2026, killing 168 school children and teachers.
Islamic Republic of Iran rejected what it called baseless statements against its country, stating that its defensive responses complied with international law, and that certain countries in the region that placed territory, airspace and facilities at the aggressors' disposal committed an act of aggression under resolution 3314.
Points of disagreement
Georgia stated that the Russian Federation, as an occupying power in Georgia's Abkhazian and Skinwali regions, was systematically violating IHL obligations, that so-called treaties with those regions were null and void, and that Georgia remained committed to peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Tunisia condemned what it called grave violations to which the Palestinian people are subjected in the occupied Palestinian territory, including starvation and targeting of civilians, destruction of civilian infrastructure, forced displacement and blockade.
Syrian Arab Republic highlighted the Independent International Commission of Inquiry's documentation of what it called mounting Israeli violations in southern Syria, which it said violate the Geneva Conventions and IHL and may amount to war crimes.
Kuwait condemned what it called heinous Iranian aggression against Kuwait, the states of the GCC and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, including attacks on water desalination plants, Kuwait International Airport and other civilian facilities.
Key points
Russian Federation stated that the Russian Federation was committed to strict compliance with its obligations under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their two additional protocols of 1977, which remained fully relevant, and that there was a need to further universalize them.
Timor-Leste reaffirmed its commitment to international humanitarian law, including adherence to and respect for the three additional protocols to the Geneva Convention of 1949, to which its country is a state party.
Bahrain, on behalf of Gulf Cooperation Council, strongly condemned what it called wanton and repeated Iranian attacks against the GCC countries, which it said targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in violation of IHL, and called for their immediate cessation and for perpetrators to be held responsible and accountable.
Statement by statement · 28 speakers
🇦🇹 Austria
Austria stressed that upholding international humanitarian law is not optional, that the Geneva Conventions and additional protocols are binding in their entirety, and that serious violations in armed conflicts constitute war crimes.
Austria highlighted the importance of prevention, noting Austria joined and supported the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law, co-chaired its prevention work stream, and encouraged all states to engage with its Comprehensive Outcome Document.
🇯🇴 Jordan
Jordan welcomed the Secretary-General's report on the status of the protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and stressed that respect for and good faith implementation of the Conventions and their protocols is a legal obligation and a moral imperative.
Jordan announced that Jordan will host the International Conference to Preserve Human Dignity on the 7th of November next.
🇷🇴 Romania
Romania stressed that compliance with international humanitarian law is not only a moral but also a strategic necessity, and that the four Geneva Conventions, their additional protocols and other relevant treaties must remain the framework governing the conduct of hostilities.
Romania stated that Romania published its first voluntary report on domestic IHL implementation in 2021, that work on a second report is underway with the support of the Romanian Red Cross, and that Romania has joined the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to IHL.
Romania reiterated Romania's support for the International Criminal Court, saying respect for the protocols depends on the credible prospect that serious violations will be investigated and prosecuted.
🇬🇪 Georgia
Georgia stated that Georgia is a party to all the core international humanitarian law treaties, including the four Geneva Conventions and the three additional protocols, and that their provisions are reflected and implemented in national legislation and policy documents.
Georgia highlighted the permanent national IHL Commission under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, which advises and coordinates on IHL, and its implementation of the 2025-2026 plan covering IHL dissemination, legislation, tracing missing persons and international cooperation.
Georgia stated that the Russian Federation, as an occupying power in Georgia's Abkhazian and Skinwali regions, was systematically violating IHL obligations, that so-called treaties with those regions were null and void, and that Georgia remained committed to peaceful resolution of the conflict.
🇹🇳 Tunisia
Tunisia welcomed the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts.
Tunisia noted that a legal framework governs the role of military legal advisors under Article 82 of Additional Protocol 1, that an international humanitarian law unit was established in the Ministry of National Defense in 2016, and that work is underway on a training manual with the ICRC.
Tunisia condemned what it called grave violations to which the Palestinian people are subjected in the occupied Palestinian territory, including starvation and targeting of civilians, destruction of civilian infrastructure, forced displacement and blockade.
🇲🇨 Monaco
Monaco stressed that international humanitarian law is a legal obligation, not an optional code of conduct, and that violations must be punished, adding that what is too often missing is the will to apply, teach and disseminate the rules.
Monaco announced the renewal of its triennial financing plan for ICRC operations for 2026-2028, providing a 50 percent increase in the total contribution compared to the previous cycle, and renewed partnerships with Handicap International until 2029 and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law of San Remo until 2029.
Monaco condemned deliberate attacks against humanitarian workers as a serious violation of international humanitarian law, citing 350 killed, 322 injured, 235 kidnapped and 280 detained or arrested in 2025, figures it called unacceptable.
🇺🇦 Ukraine
Ukraine stated that Ukraine is a party to all three additional protocols, ratified the Rome Statute with the Kampala amendments in 2024, and has established a unified register of missing persons holding data on more than 90,000 people.
Ukraine highlighted what it called the remote recruitment of children through digital means to commit sabotage and violence, which it said existing rules do not adequately address.
🇿🇲 Zambia
Zambia reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to international humanitarian law and to the principles enshrined in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols.
Zambia underscored that the protection of civilians must remain at the center of international humanitarian efforts, and that parties to armed conflicts must comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
Zambia commended the International Committee of the Red Cross for its unrelenting efforts in working with states to ensure that contemporary challenges are addressed through appropriate legal and institutional frameworks.
🇷🇺 Russian Federation
Russian Federation stated that the Russian Federation was committed to strict compliance with its obligations under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their two additional protocols of 1977, which remained fully relevant, and that there was a need to further universalize them.
Russian Federation stated that the existing international legal framework was sufficient, and that the plight of civilians lay mainly in non-compliance with existing rules, their arbitrary interpretation and selective application.
Russian Federation opposed revising the Geneva Conventions and additional protocols, and the establishment of additional mechanisms and fora to discuss implementation of IHL obligations, including under the global initiative launched by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Russian Federation stated that joining political declarations, such as the 2022 Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas, did not in itself demonstrate compliance with legal obligations, and said some Western countries' words and deeds diverged.
🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic
Syrian Arab Republic highlighted the Independent International Commission of Inquiry's documentation of what it called mounting Israeli violations in southern Syria, which it said violate the Geneva Conventions and IHL and may amount to war crimes.
Syrian Arab Republic stressed that occupation cannot serve as a legitimate legal basis for the acquisition of territory, and that annexation attempts are unlawful, null and void, and have no legal effect.
🇭🇺 Hungary
Hungary stated that Hungary is a state party to all four Geneva conventions and their three additional protocols and remains firmly committed to their full and effective implementation.
Hungary welcomed the global initiative to galvanize political commitment for international humanitarian law, and its focus on developing concrete and actionable recommendations through thematic work streams.
Hungary announced that the Regional Humanitarian Diplomacy Forum for Europe and Central Asia will be hosted in Budapest this week.
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan condemned all violations of the laws and customs of war, and underscored the critical importance of accountability for such violations.
Azerbaijan stated that civilians in its country continue to be killed or injured by landmines and other explosive remnants of war, and that the fate and whereabouts of thousands of missing Azerbaijanese remain a pressing humanitarian issue.
Azerbaijan stressed that blanket amnesties, de facto impunity, immunity or early release for those responsible for the more serious international crimes are incompatible with states' obligations under international law, and that there can be no lasting peace without justice.
🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran stated that the United States and the Israeli regime, in what it called blatant aggression against its country, deliberately attacked Iranian civilians and civilian objects, including the Shahjarata Tayyib Elementary School in Minab on 28 February 2026, killing 168 school children and teachers.
Islamic Republic of Iran called for unequivocal condemnation of grave violations of international humanitarian law and concrete measures to ensure accountability, saying the international community must not allow such conduct to become normalized through silence, inaction and impunity.
Islamic Republic of Iran reiterated its commitment to applicable international legal obligations as a party to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, noting an ad hoc working group within the judiciary drafting a new law and cooperation with the ICRC through the Iranian National Committee on Humanitarian Law.
Islamic Republic of Iran rejected what it called baseless statements against its country, stating that its defensive responses complied with international law, and that certain countries in the region that placed territory, airspace and facilities at the aggressors' disposal committed an act of aggression under resolution 3314.
🇧🇪 Belgium
Belgium called for all states that have not yet done so to ratify the additional protocols and ensure their full implementation, and for all states' parties to the first protocol to recognise the competence of the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission.
Belgium stated the main challenge today is not the absence of rules, which exist and are clear, but the real political will to respect and enforce IHL; it welcomed the 2024 global initiative and urged participation in the High Level Conference on 7 December in Jordan.
Belgium reaffirmed steadfast support for the International Criminal Court and underscored the primary responsibility of states for national implementation of IHL and for prosecuting perpetrators of the most grave crimes, in line with complementarity.
🇰🇼 Kuwait
Kuwait reaffirmed the importance of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols as the cornerstone of the international humanitarian law system, and stressed that respect for IHL must never be selective.
Kuwait stated that in 2025 Kuwait adopted Decree Law No. 134 of 2025 on the use and protection of the emblems of the Red Crescent and Red Cross, and Decree Law No. 154 of 2025 on the protection of missing persons.
Kuwait condemned what it called heinous Iranian aggression against Kuwait, the states of the GCC and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, including attacks on water desalination plants, Kuwait International Airport and other civilian facilities.
Kuwait condemned attacks by the Houthis on civilian objects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the policies and practices of the occupying power against the Palestinian people, and supported a two-state solution.
🇺🇸 United States
United States stated that the agenda item was added in 1982 to provide periodic updates on ratifications and accessions to the additional protocols, that only a handful of changes have occurred over the past decade, and that it should be considered for quadrantalization given the committee's revitalization work.
United States stated that the United States is a party to Protocol 3 but not the 1977 additional protocols, that Additional Protocol 2 remains pending in the Senate, and that it treats Article 75 of Additional Protocol 1 as applicable out of a sense of legal obligation.
United States stated that the United States does not accept references to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in the resolution and will seek their removal from this year's text.
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone stressed that ratification is only the first step and that the real measure of commitment lies in implementation, including incorporating the additional protocols into domestic law, training armed forces, and investigating and prosecuting serious violations.
🇧🇾 Belarus
Belarus said Belarus had acceded to the three additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, was a party to the Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of armed conflict and its two protocols, and had a commission on the implementation of IHL under its government.
Belarus stressed the Sixth Committee should remain the central platform for issues relating to international humanitarian law, and noted the need to mobilize expert efforts on new areas of application of IHL, including cyberspace and hostile activities involving ICTs.
Belarus expressed concern over the increasingly politicized nature of the activities of the International Criminal Court, which it said had repeatedly violated its own statute and unjustifiably expanded its jurisdiction to states not parties to the Rome Statute.
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
Bangladesh stated that Bangladesh became a party to the Geneva Conventions in 1972 and to Protocols 1 and 2 in 1980, had been bound by them for 46 years and had never sought to step back.
Bangladesh stressed that the real challenge today is not ratification but respect, citing strikes on hospitals, schools, water systems and humanitarian workers in Gaza, in Sudan, in Myanmar.
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
Luxembourg reaffirmed the importance of respect for and full implementation of international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.
Luxembourg called for states that have not yet done so to accede to the additional protocols in order to strengthen the protection of the victims of armed conflicts.
Luxembourg stated that Luxembourg will continue its support to the ICRC through an annual contribution of 16.6 million euros for the 2026 to 2029 period, and that it co-chairs Working Group 6 of the global initiative on digital technologies in armed conflicts.
🇱🇧 Lebanon
Lebanon stressed that the International Court of Justice has held that fundamental rules of humanitarian law bind every state whether or not it has ratified the conventions, as 'intransgressible principles of international customary law', not optional, not conditional, not subject to convenience.
Lebanon announced that on May 1 of this year, amid ongoing strikes across its territory, Lebanon acceded to the Anti-Personal Mine Band Convention, complementing its adherence to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.
Lebanon stated that distinction, precaution and proportionality were being breached methodically and systematically in Lebanon, citing killing of civilians, low-altitude sonic booms, forced displacement, destruction of cultural heritage and environmental devastation, and called for accountability for war crimes and other atrocity crimes.
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste reaffirmed its commitment to international humanitarian law, including adherence to and respect for the three additional protocols to the Geneva Convention of 1949, to which its country is a state party.
Timor-Leste welcomed the Secretary-General's report and its emphasis on strengthening national implementation and ensuring that humanitarian obligations are respected in all circumstances.
Timor-Leste highlighted three priorities: moving from formal adherence to effective national implementation, translating protection of civilians into concrete operational responsibilities, and ensuring humanitarian obligations never become conditional upon political negotiation.
🇾🇪 Yemen
Yemen called for the immediate lifting of the siege on Taiz, the opening of all access points and roads, and safe, sustainable and unhindered access to food, fuel and drinking water.
Yemen stressed that respect for international humanitarian law is neither a political choice nor a selective obligation, but a legal duty that must be upheld under all circumstances.
🇮🇹 Italy
Italy reaffirmed the importance of strict observance of the obligations contained in the protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and of promoting compliance at national and international levels.
Italy recalled that Italy established a working group that completed a new manual on international law applicable to military operations in 2026, now under consideration for approval, and that in 2025 its Defense General Staff adopted a directive on protecting cultural property in armed conflicts.
Italy stated that Italy adopted its Fifth National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security for 2025 2029, endorsed the declaration for the protection of humanitarian personnel, and supports the children and armed conflict agenda, including the Safe Schools Declaration.
🇫🇯 Fiji
Fiji stressed that obligations on the protection of civilians, medical facilities, humanitarian personnel and journalists, and on unimpeded humanitarian access, are not aspirations but are binding and bind all parties to the conflicts equally.
Fiji welcomed the preparatory work announced by the President of the General Assembly towards a treaty on the protection of persons in disasters, and said Fiji and Pacific partners intend to engage fully in that process.
🇧🇭 Bahrain · on behalf of Gulf Cooperation Council
Bahrain, on behalf of Gulf Cooperation Council, strongly condemned what it called wanton and repeated Iranian attacks against the GCC countries, which it said targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in violation of IHL, and called for their immediate cessation and for perpetrators to be held responsible and accountable.
Bahrain, on behalf of Gulf Cooperation Council, strongly condemned terrorist attacks by the Houthi militias against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including on King Khalid and Abha International Airports, and said they must cease immediately.
Bahrain, on behalf of Gulf Cooperation Council, called for Israel to be compelled to uphold international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories, unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and an end to colonial expansion and annexation plots.
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross called for states to reaffirm their shared commitment by ensuring effective implementation and faithful application of the additional protocols in current armed conflicts, as well as their universal acceptance.
International Committee of the Red Cross commended Andorra for acceding to all three additional protocols, while noting that, excluding Andorra, more than seven years had passed since a state joined the second additional protocol and more than a decade since one acceded to the first.
International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern about the withdrawal by some states from hard won international agreements designed to protect humanity in armed conflicts, reminding states that withdrawing from any humanitarian treaty weakens legal protections for victims of war.
🇸🇪 Sweden
Sweden announced that a zero draft resolution on the status of the protocols additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 would shortly be circulated, containing the necessary technical updates and one limited update referring to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the adoption of the additional protocols one and two.
Sweden announced that informal consultations on the zero draft would take place on Wednesday 21 October at 2 p.m. in the room, and invited interested delegations to reach out with questions or comments, with a view to adopting the resolution by consensus.
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