Bahrain joins UN call for an immediate global ceasefire

Manama, May 27(BNA): The Kingdom of Bahrain reiterated its support for the sincere call made by Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, for an immediate global ceasefire and to harness international efforts to confront and even eliminate the Covid-19 virus. This came in a speech given by Ambassador Jamal Faris Al-Ruwaiei, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations in New York, during the open debate of the Security Council on "Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts" which was held on Wednesday, May 26, 2020. He said the Kingdom of Bahrain, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, has attached great importance to the protection of civilians and joined in 2004 the two Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child related to the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography as well as participation in armed conflicts and approved Decree Law No. (44) of 2018 on international crimes. He also noted the initiative of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on UN adoption of the fifth of April of each year as an international day of conscience to remind the international community of the necessity of carrying out its ethical responsibilities in ending the world conflicts and wars which plunged people in poverty, hunger, disease, epidemics and displacement. He referred to the UN Secretary-General’s report on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, which highlights the human suffering of civilians, especially children, women, elderly and people with disabilities. The ambassador noted the aggravation of the sufferings of civilians in armed conflicts by the outbreak of Covid -19 pandemic, which posed a direct threat to them due to the already destroyed health sector, crowded camps that constitute an environment conducive to the spread of the virus, and difficult access to humanitarian aid due to various obstacles, especially the pandemic. He pointed out non-state armed groups and terrorist organizations’ possession of the latest weapons, which exacerbates the conflict and prolongs it, causing the death of large numbers of innocent civilians, condemning terrorism of all kinds and forms, especially the politically state- sponsored terrorism and in terms of media covering and others. He also pointed out that modern technology has contributed to providing a platform that these groups exploit to spread their poisoned ideas, incite violence and conduct recruitment, in addition to launching electronic attacks on official institutions, which requires concerted efforts among member states to address hate speech and exchange security information. He noted the United Nations strategy and plan of action on hate speech and stressed the protection of civilians, especially vulnerable groups, in armed conflict must remain a priority for the international community.