Madam Coordinator,
The protection of civilian infrastructure is not merely an act of goodwill, but a binding legal obligation for all parties to a conflict.
States and parties to conflicts must adopt measures to ensure such protection in an effective manner.
Cuba proposes a set of essential practical and operational measures that should be implemented in conflict situations:
To consolidate States’ commitment to the strict compliance with the norms of International Humanitarian Law, without discrimination, as a fundamental condition for the protection of civilian infrastructure and its consequent impact on the lives of persons not taking part in hostilities.
To identify those provisions of International Humanitarian Law that require further development, with a view to working towards the adoption of legally binding instruments that strengthen the protection of civilian infrastructure during conflicts.
To strengthen education on International Humanitarian Law by supporting the development and implementation of educational programmes on the subject for schools and other academic and educational institutions, at different levels.
To strengthen and align national legislation with treaties relating to International Humanitarian Law and customary international law.
To prohibit, through legally binding instruments, all new-generation weapons, including autonomous weapons and those incorporating technologies associated with artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, space assets and quantum technology, which cannot guarantee strict respect for the principles of Distinction, Proportionality and Precaution, and which do not allow for the clear attribution of responsibility to a State or an individual.
To establish limits and specific regulations for those weapons that maintain human control over the most critical decisions of warfare, including the selection and attack of targets.
To ensure States’ commitment to the use and respect of protected zones as a mechanism to strengthen the protection of civilian infrastructure and thereby reduce the risk of direct or collateral attacks.
To eradicate the presence of military objectives within protected zones and reduce the likelihood that civilian installations are affected by offensive or defensive operations. The geographical and legal delimitation of such protected zones would facilitate the identification of areas where the use of force is restricted, thus reducing operational errors and unintended harm.
To ensure the protection and proper marking of critical infrastructure, such as water, electricity, health and communications.
To prevent both weapons and civilian infrastructure from falling into the hands of actors not authorized by the State, and to identify the networks that support them in the acquisition, handling, financing, storage, use or attempts to gain access to such resources.
Cuba reaffirms its commitment to the protection of civilian infrastructure and to the strengthening of International Humanitarian Law.
We urge States to adopt concrete measures, to cooperate with the ICRC, and to promote a preventive approach that reduces the vulnerability of civilian populations and infrastructure.
Thank you very much.