Madam Coordinator,
The protection of hospitals, medical personnel, and the wounded and sick in armed conflicts must be strengthened. We share the concern over the increasing number of attacks on, damage to, and disruption of the functioning of medical facilities in various contemporary conflict settings.
We welcome the strengthening in the document of the reference to the fact that all international activities relating to medical facilities must be carried out with full respect for the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of States.
The text should underscore the need to link the protection of medical facilities with the protection of electricity networks, drinking water supply systems, sanitation, telecommunications and supply chains, all of which are indispensable to the functioning of health services.
Medical facilities should benefit from one of the highest levels of protection under IHL.
As indicated in the document, where part of a hospital qualifies as a military objective, priority should be given to alternatives that would cause less harm to the medical facility, and the principle of proportionality must be strictly respected, including with regard to the effects on the health system as a whole.
We support the reference in the text to measures aimed at ensuring the continuous access of hospitals to medical supplies, electricity, water and fuel.
In this context, we reiterate the importance of duly taking into account the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the States affected by them, both on the effective implementation of their humanitarian obligations and on their effective capacity to implement and comply with the rules of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
The Cuban delegation will continue to contribute actively and constructively to this process with a view to strengthening International Humanitarian Law.
Thank you.