Greece Leads UN Push to Protect Civilians in Conflict

07:49 23/5/2025 - Πηγή: iEfimerida

Greece has taken a leading role in international diplomacy during its presidency of the United Nations Security Council, launching a global initiative aimed at protecting civilians caught in armed conflicts, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said in a statement from New York.

Speaking to Greece’s public

broadcaster ERT, Mr. Gerapetritis highlighted the country’s central role in guiding discussions on the humanitarian cost of warfare.

“Our goal is to reduce not only the armed conflicts themselves but above all their devastating consequences on the most vulnerable—women, children, journalists, and humanitarian workers,” he said.

Under Greece’s leadership at the Security Council this May, Athens initiated a debate focused on safeguarding civilians during wartime — a subject that has gained renewed urgency amid escalating violence across multiple global hotspots, including Gaza. Mr. Gerapetritis warned that more than 130 conflicts are currently raging worldwide, increasingly targeting those least able to defend themselves.

The Greek initiative culminated in a joint statement championing the principles of international humanitarian law.

The statement has been formally endorsed by 80 countries, a strong show of support that Mr. Gerapetritis called “a testament to the urgent need for collective action.”

He presented the declaration at UN headquarters, emphasizing that it reflects the shared position of the global body regarding civilian protection.

In a parallel diplomatic move, the Greek presidency has spearheaded a second declaration — this time on the environmental toll of armed conflict.

The initiative highlights how warfare forces civilian populations to flee their homes, leaving them even more exposed to environmental degradation, displacement, and violence.

“Greece stands at the sharp edge of global diplomacy at the United Nations,” Mr. Gerapetritis said, announcing plans to convene a special session by the end of May focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“We aim not just to assess the scale of suffering but to form a real alliance to shield those paying the highest price of war—especially women and children.”

He added that Greece’s leadership is guided by a firm belief in the UN Charter’s humanitarian values and by the pressing duty of the international community to act.

“It is our responsibility to protect the innocent, and Greece will be at the forefront of that effort,” Mr. Gerapetritis said.

Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr

Διαβάστε ολόκληρο το άρθρο >>
Keywords
push, push, new york, security, global, initiative, york, public, ert, central, goal, athens, greek, joint, law, support, time, sharp, edge, session, end, aim, scale, real, women, community, iefimerida, iefimerida, edge, public, real, time, athens, aim, central, security, community, goal, global, greek, joint, initiative, law, new york, support, session, sharp, scale, women, york
Τυχαία Θέματα
scholl, οφθαλμος, ovi store, www.town.gr
iNews > Ειδήσεις > iEfimerida
Greece Leads UN Push, Protect Civilians,Conflict