Resolution on Global Ceasefire to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic

Georgina Songhurst

Georgina Songhurst

Committee: Security Council

Date: 1 July 2020

Topic: Global Ceasefire to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sponsors: China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States (and all other Council members)

Signatories: [__]

Preambulatory Clauses

Recalling its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,

Reaffirming the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations,

Expressing grave concern about the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, especially in countries ravaged by armed conflicts or in post-conflict situations or affected by humanitarian crises,

Recognizing that conditions of violence and instability in conflict situations can exacerbate the pandemic, and vice versa – the pandemic can exacerbate the adverse humanitarian impact of conflicts,

Recognizing that the peacebuilding and development gains made by countries in post-conflict transition could be reversed due to the pandemic outbreak,

Underscoring that combating this pandemic requires greater national, regional and international cooperation and solidarity, and a coordinated, inclusive, comprehensive, and global international response with the United Nations playing a key coordinating role,

Commending the continued contribution and commitment of national and international health and humanitarian relief workers to respond urgently to COVID-19,

Recognizing efforts and measures proposed by the Secretary-General concerning the potential impact of COVID-19 in conflict countries, in particular his appeal for an immediate global ceasefire,

Having considered General Assembly resolution 74/270 of 2 April 2020 titled “Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)”,

Acknowledging the launch of the UN’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19,

Considering that the unprecedented extent of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security,

Operative Clauses

  1. Demands a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda, and supports the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his special representatives and envoys to achieve this;
  2. Calls upon all parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days, to enable safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services, and medical evacuations, in accordance with international humanitarian law and refugee law;
  3. Affirms that the above cessation of hostilities and humanitarian pause do not apply to military operations against ISIS (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, al-Nusra Front, and other terrorist groups designated by the Security Council;
  4. Requests the Secretary-General to help ensure that all relevant parts of the UN system, including UN Country Teams, accelerate their response to the COVID-19 pandemic with particular emphasis on countries in need, including those in armed conflict or humanitarian crises;
  5. Requests the Secretary-General to brief the Council on UN efforts to address COVID-19 in conflict countries and on the pandemic’s impact on the ability of UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions to carry out their mandates;
  6. Requests the Secretary-General to instruct peacekeeping operations to provide support, within their mandates and capacities, to host country authorities in their efforts to contain the pandemic – in particular by facilitating humanitarian access (including to internally displaced persons and refugee camps) and medical evacuations – and further requests that the Secretary-General and Member States take steps to protect the safety, security and health of all UN personnel in peace operations, while maintaining operational continuity (including providing training on preventing the spread of COVID-19);
  7. Acknowledges the critical role that women are playing in COVID-19 response efforts, as well as the disproportionate negative impact of the pandemic (notably socio-economic impact) on women and girls, children, refugees, internally displaced persons, older persons, and persons with disabilities, and calls for concrete actions to minimize this impact and ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and youth in developing and implementing adequate and sustainable pandemic responses;
  8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Adopted unanimously on 1 July 2020

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