S/RES/2573 (2021)
United Nations
Security Council
Distr.: General
27 April 2021
Resolution 2573 (2021)
Adopted by the Security Council on 27 April 2021
Reiterating its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations
for the maintenance of international peace and security and, in this context, the need
to promote and ensure respect for international humanitarian law,
Recalling all relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1265
(1999), 1894 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2175 (2014), 2286 (2016), 2417 (2018), and its
Presidential Statements of 12 February 1999 (S/PRST/1999/6), 12 February 2013
(S/PRST/2013/2), 9 August 2017 (S/PRST/2017/14), 20 August 2019
(S/PRST/2019/8), and 29 April 2020 (S/PRST/2020/6),
Reaffirming the full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political
independence of all States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,
Reiterating the primary responsibility of States to protect the population
throughout their territories,
Gravely concerned about the level of violence against civilians in situations of
armed conflicts, including indiscriminate attacks and establishment of military
positions in densely populated areas, and their devastating impacts upon civilians,
Emphasising with deep concern that ongoing armed conflicts have devastating
impacts on civilians and civilian objects, including civilians engaged in duties related
to the operation, maintenance or repair of civilian infrastructure that is critical to the
delivery of essential services to the civilian population and their assets that are
civilian as such, and on objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian
population, exacerbate existing socio-economic fragilities and vulnerabilities,
overstretch limited resources, resulting in reduced access to essential services such as
health care, water, sanitation, energy, posing devastating consequences for the civilian
population, and hindering an effective humanitarian response,
Recognizing the interconnectedness of certain essential services, as well as the
vulnerabilities of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population that
can be damaged in situations of armed conflict,
Reiterating the call on all parties to armed conflict to comply with their
obligations under international humanitarian law including regarding respecting and
protecting civilians and taking constant care to spare civilian objects, including such
objects critical to the delivery of essential services to the civilian population,
refraining from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects that are
21-05595 (E)
*2105595*