Thank you Mr. President for holding this debate, for ensuring that this chamber hears the voices of civil society, and for your own speech. It’s quite rare to get a round of applause from this audience. And thank you too to the Secretary-General, to the ICRC, and to Human Rights Watch for excellent contributions, and I pay tribute to them and their teams’ work.

The UN Charter is clear, protecting civilians is supposed to be at the heart of what we do. When governments fail to protect, people look to this Council, for safety from the scourge of war. But for civilians in Syria, South Sudan, so many other places, this isn’t about words in the Charter or a debate once a year, it is a horrific daily reality.

The sheer scale of the need is unprecedented. 2016 saw record numbers of people needing assistance and protection, so many of them victims of conflict and of the flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. So many of them becoming victims of sexual violence, trafficking, or other modern forms of slavery.

As our briefers made clear, that suffering has been made worse through cruel, unconscionable attacks on medical facilities. Look at the fall of Aleppo last year. Time and again, the regime and its backers bombed that city until all the hospitals were out of action, so that the city could not even care for its injured.

Sadly, the trend is spreading. As the Secretary-General pointed out, the urbanization of conflict in Aleppo, Mosul, Juba, has increased the risk of destruction of hospitals, schools, water systems, and power supplies.

This cannot become the new reality of warfare. Fifteen years on from this Council’s first formal commitment to protect civilians in armed conflict, it’s clear that we need a new approach.

So I welcome the Secretary-General’s call to reinvigorate a global campaign which would take practical steps to minimize civilian harm, protect those that are displaced, ensure peacekeepers perform their best, and deliver accountability for those who flout compliance with international law.

In support, we should all do four things. First, we need to take practical steps to mitigate impacts on the ground. For instance, work is ongoing to fortify healthcare facilities in Syria and to promote access to mobile clinics in Yemen. In South Sudan, UK peacekeepers are helping strengthen the security and accessibility of the UN’s Protection of Civilian Sites.

Second, we should share best practice. That means the full participation of women in efforts to protect civilians. It also means full compliance with international humanitarian law by all. In the UK, we train our military on international humanitarian law throughout their careers, including with country-specific courses before they deploy. And we’re sharing our expertise to help other governments and their armed forces comply with international humanitarian law, and we’re helping them to make their military justice systems more effective.

Third, we need to collect better and more systematic data on attacks on medical facilities and personnel. We support the Secretary-General’s commitment to do this within the UN system, but it’s not enough to collect data, we need to use it. So we call for more Council briefings from the whole UN family, including OCHA, OHCHR, and the Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict, whenever attacks on medical facilities and personnel occur.

Finally, this Council needs to take action when violations occur. When States fail to act, it’s our responsibility to decide that these abuses will not be tolerated, that we will hold those responsible accountable.

In this chamber, we have a duty to shine a light on those who fail to comply with international law. We have a duty to collect the evidence that is so essential for timely legal action against those who attack medical personnel and facilities in violation of international humanitarian law.

But we are not fulfilling that duty, Mr. President, not yet. So today, let us all recommit to using this Council’s authority, shouldering our responsibility to prevent conflict, to protect civilians, and to hold to account those who violate international humanitarian law, and those who violate and abuse human rights. The UK will continue to show leadership, including as part of the Secretary-General’s global campaign.

Thank you.

The Charity Commission is encouraging people wishing to support the victims of this week’s terrorist attack in Manchester to donate to a genuine charitable appeal.

It says that the great British public are always generous in their support for charities and this has already been reflected via the many giving sites set up to support the victims and families of the appalling attacks in Manchester.

The Charity Commission, Greater Manchester Police, the British Red Cross, and the Lord Mayor of Manchester are urging people wishing to help to give to the We love Manchester appeal, launched by the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s Charitable Appeal Trust or to other registered charities.

The British Red Cross, which has been active on the ground in Manchester and has extensive experience of coordinating large fundraising operations, is supporting the appeal. Other genuine appeals launched to support people in Manchester are understood to now be pointing people towards the We love Manchester fund. The Manchester Evening News, who launched the We Stand Together, have joined forces with the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.

The fund will support people who have been injured or bereaved by the attack. Donations will help alleviate suffering and ensure victims and their families do not face short-term financial difficulties. The Commission is taking the unusual step of encouraging people wishing to give to donate to the We love Manchester fund to reduce the risk of fraud and ensure funds donated reach those they are intended for.

The Fundraising Regulator, which regulates charity fundraising, has joined calls for the public to give safely.

David Holdsworth, Registrar of Charities for England & Wales and Chief Operating Officer at the Charity Commission said:

The British public are incredibly generous, especially in response to supporting those at times of suffering and need. Sadly, during such periods of especially generous giving, there are a small minority of those who seek to exploit that goodwill for fraudulent, selfish purposes. That is why we are encouraging people who wish to donate to give to the We love Manchester fund, launched by the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s Charitable Appeal Trust, to ensure that these funds reach those affected by the appalling attack in Manchester.

The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Eddy Newman said:

I have been overwhelmed by all the support coming from across the world to help those affected by this terrible tragedy. People across the globe have been struck by our city’s defiance and resilience and want to help. It will make a real difference to those affected. Thank you.

Mike Adamson, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, says:

The We Love Manchester appeal is being run in partnership by the British Red Cross and Manchester City Council. The funds raised will go to people affected by the devastating attack at Manchester Arena earlier this week. We have already seen a huge outpouring of support, and we encourage the public to keep giving generously to help ensure victims and their families get the help they need.

Stephen Dunmore, Chief Executive of the Fundraising Regulator, says:

It is vital that the public has confidence their money is going where it’s intended. That’s why we are recommending that those who wish to give donate to the We love Manchester appeal, or to another registered charity.

In light of concerns about fraud, the Charity Commission is taking the unusual step of recommending people to give to a specific charitable appeal, supported by a number of charities. However, the Commission does not endorse individual charities. It reminds people that there are quick and simple ways of checking that an appeal is from a registered charity.

Check before you give – Charity Commission advice:

• If you do not wish to give to the recommended appeal, make sure you are still giving to a registered charity. Do to this, check for a charity registration number. You can verify this on the online register of charities.
• Be more cautious about people collecting for general charitable causes, such as ‘for sick children’ – make sure you’re giving to a registered charity.
• When approached by collectors, check whether they are wearing a proper ID badge and that any collection tin is sealed and undamaged.
• If in doubt, ask the collector for more information – a genuine fundraiser should be happy to answer questions and explain more about the work of the charity.
• Never feel under pressure by a fundraiser into making a donation immediately.

Ends.

PR 42/17

Notes to editors

1. For more information about giving safely, visit the Charity Commission’s pages on GOV.UK.
2. Those concerned that they may have been targeted by a fundraising scam should report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.
3. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. To find out more about our work, see our annual report.
4. Search for charities on our online register.

The AAIB is looking for someone who is highly motivated, flexible and enthusiastic to work on the AAIB Reception, answering switchboard and dealing with visitors.

A full job description and role profile is on the Civil Service Jobs Website. The deadline for applications is 8 June.

Summary

At about 17:24 hrs on Sunday 7 August 2016 a passenger, travelling on a Gatwick Express service from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria, suffered fatal injuries as a result of having his head out of a window and striking it on a signal gantry near Balham in south London. The train was travelling at about 61 mph (98 km/h) at the time of the accident.

The window concerned was on a door opposite a guard’s compartment in the train; this door was accessible to passengers but it was not intended for passenger use. The RAIB has found no evidence to explain why the passenger put his head out of the window at that time.

The accident occurred because the passenger’s head was out of the window, there was nothing to prevent passengers from opening the window or putting their head out of the opened window, and because there was less than the normal standard clearance between the train and the signal gantry. Although the clearance was compliant with standards for existing structures, it was less than an industry recommended minimum for new structures where there are trains with opening passenger windows.

An underlying cause was that the process for assessing the compatibility of this train on this route did not identify the risk of the combination of reduced structure clearances and opening windows.

Recommendations

The RAIB has made two recommendations and identified one learning point. One recommendation is addressed to Network Rail, and seeks to improve the industry’s management of the interacting risks between infrastructure and rolling stock. The second recommendation is addressed to relevant train operators with the intention of reducing the risk from people leaning out of opening train windows.

The learning point reinforces the need for regular monitoring and management of structure clearances when those clearances are reduced from normal.

Notes to editors

1. The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.
2. RAIB operates, as far as possible, in an open and transparent manner. While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry, we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway, we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible, and certainly long before publication of our final report.
3. For media enquiries, please call 01932 440015.

Newsdate: 25 May 2017