Security Council resolution 2532 (2020) [on cessation of hostilities in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]
Symbol: S/RES/2532 (2020)
Date: 2020-07-01
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/75 [10] INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
S/ X Maintenance of international peace and security.
Subjects: COVID-19|CEASEFIRES|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BELGIUM
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
vote: yes
country: ESTONIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: INDONESIA
vote: yes
country: NIGER
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TUNISIA
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: VIET NAM
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/2532 (2020)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                1 July 2020




               Resolution 2532 (2020)
               Adopted by the Security Council on 1 July 2020

                    The Security Council,
                    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 that inversely the pandemic can exacerbate the adverse
               humanitarian impact of conflict situations,
                     Recognizing that the peacebuilding and development gains made by countries
               in transition and post-conflict countries could be reversed in light of the COVID -19
               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 personnel to respond urgently to the
               COVID-19 pandemic,
                     Recognizing efforts and measures proposed by the Secretary-General
               concerning the response to the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to
               conflict-affected countries, in particular his appeal for an immediate global ceasefire,
                    Having considered the resolution 74/270 “Global solidarity to fight the
               coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)” adopted by the UN General Assembly on
               April 2nd 2020,
                  Acknowledging the launch of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for
               COVID-19 by the United Nations, which puts the people at the center of the response,
                    Considering that the unprecedented extent of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely
               to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security,




20-08831 (E)
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S/RES/2532 (2020)

                     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 Special Envoys in that respect;
                     2.   Calls upon all parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a
               durable humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days, in order to enable the
               safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance, provisions of
               related services by impartial humanitarian actors, in accordance with the
               humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and
               medical evacuations, in accordance with international law, including international
               humanitarian law and refugee law as applicable;
                    3.    Affirms that this general and immediate cessation of hostilities and this
               humanitarian pause do not apply to military operations against th e Islamic State in
               Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh), Al Qaeda and Al Nusra Front
               (ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al
               Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist groups, which have been designated by the Security
               Council;
                     4.    Requests the Secretary-General to help ensure that all relevant parts of the
               United Nations system, including UN Country Teams, in accordance with their
               respective mandates, accelerate their response to the COVID -19 pandemic with a
               particular emphasis on countries in need, including those in situations of armed
               conflict or affected by humanitarian crises;
                     5.    Requests the Secretary-General to provide updates to the Security Council
               on the UN efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic in countries in situations of
               armed conflict or affected by humanitarian crises, as well as on the impact of
               COVID-19 on the ability of peace-keeping operations and Special Political Missions
               to deliver their mandated priority tasks;
                     6.    Requests the Secretary-General to instruct peace-keeping operations to
               provide support, within their mandates and capacities, to host country authorities in
               their efforts to contain the pandemic, in particular to facilitate humanitarian access,
               including to internally displaced persons and refugee camps and allow for medical
               evacuations, and further requests the Secretary-General and Member States to take
               all appropriate steps to protect the safety, security and health of all UN personnel in
               UN peace operations, while maintaining the continuity of operations, and to take
               further steps towards the provision of training for peacekeeping personnel on issues
               related to 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 the 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 the development and implementation of an
               adequate and sustainable response to the pandemic;
                    8.    Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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