I thank ASG Jenca and OCHA Director Wosornu for their briefs. I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine in this meeting, and other regional countries.

Guyana notes with alarm the intensifying attacks and mounting civilian casualties reported over the last few days and weeks in this conflict.  We regret that the growing demands for a ceasefire and efforts to arrive at an urgent diplomatic solution remain elusive.  

Meanwhile, the lives of innocent men, women, and children in both Ukraine and Russia continue to be cut short, and the livelihoods of many upended.  

Colleagues,

With rising global tensions and conflicts reaching the highest levels since World War II, one truth has become clear: the world is witnessing a collapse in the international framework and mechanisms that were designed to protect civilians in armed conflicts.  

As conflict parties remain locked in a win-lose scenario, where one must prevail and the other must be defeated, it is innocent civilians who continue to suffer the consequences of their decisions and actions.  

As ASG Jenca said, new data published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights this month indicate that civilian deaths in conflicts surged 40 percent globally in 2024, with children dying in unprecedented numbers. Other alarming statistics from the report show that one civilian dies in armed conflict every 12 minutes, while every 14 hours, at least one human rights defender, journalist, or trade unionist is killed or disappeared.

In Ukraine, the worrying trend of high civilian casualties in 2025, with the first five months of the year being almost 50 percent higher than in the same period in 2024, is of deep concern. In May alone, there were at least 183 civilian deaths and 836 injuries in Ukraine.

These casualties stem largely from attacks with long-range missiles, loitering munitions, and short-range drones with onboard high-resolution cameras used for precision targeting.  These are all weapons that continue to cause grave civilian harm.

Guyana reiterates its demand for the parties to this conflict to respect humanitarian principles and adhere to international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We urge greater efforts to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects, and for this to be made a critical priority in the planning and conduct of military operations.

We reiterate our call for an immediate end to the hostilities. We also call, once again, for respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Guyana urges the parties to engage in good faith in the diplomatic efforts underway and commends the efforts of UN agencies, bilateral partners, and international, regional, and local organizations in this regard. These diplomatic efforts have led to the exchange of prisoners and other detained persons. We hope that these will continue and urge greater attention to confidence-building measures.

We further call for independent monitors, including OHCHR, to be allowed regular, unimpeded, and confidential access to all detained persons.  

In closing, Guyana stresses the urgency of resolving this conflict through peaceful means. We will continue to support all efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and other willing partners who have been working diligently toward peace and an end to this war.  

I Thank You.