Belgium urges equal application of international law and civilian protection

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot called on Tuesday for international law to be applied consistently in all conflicts, saying that sovereignty, territorial integrity and civilian protection must not depend on geography, according to his address to the UN General Assembly.

Prevot said the principles underpinning the international order must be upheld not only in Europe but also in conflict zones including Palestine, Sudan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti.

“The circumstances of conflicts around the world may differ, but the principles of international humanitarian law remain applicable,” he said. “No human life is worth less than another. Civilians remain civilians. They must be protected.”

Belgium calls for humanitarian access

The Belgian foreign minister urged that humanitarian aid be allowed to reach civilians in conflict zones. Assistance, he said, should not be treated as “an optional expense, a reward or a bargaining chip.”

Prevot also linked the equal application of international law to the war in Ukraine, warning that allowing borders to be changed by force would make borders elsewhere less secure.

“The same standard must guide us when it comes to international humanitarian law. Its rules do not apply only when they suit us,” he said.

UN reform and artificial intelligence

Prevot called for reform of the United Nations, while cautioning that changes must not undermine the organization’s ability to carry out its core functions. He also urged reforms to ensure better representation for every region of the world.

Addressing the rapid development of artificial intelligence, he said governments must benefit from technological innovation while ensuring adequate safeguards for people.

“We must neither hold back innovation out of fear nor assume that it will regulate itself,” Prevot said.

Support for international courts

Prevot used his address to defend the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. He said both institutions were based on the principle that “power cannot be its own judge.”

“When judges or staff members of an international court face sanctions or pressure for carrying out their mandate, Belgium will always stand with them to protect them,” he said.