Statement by Greece during the Special Session of the Human Right Council on Boko Haram. (1/4/2015)

"Thank you Mr. President,

Greece fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.
We would like to welcome the convening of this Special Session of the Council following the initiative of the African Group.
The violent and horrifying acts of the terrorist organization Boko Haram in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, deserve our collective condemnation in the strongest possible terms. We deplore the human losses so far and the large scale of human rights abuses as well as violations and abuses of international humanitarian law. Abductions, indiscriminate killings and the increasingly violent and frequent attacks have targeted mainly civilians, and particularly women and children, with devastating consequences. Such atrocities must not go unpunished. The international community must ensure full accountability.
We welcome the leading role played by the African Union and sub-regional organizations such as ECOWAS , ECCAS and CBLT to address the threats posed by Boko Haram, and we express full support for their efforts in this regard.As stated earlier by the EU and other speakers, the responsibility lies with the State to protect its population from acts of terror which clearly undermine the enjoyment of its people's rights.
We also call on the Multinational Joint Task Force and its Member States to ensure that the military operations undertaken are conducted in full compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law. In this respect, we encourage the enhancement of their efforts to prevent civilian casualties and to develop an effective approach to the protection of civilians.
Finally, we would like to express the solidarity of the Greek people who already suffered human losses in Nigeria and elsewhere, to the peoples of countries who are extensively affected by the terrorist activities of Boko Haram, especially.

Thank you Mr. President"