On 15 March 2017, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and the United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, delivered a speech at the 34th Annual Seminar on International Humanitarian Law for Diplomats Accredited to the United Nations which was jointly organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the New York University School of Law. This Seminar is held annually and is aimed at raising awareness of international humanitarian law and recent issues related to it amongst Member States.

The overall theme of this year's Seminar was "Marking 40 Years of the 1977 Additional Protocols". Mr. Serpa Soares, in his speech, discussed how United Nations peacekeeping personnel are protected by international humanitarian law, including the 1977 Additional Protocols, and the challenges that arise with respect to the protection of peacekeeping personnel in times of armed conflict