Thank you, Mr. President.
We take note of the comments made by the speakers.
Switzerland is fully aware of the scale of the challenges facing humanitarian actors today, and we commend their unfailing dedication. It is imperative that any humanitarian response be underpinned by rapid, safe and unhindered access to populations in need, as required notably by international humanitarian law. Respect for these obligations, in particular with regard to the protection of civilians, including the protection of humanitarian workers, must be at the center of our considerations and remains apriority for Switzerland.
Sanctions are an important and legitimate tool available to the international community to ensure compliance with international law. At the UN level, sanctions are the most powerful non-military instrument in the Charter to bring individuals or entities, such as parties to a conflict, to respect this law, and to maintain or restore international peace and security. At the national level, sanctions can be adopted based on the right of each State to freely define its trade relations in compliance with its international commitments.
Switzerland has long been committed to targeted sanctions, clear and fair procedures, and to reconciling sanctions with the preservation of humanitarian space. Targeted sanctions, which apply specifically to individuals, companies and organizations involved in serious violations of international law, or restrict trade in specific goods, limit the undesirable consequences that sanctions could have on civilian populations and humanitarian activities. Targeted sanctions represent a clear improvement over the comprehensive sanctions used in the past and reflects the work carried out on the issue of sanctions implementation.
Mr. President,
Major progress has been made with the introduction of humanitarian exemptions. These allow us to effectively address the potential negative impact of sanctions on humanitarian assistance.
In the context of UN sanctions measures, we note how much Resolution 2664 facilitates rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance to people in need. It fosters an essential space for dialogue among the various actors and provides Member States and the private sector with the legal clarity they need to operate in this complex environment. Many humanitarian organizations have indeed emphasized the positive impact of humanitarian exemptions on the implementation of their activities. They have also continued to strengthen their risk management strategies and apply the necessary due diligence measures.
From a humanitarian perspective, the humanitarian exemption has its greatest impact in the contexts covered by the 1267 sanctions regime against Daesh and Al-Qaeda - where serious humanitarian crises persist and tens of millions of people are in need of assistance - that the humanitarian exemption has the greatest impact. It is therefore essential to maintain the application of Resolution 2664 to the 1267 sanctions regime, and we call on all Council members to work towards this end.
Thank you for your attention.