What has Switzerland concretely achieved in the Security Council?

In January 2023, under the lead of Switzerland and Brazil, the Security Council unanimously extended cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria by six months. After the devastating earthquakes in February 2023, the need for humanitarian aid in Syria increased further. Switzerland and Brazil worked to find solutions to meet these needs together with all members of the Council and regional organizations. In the summer of 2023, the opening of the crossings – after a Russian veto – was secured through negotiations between the UN and Damascus, which Switzerland supported on the ground and in New York. These results have had a tangible impact on the millions of people in need in northwestern Syria. Cross-border humanitarian aid includes food, support in the areas of emergency shelter, education, protection of the civilian population and health, as well as materials for water supply and sanitation.

In January 2023, the Security Council extended the UNOWAS mandate by three years under the co-penholders Switzerland and Ghana. The office's core tasks include preventive diplomacy, good offices, as well as political mediation and facilitation efforts. UNOWAS also works to consolidate peace and democratic governance, often in close cooperation with regional organizations. The renewal of the office's mandate thus contributes to peace and stability in the entire region.

In May 2024, Switzerland and Sierra Leone succeeded in adopting the first presidential statement by the Security Council on West Africa and the Sahel in almost three years. In it, the Council supports the UN Office – in particular its work on the impact of climate change on peace and security. The consensus on this was forged over months of persistent, creative and solution-oriented negotiations. The outcome is important for the region concerned and for the United Nations: the Council condemns ongoing violations of international humanitarian law, expresses concern about unconstitutional changes of government and refers to drivers of conflict, including the negative impact of climate change on peace and security. The latter point was one of the most difficult issues in the negotiations and is a milestone from Switzerland's perspective.

As President of the Security Council in May 2023, Switzerland provided a platform for the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to establish five principles for nuclear security at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Switzerland supported the process by conducting shuttle diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine behind the scenes.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been at significant risk since Russia's military aggression against Ukraine began in 2022. Throughout its membership of the Council, Switzerland therefore repeatedly emphasized the need to protect the plant and ensure nuclear safety and security. This is crucial to protect the civilian population and is also a binding requirement of international humanitarian law on parties to a conflict.

In November 2023, Switzerland, as the negotiator, ensured that the Council unanimously authorized the EU mission EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina for another year. The Council's clear support for the mission was an important signal in the face of polarized sentiment. The Swiss negotiation leadership contributed to this with its inclusive and consultative approach and Switzerland was able to take on a credible mediator role in the Council.

The follow-up resolution in 2024 was negotiated during the Swiss presidency. In both these ways, Switzerland contributed to peace in the Western Balkans and to the peace operation in which the second largest Swiss military contingent is deployed.

In February 2024, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Guyana led the Security Council to Colombia – the first time with a trio of women in the lead. Switzerland was able to draw on its extensive expertise in bilateral peacebuilding in Colombia and share it with the Council, providing member states with a first-hand account of the implementation of the peace agreement and the Colombian government's current peace efforts under the 'Paz Total' policy.

The members of the Council held talks with, among others, the Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the bodies responsible for implementing the peace agreement, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, former combatants and victims of the conflict. In addition, the visit provided an opportunity to exchange views with various women's groups, human rights defenders and members of minority groups. The Council also made field visits to the west and south of the country, focusing on humanitarian demining, the reintegration of ex-combatants and the situation of indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

Colombia has been beset by armed conflict for decades. According to estimates, the conflict has claimed more than 450,000 victims – mostly civilians – and displaced 8 million people. In 2016, an innovative peace agreement was reached between the Colombian government and the former FARC-EP. The UN Verification Mission is tasked with verifying the implementation of this peace agreement and supporting a sustainable peace in Colombia.

In March 2024, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2728 on Gaza. This was a historic moment for two reasons: first, it was the first time that the Security Council had called for a ceasefire since the terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent escalation of violence in the Middle East. The catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip was the decisive factor in this. It was also the first resolution in the Council's recent history to be jointly tabled by all ten elected Council members (the “E10”), thanks in part to Switzerland's decade-long commitment to working methods. Switzerland further promoted consensus on Gaza in two E10 statements during its Council presidency in October 2024, as well as with a statement by the General Assembly on the Middle East.

In August 2024, Switzerland and the United Kingdom jointly convened an emergency meeting of the Council in response to the risk of a polio epidemic. This helped sustain the pressure to proceed with the vaccination of over 600,000 children against polio, a campaign to which Switzerland also contributed financially. In February and November 2024, at the request of Switzerland, Guyana, Algeria and Slovenia, the Security Council discussed the risk of famine in Gaza as a result of the armed conflict, a situation starkly described by the invited Briefers. Almost all members agreed that the Council must act.

In May 2024, the Security Council adopted the Swiss resolution 2730. The resolutoin calls for consistent protection of humanitarian and UN personnel in conflicts (“Protecting the Protectors”) in accordance with international humanitarian law and was co-sponsored by a total of 99 states. In view of the increasing number of attacks, including fatal ones, against humanitarian personnel, this strong call was urgently needed. In November 2024, the UN Secretary-General presented recommendations to the Council on the implementation of the resolution. A total of 116 delegations took the opportunity to join Switzerland in a joint media stakeout. In doing so, they also implemented one of the Secretary-General's main recommendations: to speak out clearly and consistently in favor of compliance with international humanitarian law.

The Swiss initiative was also instrumental in strengthening international humanitarian law in twelve resolutions (e.g. Res. 2719 on African peace support operations, Res. 2728 on Gaza, or Res. 2699 on the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti).

In August 2024, Switzerland welcomed the members of the Security Council to Geneva to mark the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. These pillars of international humanitarian law oblige all states to fulfil their responsibility to humanity in armed conflicts. After a panel discussion with the ICRC at the United Nations Geneva headquarters, the invited Council members took part in a ceremony at the “Place des Nations” that sent a clear message: 'War has borders'. This sent a strong signal to the international community to counteract the erosion in the implementation of the conventions – especially in view of the more than 120 conflicts in the world. In his speech, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis also called on all international actors to renew their commitment to international humanitarian law and to make the Geneva Conventions a political priority.

The second part of the trip underscored the relevance of Geneva’s expertise for the Council's work in the area of prevention. Council members exchanged views with Geneva-based stakeholders on the use of science and technology in conflict prevention – from climate security and artificial intelligence to neuro- and quantum technology. In addition to various UN agencies and centres, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the GESDA think tank (Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator) were also among the discussion partners.

In May 2023, Switzerland gave the kick-off for negotiations on the landmark Security Council resolution 2719 at a Council meeting chaired by Vice President Amherd. This resolution establishes, for the first time, a framework for financing and cooperation in African Union peace support missions. During its presidency in October 2024, Switzerland brought together the African Union Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council for the first time in an informal retreat. The councils discussed the implementation of cooperation in peace missions, the influence of climate change on conflicts, and the role of youth with AU youth ambassadors. A joint communiqué formalized the meeting.

Switzerland has also successfully cooperated with African members of the Council in various roles and initiatives:

• Co-chairing the Informal Group of Experts on Climate, Peace and Security together with Mozambique (2023-2024)
• Co-chairing the Informal Group of Experts on Women, Peace and Security together with Sierra Leone (2024)
• Lead negotiations on the UN Office in West Africa and Sahel together with Ghana (2023) and Sierra Leone (2024)
• Trip by members of the Council to Geneva in August 2024 for the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions in close cooperation with the Council President, Sierra Leone
• 'Trio Initiative' to strengthen conflict prevention and implement the New Agenda for Peace, with Sierra Leone and Slovenia

During Switzerland's presidency of the Council in October 2024, Federal Councillor Cassis chaired a Council meeting on the effects of scientific developments on peace and security. Scientists and disarmament experts briefed the Council on neurotechnologies, quantum computing, synthetic biotechnology and more. For example: what if drones could be controlled by a chip in the brain? The Council also adopted the first presidential statement on science diplomacy, which anchors anticipatory engagement with the topic in the Council. And during the meeting – here too Switzerland broke new ground – an artificial intelligence listened in, trained together with the Diplo Foundation, and reported almost simultaneously.

The way was paved in July 2024 by an informal exchange between Council members and science diplomacy stakeholders in Geneva, and an informal Council meeting on the potential of science for peace, organized by Switzerland in April 2024. And already in May 2023 – during its first presidency – Switzerland invited a political scientist to the Council who highlighted the importance of facts for building trust between states.

New technologies were also the focus of two exhibitions organized by Switzerland at the UN headquarters: in October 2024 with the ICRC and the EPFL on 'Deepfake and You' and in May 2023 with the ICRC on 'Digital Dilemmas' in humanitarian work in conflict zones. Both exhibitions have been and will be shown around the world.

In October 2024, President Viola Amherd chaired the annual Council debate on women, peace and security, making her the first female President in the world to do so. She presented specific recommendations from female mediators from around the world on how to strengthen women's participation in peace processes. These stem from a workshop with representatives of regional networks of female mediators, organized by Switzerland in July 2024 in New York. The President of the Swiss Confederation also launched a 'pledging' process for better implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) together with the UN Secretary-General, with a view to its 25th anniversary.

Switzerland took concrete steps to make the voices of women heard more clearly in the Security Council. During its two Council presidencies, it offered 20 experienced women from civil society a platform to report to the Council on their work for a transformative and inclusive peace – in Sudan, Syria, Haiti and other contexts.

Together with partner states, Switzerland significantly strengthened the role of women and the gender perspective in twelve Council resolutions (e.g. 2724 on Sudan, 2754 on Colombia and 2702 on Libya). The sixteen preparatory meetings of the Informal Group of Experts on Women, Peace and Security, which Switzerland co-chaired with the United Arab Emirates (2023) and Sierra Leone (2024), were crucial to this.

In December 2024, Switzerland, together with the United States, introduced a resolution to the Security Council that extended humanitarian exemptions in the sanctions regime against ISIL/Al Qaeda for an indefinite period. This exemption affects over 100 million people who depend on humanitarian aid. It reduces the risk of sanctions inadvertently blocking humanitarian actors or activities. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Earlier, in July 2024, Switzerland successfully advocated for the strengthening of the focal points for Delisting. Sanctioned individuals and entities can turn to these focal points to have themselves removed from UN sanctions lists. The expanded powers of the focal points represent an important step towards strengthening the rule of law and establishing a clearly regulated review procedure for all 14 UN sanctions regimes.

The Ombudsperson for the Sanctions against ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida has an even stronger mandate than the focal points. Not only can they submit information to the relevant sanctions committee regarding delisting requests, but also make recommendations. In June 2024, Switzerland played a major role in ensuring that the Ombudsperson's mandate was extended for the first time by three years (instead of the usual two). Also at Switzerland's urging, the Council, for the first time recognized the importance of rule-of-law procedures in seven sanctions regimes.

These successes build on Switzerland's long-standing commitment to sanctions that are issued in accordance with the principles of the rule of law and that have as little negative impact as possible on the civilian population and on humanitarian aid.

Switzerland played a key role in strengthening the response to the impacts of climate change on peace and security across seven resolutions, including those on Somalia, South Sudan, and Haiti. For example, Resolution 2677 mandates an assessment of climate-related risks to peace and security in South Sudan and their impact on the work of the UN Mission UNMISS, ensuring this analysis is included in the UN Secretary-General’s reports. In the Security Council's first presidential statement on the UN Office in West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Switzerland, together with Sierra Leone, succeeded in further anchoring climate security. Switzerland also made a concrete contribution to increasing the number of climate advisors 'in the field' in war and crisis contexts.

In preparation, Switzerland organized 13 informal briefings for Council members together with Mozambique to highlight the links between climate, peace and security in various regions. And in December 2024, Switzerland – also together with Mozambique – brought Security Council experts to the Lake Chad region for the first time ever on this topic. This enabled the Council members to see for themselves the impact of climate change on peace and security, but also local solutions and initiatives.

In spring 2023, Switzerland, together with Malta, Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates, launched the 'Joint Pledges on Climate Peace and Security', which set out concrete steps that member states can take to address the impact of climate change on peace and security in the Security Council. With joint statements and media stakeouts that were synchronized with the program of the UNSC, the signatory states of the Joint Pledges also helped to keep the issue on the Council's agenda.

Switzerland served as one of the co-facilitators of resolution 2417 (2018), together with Brazil (2023) and Guyana (2024). The resolution recognizes the fact of conflict-induced food insecurity and calls for increased UN reporting on the issue.

Together with these states, Switzerland requested several Council meetings regarding conflict-related food insecurity in Haiti, the Sahel, Gaza and Sudan, among other places. The meetings raised awareness among states about the links between hunger and conflicts in the respective contexts, highlighted the obligations of the parties to the conflict under international law and demonstrated the urgency of the issue. They also helped to generate funding for humanitarian emergency aid (flash appeals).

Switzerland also used its presidency of the Council in May 2023 to draw the Council's attention to this issue: it made the ban on hunger as a tactic of war the focus of the annual high-level debate on the protection of civilians, chaired by the then President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset. Furthermore, Switzerland highlighted the links between conflicts and food security in its official statements in the Council and recalled the relevant obligations under international law.

Together with Japan, Switzerland strengthened cooperation between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Security Council. In this role, it helped the ten Council members that recognize the court to speak with a strong and unified voice. For example, it facilitated joint statements and media appearances when the ICC chief prosecutor reported on Libya and Sudan. This support is crucial at a time when the court and the rule of law in the international arena in general are under severe pressure.

In July 2023, Switzerland organized an informal Council meeting to mark the 25th anniversary of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the ICC. The meeting focused on the Court's contribution to maintaining peace and security. It highlighted the strong support for the ICC's work among states parties from all regional groups.

Switzerland also advocated for the mainstreaming and strengthening of accountability in peace operations mandates, for example in Sudan, Iraq, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.