"A responsibility to humanity to combat mass atrocities"
Bern, 01.10.2015 - New York, 01.10.2015 – Address by the Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter on the occasion of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly (Meeting on a Code of Conduct for the exercise of the power of veto in cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, organised by Liechtenstein) - Check against delivery
Dear Aurélia,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues,
The UN Charter confers an essential role upon the UN Security Council in one of the United Nations' main action areas: conflict prevention, mediation and resolution. It is the principal body responsible for maintaining international l peace and security.
Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes are the most serious crimes known to international law. In the face of such mass atrocities, every State has an obligation to take all necessary steps to prevent them and, should they – regrettably – still occur, to stop them and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Permanent Members of the Security Council are particularly accountable in this regard. As my colleague the French Minister of Foreign Affairs remarked: the veto was intended not as a privilege, but as a responsibility.
Switzerland has long called for the members of the Security Council to refrain from blocking or voting against resolutions intended to prevent or bring an end to genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes; it has called in particular for the permanent members not to use their veto in such cases.
Furthermore, as the birthplace of the Red Cross movement and the Geneva Conventions, Switzerland is conscious that it has a particular responsibility regarding obligations under international humanitarian law.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My colleague from Liechtenstein, Aurélia Frick, has outlined to you the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. . It has been developed by the ACT group – Accountability, Coherence, Transparency –which is coordinated by Switzerland and seeks to improve the working methods of the Security Council.
Along with the Franco-Mexican initiative presented yesterday, to which we invite you to subscribe, this Code of Conduct asks all members of the Council, both permanent and elected ones, not to vote against resolutions intended to prevent or bring an end to genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, and requests future members to uphold this principle.
The large number of countries which have joined the initiative indicates that the Code of Conduct is generating significant interest among the international community.
We encourage all Member States to subscribe to this Code.
Whether a Permanent or an elected Member of the Security Council, as Switzerland hopes to become at the elections in Autumn 2022, the principles that guide the nations which united 70 years ago also represent a responsibility to humanity. Switzerland asks each Member State not to escape this responsibility.
Thank you.
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