Today we mark the sixth anniversary of the annexation
of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation. Switzerland reiterates its condemnation of the annexation as an act contrary to international law and in particular to the principle of the territorial in…
We thank the Secretary-General for his report on the work of the Organization (A/74/1), for presenting his priorities for 2020 (see A/74/PV.54) and for launching the decade of action for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. I should like to take up a few specific points of particular importa…
Switzerland welcomes the holding of this high-level plenary meeting on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the conference held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. No other convention enjoys such universal recognition and validity, which…
For more than 15 years and in many partner countries, Switzerland has supported and assisted transitional justice and other efforts to deal with the past, by which societies are trying to cope with atrocities they have experienced. Switzerland is convinced that dealing with the past can, in the righ…
I am honoured to take the floor on behalf of the 25 members of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group: Austria, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Gabon, Ghana, Hungary, Ireland, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Maldives, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Pe…
In the past few years we have seen an increase in attacks on international institutions and multilateralism in general. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has not been spared, even if it represents a central achievement of multilateral diplomacy and a milestone in the development of internationa…
Switzerland thanks the President of the Human Rights Council for his statement this morning and commends him on his hard work.
Over the three sessions of the past year, the Human Rights Council once again demonstrated its central role in promoting, protecting and implementing human rights, as well …
On behalf of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), I thank the Security Council for inviting me to brief it as well as for the excellent cooperation between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission.
In line with established practice, the following statement has been a…
Switzerland associates itself with the statement delivered this morning by the representative of Denmark on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect (see A/73/PV.93).
Switzerland welcomes the inclusion of this important debate on the agenda of the seventy-third session of the…
I am pleased to be speaking on behalf of the members of the Group of Friends on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict — Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, P…
The International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, is founded on the pre-eminence of the rule of law and contributes significantly to the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. Through its judgments and advisory opinions, it is an essential component of …
Let me start by thanking Ambassador Ion Jinga and Ambassador Guillermo Fernández de Soto Valderrama, the former and current Chairs of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), respectively, for their work, their efforts and especially for their support to the work of the country-specific configurations. S…
Almost exactly 100 years ago, on 11 April 1919, the International Labour Organization was established in Geneva. With it, the fundamental idea of multilateralism based on dialogue was born. In the aftermath of the First World War, the goal of universal and lasting peace, including the protection of …
The armed conflict in Syria has just entered its ninth year. It has caused the deaths of several hundred thousand civilians, huge refugee flows and widespread destruction. Hostilities persist and will continue until a political solution is found. The Security Council remains paralysed in the face of…
Switzerland thanks His Excellency President Poroshenko for his statement (see A/73/PV.67).
Five years after the annexation of Crimea, Switzerland’s position remains firm and unwavering. We do not recognize the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimea, which constitutes a breach of international la…
On behalf of the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), I thank you, Sir, for inviting me to brief the Security Council and for the excellent cooperation between the Council and the configuration. As per established practice, the following statement has been approved by the mem…
I thank all the representatives who are still in the Hall. I would simply like to ask the Secretariat, through you, Sir, whether it is possible to hold another round of voting this evening. It seems to me that, if we have to postpone this to any of the upcoming days, it will be very difficult to hav…
Draft resolution A/73/L.70 addresses a highly relevant and urgent matter that goes to the heart of security in Europe.
Switzerland is concerned about the status of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and the implications of a possible disintegration of that key agreement. We call on …
I have the honour to deliver a statement on behalf of the following countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, …