Statement delivered by H.E. Pascale Baeriswyl, Permanent Representative of Switzerland

November 26th 2024

Joint stakeout: Protecting the protectors

I’m very honored to deliver this statement on behalf of 117 delegations committed to upholding humanity and safeguarding civilian lives.

Let me begin by paying tribute to all humanitarian and UN personnel, from the frontline to this very building. Whether you are working for a local NGO, or for a major international organization, locally recruited or deployed as an international staff: your work and your dedication is essential to save lives and to alleviate the suffering of millions of people around the world.

You serve tirelessly and courageously under extremely challenging conditions. Today, there are over 120 armed conflicts around the world. Humanitarian needs are on the rise. And so is violence against humanitarian and UN personnel. This is unacceptable.

In 2023, more than 500 humanitarian workers were killed, injured, detained or kidnapped, around the world. National staff constitute the vast majority, more than 90%, of those affected.

And the developments in 2024 are even more alarming. Gaza and the West Bank are the most dangerous places on earth to be an aid worker, with over 150 humanitarian personnel killed since the start of the year. Other contexts having recorded the highest number of casualties are Sudan, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.

These alarming trends coincide with the year where we mark the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions and the 25th anniversary of the Security Council recognizing the protection of civilians as part of its agenda. These milestones must serve as a call to action. As members of the United Nations and of the international community at large, we must join our forces to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.

And we heeded the call: Six months ago, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian personnel and UN and associated personnel, including national and locally recruited personnel, and their premises and assets.

We reiterate our support for this resolution and call for its immediate implementation by all actors. We welcome the recommendations of the Secretary-General on measures to prevent and respond to incidents of violence against humanitarian and UN personnel, to ensure accountability in these cases and to enhance their protection. These recommendations add to the toolbox that allows us to translate political will into action.

Because there is no time to waste. We stand together – 117 delegations – to reaffirm our commitment:

1) To respect and protect humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel, including national and locally recruited personnel, in accordance with our obligations under international law;

2) To allow and facilitate, as required by international humanitarian law, full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians in need;

3) To hold accountable those who compromise the safety and security of UN and humanitarian personnel, in violation of international law.

We will repeat it as long as it is needed: Civilians, and those who assist them, must be respected and protected. They are not a target.

I thank you