75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
UN Security Council meeting on Maintenance of International Peace and Security, meeting with the Elders
Statement by PR Sven Jürgenson
September 7, New York
I thank the briefers, President Mary Robinson and Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, for their insights.
The United Nations was created with the future in mind. The UN Charter has established a system of values, legal principles and political tools to maintain international peace and security, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. The same values and legal principles agreed upon 76 years ago remain just as valid today.
The last two years have been very challenging for the world. The pandemic has interrupted our lives, sometimes dividing us on topics where we needed unity the most. The pandemic highlighted how the United Nations Security Council must keep up with time and keep evolving. From mid-March 2020 to the end of May 2021, the Security Council was working mostly virtually. We managed to work through the most testing times of the pandemic, adopt resolutions and other products, doing our best to deal with conflicts around the globe.
We remain worried to see the deteriorating human rights situation around the world, most notably in Tigray, Belarus and in Afghanistan. It remains our task to uphold the Charter, to promote and encourage respect for human rights, while holding the perpetrators accountable. I would be glad if the briefers could share their ideas on how we as Council could better help the people in Tigray.
The main purpose of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security. When bombs have already exploded and people have lost lives, it is already too late for us. Prevention and preparedness are the key instead of dealing with the consequences. There is an abundance of information for us to act upon; we must be able to find common ground quicker than before. It can save lives.
Madame President,
In order to stay relevant and fulfil its responsibility in upholding international peace and security, the Security Council needs to address new and emerging security threats. The world is changing and the Security Council must change with it. Over the past years, we have seen how malicious cyber activities targeting oil infrastructure, food and healthcare sector – our most basic and critical services – can pose a real and tangible threat. The humanitarian effects of tampering with critical infrastructure could be devastating. As the threats stemming from the malicious use of cyberspace have become more apparent and wide-ranging, there is a clear need that States implemented the framework of responsible state behaviour and complied with international law. In June, during the Estonian Security Council Presidency, the Council held its very first open debate dedicated to maintaining peace and security in cyberspace and it is important the Council remains seized of this matter.
Finally,
Multilateralism and the advancement of international law are indispensable for tackling emerging global threats. Multilateralism can only function in a meaningful fashion within a rules-based international order. Strong leadership, backed by the collective decisions of the UN, including here in the Security Council, is needed to ensure we stand up to this task. We agree with the Secretary-General that “multilateralism must be more inclusive, more networked, and place human rights at its core.” For this to happen, we also need to protect and assist in the creation of a safe and diverse civil society space that is vital for resilient communities.
Thank you, Madame President.