Switzerland

Mr. President of the General Assembly, (Dennis Francis) Mr. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ladies and gentlemen Heads of State and Government, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

We are living through a time marked by a succession of crises, by the multiplication of major conflicts in a world of permanent tensions.

While the challenges we face are great, our mindset and our attitude in confronting them are decisive.

Are we ready to do everything possible to try to improve the situation?

We must do so, in order to fight together against the climate crisis, wars, social conflicts, growing inequalities, the weakening of democratic institutions, and the continued erosion of multilateralism.

Excellencies,

Everywhere, protectionism and selfishness are advancing. Yet withdrawal, threats and violence have never provided the slightest solution to the world's problems and inequalities.

The post-war order is currently going through its greatest crisis since the end of the Second World War.

The Russian Federation, by launching a war of aggression against Ukraine, has attacked not only a peaceful country, but also international law and multilateralism.

This aggression is the act of a permanent member of the UN Security Council which, according to the Charter of the United Nations, nonetheless bears "the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security."

Today, we must recall the essential principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and ensure that we fulfill the mandate it has entrusted to us.

For it is the poorest and most fragile States that suffer the most if our trust in the international system were to weaken.

The Charter of the United Nations is a cornerstone of public international law. This year, the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a unique opportunity to reaffirm the global consensus embodied in this declaration, a key moment to unify and strengthen the international community. The United Nations is the foundation of peaceful cooperation and mutual trust among States.

There is no doubt: these challenges cannot be overcome by isolated initiatives. Our action must be collective.

Excellencies,

Strong multilateral institutions are essential to combating inequalities, which unfortunately continue to grow amid crises.

Climate change also exacerbates social and economic inequalities.

Inequalities are increasing not only between countries, but also within them, whether social inequalities, gender inequalities, or economic disparities.

• Over the past twenty years, the income gap between the richest 10% and the poorest 50% has doubled. • And today, inequalities are as great as they were at the beginning of the 20th century, before the First World War.

Inequalities disproportionately affect the most vulnerable and weaken the foundations of our societies.

They are sources of conflict, and they encourage instability and populism.

They lead to a loss of trust in institutions and in democracy.

This fragility threatens all of us. Domestically and internationally.

For a long time, we considered defending our interests and protecting the most vulnerable to be two separate things.

Today, we know that one cannot go without the other.

Excellencies,

Strong multilateral institutions are also essential for promoting peace.

How can we break the cycle of violence?

The Secretary-General's New Agenda for Peace provides the answer: prevention is the starting point of every effort for peace.

Inequalities of access and inequalities of opportunity – in terms of food, health, employment, or property – lead to conflicts.

Every person must be able to participate fully in the political, economic, social and cultural life of their country.

Threats, persecution and acts of violence, targeting in particular women, as well as human rights defenders, must be resolutely combated.

Young people must have real prospects for development and prosperity.

And victims of conflict must be reintegrated into society and obtain justice, as well as prospects.

Excellencies,

All armed conflicts are different. But they all share a common denominator: the worsening of inequalities, and the suffering of civilians.

And here too, strong multilateral institutions are essential to guarantee the protection of civilians in conflict zones.

Respect for international humanitarian law is an absolute priority for Switzerland. It is at the heart of our commitment on the Security Council.

The protection of civilians in armed conflicts is not an option: it is an obligation for all parties to the conflict.

Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to travel several times to countries marked by conflict, notably Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as Colombia.

These contacts with populations affected by conflict remind us how essential it is to work on the root causes of a conflict in order to guarantee lasting peace.

I was also able to observe on the ground how essential the full and equal participation of women is to any return to peace. This is why Switzerland continues its commitment to the implementation of the United Nations Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and calls on States to continue mobilizing for the full implementation of resolution 1325.

In armed conflicts, the lack of essential goods and services for the civilian population costs more lives than the direct impact of hostilities. It worsens inequalities and undermines the return to peace.

In this context, I want to emphasize before you the importance of United Nations peace missions, which carry out indispensable work for the most affected populations (possibly: MONUSCO).

All humanitarian actors must be protected and supported.

The ICRC's engagement must also be strongly defended.

The multiplication of crises confronts the organization with an unprecedented and worrying surge in needs.

As depositary of the Geneva Conventions and host to the ICRC, Switzerland is determinedly committed to this humanitarian imperative. The work of the ICRC is fundamental to the protection of civilians.

Excellencies,

The challenges are immense.

And we must clearly see where our common interests lie.

Certainly not in the global disorder that some are trying to advance for their own benefit. But, on the contrary, in a renewed world order, one that guarantees stability, trust, and shared prospects.

And it is precisely for this reason that we must take a stand, and commit ourselves to keeping international cooperation alive.

The UN embodies institutionalized hope for a better world.

This idealistic project, born in another era of war, brutality and despair, rests on the conviction • that international cooperation is indispensable, • that the world will only be better if all countries and their leaders assume their responsibilities, • and that what unites nations is far stronger than what separates them.

This realization should make us optimistic and call on us not only to strengthen, but also to deepen our work, on a global scale.

This 78th General Assembly offers us a unique chance, a rare opportunity, to come together as a mark of trust and to prepare together for the Summit of the Future in 2024: to strengthen cooperation on essential issues, to fill the gaps in global governance, and to reaffirm existing commitments.

This is notably the case for the 2030 Agenda. The Sustainable Development Goals Summit, held yesterday, must allow us to give new momentum to this Agenda, our shared roadmap for a better future for all.

Let us show responsibility and solidarity, in order to build a fairer and more equal world for future generations.

This responsibility cannot be delegated. It is ours.