20 Jahre nach ihrem UNO-Beitritt kandidiert die Schweiz erstmals für einen zweijährigen, nichtständigen Sitz im UNO-Sicherheitsrat. Der Bundesrat hat die Kandidatur im 2011 nach umfangreichen Konsultationen mit dem Parlament beschlossen und eingereicht. Bundesrat und Parlament haben die Kandidatur seither wiederholt bestätigt. Die Wahlen für die Periode vom 1.1.2023 bis 31.12.2024 finden im Juni 2022 in New York statt. Wahlgremium ist die UNO-Generalversammlung mit 193 Ländern. (Eda.admin.ch)
Gerne teilen wir mit Ihnen die Kopie der Stellungnahme, die IFOR-MIR vertreten durch Jonathan Sisson bei der EDA-Konsultation präsentiert und eingereicht hat. Der Text ist auf Englisch.
Wir haben uns vor allem auf ein Thema fokussiert: ‘Versöhnung’ und zwar auf den Nexus zwischen Vergangenheitsarbeit, Versöhnung und Prävention. Diesbezüglich sollen die Erfahrungen aufgearbeitet werden, die in den letzten 20 Jahren in diesem Bereich gemacht worden sind. Ausserdem soll die Schweiz einen Sondergesandten oder eine BotschafterIn in New York ernennen, der/die sich speziell mit diesem Thema befasst, bzw. fördert. Darüber sind einige Punkte aufgelistet, mit denen sich die Schweiz auseinandersetzen sollte.
Candidacy and Presence in the UN Security Council: Dialogue with Civil Society and Academia
2. Structured Exchange with the FDFA 25 November 2021
As part of an international spiritually-based movement committed to achieving peace and social justice through nonviolent means, the Swiss branch of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR- CH) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to a reflection on the candidacy and presence of Switzerland in the UN Security Council (UNSC).
As its name suggests, the IFOR places particular emphasis on the topic of reconciliation. To this end, the Swiss branch has developed a training program on conflict transformation, which focuses on reconciliation among other issues. Other civil society organizations in Switzerland, such as KOFF at swisspeace, have also developed programs with a similar focus, in this case on dealing with the past. Indeed, the FDFA itself has its own Task Force on Dealing with the Past and the Prevention of Atrocities.
The linkage between dealing with the past, reconciliation, and prevention of atrocities is crucial for the promotion of peace and human rights. Thanks to the work of the FDFA Task Force and Swiss CSOs, Switzerland is recognized internationally for its expertise in this area. This topic should be a priority during its term on the Security Council. In this regard, we have three main points to raise:
- Follow-up report on the rule of law and transitional justice
There has been no major report on transitional justice submitted to the UNSC since the initial report by the UN General Secretary in 2004. In particular, there is a need to create a conceptual framework that links transitional justice, reconciliation, and prevention, which is based on existing international norms and standards and which takes account of the experience gained in the field during the past two decades. Switzerland should use its position in the UNSC to initiate a process that will produce a new report. The report itself should include a conceptual framework highlighting this linkage and should be based on a consultation process that involves member states and civil society.
- Creation of the post of a Special Envoy or Ambassador on Reconciliation and Prevention
During the period of its term, Switzerland should appoint a thematic expert to serve as a Special Envoy or Ambassador to be based in NY, who shall promote the development of a holistic conceptual framework, linking dealing with the past, reconciliation, and prevention. The Special Envoy/Ambassador will support the work of the Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and shall initiate and follow-up on relevant discussions in UNSR and other UN bodies, such as the Peacebuilding Commission.
- Working Group of civil society and academic experts to accompany the work of the Special Envoy or Ambassador
Swiss and international experts shall accompany the work of the Swiss Special Envoy/Ambassador, support the preparation of relevant UNSC interventions, and act as resource persons and ‘briefers’ to the UNSC and other UN bodies, as appropriate. The Center for Peacebuilding (KOFF) at swisspeace could coordinate such a working group.
Concerning the Swiss candidacy in more general terms, the Swiss IFOR emphasizes of the following issues:
Peacebuilding architecture: Switzerland shall support the implementation of Security Council resolution 2282 (2016) to promote an integrated, strategic and coherent approach to peacebuilding within the Peacebuilding Commission. The Peacebuilding Support Office, in particular, needs strengthening so that it can fulfil its supporting role.
Non-Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: Switzerland must highlight the need to prevent the spread of and ultimately to ban nuclear weapons, including the establishment of nuclear-free zones, for example in the Middle East. To this end, Switzerland should sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
Counter-terrorism: In addition to focusing on measures to address the connection between international terrorism and transnational organized crime, Switzerland should highlight specific issues, such as the role of the arms trade and of mercenaries in promoting terrorism, as well as the phenomenon of state-sponsored terrorism.
Country-specific and fact-finding missions: Switzerland shall engage with the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) in support of its field and fact-finding missions as well as its investigative mandates.
Engagement with civil society: Switzerland should involve Swiss civil society and academia in the preparation of its own interventions and, in general, promote a more active role of civil society and academia in the deliberations of UN bodies. The expertise of civil society and academia is needed in particular with respect to such issues as women and security, children and armed conflict, small arms trade, armed conflict and environmental damage, and climate change.
With branches, groups, and affiliates in over 40 countries on all continents, the IFOR has observer and consultative status to the United Nations ECOSOC and UNESCO organizations. The international secretariat of the IFOR is located in the Netherlands.