Hochrangige Woche zur Eröffnung der UNO-Generalversammlung: Erklärung zum Schutz des humanitären Personals (en)

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you, Penny, for convening this event again and for keeping the protection of humanitarian personnel high on our agenda.

Resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel was adopted in May 2024 by 99 Member States.

We now have to ask ourselves a simple question: what changes on the ground?

Declarations, recommendations and voluntary reports have their value. But if they consume considerable time and effort while producing little practical effect, we need to change our method.

The protection of humanitarian workers cannot become an exercise in just producing more words.

We need to move from commitment to implementation — and from principles to tools.

This is why Switzerland is launching a series of workshops in Geneva to find ways to better implement Resolution 2730.

The first, last June, focused on humanitarian access. The next will address accountability for violations against humanitarian workers.

But we would like to go one step further.

We are developing a practical toolbox for implementation.

Not another declaration. Not another reporting exercise.

But a common, operational framework that States and humanitarian organisations can use.

A checklist of the questions we should systematically ask. A way to identify gaps. A set of practical options to address them. And a way to move, step by step, from political commitment to concrete implementation.

The protection of humanitarian personnel must be part of a systematic practice, rather than an ad hoc response.

• What should governments look at?
• What should ministers ask their administrations?
• Which measures are already in place?
• What is missing?
• What concrete steps should follow?

Switzerland is ready to work with interested States, humanitarian organisations and practitioners as we develop this toolbox.

And we should better communicate these obligations.

Conventional voices, of course. But also voices that can reach audiences far beyond diplomatic rooms.

Excellencies,

2024 and 2025 were among the deadliest years on record for humanitarian workers.

We cannot accept this as the new normal.

Those who risk their lives to help others must be protected: effectively and systematically.

The time has come to better act together.

Thank you.