Milestone for humanitarian work in conflict
News story | Date: 09/12/2022 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
‘The new Security Council resolution on humanitarian exemptions in UN sanction regimes will help save lives and alleviate suffering of people living where there’s armed conflict’, says Norway’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
To ensure access to humanitarian assistance and protection for people in need has been one of primary considerations for Norway in all discussions on UN sanctions regimes. It has been important to avoid unintended negative consequences for humanitarian action.
'Sanctions are an important tool but it is important that they are well designed. We have consistently advocated for broad humanitarian exemptions in sanctions regimes, thesanctionsagainst Taliban is a good example on why humanitarian exemptions is important for the civilian population', says Huitfeldt.
Norway voted in favour of the resolution in the Security Council, which was adopted with 14 votes in favour and one abstention.
‘I would like to thank the humanitarian community, for consistently documenting and calling for attention to the unintended negative consequences of sanctions on humanitarian action. They have showcased the human costs for people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and the urgent need for this resolution’, says Huitfeldt.
Norway is also thankful to the penholders,Irelandand United States, for their work on this resolution on a comprehensive humanitarian carve out from all UN sanctions regimes.
‘This new humanitarian carve out will be effektive because it covers all sanctions regimes. And the actors and activities it covers are clear. It is crucial that Member States now take the necessary steps to implement the exemption nationally’, says Huitfeldt.