On Friday 23 October 2015, PGA participated at the Launch of the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Submitted by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group, led by Ambassador Wenaweser, Chair of the PGA UN Committee and Perm. Rep. of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the UN, the initiative aims to increase the Security Council and Perm. Representatives in taking action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, ensuring that the Council is better enabled to act in a timely and decisive way in the face of these above mentioned crimes. The Initiative towards the Code of Conduct had been introduced to the PGA Board during the last PGA UN Committee Meeting on June 1st 2015.
The Launch of the Code of Conduct, a moral and political tool, was presented by the Chair of the PGA UN Committee, H.E. Christian Wenaweser and the current President of 70th Session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mogens Lykketoft (Member of PGA).
Permanent Council members Britain and France have issued their support for this initiative. French Ambassador H.E. Mr. François Delattre echoed President Hollande’s speech at this year’s General Assembly in claiming that France would never again exercise their veto power in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes.
In her opening statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein Ms. Aurelia Frick underscored the initiative of the Principality of Liechtenstein Ms. Aurelia Fricktion against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, ensuring that the Council is better enabled to acting attendees that these goals will help the United Nations meet the goals outlined in its Charter 70 years ago. Following her speech, PGA member and current President of 70th Session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mogens Lykketoft encouraged UN member states and civil society to continue to work together, to find common cause, and to bridge differences in order to move closer to the vision at the heart of the UN Charter.
At its launch, the Code of Conduct was supported by 104 countries: Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Samoa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, State of Palestine, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, North Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen.
The initiative is targeted to all current and future members of the Security Council, and aims to increase the credibility and legitimacy of both the Council and the UN in general. Supporters expressed a desire for the Code of Conduct to usher in a broader culture of political accountability, a goal that goes hand in hand with PGA’s Campaign for the Rome Statute of the ICC for the Effectiveness and Universality of the Rome Statute.
PGA’s Campaign for the Rome Statute of the ICC for the Effectiveness and Universality of the Rome Statute supports the Code of Conduct initiative to ensure a more effective Security Council, particularly in the restraint in exercising veto power in the face of genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. In addition to supporters pledging not to vote against a credible draft resolution before the Council on timely and decisive action to end the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, or to prevent such crimes, the initiative will thereby improve relations between the ICC and Security Council. This initiative goes hand in hand with PGAs efforts, together with Chatham House (UK), towards improving the relations between the ICC and the UN Security Council.
