Switzerland is member of the UN Security Council until 2024

On 3 January 2023, Switzerland took up its work on the Security Council of the United Nations (UN), with the other newly elected non-permanent members at a brief ceremony. “On 1 January, Switzerland became a member of the UN Security Council for the years 2023 and 2024,” as was announced in a press release from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). “Its seat on the Security Council is an opportunity for Switzerland to make its contribution to peace and security in the world, especially in the current tense global political context.”

Switzerland’s membership of the UN Security Council aligns with its commitment to peace and security in the world as enshrined in the Swiss Federal Constitution. The FDFA provides further details in its “Switzerland in the UN Security Council” dossier.

On 31 August 2022, the Federal Council set out four thematic priorities for Switzerland’s term on the UN Security Council: to build sustainable peace, protect civilians, enhance the Security Council’s effectiveness and address climate security. These objectives were laid out in the document “A Plus For Peace”.

The Federal Council had applied for Switzerland’s candidature in 2011 after extensive consultations with Parliament. On 9 June 2022, the UN General Assembly elected Switzerland as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. In May 2023 and presumably in October 2024, Switzerland will hold the presidency of the Security Council on a rotational basis for a period of one month. gba