Switzerland wants to join the UN Security Council

The 76th UN General Assembly started on September 14, 2021 and lasts for one year -the high-level opening week took place during the week of September 20-24. President Parmelin and Federal Councillor Cassis traveled to New York to participate in several events and to exchange views with the heads of state. In addition to the candidacy for the UN Security Council and dealing with the consequences of Covid-19, the priorities also concern the ongoing processes within the UN on cyber security, in which Geneva plays a decisive role.

The Federal Council has set itself three priorities for the 76th session of the UN General Assembly: Switzerland should have a solid mandate at the UN in June 2022 for various leadership roles in humanitarian or peace-related areas, or make its contribution with a security membership. Another focus would be on the sustainability of food systems, the availability of data, and environmental aspects. In third place is the promotion of a "free, open and secure digital space," as the Federal Council writes in a press release.

He said Switzerland was already actively participating in relevant UN processes on cybersecurity and cybercrime and therefore wanted to highlight its leading role of international Geneva in the field of cyber and digitalization. In New York, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis underlined the need to do more for prevention and to strengthen cooperation between the various actors, including states, non-governmental organizations, universities and the private sector.

Source: Federal Council/EDA