Explicação do voto do Representante Permanente Alterno, Embaixador João Genésio de Almeida Filho, durante Reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre o projeto de resolução sobre isenção humanitária em todos os regimes de sanções do CSNU - 9 de dezembro de 2022 (texto em inglês)

Explanation of vote by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil, Ambassador João Genésio de Almeida Filho, regarding the draft resolution on a humanitarian exemption across all UNSC sanctions regimes
December 9th, 2022

Mister President,

I would like to thank Ireland and the United States for this important initiative, which we were glad to co-sponsor. Brazil’s favorable vote is an expression of our recognition that today we adopted a resolution that may contribute substantially to the work of the Council.

We have come a long way since 1966, when the Security Council started establishing sanctions regimes. Along this way, some mistakes were made. We have seen how ill-devised sanctions regimes can disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, worsen food insecurity, raise inflation and hinder neutral, impartial, independent and humane humanitarian assistance. Although sanctions may be an important tool for the maintenance of international peace and security, we have noticed how their misuse can stoke tensions rather than defuse them. We have also witnessed how they can spare those they were originally targeted against while unintendedly punishing those who should be protected: innocent civilians, women and children in the throes of conflict.

It was high time to improve the way the Security Council makes use of its coercive power to address threats to international peace and security. Brazil is proud to be a member of the Security Council at this moment when it decides to take action to help those in need. This resolution will allow humanitarian providers to carry out their essential activities in more predictable conditions. Above all, it will benefit millions of civilians who have had the misfortune to live under sanctions regimes, twice punished by them and by the action of designated entities and individuals.

Furthermore, this resolution is on a par with recent developments in international jurisprudence. The International Court of Justice has recently made a case for the need to safeguard humanitarian needs even under circumstances when sanctions are in place.                     

I also note that this resolution takes into account legitimate security concerns Member States voiced during the negotiations. It strikes a fine balance between, on the one hand, the need for sanctions to be upheld in their power to prevent and combat threats; and, on the other, the duty of the international community to protect the civilians whose well-being should be the ultimate goal of the Security Council in discharging its mandate to maintain international peace and security.    

Thank you.