Declaração da Delegação do Brasil durante reunião de briefing do Alto Comissário para Refugiados no Conselho de Segurança - 2 de novembro de 2022 (texto em inglês)
Statement by Brazil at the 9178th
Secutiry Council Briefing meeting by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Mr. President,
Brazil would like to thank the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, for his comprehensive and thoughtful presentation. Brazil is proud of its partnership with UNCHR, which extends to the national, regional and global levels. Humanitarian response and promotion of human rights is one of the seven priorities established by Brazil for its term in the Security Council.
Mr. President,
In a year marked by conflict and increased food insecurity, it is worrisome to note that the number of forcibly displaced people rose to over 100 million, not to mention those estimated to be stateless or of undetermined nationality. Owing to underreporting, these numbers may probably be significantly higher. This alone should serve as a wake-up call for stronger action to promote peace and address all causes of forced displacement.
The lingering social and economic effects of the COVID-19 make it even more urgent to adopt far-reaching responses at the local, national, regional and global levels, as it continues to have
a devastating impact on refugees and other vulnerable groups. Cooperation and solidarity are key for sustained and comprehensive humanitarian responses. The principle of shared responsibilities lies at the center of such responses. We also understand that, as far as causes for refuge-seeking are concerned, the international community must look to the cross-cutting drivers that often stem from manifold structural factors, rather than one single trend alone.
While we agree that the effects of climate change aggravate all humanitarian emergencies, we understand that it should be integrated in humanitarian discussions in a way that it does not overshadow the need to prioritize political solutions to contemporary conflicts, which continue to be the main drivers of displacement. We also underscore the urgency of providing climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building for countries in need, within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement.
Mr. President,
Brazil has been granting protection through our humanitarian visa policy to people affected by the conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine, a policy that also benefits Haitians and people affected by the conflict in Syria. Brazil is especially grateful for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ support to Operação Acolhida, or “Operation Welcome”, a multi-sectoral government task force in charge of the integration, reception and voluntary internal relocation of Venezuelans at our northern border.
Since 2018, over 770,000 Venezuelan migrants, refugees and asylum seekers have received some sort of assistance from "Operation Welcome". Upon arrival, special attention is given to indigenous, elderly, women, children and people with disabilities. The more than 375,000 Venezuelans who have decided to stay in Brazil have full access to all public services, the labour market and social benefits, on an equal basis with our nationals. I hope Council members had the chance to visit our exhibition on the Operation Welcome held at the UN Headquarters in the past weeks.
Mr. President,
All parties to armed conflicts should facilitate safe and unimpeded passage for relief actions which are humanitarian and impartial in character and conducted without any adverse distinction, in line with international humanitarian law. It is worrisome that some parties to conflicts have been imposing bureaucratic measures to hinder humanitarian operations.
This Council has a significant responsibility in ensuring the protection of civilians in armed conflicts. This is attested by important resolutions approved by this body last year alone: resolution 2573, on objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population in armed conflict, and resolution 2601, on the protection ofschools and education.
Yet, strengthening such an architecture has not been enough to reduce the heavy civilian toll of armed conflicts. The current challenges are well known and include, amongst others, hostilities against medical and humanitarian personnel; increased vulnerabilities faced by women, children, refugees, IDPs, and persons with disabilities; and the vicious cycle of armed conflict and hunger.
On the ongoing challenges to this Council, allow me to address one in particular: the reports of unintended consequences of UN sanctions to humanitarian assistance. Brazil encourages the Council to continue its work to adjust the sanctions framework, so that they effectively minimize the suffering of the civilian population. Sanctions can be legitimate and effective when they are multilaterally created, strategically targeted and designed to have minimal impact on the civilian population. As any coercive measure, however, they will have unintended consequences, but the humanitarian space must always be preserved.
This is why we welcome the initiative led by the United States and Ireland and strongly encourage the Council to agree on an effective and comprehensive humanitarian carve out across all UN sanctions regime.
Mr. High Commissioner,
As we advance on the preparations for the next edition of the Global Refugee Forum, we must join efforts to accelerate deliveries that reflect the principle of shared responsibilities as the central axis of an increasingly coordinated and increasingly solidary response. Brazil remains fully committed to contributing to this effort.
To conclude, I would like to pose the following question: in the context of allegations of growing politicization around the topic of humanitarian assistance, what have been the main challenges to those in the field and how could the Council better assist your work?
I thank you