Joint Nordic Statement at the Security Council Open Meeting: Ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines in contexts affected by conflict and insecurity
Chair,
Members of the Security Council,
I have the pleasure to submit this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and my own country, Sweden.
The COVID-19 outbreak presents an unprecedented global crisis. It reminds us that we cannot tackle global challenges alone and offers an opportunity to demonstrate that multilateralism, collaboration and international solidarity can deliver results for us all.
With the adoption of resolution 2532, the Security Council recognized the unprecedented challenges posed to international peace and security by the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts to maintain peace and security should be included in the broader global pandemic response. In this regard, we strongly support the Secretary-General’s call for a global humanitarian ceasefire to refocus our efforts to combat the pandemic and its devastating consequences.
We must look beyond our own borders and employ a vaccine strategy that can effectively put an end to the acute phase of the pandemic, including in fragile and conflict-affected settings. While the vaccination roll-out is bringing rays of hope, the global recovery will require sustained international cooperation in the foreseeable future. A truly comprehensive global approach must go beyond development cooperation and humanitarian assistance and include efforts to promote international peace and security, with human rights and gender equality as central principles, and while promoting free, sustainable and fair trade. No one will be safe until we all are.
Chair,
The Nordic countries are committed to fair global access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. We must all support their development, procurement and distribution through the ACT-Accelerator. As longstanding and active champions of multilateral cooperation, we emphasize the role of multilateralism and the UN in achieving this goal and acknowledge the role of WHO as the leading global health authority. Rapid, safe and fair access to vaccinations for all is also an investment in the 2030 Agenda – leaving no one behind.
While we are concerned about the fact that vaccines have yet to be rolled out in over one hundred countries, we are encouraged by the detailed plans by Covax to begin distributing doses to 145 countries, including 88 countries supported by donor funding, in the first half of this year. The Nordic countries are members and active supporters of Covax, which is our best chance of ending the pandemic. We particularly welcome Covax’ plans to establish a dedicated humanitarian buffer intended to make vaccines available in humanitarian situations, while we recognise that efforts still need to be made.
The imperative to reach people in unstable and conflict-affected settings is already enshrined in International Humanitarian Law and the humanitarian principles. UN Member States and non-state actors alike must allow full, rapid and unimpeded access to people in need of vaccines and all other forms of humanitarian assistance. The Security Council and its members bear a special responsibility in this regard.
As part of our international development cooperation, the Nordic Countries provide support to health systems in the most vulnerable countries. This will help tackle the pandemic and better prepare for the vaccine roll-out on a local level as we move from vaccines to vaccinations. The pandemic has also caused additional strain on health systems - already fragile ones and robust systems alike. We must remember that efforts to address health challenges and inequities that existed before the pandemic still need adequate attention and funding.
Chair,
We are pleased to note that the UN has demonstrated the ability to Deliver as One in support of member states. Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Secretary-General has provided excellent leadership, and the UN system has acted rapidly and flexibly. From the health response led by WHO, to the humanitarian response with agencies like the World Food Programme, to the wider socioeconomic response coordinated by UNDP. -At the same time, we must learn from the crisis and commit to build an even stronger multilateral system with the UN at its core to address future health crises and other global challenges.
Stepped up efforts are now needed to follow up the call for a global ceasefire to enable equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines also in conflict-affected areas. The implementation of the ceasefire should be guided by a gender-responsive approach and ensure the meaningful participation of civil society, including women and girls, in order to promote inclusive and sustainable peace and to avoid further acceleration of conflict dynamics. This also includes providing financial support to local peacebuilding and recovery initiatives.
This is the time for collaboration, solidarity and to build back better and greener for a more equal, resilient and sustainable world, as set out in the UN 75 Declaration. We are stronger together.
Thank you.