Intervention by H.E. Ambassador Katalin Bogyay Permanent Representative at the Official Launch of the Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, as elaborated by the ACT-group, on 23 October 2015.
Madame Chair,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Panellists, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I congratulate to Liechtenstein, to You, Madame Chair and Ambassador Wenaweser for the success of this initiative. Brilliant, hardworking team, coordinated action, well organized negotiations in the ACT subgroup.
Hungary was very committed to participate in this work and to support this very vision. We were there at the discussions of the Code right from the beginning, suggested already in January 2015 to open the Code of Conduct to the whole UN membership, thus allowing not only serving Council members, but also any other Member State that may, at some point in the future, become a member of the Council to sign up to the Code, and continued to play our part during the lobbying efforts of the previous weeks.
Madame Chair,
The success of this initiative confirms our belief that the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, the 10th anniversary of the R2P principle, as well as the 21st and 20th anniversaries of the Rwanda and Srebrenica genocides all create the momentum for the launch of such a Code of Conduct.
The world has seen too often the devastating consequences of the lack of timely and decisive action.
Dear Colleagues,
We – Hungarians – have our own story to tell about what it means when the Security Council is unable to act.
Exactly today, the 23rd of October is our national day when we remember the outbreak of 1956 revolution against oppression and dictatorship which was quickly crushed by foreign power.
The Hungarian people have sacrificed their blood to show the world their devotion to freedom and truth and asked the world powers to demonstrate the force of the principles embodied in the United Nations Charter. We appealed to the major powers and the United Nations to help. Despite the powerful plea, the UN was unable to take timely and decisive action that would have been necessary to ensure our country’s freedom. The Security Council was unable to act.
We felt that by actively participating in the elaboration of this Code, we would also honour the victims of the 1956 revolution.
Madame Chair, Your Excellencies,
This afternoon we are going to reaffirm our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations.
While the Charter confers the primary responsibility for international peace and security upon the Security Council, we cannot forget that it is eventually us – current and future members of this organ – who need to make sure that the Council lives up to the expectations of the founding fathers and mothers of the UN.
The Code of Conduct offers Member States an opportunity to renew and enhance their enduring commitment to protect populations from genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Madame Chair,
Hungary continues to encourage Member States which haven’t done it yet, to express their support to this Code, which represents a unique chance to preserve the Council’s legitimacy as the guardian of international peace and security.
I thank you.
