Kingdom of Denmark, 2013

In the twenty-first

century, old distinctions between North and South, and

developed and developing countries are beginning to

lose their meaning. We are witnessing significant shifts

in the geopolitical balance, in population dynamics

and in economic power between Member States. As

documented in this year’s United Nations Human

Development Report, many developing countries

are experiencing faster economic growth. Emerging

economies now produce the majority of the world’s

goods and services, and three quarters of the world’s

economic growth is said to depend on their dynamism.

Today, emerging economies and middle-income

countries are an important part of reshaping the global

economy. In a globalized world, with dramatic shifts of

power and influence, a strong United Nations is more

relevant than ever before. We need the United Nations,

with its unique legitimacy and its universal membership.

We need a United Nations that can contribute to global

challenges with common solutions. We need a United

Nations that reflects the changing political landscape,

including through a reformed Security Council. Above

all, we need a United Nations that can help to mediate,

prevent and resolve armed conflicts. For the United

Nations to be able to contribute effectively to resolving

armed conflicts, it is crucial that the Security Council

show leadership and prove that it can fulfil its primary

purpose and responsibility of cooperating to resolve

international crises and to promote universal respect

for human rights.

Today, the total number of people uprooted by

conflict or persecution is close to 45 million, the

highest level in 18 years. That illustrates the human

suffering and costs of conflict, which we must do our

utmost to prevent and resolve. An integrated approach

to preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding, peacekeeping

and the prevention of atrocities is crucial. The cure for

armed conflict and instability is to invest in democratic

structures that protect civilians and their human rights

and contribute to socioeconomic progress. In recent

years, the Security Council has increasingly integrated

the rule of law, human rights and the protection

of civilians into its mandates for United Nations

peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions. That is an

encouraging development that Denmark supports fully.

Denmark agrees with the Secretary-General that

building societies that are resilient to crimes of atrocity

increases the prospects of long-term peace and stability.

The unacceptable human suffering in Syria is a tragic

reminder of the consequences when no early action to

prevent crimes of atrocity is undertaken. Advancing

the primary responsibility of States to protect their

populations should be a concern for all Governments.

The responsibility to protect is consistent with existing

obligations and international human rights law,

humanitarian law and refugee law, which are binding

on all States. Denmark calls on Member States to join

the global network of responsibility-to-protect focal

points, which works to integrate the prevention of

atrocities in national policies, and to engage with other

Member States and regional organizations in order

to build capacity and cooperation before crises and

conflicts break out.

At the same time, we must ensure accountability

for human rights violations and for crimes of atrocity

in the past. The perpetrators of those crimes must be

brought to justice. While the Security Council last

Friday took an important step to address the crisis in

Syria, Denmark reiterates its call on the Council to refer

the case of Syria to the International Criminal Court.

Sexual violence in conflict is one of the most

persistent injustices in the world today, and often one

of the most neglected. We must combat sexual violence

as a method of warfare. Likewise, we must promote the

participation of women in peacebuilding and in social

and economic recovery. Denmark strongly believes

that no durable peace can be attained without the full

and equal participation of women in peacekeeping and

peacebuilding processes.

Building sustainable peace and long-term stability

remains one of the most difficult challenges for the

international community and the United Nations.

But the investment is well worth it. We must support

country-led and country-owned transition strategies

in building paths towards resilient societies. Conflict

and violence have devastating effects on development.

The complex situation in fragile States represents

perhaps the greatest challenge to combating poverty, as

low-income fragile States are those most off-track in

terms of reaching the Millennium Development Goals

(MDGs). It is therefore essential that the central roles

of State-building and peacebuilding be duly reflected

in the post-2015 framework.

The New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States,

led by the g7+ countries, provides peacebuilding

and State-building goals that call for a global effort

to strengthen people’s security, to reduce violence,

to increase people’s access to justice, to generate

employment and to improve livelihoods. We urge that

the experiences and lessons learned from the New Deal

become a source of inspiration for discussions on the

post-2015 development framework.

The process of establishing the post-2015

development agenda should result in a single universal

framework with one set of goals that can unite the world

in a strong effort to eradicate extreme poverty, promote

sustainable development and ensure all people the

right to a better life. Denmark welcomes the outcome

document of the High-level Meeting of the General

Assembly on the Realization of the Millennium

Development Goals and other Internationally Agreed

Development Goals for Persons with Disabilities

(resolution 68/3), adopted last week, which provides a

first important step towards that vision.

At the same time, unfinished business from the

MDGs must figure prominently in the post-2015

development agenda. The focus should be on ending

extreme poverty in one generation while promoting

sustainable development in all its dimensions. The

empowerment of women and girls and access to basic

services, such as health and education, must not drop

off the agenda. On the contrary, we must commit to

doing more to close those gaps.

Denmark is committed to shouldering its share of

collective responsibility. In 2012, Denmark provided

0.83 per cent of its gross national income as official

development assistance, and it has been fulfilling the

international target of 0.7 per cent since 1978. Also, we

are strengthening our efforts to work in partnership with

private business and other non-State actors to increase

investments in developing countries, especially in

Africa.

As also highlighted by the Secretary-General and

the High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development

Agenda in their reports, a new, coherent post-2015

framework must be firmly anchored in human rights

as universal values and enablers for sustainable

development. Such a framework must build on the core

principles that underpin the international human rights

framework, namely, participation, accountability,

transparency and non-discrimination. It must address

the human rights of all groups in our societies and pay

special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples.

We are losing ground when it comes to inequality

within countries where we see a widening gap between

rich and poor people. The 1.2 billion poorest people

account for only 1 per cent of world consumption, while

the billion richest consume 72 per cent. Inequalities

and their underlying causes must be addressed in the

post-2015 development agenda in order to effectively

eradicate extreme poverty, underpin socioeconomic

progress and prevent instability.

Gender-based discrimination, including the denial

of the rights of women and girls, remains the single

most widespread driver of inequalities in today’s world.

For Denmark, it is critical that gender equality and

sexual and reproductive health and rights be reflected

in the post-2015 agenda. That was also underscored by

the High-level Panel report.

Macroeconomic policy is essential in addressing

inequalities. Equitable socioeconomic progress and

a fair distribution of resources are important for

developed and developing countries alike.

Scientific evidence, as just presented by the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, makes it

clear that climate change has become a threat multiplier.

More frequent natural disasters impact on the most

vulnerable people and add another layer to fragility,

inequality and instability. Unsustainable production and

consumption increase the stress on natural resources

and ecosystems. The level of carbon dioxide emissions

today is 46 per cent higher than the 1990 level. The

United Nations and its Member States must promote

innovative technologies and new solutions to water,

food and energy scarcity, deforestation and high carbon

emissions. Jointly, we must push the transformation to

a green economy.

Green growth is necessary if we are to deal

effectively with increased demands for resources over

the next 15 to 20 years as the global population grows.

Green growth is about opportunities for all, not about

obstacles for some. The access to and management of

energy and water resources are two important elements.

Governments cannot do it alone. We need active

involvement and a close partnership with the private

sector, including businesses and private foundations, as

well as with civil society and public institutions.

We welcome the Secretary-General’s invitation to

a summit in September 2014 that will serve to maintain

the momentum of the climate negotiations. It is crucial

to set an ambitious international agenda for tackling

the consequences of climate change. Denmark’s long-

term energy policy goal is clear: our entire energy

supply should be covered by renewable energy by

2050. Denmark stands ready to support a global agenda

towards limiting global warming to 2° Celsius. Our

contribution to the Secretary-General’s Sustainable

Energy for All initiative is part of that support, including

the establishment of an energy efficiency hub in the

new United Nations City in Copenhagen. Denmark will

also work for an ambitious and operational outcome of

the the third International Conference on Small Island

Developing States, to take place in September 2014.

At the country level, Denmark supports a United

Nations that can inspire change and deliver concrete

results that will benefit populations, strengthen their

confidence in political processes and pave the way for

long-term stability and development.

We condemn the indiscriminate violence that

we witness in Syria. Not only does it harm civilians

in the most tragic way, it also undermines regional

stability as a whole. With the conflict in Syria, we are

confronted with a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented

proportions. Last month the world witnessed a further

escalation of the conflict with the horrendous chemical

attack in Ghouta. Denmark strongly condemns all use of

chemical weapons, and we are convinced that a strong

international reaction is required. It is crucial that those

responsible for that grave violation of international law

be brought to justice and that future use of chemical

weapons be effectively prevented.

From the very outset of the tragedy in Syria,

Denmark has emphasized the need for a political

solution to end the human suffering. We welcome the

adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2118

(2013), on the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons.

Denmark continues to strongly support the efforts

towards the “Geneva II” conference.

In Egypt, an already fragile situation has worsened

significantly over the past months, during which

tragic events have led to a heavy loss of civilian

lives. Democracy and dialogue must return. Progress

in Egypt can come about only through a peaceful,

inclusive process. Many challenges still lie ahead

with regard to the implementation of the road map for

a return to democratic and civilian rule in Egypt. We

urge the Egyptian authorities to accept the support

of the international community for that process. The

United Nations can play an important role in supporting

respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Progress in the Middle East peace process remains

critical for improving regional stability. Denmark

welcomes the United States initiative aimed at resumed

direct negotiations. All parties must now truly seize

the opportunity for peace and work constructively for a

sustainable two-State solution.

In Afghanistan, we welcome the process towards

full national ownership, which is crucial for the long-

term future of the country. Afghan authorities are

taking over still-greater responsibility for security

and institutions. There is, however, a clear need for

a continued, strong political commitment from the

international community in order for Afghanistan

to succeed in that goal. The Afghan Government

and its international partners must live up to the

July 2012 Tokyo declaration on partnership for self-

reliance in Afghanistan. Denmark will remain a strong

partner to Afghanistan on its way to democracy and

improved livelihoods. The United Nations assistance

to Afghanistan in managing the transition process,

including the upcoming electoral processes, will be

essential now and in the years to come.

Peace and security in the Sahel region have lately

been challenged by violent extremism, the presence of

armed groups, the expansion of transborder organized

crime and increasing environmental and climate-change

pressures, which jeopardize development gains.

Denmark supports the implementation of the United

Nations integrated strategy for the Sahel. Throughout

the Sahel, the influence of civil society on national

and international decision-making warrants attention

in order to deepen and consolidate the ongoing

stabilization and peace efforts.

Together with the United Nations, the African

Union and African and international partners, Denmark

is committed to supporting the efforts in Mali and the

Sahel to facilitate reconciliation through inclusive

dialogue and the active engagement of civil society.

We also support the United Nations Multidimensional

Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali as a strong

United Nations peacekeeping Mission.

Somalia’s New Deal Compact will be crucial for

reconciliation and peacebuilding and will set the

priorities for the next three years. It is important that

peace and development be dealt with in an integrated

way, and that there be mutual commitment to develop

and follow up on the Compact for Somalia. We welcome

the explicit use in the Compact of the peacebuilding

and State-building goals from the New Deal Compact,

and the strong ownership by Somalia to implement the

principles of the New Deal.

The unregulated and irresponsible international

trade in arms has had devastating effects. Earlier this

year, the General Assembly made history by adopting

the Arms Trade Treaty. Denmark supports the swift

entry into force and effective implementation of the

Treaty. Denmark is committed to assisting States, on

their request, to meet their obligations under the Treaty.

We once again call upon Iran and the Democratic

People’s Republic of Korea to comply with international

law and the relevant Security Council resolutions. We

welcome all efforts to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear

programme.

The United Nations is more relevant than ever at

a time when strong multilateral cooperation is needed

to cope with global challenges that transcend national

borders. No country can confront those challenges

on its own. Seen from the perspective of Denmark as

a small State, the United Nations could and should

inspire change and help States take action when moving

forward towards 2015 and beyond.