New UN Security Council resolution a significant win for children living in the world's most dangerous places

World Vision warmly welcomes today’s action by the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution that establishes a standing global humanitarian exemption in UN sanction regimes. We commend the United States and the Republic of Ireland for leadership on this initiative and all 40 co-sponsoring States for demonstrating broad support.

This represents a major step forward in removing obstacles that delay, limit or prevent life-saving assistance from reaching some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

For nearly a decade, international aid organizations have been highlighting the legal, administrative, financial and practical impediments that UN sanctions regimes can create for the delivery of principled humanitarian aid and have called for this global solution.

Today’s UN Security Council resolution creates universal clarity that no matter where children and their families live or what group has control, humanitarian organizations have the guidance to stay, scale up and deliver. 

With the needs for children and communities in crisis at record levels globally, never has the requirement for this UN Security Council action been more urgently necessary.  There are 86.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance living in countries impacted by UN sanctions – half are children. Many millions more are affected by Resolution 1267 sanctions, which covers 89 entities that are active in at least 50 countries, of which 25 are affected by humanitarian crisis. Today’s vote means that international aid organizations like World Vision will be able to reach more children with aid more effectively and efficiently. Lives will be saved.

The adoption of this resolution is however only a first step. It is essential now that States take action to translate this humanitarian exemption into their own domestic sanctions regimes and related counterterrorism laws and policies and to ensure the broad implementation of this UN Security Council Resolution without delay.

ENDS. 

Editors Note:

For further information or interviews  please contact Charlotte Masiello-Riome, Senior Advisor, Communications External Engagement at Charlotte_Masiello-Riome@wvi.org. 

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice.     

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