Published on 1 February 2026

UN – Promotion of peace and security

Maintaining international peace and security: this is prime purpose of the United Nations (UN). Founded after the Second World War as a collective security system, the UN pursued this ambitious aim from the outset.

The UN understands security to mean far more than simply the absence of conflict and armed violence. Development, human rights, and protection from environmental hazards are important preconditions for security and lasting peace. The maintenance of peace today has many different facets, of a civil as well as a military nature.

Switzerland supports the UN peacebuilding efforts by providing both personnel and financing.

The UN acts on behalf of peace and security in various ways:

  • The Security Council establishes peacekeeping and peace-support missions.
  • The Secretary-General can himself take initiatives.
  • Representatives or envoys of the Secretary-General visit trouble spots to seek solutions to conflicts, preferably prior to the outbreak of violence.
  • The UN can also impose sanctions if negotiation or mediation fails.
  • If a conflict threatens world peace and international security, the Security Council may as a last resort authorize military intervention (Chapter 7 of the UN Charter).
  • The UN Peacebuilding Commission is able to support post-conflict States on their path to lasting peace and to facilitate the dialogue between the main actors.

Membership of the UN Security Council 2023/2024

Switzerland was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2023 and 2024. In its final report on Switzerland's mandate in the Security Council, the FDFA drew a positive overall conclusion: although the two-year term coincided with a period of geopolitical tension, Switzerland was able to make its mark and contribute to the implementation of its foreign policy goals through its seat on the Security Council.

UN Security Council membership...

  • was a key instrument in promoting Switzerland's foreign policy interests and values.
  • was in line with Switzerland's good offices and engagement in peace policy.
  • increased Switzerland's foreign policy weight and the potential for joint decision-making on such matters as the UN site in Geneva, which is of economic importance.
  • was fully compatible with Switzerland’s neutrality.

Documents

1 February 2026

Sanctions

As a member of the UN, Switzerland is obliged to adopt and implement comprehensive or targeted sanctions decided by the Security Council.

More about «Sanctions»

Contact

UN Division
State Secretariat STS-FDFA
Bundesgasse 28
3003 Bern

Phone: +41 58 462 30 50