Joint Nordic Statement by Mr. William Freyr Huntingdon-Williams, Counsellor
Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations
Resumed Sixth Committee Session on PPED (Cluster 3)
7 April 2026

 




Mr. Chair,

I have the honour to deliver the following statement on Cluster 3: International Cooperation - on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Iceland. 

As a starting point, the Nordic countries underscore the centrality of the three provisions comprising this cluster to the subject matter of the draft articles – and to the mission of the future legal framework adopted on their basis. 

These provisions serve an important and interrelated function in that legal framework – with Articles 7 and 8 elaborating the scope and content of the duty to cooperate, and Article 12 setting out the means for its activation in the event of a disaster. 

The Nordic countries are broadly comfortable with the text of draft Articles 7 and 8 as formulated by the ILC. 

In particular, we support the framing of Article 7 which includes within its operative scope assisting actors other than States – that is the United Nations, the components of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and other assisting actors, working in line with the humanitarian principles, as described in Article 6. Their inclusion is important to reflect the existing roles, mandates and infrastructure already operating in the domain of disaster relief. 

As regards Article 8, the Nordics support its current formulation and note that it contains a non-exhaustive list of different types of assistance which may be provided. 

Turning to Article 12, the Nordics understand that its purpose is to facilitate the matching of needs with the capacity to assist. Where such needs arise in the event of a disaster, they tend to be acute and time-sensitive. It is essential that the provision places the requesting State in the best position to be able to effectively identify offers that meet those needs. 

We are therefore cautious of any articulation of this provision that might inadvertently impose administrative burdens, such as by requiring replies from States even where they may lack the capacity to provide the assistance requested. 

With this in mind, we have proposed an amendment to the second paragraph of Article 12. Our proposal is to delete the terms “expeditiously” and “its reply”, and instead adding “any assistance being provided in response to the request”. With these amendments, we are of the view that the provision would best enable the requesting State to identify and accept the offers best suited to the situation at hand. 

In conclusion, the Nordics affirm our support for the place of the three provisions comprising this cluster in a future legal framework dedicated to the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disaster – and look forward to constructive engagement in this resumed session and in the process going forward.

Thank you.