Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN, at the UN Security Council Arria formula meeting
Assessment of the normative gaps regarding natural resources and peace: foundations and perspectives
13 July 2026, New York
Thank you very much, Excellency,
First of all, I wish to welcome the choice of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to shed light on the relevant issues of natural resources and peace today at this meeting. I also wish to thank H.E. Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, State Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DRC – thank you for honouring this morning with your presence.[1] And I also thank the briefers for their insightful presentations.
Indeed, instead of lifting communities up, in many parts of the world, abundance of natural resources is linked to conflicts, human rights abuses and environmental degradation. Over the years, various standards, due diligence guidance, certification mechanisms and transparency initiatives have proliferated to reconcile the growing resource demand and commitments to peace, sustainable development, and responsible business conduct. This fragmentation is reflective of the wide spectrum of challenges, the actors involved – state authorities, private sector, civil society - and the properties of the natural resources themselves. To address this, we should promote coherence, harmonisation and interoperability.
Madam President, allow me to make three points on the question of the normative gaps.
First, the Security Council, on many occasions, has recognized the link between natural resources and conflict, and has taken steps to address it. For instance, by imposing targeted sanctions, including embargoes, and by mandating the development of recommendations for due diligence. Diamond and timber embargo in Liberia in the early 2000s is often cited as a positive example. It facilitated return to stability and shored up governance of natural resources in Liberia, including through the Kimberley Process. In the past, the Council has also requested the Group of Experts on DRC to develop recommendations on guidelines for due diligence for importers, processing industries and consumers of Congolese mineral products. This exemplifies that the Council can help establish and promote not mere restrictions but also soft norms. The Council should continue to deploy these tools and practices when necessary and appropriate, remaining mindful that success is highly dependent on their design, adaptability and enforcement.
This brings me to my second point. Effective measures by the Security Council require mechanisms to monitor their implementation, analyse developments and recommend adjustments. In the case of targeted sanctions, the role of expert groups is indispensable. Experts are the Council’s eyes and ears on the ground and should receive the necessary support, most importantly from the respective Sanctions Committees. Currently, that support is curtailed by prolonged stalemate on the allocation of subsidiary body chairs due to objections by one Council member. So, action on expert recommendations is delayed and field missions don’t take place. Engagement with neighbouring and interested countries is limited. New initiatives cannot gain ground. This means that in sanctions regimes where illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources is a serious matter of concern, work is paralyzed. While not averse to the idea of new instruments, we believe that priority should be given to making sure that the existing tools are in a working order and can be fully utilized.
Madam President,
In my third and final point, I want to come back to responsible management of natural resources and supply chains. In the context of a growing global competition, the Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals identified seven voluntary guiding principles, building on existing norms, commitments and legal obligations. These include placing human rights at the core, safeguarding environment, benefit sharing, transparency, accountability and anti-corruption measures to ensure good governance. Indeed, with the standards, guidance, and principles that already exist, focus should be on implementation and enforcement, requiring reinvigorated political commitment and will, as well as multistakeholder and international cooperation. In discharging its responsibilities towards maintenance of international peace and security, this Council must also play its part to ensure that natural resources don’t fuel conflicts but support peace and sustainable development.
We look forward to continuing this important discussion next week at the open debate. I thank you!
[1] Text in italics was delivered in French.