Aid Organizations Call on Austria to Fulfill Its Responsibilities in UN Security Council
On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, Austrian aid organizations are calling on the federal government to use its upcoming membership on the UN Security Council (2027–2028) to pursue a clear, values-based foreign policy. The focus is on protecting the civilian population and banning the use of hunger as a weapon of war.
At a press conference held on World Humanitarian Day, the organizations behind the Humanitarian Congress Vienna presented four recommendations regarding Austria’s Security Council seat. / Picture: © © Ärzte ohne Grenzen
For civil society organizations, the anticipation of Austria’s upcoming membership on the UN Security Council goes hand in hand with a clear mandate. Representatives of the Austrian aid community used World Humanitarian Day on August 19 to issue an urgent appeal: Austria must not merely administer this prestigious seat but must use it as a “political window of opportunity” to strengthen the eroding body of international humanitarian law.
Four Demands for World Peace
Lukas Wank, Executive Director of AG Globale Verantwortung, emphasized that Austria must build on its long diplomatic tradition in the areas of human rights and disarmament. Together with partners such as the Austrian Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, four core demands were formulated:
End the use of hunger as a weapon of war: Austria should actively advocate for the protection of vital resources such as water and agricultural land and push for the prosecution of actors who systematically use hunger as a military tactic.
Regulation of autonomous weapons: AI-powered weapon systems pose a new threat. Austria is called upon to push for a legally binding agreement that ensures decisions regarding life and death always remain in human hands.
Protection for aid workers and medical facilities: Given the approximately 1,400 documented attacks on medical facilities in 2025, Austria must take an unambiguous stance against violations of international humanitarian law and demand international investigations.
Implementation of Resolutions: Existing UN resolutions—particularly those on the protection of women in conflict and on climate protection—should be implemented through concrete initiatives.
Caritas Austria also warned of a growing danger to humanitarian aid workers. In war zones such as Ukraine, Gaza, or southern Lebanon, they are increasingly being targeted because they serve as witnesses to violations of international law.
Former UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya described the membership as a “unique opportunity.” Austria could act as a bridge-builder, she said, but must prove that it consistently incorporates the expertise of NGOs and local partners into the Security Council's work.
Global Cascading Effects and the Call for Strict Accountability
In addition to diplomatic efforts, the aid organizations emphasized, in particular, during their press conference in Vienna, the devastating global cascading effects that are making crises felt in Austria. Complexity researcher Peter Klimek emphasized that global supply chains and markets are so closely intertwined that droughts and wars have long been triggering direct chain reactions all the way to Europe. Through disrupted supply chains—such as those for fertilizers—conflicts have a direct impact on inflation and food security in Austria. “Investments in humanitarian aid are investments in our own security,” said Klimek. Given that some 256 million people worldwide depend on humanitarian aid—while at the same time governments are cutting their budgets and aid funds are now sufficient for only slightly more than half of those in need—Joyce Msuya called for a radical shift in perspective: Austria’s seat on the Security Council must be used to directly protect civilians, rather than merely addressing crises after the fact.
Another key new theme in the debate is the demand for uncompromising accountability for war crimes. Sabine Wartha of Caritas pointed out that the destruction of water facilities and farmland has long-term consequences and that hunger is deliberately used as a weapon. Given that 645 million people worldwide are suffering from hunger and that the situation is likely to worsen due to a historically strong El Niño weather phenomenon, perpetrators must no longer be allowed to go unpunished. Michael Opriesnig of the Red Cross also emphasized that compliance with international law must never be delegated to algorithms, which is why a legally binding agreement ensuring strict human oversight of artificial intelligence in war is essential.
In addition, Roland Suttner of Doctors Without Borders warned against a deadly normalization of violence: In 2025, the World Health Organization recorded over 1,400 attacks on health facilities, in which the death toll nearly doubled to almost 2,000—with two-thirds of these attacks perpetrated by state actors. Lukas Wank concluded with an appeal for the German government to now consolidate its existing international commitments—such as those related to the UN Agenda on Women, Peace, and Security and climate resolutions—and to provide adequate funding for the national humanitarian aid strategy. Words alone would no longer suffice in the face of eroding human rights.
Whether Austria lives up to this role will be judged in the future by how boldly the country introduces concrete resolutions in New York and uses quiet diplomacy to open humanitarian corridors even in deadlocked conflicts.