Security Council resolution 2698 (2023) [on renewal of the authorizations as set out in paras. 7, 8, 9 and 10 of Security Council resolution 2240 (2015) concerning migrant smuggling and human trafficking into, through and from the Libyan territory and off the coast of Libya for a period of 12 months]
Symbol: S/RES/2698 (2023)
Date: 2023-09-29
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/78 [219] LIBYA SITUATION
S/ X Maintenance of international peace and security.
Subjects: Charter of the United Nations (1945). Chapter VII|TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS|MIGRANTS|MEDITERRANEAN SEA|LIBYA|CRIME PREVENTION|JURISDICTION OVER SHIPS AT SEA
Votes in favour: 14
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 1
Voting record:
country: ALBANIA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: ECUADOR
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: MALTA
vote: yes
country: MOZAMBIQUE
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: abstention
country: SWITZERLAND
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/2698 (2023)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                29 September 2023




               Resolution 2698 (2023)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 9429th meeting, on
               29 September 2023

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its resolutions 2240 (2015), 2312 (2016), 2380 (2017), 2437 (2018),
               2491 (2019), 2546 (2020), 2598 (2021) and 2652 (2022) and its Presidential
               Statement of 16 December 2015 (S/PRST/2015/25),
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
               integrity and national unity of Libya,
                    Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report of 30 August 2023 (S/2023/640)
               including its observations on the plight of migrants and refugees in Libya,
                    Mindful of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace
               and security under the Charter of the United Nations,
                    Welcoming the measures that have been taken to implement resolution 2240
               (2015) encouraging their continuation, and taking note of Operation EUNAVFOR
               MED Irini in this regard,
                     Expressing grave concern at the continued endangerment of lives by the
               smuggling of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea, in particular off the coast of Libya,
               and recognizing that among these migrants may be persons who meet the definition
               of a refugee under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the
               1967 Protocol thereto,
                     Emphasizing in this respect that migrants, including asylum-seekers and
               regardless of their migration status, should be treated with humanity and dignity and
               that their rights should be fully respected, and urging all States in this regard to
               comply with their obligations under international law, including international human
               rights law and international refugee law, as applicable, stressing also the obligation
               of States, where applicable, to protect the human rights of migrants regardless of their
               migration status, including when implementing their specific migration and border
               security policies,
                     Reaffirming in this respect the need to promote and protect the human rights and
               fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, including
               those of women and children, and to address international migration through
               international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and through a
               comprehensive and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of




23-18900 (E)
*2318900*

S/RES/2698 (2023)

               countries of origin, transit and destination in promoting and protecting the human
               rights of all migrants, and avoiding approaches that might aggravate their
               vulnerability,
                     Underscoring the importance of a holistic approach to address the root causes
               of irregular migration and further affirming that enhanced cooperation and solidarity
               is more urgent than ever, and that regional cooperation and solutions, as well as
               national efforts place human rights and the dignity of migrants and refugees at the
               front and center,
                    Reaffirming the necessity to put an end to the ongoing proliferation of, and
               endangerment of lives by, the smuggling of migrants and trafficking of persons in the
               Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, and, for these specific purposes, acting
               under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                     1.   Condemns all acts of migrant smuggling and human trafficking into,
               through and from the Libyan territory and off the coast of Libya, which undermine
               further the process of stabilisation of Libya and endanger the lives of hundreds of
               thousands of people;
                    2.   Calls upon Member States to place the human rights and the immediate
               needs of migrants and refugees at the core of their efforts to prevent and counter
               smuggling and trafficking;
                     3.   Decides to renew the authorisations as set out in paragraphs 7, 8, 9 and 10
               of resolution 2240 (2015), for a further period of twelve months from the date of
               adoption of this resolution, reaffirms paragraph 11 thereof and reiterates its
               resolutions 2240 (2015), 2312 (2016), 2380 (2017), 2437 (2018), 2491 (2019), 2546
               (2020), 2598 (2021) and 2652 (2022) and its Presidential Statement S/PRST/2015/25;
                     4.    Emphasises that all migrants, including asylum-seekers, should be treated
               with humanity and dignity and that their rights should be fully respected, and urges
               all States in this regard to comply with their obligations under international law,
               including international human rights law and international refugee law, as applicabl e;
                     5.   Calls upon all States, with relevant jurisdiction under international law
               and national legislation, to investigate and prosecute persons responsible for acts of
               migrant smuggling and human trafficking at sea, in a manner consistent with States’
               obligations under international law, including international human rights law and
               international refugee law, as applicable;
                     6.    Renews the reporting requests set out in paragraph 17 of its resolution 2240
               (2015) from the date of adoption of this resolution, and requests the Secretary-General
               to report to the Security Council eleven months after the adoption of this resolution
               on its implementation, in particular with regard to the implementation of paragraphs
               7 to 10 of its resolution 2240 (2015);
                    7.    Expresses its intention to continue to review the situation and consider, as
               appropriate, renewing the authority provided in this resolution for additional periods;
                    8.    Decides to remain seized of the matter.




2/2                                                                                                       23-18900