Mr Lauber is currently the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and to the other international organisations in Geneva and the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council. He will begin his term as ICRC vice-president on 1 April 2026.
Ms Spoljaric, who presides over the Assembly, said: “Mr Jürg Lauber comes to the role with extensive international and diplomatic experience. I am confident that he will reinforce our efforts to defend international humanitarian law and the protections it affords people living through war. I am grateful to Mr Carbonnier for his many years of dedicated service and his unwavering commitment to advancing ICRC’s mission around the world.”
Mr Lauber said: "I thank the members of the Assembly for their trust, and I will approach this new responsibility with the greatest respect for the unique history and mandate of the ICRC and for the indispensable service provided by its staff all over the world."
Mr Carbonnier said: “It has been a privilege to serve the ICRC as vice-president since 2018, years after working as field delegate and at headquarters. Standing up for the people affected by armed conflict, advocating for greater respect for IHL and striving for humanitarian impact have guided me throughout. In these turbulent times, I am deeply convinced that our humanitarian mission is more vital than ever, and I will continue to serve with full commitment until I pass the baton to Jürg Lauber in March.”
Mr Lauber is an accomplished diplomat who, prior to his current position, served as Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York (2015-2020). He has held earlier diplomatic postings in Bangkok, Bern, Beijing, New York and Geneva. He also served as Chef de Cabinet to the President of the International Criminal Court in the Hague (2007-2009). Before joining the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in 1993, he worked in peacekeeping missions in Namibia (UNTAG) and Korea (Panmunjom).
Note to editors: Mr Carbonnier and Mr Lauber are not available for interviews at this time.
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