Agustín Santos Maraver
Grupo Parlamentario Plurinacional SUMAR · Spain
“Muchas gracias, señora presidenta. Hoy tenemos seis convenios que ratificar. De ellos, cuatro tienen un carácter técnico que mejorará la cooperación en términos de justicia y la lucha contra el crimen organizado.”
“Después de prometer 800 000 millones de euros en créditos y en subvenciones a la industria armamentística europea, la semana pasada quebró el eje estratégico de esa cooperación, que fue el Eurofighter, con un desacuerdo comercial entre la Airbus alemana y la empresa Dassault francesa.”
“El propio presidente del Gobierno ha declarado en numerosas ocasiones en esta Cámara que tiene que ser reformada, que tiene que ser puesta al día. Además, hay un proyecto del Grupo Parlamentario Vasco metido en un cajón desde hace tiempo, que debería haberse puesto en marcha también.”
“Presidenta, señorías, el 40.º aniversario del ingreso de España en la Unión Europea, las Comunidades Europeas en aquella época, nos obliga primero a recordar y después a situarnos.”
“Hemos visto estas semanas como Grecia y Chipre, a los que se les ha dado 110 millones y 80 millones en los últimos tres años, preferían desoír las llamadas de socorro Mayday en la zona del Mediterráneo oriental para defender sus acuerdos con Israel y mantener los marcos de la OTAN en este sentido.”
“Una coyuntura en la que se nos exige una economía de guerra, gastar el 5 % y reimponer de nuevo la austeridad; una austeridad para que se compre el 67 % de esos 800 000 millones de euros en material de guerra norteamericano. Una política que pretende dividir a Europa sobre la base del miedo a Rusia.”
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“Thanks to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, also known as the Ottawa Convention, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions many States have abandoned the production of these pernicious weapons, and tens of millions of stockpiled weapons have been destroyed. In addition, thousands more have been detected, removed and destroyed, thus securing large areas and reincorporating them into community economies. Millions of residents in contaminated areas have received explosive ordnance risk- awareness training. Spain was among the first States to ratify the Conventions, destroy its stockpiles of explosive ordnance and adopt domestic legislation prohibiting their manufacture, stockpiling and use.”
“For all those reasons, areas in conflict or post-conflict situations with territories contaminated by the presence of these pernicious and indiscriminate weapons find it significantly more difficult to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mitigating that threat and enabling affected communities to move towards the achievement of the SDGs require securing the strong support of the international community, while integrating demining efforts into humanitarian and development strategies and peacebuilding efforts and ensuring the coordinated participation of all relevant actors, such as United Nations demining entities, regional organizations, donor States and civil society. Much has been achieved in this field.”
“Spain aligns itself with the statement of the European Union (annex 36) and wishes to make the following statement in its national capacity. Landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices represent a major humanitarian challenge. They pose a threat to affected communities not only during conflicts but also long after hostilities have ended. They pose a direct threat to the members of those communities and their livelihoods and exact a heavy toll on their prosperity as a result of a loss of cultivation areas and overburdened health-care services, which lead to forced population displacement and discourage investment, among other adverse effects.”
“In conclusion, I reiterate the imperative and increasingly urgent need for the Council to incorporate the impacts of climate change into its activities. International peace and security cannot be guaranteed without addressing the greatest threat facing humanity.”
“The Shire Alliance project, a public-private partnership involving private companies, the academic sector and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, has supplied electricity and water to the Adi Harush refugee camp in Ethiopia since 2016. The combination of the climate and health crises has also seriously compromised food security and access to drinking water for millions of particularly vulnerable people. Aware of the importance to hygiene of access to drinking water, especially for women, Spain has therefore joined the Water and Sanitation for All alliance.We cannot forget, in our climate action, the necessary special attention to the gender dimension and the empowerment of women. The women and peace and security agenda must also incorporate the heretofore-absent climate dimension.”
“Our second, recently approved National Adaptation Plan incorporates the aspects of peace and security and cross-border cooperation, and our National Security Strategy addresses climate. Finally, building a more resilient and green planet is one of the four foundations of our new Foreign Policy Strategy. On the other hand, global warming and environmental degradation have a negative impact on the security of people in all circumstances, but even more so in the case of armed conflicts. In many cases, it is the very origin of conflicts. For this reason, Spain has introduced a cross-cutting climate and environmental component across its humanitarian and development activities.”
“But furthermore, a policy of prevention must allow us to anticipate risks, ensuring, for example, that the replacement of fossil fuels by renewables is accompanied by evaluation, information and analysis measures as to the impacts on peace and security. For these reasons, climate action cannot be confined to the domain of sustainable development; it is essential that the Council address the effects of climate change on international security. Spain is a country especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, especially desertification. Not only have we set the objective of climate neutrality, we have also adopted ambitious domestic legislation in that regard, in fulfilment of our commitments.”
“It is increasingly clear that climate change impacts the lives of all people and threatens the very existence of some States Members of the United Nations. Science constantly reminds us of this and empirical evidence shows us, with increasing frequency and virulence, the impacts of global warming, in the forms of social destabilization and loss of human life and of economic resources. The health, economic and social crisis caused by the coronavirus-disease pandemic has only exacerbated these impacts and, therefore, the risk of instability and conflict, precisely in the most vulnerable regions and population groups. Spain is convinced that a sustainable and resilient recovery, based on a just and inclusive ecological transition, is the best recipe to face the crisis.”
“My statement is aligned with that delivered by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany on behalf of the Group of Friends of Climate and Security (annex 20). I should like to commend the British presidency of the Security Council for having organized this high-level open debate, which, once again, brings before the Council the implications of climate change for global peace and security. I thank Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his presence and remarks, and assure him he can count on Spain’s full commitment towards the success of the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. I also thank the Secretary-General and all other speakers for their statements.”
“Another of Spain’s priorities is defending and respecting international humanitarian law, which protects the environment in situations of armed conflict. I therefore recall the obligation of parties to conflict to respect international humanitarian law at all times. I conclude by recalling that, in order to respond in the best possible way to the crisis that we are facing, it is imperative that the Security Council take into account S/2020/929 the environment and climate change in the reports that are ordered, the decisions that are adopted, the mandates that are approved, the measures that are designed and the effective response that is planned.”
“Preserving the environment means preserving livelihoods, such as agriculture and livestock, which are essential in countries facing situations of vulnerability. And preserving the environment means protecting civilians. Climate change is a threat to the lives of millions of people, to food security and clean water supplies, to health and diversity and to stability, peace and security. Therefore, Spain has developed a guide to mainstreaming the environment into all humanitarian actions of our country, which will be officially presented in the coming weeks. We believe that this is the only way that we will contribute to the goal of saving lives and responding effectively to the needs of the most vulnerable people.”
“The maintenance of international peace and security requires us to strengthen humanitarian action, the protection of civilians and development instruments so that they contribute to building resilient and inclusive societies that respect human rights. Our goal of leaving no one behind will be possible only if we include environmental issues and their impact on the agenda of the Council on a more regular basis. To that end, relevant data and serious analysis of climate factors and conditions will be essential for both prevention and early action, as well as mitigation. In the twenty-first century, climate is a critical determinant of peacebuilding policies. Spain fully shares the Niger’s position on this issue.”
“We cannot continue to talk about the so-called triple nexus — humanitarian affairs, development, peace and security — without clearly including climate and environmental issues. The coronavirus disease requires a global response that takes environmental issues into account at all stages for two reasons: first, because for any solution to be effective it must take into account the effects of climate change and the environmental situation; secondly, because the effects of climate change can worsen the situation of vulnerability of people and pose an added element of inequality in accessing a dignified life and breaking the cycle of vulnerability and poverty.”
“My statement is aligned with that of the delegation of the European Union (annex 21). I would like to congratulate the Nigerien presidency of the Security Council for organizing this open debate, which continues to assess threats to peace and security from a global and three-way point of view. I also thank the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Ibrahim Thiaw, as well as Land Ambassador Inna Modja, for their statements. I would like to start by recalling the Secretary-General’s call for a ceasefire and supporting resolution 2532 (2020), as they are relevant to the issue at hand.”
“In the light of all of this, Spain intends to face future epidemiological outbreaks at the domestic level with enhanced primary care and strengthened public health through a COVID-19 preparation and response plan that will incorporate, among other things, strategic reserves of critical supplies, contingency planning to reactivate standby health resources, and a guide for control spikes, outbreaks and possible second wave. Moreover, at the international level, Spain will enhance and support global collaboration based on the guiding principles of multilateralism and solidarity.”
“Spain strongly believes that access to vaccines, treatments and diagnostics must be swift, accessible in terms of cost and able to be distributed on a global scale. Finally, I would also like to highlight a series of priority actions to strengthen our institutions and societies in the face of health emergencies. Spain has addressed the COVID-19 health crisis through its universal health coverage system, established in 1986 — thanks to which, no one has been left behind during this crisis. The effective response to the pandemic shows the need to strengthen national public health systems as a whole in the short, medium and long terms, and, at the global level, to promote an integrated health system model based on continuity of care across various levels of health-service delivery.”
“At the same time, and perhaps more importantly, women have emerged as excellent social interlocutors and communicators whose contributions improve all phases of humanitarian, development and peacekeeping responses efforts. Spain supports the Team Europe approach, which has mobilized €36 billion and strengthened partnerships for comprehensive COVID-19 response and recovery. We have contributed €125 million to the WHO Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator initiative, €50 million of which will go to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and €75 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. Those pledged contributions, together with other funds mobilized for the health response, amount to a contribution of around €187 million from Spain to this appeal.”
“The so-called threefold humanitarian-development-peace nexus must serve as both a reference and an objective for prevention, preparation and response decisions. Civil-military cooperation is another pillar that must be strengthened. To that end, United Nations peacekeeping missions must be equipped with the material and human resources, especially adequate protection officers, necessary to provide agile support to local communities in responding to health threats. Another lesson learned from this crisis is that women and girls are victims twice over and that no effort should be spared in prevention and protection measures or in the provision of health services, including for sexual and reproductive health.”
“The current pandemic, which is forcing us to talk about security, has reminded us, first, that we are intrinsically interconnected; secondly, that prevention is the most powerful tool available to the international community and multilateralism; and, thirdly, that international cooperation is absolutely imperative. In this regard, we must take note of the complexity of new emergencies and the need to build on the lessons learned in overcoming past challenges, such as the Ebola virus disease, not forgetting severe acute respiratory syndrome or Middle East respiratory syndrome. The multifaceted nature of health emergencies like pandemics and epidemics calls for coordinated action on the part of the United Nations family.”
“Millions of people have been affected by the spread of the virus — 10.5 million people have been infected and 510,000 have died — but virtually the entire planet has experienced the impact of the pandemic, which has increased the risk of tension, conflict and division in recent months. It is therefore time for solidarity, coordinated action and effective multilateralism. The Security Council must play a key role in taking the decisions that each moment demands in order to lay the foundations for a better future, free of conflicts and threats to peace and security.”
“My statement is in line with that made on behalf of the European Union. I would like to thank the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Peter Maurer, and the Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union, Amira Elfadil Mohammed Elfadil, for their statements. This relevant open debate on pandemics and security comes at an exceptional time. We are trying to overcome a global pandemic with multidimensional effects — a crisis that overlaps with other political challenges and that puts pressure on efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.”
“We must also acknowledge the excellent work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, and that of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, including its recent conclusions on Yemen, the Central African Republic and Afghanistan. The United Nations can count on Spain to make progress in achieving the objectives set forth in the Secretary-General’s report by implementing its recommendations.”
“I would also like to highlight in this regard the work that can be done by the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations, to prevent violations of international humanitarian law. Allow me to conclude by thanking the Secretary-General and, through him, all the people who comprise the United Nations family for their work and dedication and for their commendable efforts in favour of the protection of civilians in the most difficult of circumstances. Far from their loved ones, they are risking their own lives to make this world a better, more humane place.”
“We will continue to take concrete steps to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law and to work on the commitments made at the thirty- third International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, in Geneva. Thirdly, we need to persevere in the fight against impunity. We must guarantee the mechanisms that bring perpetrators of atrocious crimes to justice, including the International Criminal Court (ICC). That is the best way to honour the victims, do justice and deter future attacks. We encourage those States that have not done so to sign the Rome Statute and accept the jurisdiction of the ICC.”
“First, we are convinced that a gender perspective is vital to seeking concrete solutions and successfully addressing this challenge. We must therefore continue to promote this agenda in an ongoing and cross-cutting manner, prioritizing actions towards protection and respect for human rights and its close link with international peace and security in accordance with resolution 1325 (2000). Secondly, we need to strengthen our actions in the area of humanitarian diplomacy. The Spanish Government is determined to maintain the protection of civilians as one of the priorities of its foreign action and humanitarian action, working with national and international actors while strengthening actions in humanitarian diplomacy.”
“The third International Conference on Safe Schools, which Spain organized in Palma de Mallorca just a year ago, showed how important it is to stimulate international cooperation and boost political support for meeting this challenge. A growing majority of Member States and regional organizations have endorsed the Declaration which, for us, marks a clear step towards its universalization. We encourage those who have not yet done so to endorse the Declaration, and we welcome the draft resolution on the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, which Qatar has introduced and Spain has co-sponsored. Allow me to share three final considerations that seem to us to be central to the protection-of-civilians agenda.”
“The coronavirus disease pandemic has also shown us once again that prevention works, especially in terms of the protection of civilians. The report on attacks on education by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, which is being presented tomorrow at the margins of today’s open debate, shows this. Politically driven and resourced awareness and control actions create the conditions for preventing these attacks. The reduction of attacks on schools in recent years has opened future opportunities for entire generations. The third lesson points to the power of change that international cooperation provides.”
“The foregoing actions are just a few of the actions consistent with the Secretary-General’s report, but we know that there are many others. In choosing among them, we must take advantage of those that light the path for us to follow. In this context, I would call to mind the lessons that the current crisis has brought in one area related to the protection of civilians: education in conflict situations. The first lesson resides in our mutual interconnectedness. We can say today that the Safe Schools Declaration and the related actions taken are saving lives by preserving the right to education for all, even in the most difficult circumstances. This is because those who push for the actions are now linked with those whose lives have been saved. Even a match extinguished in the sea warms the ocean.”
“Because children are twice victims of armed conflict and deserve special protection, we consider maintaining the presence of protection officers, especially for children and gender, to be essential and, if possible, their presence in peacekeeping missions should be strengthened. As we have an obligation to prevent attacks on schools, medical facilities and humanitarian workers who carry out exclusively medical work, these attacks must be systematically and forcefully condemned, keeping in mind the duty to protect victims and the obligation to bring those responsible to justice. Sanctions regimes and counter-terrorism measures must allow for principled humanitarian action and compliance with international humanitarian law.”
“We must remain vigilant so that international humanitarian law and Security Council resolutions on the protection of civilians have a real impact on the protection and lives of people. Since urban conflicts have accentuated the impact of these attacks on the civilian population, it is essential that all parties to the conflict comply with their international obligations and that they are otherwise held accountable for violations. If that is not possible, the Security Council must play a key role in ensuring accountability for serious violations of international law.”
“The current crisis calls to mind three important lessons. The first is that we are deeply interconnected. The second is that prevention works. The third is that international cooperation is key to overcoming common challenges. These lessons are applicable in all areas, including in achieving the objectives we pursue in the protection of civilians. I will try to explain this idea with a concrete example in the second part of my statement, but first let me refer to the Secretary-General’s report (S/2020/366). The picture that the report paints is frankly bleak; it sets out figures that show the darker side of our species. The problem is very serious, and if we are to address it with well-targeted concrete actions, as the Secretary-General puts it, we must be aware of it. We therefore believe that our best strategy is as follows.”
“Spain aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the European Union. I would like to thank Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Peter Maurer, and the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, for their briefings. Today’s open debate on the protection of civilians comes at an unusual time. We are dealing with a global pandemic that has had effects on multiple levels, and this crisis overlaps with other political challenges, including the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The spread of the virus has affected millions of people, increasing the risk that tensions, conflicts and divisions in the world will worsen. This is a sensitive time that requires restraint, commitment and determination.”