YouSaid · the spoken record

Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera

lines on the record: 123
first: 2014-09-24
most recent: 2017-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Costa Rica is fully committed to processes that, within the framework of the United Nations, seek to protect oceans and marine resources, in particular through the elaboration of a new international agreement for the protection of the more than 60 per cent of marine biodiversity that is located in international areas, in keeping with Goal 14 of the 2030 Agenda. Costa Rica continues to be deeply shocked by the terrorist attacks that, unfortunately, as we know, occur somewhere in the world practically every week of the year. We would like once again to express our absolute, unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in every all its forms and manifestations, no matter who commits it or where it happens or with whatever goal in mind, as well as to stress the need to bring to justice those who commit such acts.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Our aspirations also include the promotion of our social inclusion and development policies so that our focus can go beyond the traditional silo-based approach. We are moving towards an integral development model based on multidimensional benchmarks that go far beyond the entry requirement. For that reason, on 9 September the heads of the three State branches and representatives of local governments, the private sector, social and religious organizations and academia gathered to sign the national pact to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Our planet needs our care, and this care must be all-encompassing.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“We therefore aspire to become a laboratory for the deep decarbonization of the world economy and a green hub for management, innovation and the transfer of knowledge, with early action built upon existing achievements. With our planned nationally determined contribution, we will work to achieve our national aspiration to steer the economy towards carbon neutrality by 2021, as part and parcel of pre- 2020 voluntary actions, and we have strengthened our long-term commitment to the deep decarbonization of the economy. The compensatory effects of our forests are accompanied by emissions reductions in critical sectors such as transport, livestock and waste. We have set an absolute emissions limit for 2030, which is equivalent to a 25 per cent reduction in emissions compared with 2012.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“It fills us with immense pride that the Paris Agreement negotiations were led by a Costa Rican woman, Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change until early July, a woman with immense diplomatic capabilities who showed us that when we work together, with commitment and a focus on the common good, we can restore hope and work towards a better world. The Paris Agreement must enter into force immediately, and we have an obligation to increase our ambitions with time. That is why Costa Rica has made every effort to complete its domestic approval process and will soon join the list of countries that have ratified it.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“There must be greater commitment on the part of all to achieve this objective. We know that the world has many crises to deal with, but we can and must promote and ensure changes that will transform the lives of millions of women and girls. This is an imperative call to action. I am certain that this will benefit not only women, but also our societies at large. This is a step we must take in order to achieve equality in other aspects of relationships between men and women. This is the best path for our planet; together, humankind can effectively adopt new models of sustainable development that allow us to survive as a species.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The ILO, along with many other United Nations agencies, development banks and various countries and organizations, has been making considerable efforts to create new methodologies and measurements with respect to the widest variety of variables pertaining to the economic empowerment of women. The Heads of State and Government who are listening today should know that the most important aspect of the work of the Panel, which is scheduled to issue a second report next year, relates to everything that we are able to accomplish in our own countries as a result of its findings, good practices, principles and recommendations. We invite those States capable of implementing the Panel’s recommendations to do so and to become laboratories instrumental in their implementation. A call to action is imperative.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“As a minimum, businesses should follow ILO conventions along with national legislation regarding gender equality in order to eliminate discriminatory practices. We must create opportunities, with Governments improving practices in the public sector both as an employer and as a supplier of goods and services. We must establish, implement and promote public policies that benefit women living in poverty and vulnerability as well as macroeconomic policies that guarantee their rights and generate sustainable and inclusive work. Women’s voices must be heard, encouraging a greater participation in leadership and business and political decision-making posts. In order to translate such measures into reality, it is imperative that we improve data collection relating to the economic empowerment of women.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Finally, as a social co-responsibility, we must invest in care, recognizing, reducing and redistributing unpaid work in this field. We must ensure decent working conditions for domestic workers. One of the first steps to achieve this is to ratify International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189. I urge those countries that have not yet done so to take that step. We must guarantee the an adequate distribution of digital, financial and physical goods. This is also important. We need Governments, the private sector and civil society to take action so as to ensure that trends and innovations in digital technologies and finance, as well as legal reforms in the field of tenancy and land ownership, expand women’s opportunities. We must change our culture and the way we do business in order to create opportunities for women.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“To achieve the global empowerment of women, the Panel recommends the following measures. First, we must end stereotypes and transform and challenge the rules that limit women’s access to work or devalue their work. Changing those rules must be a priority in order to expand women’s economic opportunities within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. We must level the playing field for women, guarantee employment and social protection, and reform discriminatory laws and regulations. A total of 155 countries worldwide have at least one law that prevents women from becoming involved in economic activities. This must be changed; it would contribute greatly to economic growth, and it is a simple step that all Governments can take.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“I am convinced that the economic empowerment of women should be viewed not only as a goal in itself but as a means for the implementation of the other targets and Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda. The Panel proposes seven principles and seven guiding actions. As basic principles, we assume that no woman should be left behind and that nothing should be done for women without the participation of women, and that we should focus equally on rights and profits. Empowerment is not only the right thing to do; it is the intelligent road map towards human development, growth and business promotion. We must also address the root causes of economic gender inequality based on gender inequalities in society, respect internationally agreed standards, and, finally, recognize the need to work in partnerships, with global compliance in all countries.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The deep and unfortunate impact of this situation is reflected in the fact that it is estimated that the value of unpaid care work is equivalent to $10 billion, or 13 per cent of world gross domestic product. The Sustainable Development Goals are interconnected and interdependent. The Panel emphasized the multiple relationships that exist between the targets set out in Goal 5, on gender equality and the empowerment of women, and Goal 8, to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all, men and women alike. The relationship between this debate and Goal 10 is clear: the goal is to reduce inequality within and among countries.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“The energy, the power and creativity of women are badly needed — not only to make this world a better place, but to enable it to survive in the years to come.” The lessons are many, but first it is necessary to recall some facts, some of which might seem obvious and others that might surprise. The vast majority of women in the world work. They work in the informal, public and private sectors as business women, domestic workers, and unremunerated workers. But women have half as many possibilities as men in securing full-time paid work. It is estimated that there are 1.27 billion women worldwide in paid jobs compared with 2 billion men. We are talking about a difference of more than 700 million women who do not have the same opportunities as men. Women undertake unpaid work three times as often as men and handle most of the caregiving work.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Today there are realities and actions that fill me with optimism because change is taking place in the world. I wish to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his invitation to be co-facilitator, along with my colleague Simona Scarpaleggia, Chief Executive Officer of IKEA Switzerland, of the High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment. The hard work of the Panel has already resulted constructively in a preliminary report. I want to share several of its conclusions with the Assembly. Simona Scarpaleggia said at the Panel, “I firmly believe that there is huge potential that could be unlocked simply by valuing and empowering women.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“If we believe that humankind can survive by remaining on this path and adhering to pretences as usual, we will only be selfishly and short- sightedly digging our own grave. We should remember that it is not because of mere altruism but the starkest realities that we have chosen to abide by a global order, subject to institutions and universal principles of self- regulation. The escalation of tensions, conflicts and the use of force suit no one but a few merchants of suffering and death. The national interest of all States is to strengthen the international system and the United Nations, which is at the centre of that effort. The philosopher and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Albert Schweitzer said, “To the question whether I am a pessimist or an optimist, I answer that my knowledge is pessimistic, but my willing and hoping are optimistic”.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Such challenges call on us to virtuously manage the entire ecosystem of human mobility through a dialogue on processes, actors, mechanisms and organizations. Resources must be efficiently used, and there must be better coordination between humanitarian and development actors. That does not mean that development resources must be redirected to humanitarian assistance. That would create a vicious circle, thereby neglecting investment in the root causes of such movements. We will not tire of repeating and insisting on the need to address the specific impacts that migration has on women and the need to adapt public policies to address those particularities. We will continue to raise our voice to call for action to combat gender-based and sexual violence. If we are feigning loyalty to laws and institutions, we had better stop.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“In our experience, faced with flows of migrants and the need for humanitarian aid, we must highlight the ongoing role played by civil society organizations as a support network for migrants and their families on the move, in addition to their enormous capacity to document the situation on the ground and see to and deal with violations of human rights of smuggled migrants. Communities that have welcomed these migrants have shown their profound solidarity with those in need. The complex situation concerning the wave of migrants will only be exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Floods, droughts and the rise in sea level will force people to pick up and move within their country and abroad.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“As a country of origin, transit and destination for migrants, Costa Rica has criminalized their trafficking under the law against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants adopted in 2012. That legal framework also guides the design and implementation of our national policy to address the crime of migrant smuggling from a gender perspective. The policy is based on the care and protection of victims, prevention, law enforcement, information gathering, analysis and research, and institutional coordination.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Our country has been a crossroads for thousands of migrants: Cubans, Haitians, Central Americans, Asians and Africans. Clearly, the problem is global and requires joint solutions, solidarity, shared responsibility and comprehensive approaches. With regard to migration and refugee crises, we must not consider only large movements, as these only deal with very specific experiences, and leave out any discussion on the constant flow of migration throughout the rest of the world. Such movement takes place outside of the confines of the law. It is a phenomenon that is fuelled by inequality, poverty and structural causes resulting from conflict and is fostered by the activities of international organized crime networks.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Costa Rica reiterates the urgency of providing assistance and the need to ensure the protection of and respect for the human rights of people who have been forced to leave their homes in search of safe havens for themselves and their families, as a result of armed conflict, violence, natural disasters or the effects of climate change that threaten their access to the most basic means of survival. We are failing to fulfil our commitment to leave no one behind. Mass media and the international community have paid little attention to the tragedy of thousands of migrants travelling through Latin America from south to north. For Costa Rica, from April to September alone 9,487 irregular migrants have crossed our borders, and we have granted refugee status to a total of 215 people during the first half of 2016 alone.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“Costa Rica congratulates Mr. Thomson on his election as leader of the General Assembly and welcomes the priorities that he has set for his term of office. The President can count on our full support for their implementation. Costa Rica also thanks the Secretary-General for his leadership and, in particular, his contribution to the cause of peace and sustainable development. We are coming to the end of 2016, having achieved little progress in addressing the crisis of refugees and migrants — the worst such crisis since the Second World War.”
2016-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 71 (2016)
“For what must come will come sooner if our arms turn the windmills of history together!””
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It appears that sometimes we have regressed. We have only stopped along the way for self-affirmation. Seventy years in human history seems of no longer duration than a gust of wind. However, when we measure those years in terms of the lives that have been saved, the agreements reached and the progress made in finding common solutions to the gravest crises that humankind has confronted, the passage of seventy years begins to feel monumental. It is extraordinary what we can accomplish when we stand together and act as one. In closing, I cite the optimistic words of my teacher poet Debravo: “The world is moving towards an era of love and brotherhood. Misery shall disappear from the face of the Earth. Equal rights and opportunities shall prevail despite those who struggle to enslave them. Join me in the fight, brothers!”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In commemorating our Organization’s seventieth anniversary, let us remember the importance of keeping our doors open to new realities; to civil society and non-governmental organizations; to women; to young people, with whom we should engage in promoting reconciliation and sustainable peace; to groups with suggestions, such as the Elders; to collaboration between United Nations system agencies so as to provide holistic responses to the challenges we face; to the regional and subregional organizations that also play a crucial role in conflict prevention and management; to all peoples and individuals and their ideas, dreams, beliefs and aspirations; and to change and readiness to act. The Costa Rican poet Jorge Debravo once said that over the ages, humankind has continued to ascend an unending upward path to progress.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“As the seat of the University for Peace, now in its thirty-fifth year, Costa Rica calls on all States for their support in providing it with the resources it needs to fulfil its important task of educating the leaders that our world needs if it is to prevent and resolve conflicts and promote lasting peace.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Let us end impunity and back efforts to commit to and adopt a code of conduct that prevents the use of the veto in cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Let us together combat terrorism, which is spreading like wildfire and is an increasing threat to international peace and security, human rights, universal culture and sustainable development. And let us do so in strict observance of international law, including standards of human rights, international humanitarian and international refugee law. We cannot overstate the danger of self-serving reinterpretations of such standards, especially when they are used to justify unilateral action for solutions that should always be reached multilaterally. Let us work without ceasing and without excuses for a culture of peace.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Let us demand coherence and consistency from the permanent members of the Security Council regarding the rule of law and international law, arms control and nuclear disarmament, to cite three examples. The Council is a key part of global governance, and its legitimacy depends on the consistency of its actions. Let us also work to strengthen the General Assembly and its bodies with the aim of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire Organization. Let us protect the innocent civilians who are the deliberately targeted victims of unspeakable crimes of sexual violence and attacks by chemical weapons, cluster munitions, armed drones and barrel bombs. Sovereignty does not and should not protect Governments that commit atrocities against their own people.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is here at the United Nations, through our disarmament bodies, that we should begin to adopt measures that increase transparency and ensure accountability regarding their use. To mark its seventieth anniversary, let us make the United Nations a more robust, dynamic and energetic organization that, rather than debating abstract concepts, seeks practical and specific solutions. Let us start by electing the first woman to occupy the post of Secretary-General and ensuring that the process is an inclusive, transparent and equitable one that will give us a visionary, independent, strong leader who will be the first to react, lead and act on humankind’s most urgent challenges and crises.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“History shows that we get better results when we place cooperation above confrontation, tolerance above terrorism and ideas above radical ideologies. 16/54 15-29562 30/09/2015 A/70/PV.19 Regarding the fight against terrorism, Costa Rica is concerned about the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terror and the links between violent extremism and control over women’s autonomy and its effects on and restrictions of their rights. We are also worried about the growing use of armed drones outside conflict zones and about various Governments’ reinterpretations of human rights and humanitarian principles. My country believes it is urgent that we take action to better understand this issue and address all of its implications.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The violations of the most basic human rights, above all the right to life, committed by terrorists and other so- called non-State actors, as well as the dreadful acts that have been perpetrated in areas affected by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant against women and girls and other vulnerable groups, pose a serious threat to international peace and security. Costa Rica strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of the perpetrators or their purposes. In the face of the human tragedy of still uncertain proportions caused by the displacement of civilians fleeing violence, Costa Rica emphasizes the importance of seeking a global, collaborative and integrated approach that can enable us to speedily address this critical situation in a sustained manner.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Costa Rica refuses to accept a situation that undermines the authority of the United Nations, puts us in a very vulnerable position in the face of threats old and new, and damages our much-needed Organization’s legitimacy in the minds of its Member States and the international community as a whole. That is why it should be here in the General Assembly that we say that we, the people, wish to be able to live in peace, freedom, equality, justice and democracy and to have the opportunity, in the words of that apostle of Cuban independence, José Martí, to create, believe and grow. Those words resonate today more than ever. Terrorism, organized crime, drug-trafficking and worldwide pandemics are proof that threats to a nation’s security are no longer confined within its borders. Collective threats must be addressed collectively.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In that regard, I would like to especially commend the leadership of President François Hollande and the support that President Barack Obama has given to the process through his clean energy plan. We must also take advantage of the opportunities that international cooperation offers by way of means of implementation in order to facilitate every country’s participation in global efforts, and particularly that of middle-income countries. Our country has launched the Geneva Pledge for Human Rights in Climate Action, a voluntary initiative based on recognition of the relationship between the enjoyment of human rights and the impact and consequences of climate change, and we call on all States to commit to it. The gap between words and deeds only increases mistrust and erodes multilateralism.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We showed that we could do that throughout the negotiating process that led to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in which Costa Rica shared its experience on the issues of conservation, environmental protection, unilateral disarmament and leadership in creating a model for sustainable development. And we will show it again in Paris at the end of this year when we reach a landmark agreement on climate change, because climate change constitutes such a serious threat to human development. Costa Rica firmly believes that, where Paris is concerned, we need serious, binding, people-centred commitments that respect our rights and involve comprehensive action on climate issues not only on the part of Governments but also from the various economic and social sectors.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is crucial to create opportunities for effective participation by non-State actors and to enhance regional structures for implementing the global agenda, but above all, it is essential to make increased budgetary provision for strengthening institutional frameworks, given that at the moment the third pillar of the United Nations receives only 3 per cent of its regular institutional budget. We should adjust our regulatory framework and institutional efforts in the area of human rights so that the Human Rights Council, the system of human rights treaties and the Security Council, among others, can better synchronize their efforts. The challenge is to ensure that we act as a single Organization, effectively and coherently, not clumsily, not fragmented, so that we can protect and promote people’s rights, including the right to development.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“In a year that marks 15-29562 15/54 A/70/PV.19 30/09/2015 the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, gender equality and the empowerment of women in many regions of the world must cease to be mere words and become commitments aligned with and following from the Declaration, incorporating public policies at the national level that bring us genuinely closer to the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a cross-cutting focus on gender that is realized in every Goal, target and indicator we have committed to. The major challenges facing multilateralism therefore require a more effective and efficient governance structure if we are to achieve respect for human rights and their observance and progressive development.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Thus our efforts must go further. Let us focus not only our attention, but also additional resources, on building up the third pillar, that of human rights. In terms of human rights, the United Nations has fostered a significant policy development, even extending border protection to cover an increasing number of vulnerable groups, such as children, people with disabilities, the elderly, migrants and indigenous peoples. But while the principles and obligations are clear, and an institutional structure of deliberative and executive bodies exists, the situation on the ground in many parts of the world is far from what it should be, and the distribution of resources does not match the statements and declarations. The promotion and defence of human rights cannot continue to be limited to rhetoric.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Nuclear disarmament cannot be postponed any longer. The fact that 115 States have signed the humanitarian pledge for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons demonstrates that the international community is convinced of the need to place nuclear weapons on an equal footing with other weapons of mass destruction, weapons that are prohibited under specific treaties. Costa Rica calls for more States to endorse the humanitarian pledge and to fill the legal vacuum by prohibiting and eliminating the nuclear threat once and for all. Placing the United Nations at the centre of global governance is not limited exclusively to improving the work of the Security Council or strengthening its role in conflict prevention. It also implies a greater strengthening of the General Assembly and the Organization as a whole.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Costa Rica calls on the States that have signed the Arms Trade Treaty to ratify it, and on those who have ratified it, to set to work without delay, enthusiastically, energetically and with dedication, on securing its full and effective implementation. Furthermore, States possessing nuclear weapons, including the permanent members of the Security Council, have violated their unequivocal commitment to nuclear disarmament pursuant to article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. They argue that the current security climate is not conducive to nuclear disarmament, and they cling to the traditional paradigm of State security that keeps 16,000 nuclear warheads in the world, many on high- alert status and even susceptible to cyberattacks. Compliance with article VI is not conditional or optional; it is mandatory.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The commitment to maintaining international peace and security is also reaffirmed by all permanent members of the Security Council. However, at the same time, they are the largest producers and exporters of conventional weapons in the world. Moreover, despite the explicit prohibitions in the Arms Trade Treaty, those countries continue to conduct international arms transfers, including transfers of small and light weapons, and including to conflict areas in the world. The explicit prohibitions on transfers of conventional arms contained in the treaty exist to prevent human suffering and to save lives. They are not there to be ignored.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is no coincidence, then, that the rule of law has a key place in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). However, only one permanent member of the Security Council acknowledges the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, and only two have ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Costa Rica calls upon all States to adhere to and implement international instruments for the protection of human rights and the fight against impunity in the face of atrocious crimes. Once again, we call on all States to ratify the Rome Statute, including the 2010 Kampala amendments. The more multipolar our world, the stronger will be our confidence in the rule of international law throughout the world.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The opinion of a single permanent member cannot continue to bear more weight than the necessity to save lives. When a permanent member uses, or threatens to use, the veto, in those circumstances, it publicly abandons and disregards the right of victims to justice and peace and undermines international efforts to put an end to impunity. The veto breaches the trust that millions of people have vested in the United Nations as their last hope in such cases as those mentioned. We all agree on the importance of strengthening the rule of law to consolidate the institutions that protect the civilian population to address the root causes of conflicts, to promote accountability and to combat impunity, both nationally and internationally.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It is an attempt to correct the systemic failures of the past, as the initiative recognizes that the violations of those rights indeed constitute early warning signs of coming crises. Because human lives are at stake, Costa Rica supports the French proposal to restrict the veto in cases of mass atrocities. That proposal dates back to our membership in the Small Five Group and also to efforts spearheaded by Liechtenstein in the Accountability, 14/54 15-29562 30/09/2015 A/70/PV.19 Coherence and Transparency group. The latter Group has made efforts to adopt a code of conduct that would require the permanent members of the Security Council to refrain from using the veto in situations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and to be politically committed to acting promptly and decisively in such situations.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The less we consider sovereignty as a wall or a shield, the more likely it is that we shall be able to fulfil our responsibility to protect the civilian population. In the words of the Secretary-General, “Early action to prevent conflict and protect human rights helps to strengthen sovereignty, rather than challenge or restrict it” (S/PV.7389, p. 3). Thus, no single country — none — can hide behind the wall of sovereignty and silence when serious violations of human rights are perpetrated. No crime against humanity should go unpunished. For its part, Costa Rica reaffirms its support for the Secretary- General’s “Rights Up Front” initiative, which places human rights issues at the heart of efforts by the United Nations.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We must be particularly wary of the attempts by some States to manipulate the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in an effort to prevent the United Nations from tackling the global challenges for which it was set up and from effectively defending the rights of individuals. Some try to distort the purposes and principles of the Charter by affirming, for example, that human rights violations are not related in any way to the maintenance of international peace and security, or that sovereignty precludes the commitment of this Organization to such issues. Sovereignty, a concept associated with the birth of the nation State, should no longer be used as an excuse for the international community to sit back and be a silent witness to a bloody theatre of war.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“However, when Governments fail to meet their responsibility to protect, because they lack either the will or the ability to safeguard the rights of their own people, then it is up to the international community, and in particular the Security Council, to intervene and to deploy the wide range of resources and tools at its disposal to resolve conflict. Despite those resources, we did not do enough to prevent the current human tragedy. We did not do what was necessary to prevent thousands from venturing out to sea with their children. If the United Nations is to consolidate its position as the centre of global governance, it must ensure that respect for and the promotion of human rights are not subject to manipulation.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“They were caused by deficient or corrupt Governments and institutions, which engaged in acts of repression, discrimination and exclusion, acts that eventually restricted fundamental freedoms; deprived people of their economic, social and cultural rights; exacerbated disparities in development; and failed to uphold the right of the peoples of the world, including the right of the people of Israel, to live within secure borders. The primary responsibility for promoting, protecting and fulfilling peoples’ rights and fundamental freedoms rests with the States.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“I also say that because of the millions of Syrians who have been displaced in historic proportions, and the thousands more who continue to risk their lives at sea to escape death inflicted by chemical weapons, barrel bombs and cluster munitions, weapons whose use Costa Rica categorically condemns. None of those crises erupted without prior warning. They developed over years, and sometimes decades, of offences against human dignity and human rights.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“That has been true in the case of Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic, Somalia, the Sudan, South Sudan and Yemen. I say that because of the acts of sexual violence and gender-based violence that have been perpetrated against girls and boys, women and men in Iraq, Syria and north-eastern Nigeria. I would also refer to the genocides in Rwanda and Srebrenica and to the tolerance that has been shown for violations constantly committed against many peoples, including the people of Palestine, and against racial, ethnic or sexual minorities in other parts of the world, including in the West.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Let us acknowledge the ability, competence and commitment 15-29562 13/54 A/70/PV.19 30/09/2015 of women in all spheres, and let us send an unequivocal political signal that, as we commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Organization is practising what it preaches in terms of equality and the empowerment of women and girls. In order to consolidate the position of the United Nations at the centre of global governance, the Security Council should assume its responsibilities in its response to the maintenance of international peace and security, taking into account human rights in its actions and improving its work in the prevention of conflicts. The Council’s focus on conflict prevention is inadequate, and when it does take action, that action often comes too late.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Along with Estonia, my country is leading the efforts of nearly 30 States to establish a process that is transparent, democratic, equitable, inclusive and that, unlike its predecessor, will be consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and similar high-level international processes. Costa Rica is proud to have included, in resolution 69/321, adopted just a few weeks ago, an invitation to Member States to suggest female candidates for the position of Secretary-General. The time has come for that position to be held by a woman.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“This must be the time for the General Assembly to show that, while we are a community of nations, we are also much more than the sum of our individual interests. This must be the time for the General Assembly to consolidate the leadership of the United Nations as the centre of global governance and to continue to engage in reforms that will make it more effective, efficient, robust, proactive and dynamic. To that end, let us begin by electing in the most democratic way possible the person who will hold the position of Secretary-General. Since 1946, the selection process for the person to hold the most important position in the international community has been characterized by its lack of transparency. Costa Rica is determined to change that.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)