YouSaid · the spoken record

Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir

lines on the record: 37
first: 2022-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“This system — a miracle of the human spirit when it was first set up — must earn its legitimacy over and over again, as new generations replace those who hold the memories of why our current world order, with all its flaws, is still vastly and completely superior to any other alternative. We have no alternative but to adapt. We all have a role to play, and each role is important. Failure is not an option.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We need reforms to the Security Council that reflect a much changed and evolved world since the institution was set up. And we need more high-level dialogue that is open and unscripted and in which the people responsible for making important decisions can engage with each other and exchange views. Sometimes it is difficult to talk to people that you do not agree with, but I have never found it to be harmful. The people of this Organization, and us — people who hold positions of leadership in Member States — are all human beings who benefit from being in the company of other human beings. The United Nations must be modern and change with the times.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Humankind does not only create problems. We also create solutions, and some of these solutions border on being miraculous. In fact — this very Organization, and the system of international and multilateral cooperation of which it is both the pinnacle and foundation — is an example of a human-made solution to human-made problems. But maintaining relevance and importance throughout many decades is not an easy task. It falls to the Organization itself, but more crucially to its Member States, to avoid the pitfalls that put in jeopardy all organizations as they age. They can take on a life of their own. increasingly independent from their original aims. We will need to be creative, innovative and willing to look critically at how things are done, with the aim of finding ever better ways of serving the States and people of the world.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Instead, the Russian Federation chooses to viciously attack a neighbouring country in complete violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Iceland is proud to have been at the helm when the Council of Europe decided last May to establish a register of damage incurred by the Russian invasion in Ukraine. That is an important step in seeking reparations after the war and holding perpetrators to account. Every country of the world, and humankind as a whole, stands to lose if the international community allows wars of neo-colonial conquest by large powers against its neighbours. There are many grey zones in world affairs, but this is not one of them. Russia is the aggressor and must be stopped. Ukraine is rightly defending its land and. by extension, our international system, and Ukraine must be supported.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Military coups are proliferating in Africa, the situation in the Sudan is deteriorating, the Taliban regime is tightening its grip in Afghanistan, the military junta in Myanmar continues to commit atrocities, and the conflict between Israel and Palestine is frequently flaring up. with a two-State solution nowhere in sight. Russia’s war of territorial aggression is not only a brutal assault on Ukraine and its people, but also an unprecedented affront to the international system. That madness has been ongoing for over 18 months and is the sole responsibility of a permanent member of the Security Council that should be acting on behalf of the United Nations membership as a guardian of international peace and security.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Artificial intelligence asks some serious questions that will demand close multilateral cooperation to avoid the very real risk of this technology becoming a tool of destruction rather than creation. We must also bear in mind that the promise of human rights and freedom applies to individuals and does not necessarily extend to State-sponsored propaganda or artificially generated misinformation that is intended to sow discord and disunity. Freedom of expression is for human beings — not for programmed bots that spread hate, lies and fear — because human rights are for human beings.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“There is a trend in the direction of the deterioration of democratic values and civil rights, often led by populist politicians who offer simplistic solutions to complex problems. They spread suspicion, peddle misinformation and foster polarization in their societies. That poses a dilemma. Those who undermine democratic norms do so under the protection of the same human rights that they are attacking. And while some of these rights are misused, it is also clear that we will need to rely on human- made solutions to our human-made problems. And that will rely on the creative and innovative thinking of individuals who have the freedom to express their thoughts, to challenge the status quo and to test their ideas, services and products in an open and competitive society.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We do not have gender equality in Iceland because it is a luxury that we can afford. It is gender equality that has made us strong. In Belarus, opponents of the regime are jailed and exiled while the rulers align themselves with Russia’s war in Ukraine. All of those who dedicate themselves to ensuring human rights and freedoms for the people of Belarus deserve to be listened to and supported. And there are so many other places around the world where people are being punished for their opinions and for challenging authorities. Civil society, media and freedom of speech are being undermined, not only in autocratic countries, but all over the world. Cases of people being arbitrarily detained by Governments are on the rise and are deeply troubling.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Of all the things that people choose to worry about. I simply can never understand why people should not be allowed the freedom to love and be loved for who they are. The shocking treatment of women by many countries, and the blatant inequalities in even more countries, are a terribly sad and unfair situation for the women of those countries because, quite frankly, it simply does not make any sense. I come from a country that is considered to have a very strong record when it comes to gender equality. And Iceland is fortunate enough to be a society that has developed from being among the poorest in Europe to one of the most prosperous since we became an independent republic almost 80 years ago. The fact of our equality and the fact of our prosperity are strongly linked.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Member States in the Human Rights Council do not have to be perfect. None of us are. We can all do better, and we should all aim to do better. We are seeing a serious degradation of human rights in many Member States. Women and girls in Afghanistan cannot go to school. Their basic freedoms are taken from them, and they live under cruel and violent suppression. I salute the bravery of the women, within Afghanistan and outside, who continue to bring the attention of the world to the horrors perpetrated by the Taliban. In Iran, the authorities continue to deny women freedom and to punish those who dissent. We should all listen to the voices of people who put themselves in danger by openly fighting for human rights. We are seeing degradation in the rights of LGBTI+ communities in many places.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“December marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is a milestone worth celebrating. The world has long since learned that when the rights of people are denied in one State, there is a real danger that the effect will be felt by others. Just as domestic violence is a societal problem, not a family matter — brutal treatment of citizens in one State of the United Nations is a matter that concerns us all. Earlier this month. Iceland formally presented its candidature to the Human Rights Council for the term 2025-2027. Human rights are a key pillar of Iceland’s foreign and development policy, based on the conviction that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Our candidature is endorsed by the Nordic countries.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“And it is the most vulnerable, especially women and children and poorer communities, who bear the brunt of these events, which are the consequences of problems that they had no part in creating. Where there is hope, it continues to be in cooperation and in a multilateral approach to solving problems. A recent example is the historic agreement reached earlier this year on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea — our constitution of the ocean. The BBNJ agreement is a testament to the importance and effectiveness of multilateralism when it comes to tackling the triple planetary threat of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It was an important milestone to which Iceland is proud to have contributed.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“As with many others, we have a mixed story to tell. Some of our goals are on track, others are simply not. My Government remains committed to the timely implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As for most of us. the second half will be decisive. The Paris Agreement is also in jeopardy. Over the past months, we have witnessed the increased intensity of climate change and natural disasters in the form of flooding, drought and extreme weather patterns. Wildfires are battering every corner of the world. Those phenomena have local and global ramifications, including increased food insecurity, poverty and hunger. This is not just a threat to some in distant parts of the world. This is an existential threat to us all.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“We need to take the long view and contemplate how our actions today will look a few decades from now. How leaders act and how institutions respond will determine the difference between hope and despair. That means the United Nations, and that means us. the people who are entrusted with positions of leadership and service. In that regard, we all have a role to play, and each role is important. This year marks the halfway point for the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in 2015. It is estimated that only 15 per cent of the SDGs are currently on track for completion by 2030. Plainly speaking, it is halftime, and we are down by a big margin. During this week some positive steps have been taken at the SDG Summit, but it will be actions, not words, that count. Iceland presented its second voluntary national review in July.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“But there are other and more uplifting parts of that reality. Solutions that are discovered in any distant region of the world can be transported and utilized across the globe in an instant. New ideas in culture, in science and in political thought do not respect any national boundaries. Being interconnected also means that people are aware of each other’s humanity. But. sadly, at the same time, when we need it the most, multilateralism is in serious crisis. I believe that we are at a critical juncture and that when we look back at these times 30 years from now. either we will look back with absolute sadness and horror to a catastrophe that could have been avoided, or these times will be considered a moment of strength, when the international system showed that it could withstand its toughest test without breaking apart.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“In a large organization, each individual must do their part, and every task — no matter how mundane — is done in the name of our common cause and deserves to be done well. Everyone has a role to play, and all those roles are important. This week has been dominated by discussions of the many and serious problems that humankind faces. Most of these pressing problems do not respect national borders. We are now — more than ever in the history of humankind — in a state of mutual reliance and dependence. The problems created by some of us often have dire consequences for others. A disruption in production in one part of the world has an impact on the well-being of people in another. Hateful rhetoric that is used for political gain in one country can spread with the speed of light across borders and poison public discourse in another.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“First. I would like to thank all those whose daily work is dedicated to the United Nations and its ideals. All across the globe, people work in the name of the United Nations, wearing the colours and emblems of this Organization, giving their effort in the pursuit of making our world a better place. I thank them. I also thank those who are responsible for keeping the buildings and offices clean and ready for business. I thank those who make sure that technology runs smoothly, the translators and security staff, the diplomats of the Member States and those who are entrusted with making decisions and bearing the responsibility of managing the day- to-day operations of the United Nations.”
2023-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 78 (2023)
“Finally, we must answer the call to defend the rights of individuals and give them the opportunity to contribute to the solutions that are so desperately needed. If we do not, we have failed. I am grateful for the opportunity to address the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session and to once again be reminded that the possibility for nations to come together and exchange ideas and views in a civilized manner remains the norm in international relations, and that those who break the rules are almost universally condemned. The noble aim of the Organization — to spare the world from the sorrows of war — is perhaps now more relevant than ever before. Order in the world must be restored.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Even if the challenges that we face were not created by the younger generations, and they were not created by the poor of the world, all of humankind will nevertheless have to take part in overcoming them. Whether we like it or not, and whether we deserve or not, it falls to the leaders of today and tomorrow to face our common reality. Whether we like it or not, and whether we deserve it or not, we must do that together. We must all answer the call. We must answer the call to stand with Ukraine. We must answer the call to defend the multilateral system. It is also us who must answer the call to defend our nature and fight back against climate change and combat poverty and deprivation.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Those are the values that do not accept that Mahsa Amini was beaten to death in Iran for wearing a hijab incorrectly. Let us not forget that the Russian Government is guilty of horrific abuses not only on the international scene. Brave Russians resisters to Putin’s system and the thousands who showed up on the streets of Russia earlier this week are all subject to harsh punishments, wrongful imprisonment, persecution and often worse. The almost 500-year-old short poem by John Donne that I quoted before includes another famous line. As it discusses how interconnected the world was in 1524, it reads: “and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls”, meaning that we should view it as our duty to respond to common challenges, and not look the other way or wait for others to act. We must answer the call.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“A society where people hesitate to criticize — let alone ridicule — authority, the official truth or the established narrative is not truly free. For the peoples of the world to be able to find the transformative solutions that the world so desperately needs, people must be able to challenge the status quo. They must be free to express their opinions and debate freely on even the most sensitive issues. They must also be free to create art, even if the art is distasteful. Those are the values that the defenders of Ukraine want to secure for their children. Those are the values that Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is demanding for the people of Belarus. Those values are being denied to Afghan women and girls under the Taliban regime.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The freedom of expression means that it is possible to spread lies and false information. That is a real problem that we need to address. Free societies need to become more resilient, with a strong, well-educated and well-informed public being the first and best line of defence against those who seek to manipulate with lies, conspiracy theories and hate-mongering. However, when we worry about the misuse of the freedom of expression in open societies, let us not forget that the truly terrifying misuse of information is when Governments claim a monopoly on truth. Relentless propaganda and brainwashing by official sources in corrupt Governments with evil intentions can lead to a truly terrifying result. That is what we have seen in Russia, where all forms of public debate and independent thinking have been criminalized.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“The values and principles embodied in the United Nations Charter, international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are not only important in and of themselves; they are absolutely critical if we are to harness the individual creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and innovative mindset that we so desperately need to rely on in our quest for human-made solutions to our human-made problems. Those ideals are another example of how the method of solving problems is a more pressing matter than the resolution of any individual problem. And we know that the answer to humankind’s challenges lies in the human spirit itself — if it is allowed to live out its truest potential. The job of leaders is not easy when times require sacrifices. We are all aware of the challenges that open societies face.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Too widely, we are witnessing an increase in the repression of religious and ethnic minorities, racism, anti-Semitism and violent nationalism. Autocratic tendencies and voices that seek to intensify political polarization are on the rise. Iceland remains committed to countering the regression we have witnessed in the rights of women and girls in too many places around the world. The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons across the world have either never been secured or have regressed.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Iceland aims to shoulder its responsibility, as demonstrated by the increase in official development assistance. We must also not give up on our aim of a world free of nuclear weapons. The failure to reach consensus on advancing the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons — only a month ago, in this very Hall — is further testament to the irresponsible behaviour of the Russian Federation — the lone opponent of the final document and the only State that has lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons by explicitly threatening to resort to such weapons of mass destruction. “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The world cannot afford to deny anyone the opportunity to contribute to the solutions that we collectively need.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“With new environmental challenges, along with increased awareness and scientific knowledge of the importance and vulnerability of the ocean, the time is ripe to conclude negotiations on a new agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Iceland welcomes the progress made during the negotiations last month and is determined to do its part to reach an agreement. The role of the United Nations and its institutions in these crises is therefore of the utmost importance. While the current and impending crises we are facing must be dealt with, we must not neglect the Sustainable Development Goals. The year 2030 is fast approaching, yet we are nowhere near the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Peace.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“It is our responsibility to ensure the sustainable use and health of our oceans for the benefit of all. Tackling marine pollution is a priority, in particular plastic waste, and we welcome the important steps taken in Nairobi earlier this year in that regard. Allow me also to highlight the renewed spirit that the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference, in Lisbon, brought us, including increased recognition of the importance of food from the ocean in our food systems and for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Peace. For 40 years, our constitution of the ocean, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, has served as a solid foundation for international cooperation on everything related to the oceans. It is a prime example of a diplomatic success that has stood the test of time and continues to serve us well.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Meanwhile, it will be a matter for future historians to judge if the economic sacrifices made during the pandemic were worth the benefits, or if the widespread curtailment of individual liberties that we saw, with increased social isolation, were the wisest response to the crisis. An English poem published almost 500 years ago says that no man is an island — indeed. But not only is no man an island, no country is an island — not even the countries like Iceland that are actually islands. The decisions made in one part of the world can have great consequences, intended or unintended, across the globe. Of course, that applies in particular to the oceans, which cover 70 per cent of our planet’s surface and whose waters do not respect any national boundaries. For Iceland, sustainable fisheries and a dynamic blue economy are critical.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We increased our contribution to climate financing, with a strong focus on a balanced approached to mitigation and adaptation, and we are committed to do more. There is a public health crisis in many countries. The coronavirus disease pandemic showed how fragile health-care systems really are when tested. This problem will not go away on its own, as the demographic realities of many countries paint quite a serious picture. In many places there is also a mental health crisis. The pandemic exposed many faults in the way we tackle global crises, and we will be dealing with those consequences for a long time. While rich countries were able to vaccinate their entire populations, that protection was denied to the most vulnerable in the poorer regions of the world.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Natural catastrophes linked to climate change are becoming more relentless and severe, as evidenced by the recent flooding in Pakistan and the droughts in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, for example. Iceland will continue to increase its funding for humanitarian assistance, working primarily with United Nations entities. Iceland is committed to shouldering its responsibility, as demonstrated by our increase in humanitarian and development assistance. We face a climate crisis that will not go away on its own. It is paramount that all countries make every effort to accelerate our fight towards better climate resilience. Iceland is committed to doing its part and has set ambitious targets of achieving carbon neutrality and full energy conversion no later than 2040.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Russia’s aggression must be defeated, and the crimes perpetrated in its name must be accounted for and punished. The irresponsible words of Russia’s President these past few days are a chilling reminder that giving in to bullies and rule-breakers will only encourage more bullying and further rule-breaking. For the sake of humankind, this madness must stop. The number of people who are faced with food insecurity, poverty and hunger is increasing at a terrifying rate due to the lingering effects of the pandemic and the pandemic response, armed conflict and climate change. The number of people facing acute food insecurity has soared to 345 million this year, with no end in sight.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Iceland fully supports the vision of the Secretary-General put forward in Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) on how we can revitalize our work and strengthen the multilateral system so that it can best serve future generations. Russia’s unlawful and brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine came as a shock, a rude awakening to how the world might look if the ability to destroy, rather than the capacity to create, is allowed to determine the fate of nations. The absolute and sickening brutality that Russia has shown, as evidenced in newly liberated areas, is beyond comprehension. It represents an absolute breakdown of civilization. Therefore, before I say anything else about world affairs, I will say that, for the sake of humankind, Ukraine must win.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We grew up believing that peace among nations can almost be taken for granted. Well, it cannot. However, the global system has provided an answer to the critical questions of how problems are solved. That construct is now under threat, and it is our duty as leaders, not least those of us who are young, to make sure that the fortunes of the past decades do not lead us into dangerous complacency. We must advocate for the multilateral system at every opportunity and convince the peoples of the world that, despite its flaws, it is vastly and completely superior to any other method of resolving issues and disputes between States. Of course, we must continue to reform our organization and make it more fit for purpose and more representative in order to meet growing and more complicated new challenges.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“We meet at a time when a powerful country, a permanent member of the Security Council, has decided to challenge the norms and international laws that have served the world so well since world leaders, with the horrors of two World Wars vivid in their memory, decided to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and the untold sorrow that it brings to humankind. The post-World War order has not prevented problems and conflicts from arising. Mistakes and questionable decisions have been made. The sorrows and horrors of war and conflict have indeed been a part of too many lives in too many parts of the world. But, by and large, wars of territorial expansion have simply not been allowed. In my part of the world, my generation does not hold memories of the horrors of a global war.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“And it is therefore fitting that the inscription on the gavel says “Me5 logum skal land byggja”, in Icelandic, as it was donated by Iceland to this great Organization. It means that “society shall be built on the pillars of law”. It is a quote from an ancient Icelandic text of law, and the next line elaborates with the statement that the land will indeed be desolated if lawlessness or unjust law are allowed to take hold. In the global context, we are all acutely aware, not least the smaller States, that a world not governed by rules will be a world dominated by force.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“Whether we represent a global super-Power or one of the more than 70 Member States, like mine, with less than 1 million inhabitants, in this Hall we all have the same number of seats at the table, we each have a vote and we all have a voice and the right to let it be heard from this rostrum. At the hand of the President of the General Assembly, there is a gavel — a simple wooden hammer, an instrument so light and non-threatening that it could hardly be of any use as a weapon. Nevertheless, the person who holds it can take control of the deliberations of the most powerful women and men in the world. The striking of that small hammer against a simple block of wood compels respect for the rules that the Members of the United Nations have agreed to abide by in this Hall. It is a symbol of order.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)
“I would like to start by congratulating Mr. Csaba Korosi on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventy- seventh session. I would also like to thank the Secretary- General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for his leadership, as well as those whose daily work is dedicated to the ideals of the United Nations. We meet in critical times. This Hall, the venue for so many historic events, is in and of itself a testament to some of the ideas that this Organization, one of the most important in world history, is built on. In this Hall, during this session, we are equal.”
2022-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 77 (2022)