YouSaid · the spoken record

Abesadze

lines on the record: 31
first: 2022-12-14
most recent: 2023-07-14
sittings or episodes: 5
sources: un-security-council

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

“The outrageous practice of illegal detentions is being used as an instrument of terror against one of the most vulnerable groups. International engagement and monitoring of the situation inside the conflict-affected regions, and the Russia-occupied regions of Georgia in particular, is therefore paramount for ensuring substantive gender equality and preventing sexual violence against women. The meeting rose at 6.40 p.m.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I would like to add that in October 2022, the Georgian Government adopted its most recent national action plan for the period from 2022 to 2024 on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). However, the illegal occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions by the Russian Federation remains the main obstacle to the Georgian Government’s implementation of the human rights protection framework for the women and girls who remain on the other side of the illegally erected barbed-wire fences. They are systematically subjected to human rights violations, including the denial of the right to freedom of movement, threats to their physical security for so-called illegal border crossings and illegal detentions. Recently, there has been an extremely worrisome pattern observed: an increased targeting of Georgian women.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The gender-equality strategy of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia has established the conditions needed to guarantee equal rights, freedoms and opportunities for men and women, prevent and eradicate all forms of discrimination, counter all forms of gender violence and eradicate misconduct, sexual harassment and physical and psychological mistreatment. The Georgian Ministry of Defence is also continuing its efforts to increase peacekeeping personnel’s capacity to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence, including in conflict and post-conflict situations. All personnel deployed to peacekeeping missions are familiarized with the Security Council resolutions on women and peace and security within the framework of mandatory predeployment trainings.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Furthermore, at the Conference Georgia undertook national commitments outlining steps to address conflict-related sexual violence by contributing to a strengthened global response, implementing policies and programmes to tackle the harmful gender stereotypes that drive such violence, strengthening justice for conflict-related sexual violence and supporting survivors and children born as a result of that violence. Moreover, the promotion of women’s rights and gender equality, including in the military, remains among my Government’s top priorities.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“With that in mind, the Government of Georgia joined more than 50 States at the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Conference, held in London last year, and endorsed its political declaration, aimed at urgently accelerating action to end conflict-related sexual violence, hold those responsible to account, shatter the existing culture of impunity, provide more comprehensive support to survivors and tackle stigma. I would like take this opportunity to commend the United Kingdom for the successful outcome of the Conference.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We condemn the documented cases of sexual violence and of its use as a method of torture by Russian forces and Russian-affiliated armed groups in Ukraine. Research and experience have shown that conflict- related sexual and gender-based violence is not an inevitable by-product of war. It can be prevented. Eliminating sexual violence during conflict must be a priority for the international community. It can be prevented by strengthening national and international efforts, raising awareness and ensuring justice. The Security Council’s resolutions on conflict-related sexual violence have paved the way for States to establish a firm normative framework that can address such violence as an issue of peace and security.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I would like to express our appreciation to the United Kingdom presidency for its leadership in bringing this important issue to the forefront of today’s discussions. We also thank the Secretary-General for his latest report (S/2023/413). Georgia aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the European Union earlier today, and I would like to add some comments in my national capacity. Unfortunately, sexual violence continues to be used as a strategy of warfare and a tactic of terror, shattering lives and scarring communities. It is often present in military conflicts and has an immense impact on innocent civilians. It is a horrendous crime that affects all people, although it disproportionately impacts women and girls. We are concerned about the findings of the Secretary-General’s report on violations in several countries.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Against that background, while we reiterate our commitment to the protection of children’s rights, we call on the international community to urge Russia to cease its provocative and destructive actions in the illegally occupied regions of Georgia and start to fulfil its international obligations, first and foremost, the European Union-mediated 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement. In conclusion, let me stress the critical significance of the consistent and firm stance of the international community for safeguarding children’s rights in conflict-affected areas everywhere, including the illegally occupied regions of Georgia and Ukraine, so as to ensure that no one is left behind. Georgia reiterates its readiness to contribute to international endeavours to prioritize child protection in conflict-affected areas.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that regard, let me stress that the Russian Federation — the Power exercising effective control on the ground — bears full responsibility for violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in both Russia- occupied regions of Georgia, as clearly attested by the 21 January 2021 landmark judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. This once again clearly demonstrates the urgent need of international and regional human rights monitoring mechanisms to have access to both Russian-occupied regions of Georgia.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Unfortunately, the consequences of Russia’s aggression and illegal occupation are well known to my country, Georgia. The fundamental rights of the conflict-affected children in the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia continue to be violated by the occupying Power. Among the major concerns are restrictions on the freedom of movement, access to health care and the prohibition of education in the native Georgian language in both Russia-occupied regions. Instruction in Russian language has been imposed in all Georgian schools and kindergartens, which deprives thousands of children of the right to education, since neither teachers nor children speak Russian.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We also underline the importance of joint international initiatives, such as the Safe Schools Declaration and the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. We also stress the key importance of the implementation of resolution 2601 (2021) for the protection of education in conflict. Georgia is a party to and strong supporter of all these initiatives. We are deeply concerned about the impact Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine has been having on children, who have been disproportionately affected by the conflict. In that regard, we fully share the views expressed by the observer of the European Union earlier today and align ourselves with his statement.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We support the mandate of the Special Representative and underline that upholding our commitments under international law and redoubling national and international efforts are key for effectively addressing grave violations committed against children. In that context, we welcome the international conference entitled “Protecting Children in Armed Conflict — Our Common Future”, held recently in Oslo, as well as the pledges and commitments it mobilized to better protect children in armed conflict. Georgia continues to strengthen its commitment to relevant international legal instruments, including the fulfilment of the obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its corresponding Optional Protocol.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“At the outset, I would like to express our appreciation to the presidency of the United Kingdom for putting this important topic at the forefront of today’s discussion and to thank the briefers for their presentations. Let me take this occasion to wish the best of success to the United Kingdom presidency. I would like to express special gratitude to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict for the presentation of the report (S/2023/363). We are deeply concerned about the report’s findings, particularly the continuing practice of grave violations, which include killing and maiming; the recruitment, use and abduction of children; the commission of sexual violence against them and attacks against schools or hospitals.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Moreover, let me also recall the recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 7 March 2023, which confirmed that the Abkhazia region had been under the effective control of the Russian Federation even before Russia’s August 2008 aggression against Georgia, as well as Russia’s full responsibility for human rights violations in the occupied region. In conclusion, let me reiterate our belief that sustaining peace can be achieved by Member States’ strong adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter and the presence of strong accountability. To that end, the New Agenda for Peace must rest upon reinforced commitment to the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter and better protection and realization of human rights.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Russia’s illegal occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions continues to have a heavy impact on the population living there and the territories adjacent to the occupation line. Let me once again recall that Russia’s responsibility for grave human rights violations in the Russian- occupied territories of Georgia has been clearly attested to in the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and of the International Criminal Court, which confirmed the occupation and effective control of Georgia’s regions by the Russian Federation during and after the 2008 August Russian aggression against Georgia.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We have had bitter experience in that regard, when in the aftermath of the Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Georgia in August 2008, the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia was brazenly terminated by the veto cast by the Russian Federation — a permanent member of the Security Council and a party to the conflict — thereby creating a total vacuum left by the absence of an international security presence in the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia, when it was most needed. Almost 15 years later, Russia is still in breach of its international obligations and continues to violate the European Union-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We must find ways to uphold the Charter of the United Nations, including by addressing the issue of the abuse of the right of the veto. It is our firm position that the use of the veto should be restricted when a member is involved in the conflict under consideration. That is also enshrined in the Charter, namely, Article 27, which states that in a series of specific important decisions, a “party to a dispute shall abstain from voting”.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Today multilateralism is undergoing its most challenging time since the founding of the United Nations, as the result of an attack on its founding principles by a permanent member of Security Council itself, which is entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security. Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and its continued occupation of 20 per cent of my country’s territories constitute blatant violations of the fundamental norms and principles of international law and a massive blow to European security and the entire international order. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has also been the most recent litmus test of the Council’s inability to effectively play its role in stopping wars and the consequent human suffering.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We believe that promoting peace is key to guiding our efforts towards a sustainable and resilient future, especially in the light of the continuing international tensions, wars, cybersecurity threats and the rapid spread of disinformation, coupled with the unmitigated climate change that we are witnessing worldwide. At the same time, we believe that multilateralism and respect for a rules-based international order must be the foundation of such efforts. They are key to preventing conflicts, sustaining international peace and security and ensuring sustainable development.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“At the outset, let me express our appreciation to the presidency of Switzerland for bringing this very important topic to the forefront of our discussions today. Georgia aligns itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union, and I would like to make some additional comments in my national capacity. Peace and security, together with human rights and development, are the main pillars of the work of the United Nations, and they are tightly intertwined. Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies lies at the core of progress in achieving all the other Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a whole.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that regard, Georgia, as a party to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, has been committed to making its own contribution to international efforts to combat climate change. To underpin the Paris Agreement with concrete actions, the Government of Georgia has submitted an updated nationally determined contribution to the UNFCCC. The new nationally determined contribution has new targets, as required by the Paris Agreement, to be more ambitious. We are also working on a long-term low-emission development strategy for 2050, which will plan Georgia’s long-term path towards climate change mitigation. In conclusion, let me reaffirm Georgia’s commitment to do its utmost to reduce the implications of the climate crisis for international peace and security.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that context, we welcome the increased focus of the Security Council on climate change issues by broadening its discussions on the matter, incorporating climate security language into resolutions and establishing institutional architecture, such as the Climate Security Mechanism, the Group of Friends on Climate and Security and the Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security, in order to strengthen the Security Council’s working agenda. We believe that assessments of climate-related security risks and responses to them should be further fed into the Council’s work, including as a part of United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement are the major international mechanisms for guiding global efforts in addressing climate change.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As the tremendously fast-growing climate-security nexus increasingly influences the global peace and security context, addressing climate-related consequences and future risks has become a matter of global urgency and can be addressed only through joint and resolute action. We believe that addressing the security impacts of climate change should be at the core of the Security Council’s conflict prevention agenda and should become a subject of in-depth analyses.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Rising sea levels caused by global climate change increasingly put coastal and island communities under strain, in some cases threatening their very existence. Climate and weather extremes create risks of uncertainty and instability, including increasingly at the regional and international levels, driving displacement in all regions, with small island States disproportionately affected. Flood- and drought-related acute food insecurity and malnutrition are on the rise in many countries. What is even more worrisome is that the risks posed by sea level rise to coastal ecosystems and populations are likely to increase tenfold well before the end of this century, if the adaptation and mitigation action agreed by the parties to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change are not implemented.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“At the outset, let me express our appreciation to the presidency of Malta for convening this open debate on an important issue. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly and the other briefers for their comprehensive inputs. Georgia aligns itself with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union, and I would like to make some additional comments in my national capacity. The relationship between climate change and peace and security is a complex one. Unfortunately, climate-change-related security risks have already become an everyday reality for many around the globe. According to the World Meteorological Organization’s report, WMO Provisional State of the Global Climate 2022, extreme heatwaves, drought and devastating flooding affected millions and cost billions last year.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Only by upholding the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law can we deliver on our pledge to maintain peace and security and pave the way for the realization of human rights and sustainable development.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Let me recall the decision of the European Court of Human Rights, which legally attested Russia’s occupation and effective control over the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia and found Russia responsible for violations on the grounds of the norms of international law, including a number of articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. Multilateralism works when the members of the international community abide by common rules and principles. In our view, a new orientation for multilateralism means recommitting to ensuring a peaceful world based on international law, with the United Nations Charter at its core, better protection of human rights and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Now, almost 15 years after Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Georgia, Russia is not fulfilling its international commitments and continues to violate the European Union-mediated 12 August 2008 ceasefire agreement. Russia’s illegal occupation of the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia continues to have a severe impact on the population living therein and in areas adjacent to the occupation line. Both regions remain heavily militarized, with full-fledged Russian military bases. Russia’s ongoing steps towards the de facto annexation of those Georgian regions through gradually dragging them into its military, political, economic, social and legal system further aggravate the situation. Let me also underline that to this very day, even international human rights mechanisms are not allowed to enter the occupied regions.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In 2009, the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia was brazenly terminated by the veto cast by the permanent member of the Security Council and a party to the conflict, the Russian Federation, thus creating a total vacuum of any international security presence in the Russia-occupied territories of Georgia when it was most needed. After years, Ukraine also fell victim to the very same aggressor. These blatant violations of fundamental norms and principles of international law and this disregard for the territorial integrity of sovereign States have been a massive blow to European security and the entire international order.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The discussion in the framework of the intergovernmental negotiations has run long, and Georgia has been actively engaged in it. Without going into details on the elements of Security Council reform, let me once again underline the necessity of upholding the principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations in general, and in Article 27 in particular, stating that in a series of specific important decisions “a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting”. Back in 2008, Georgia also experienced the inability of the Security Council to adequately address Russia’s aggression against Georgia.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We thank the presidency of India for convening today’s open debate. The Security Council has the primary responsibility, under the Charter of the United Nations, for the maintenance of international peace and security. However, the dramatic developments of the current year have put in question the ability of the Security Council to effectively fulfil its primary purpose by failing in its attempts to pass Council resolutions to stop Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, owing to the destructive actions by the Russian Federation. Today, as never before, it has become obvious that there is a need for reinvigorated action to make sure that the Council lives up to its raison d’être — the maintenance of international peace and security.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220Resumption1 (2022) · source