YouSaid · the spoken record

Ahmed

lines on the record: 210
first: 2000-01-31
most recent: 2023-02-02
sittings or episodes: 29
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

“Its obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention will not be met as the situation currently stands. Donors have prioritized clearance and risk education over victim assistance. The Government of Iraq should be funding mine action in a transparent manner with a focus on NGOs. Generally, donor funding is decreasing and is being allocated one-sidedly to international agencies, with only limited investment in Iraqi civil-society organizations. We urge donors to break the taboos of engaging, funding and dealing directly with national NGOs. There is no reason why they should not use direct channels with local partners and listen to those partners before, during and after projects are implemented. More efforts need to made towards localization.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“It must first and foremost be about local ownership and empowerment to ensure a better internal balance of power between civil society and the State, on the one hand, and a better balance of power externally between national organizations, the United Nations and the international NGO community, on the other. We urgently need to transform planning, programme design and funding modalities if we are to ensure a genuine commitment to localization. Localization must exist within and be enabled by both the strategic and operational contexts, and greater effort must be made to understand the premises for localization and ensure that strategic factors are fully integrated. In conclusion, Iraq remains one of the most contaminated countries in the world.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“And civil society remains the best way to ensure local ownership and involvement in an increasingly political world that all too often marginalizes and disenfranchises large swaths of the population. Giving support and empowerment to that structure contributes to maintaining a functional democratic system, holding the State accountable, supporting the Government in providing services, representing local constituents and ensuring the sustainability of local capacities. Localization is not just about making the humanitarian system as local as possible and as international as necessary.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“My organization, for instance, an Iraqi NGO, created the world’s first bilingual electronic application for explosive-ordnance risk education. During the COVID-19 response period, the Iraqi Health and Social Care Organization worked to adapt risk education techniques and methodologies to reach beneficiaries safely without physical contact. We also developed and implemented multiple levels of community-based initiatives to which children, young people and adults of both genders have been contributing to keep their communities safe. Those innovative experiences have been shared with stakeholders on various platforms inside and outside Iraq, and national and international NGOs have followed suit. Non-governmental organizations are integral components of civil society.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“After the 2003 terrorist attacks on the United Nations compound and the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Baghdad, United Nations agencies and the vast majority of international NGOs had to leave Iraq for security reasons. That created a big vacuum during a critical period in Iraq’s history. National NGOs, although they were fledgling institutions during that period, had to step up and try to bridge the gaps. In mine action, national organizations will continue to add significant value from various angles, including but not limited to a better understanding of the country’s cultural, sociopolitical and bureaucratic structures and dynamics; the ability to implement projects cost- effectively; sustainable knowledge and capacity; and the capacity for innovation.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“Before the ISIL crisis, only two or three international NGOs were accredited for mine action in Iraq, but since 2018, with donor money pouring into liberated areas, there has been an influx of international NGO registrations and accreditations with the federal Government. It is understandable that international NGOs come and go based on external factors, including donor strategies and supply and demand in terms of availability of funds, as well as because of internal factors such as legal and bureaucratic issues or security implications. Meanwhile, local NGOs are destined to remain in the country.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“However, capacity-building projects cannot be limited to two or three years only, as they require a complete learning and development process that must be adequately funded. Developing local mine-action capacities is a longer and continuing journey, not merely a destination. Globally, humanitarian funding provided to local actors was 3.8 per cent in 2019 and 4.7 per cent in 2020, but it fell to only 2 per cent in 2021, while the Grand Bargain target is 25 per cent. So there is a stark gap between the localization rhetoric and practice that must be addressed. The number of Iraqi operative mine-action NGOs is less than 25 per cent of the number of the operative international NGO counterparts and commercial options.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“And Iraq’s national budget lacks allocations for funding operational mine-action programmes. All of those factors have contributed to Iraq falling off the donors’ radar, and mine-action operators have been suffering from that steep drop in donor funding. National NGOs have been hit the hardest, with their very survival at stake. The drop in support is detrimental to the international community’s efforts to promote localization and live up to commitments under the Grand Bargain and the Charter for Change. The United Nations Mine Action Service has been leading the localization agenda in mine action in Iraq through a model that brings together international NGOs with national NGOs to facilitate the transfer of the knowledge and skills that national NGOs need to operate as independent humanitarian mine-action operators.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“Other crises have emerged globally in Europe, Africa and Asia. New global thematic issues related to climate change and environmental challenges are clear and have prompted donors to redirect funds to those priority areas. It is also true that according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s list, Iraq is an upper-middle-income country, and that it has accumulated unprecedented revenues in the wake of the spike in oil prices. But corruption, disparity, unequal distribution and high poverty rates persist nevertheless. According to Iraq’s Ministry of Planning, the poverty rate has increased from 20 per cent in 2019 and 2020 to 25 per cent in 2022. Children have been hit the hardest, with 38 per cent of them living below the poverty line.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“Recently, mine-action operators have not been the only ones suffering due to newly added demands for tax-clearance documentation as a prerequisite for the reissuance of access letters, as wider humanitarian work is also at or nearing a standstill. Ad hoc decisions and rules are issued by different Government entities and take immediate effect without any buffer period. After the ISIL crisis, the donor community generously provided significant emergency funding in the liberated areas. Lately, however, the dwindling of international donor funds has been evident, due to various factors, and is posing a serious threat to the continuation and sustainability of efforts initiated and capacities developed in the post-ISIL era. The fact is that donor Governments have new internal priorities in the post-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“It is acknowledged that various Iraqi authorities are working to facilitate the mine-action operations implemented by organizations, but challenges still exist. The accreditation and accreditation renewal processes are very lengthy and can have further implications by interrupting the implementation of operations and hampering the ability to reach project objectives, with a consequent waste of resources. Access permissions issued by the authorities for mine-action organizations to operate in the task areas are another challenge. Access letters issued by the Government are valid only for 30 days, which is not practical. Organizations have to start the process all over again on a monthly basis, adding stress and administrative burdens, and new requests by the authorities for additional documentation are piling up.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“At this stage, it will be crucial to rethink the planning and implementation of such programmes by donors and mine-action operators by including victim-assistance components to be aligned with the national mine-action strategy. It is worth noting that the Iraqi Government’s Directorate for Mine Action, with the support of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, has developed a 2022–2028 strategic plan and a relevant 2022–2023 implementation plan, in consultation with stakeholders. However, the plans completed in mid-2022 still have to be endorsed by the Government of Iraq in order to be activated, and the process in that regard is slow. Iraq is not expected to meet its Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention obligations by the 2028 target because of the slow rate of clearance.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“There has been much progress in the mitigation processes, with many notable achievements in terms of surveying and clearing critical infrastructure, providing risk education to millions of Iraqis and integrating explosive-ordnance risk education into the national educational curriculum. There are nonetheless still some shortcomings that have been identified and that demand stakeholders’ attention and efforts. Assistance for victims and their family members through various medical and health services, physical rehabilitation, socioeconomic integration and the empowerment of victims are generally not considered by mine-action programmes in Iraq.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“According to the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, by the end of 2022 approximately 1.2 million people were still displaced across Iraq, and they are returning at a very slow rate. Around 13 per cent of IDPs noted that they could not return to their areas of origin due to explosive-ordnance contamination. Meanwhile, that contamination often results in secondary displacement and the occupation of other people’s property. International donors, the United Nations, the Government of Iraq, national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector have joined forces to mitigate the negative humanitarian and socioeconomic impact of explosive hazards. Search-and-clearance efforts, explosive-ordnance risk education and victim- assistance activities have been conducted.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“Four children between the ages of eight and nine went out that Friday afternoon to play near a historical shrine on the outskirts of their village. They encountered a metal object that they tampered with and that subsequently exploded when they threw stones at it. That tragic incident claimed the lives of three of the children and injured the fourth. That sad accident is not unique, as dozens of other different occasions have led to fatalities and physical implications for civilians. Explosive-ordnance contamination impedes normal daily life, socioeconomic activities, stabilization efforts, reconstruction, development and the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homelands. Explosive-hazard contamination blocks housing, roads, agriculture, irrigation, industry and infrastructure in general.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“Mr. Ahmed: Iraq is one of the most explosive-ordnance-contaminated countries in the world. The contamination consists of large volumes of different types of both recorded and unquantified explosive remnants of war throughout the country. It is a result of successive wars and conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq war, the Gulf wars and the latest conflict with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), when a new era of unprecedented types of improvised explosive devices emerged. Large civilian areas suffered both from fighting on the ground and from aerial bombing. Explosive-ordnance contamination remains an obstacle to people’s safe and dignified return. It is a huge threat to people’s lives and causes disabilities. Its latest victims were some children in Nineveh on 16 December 2022.”
2023-02-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9253 (2023) · source
“Hence, we emphasize the importance of taking practical steps to ensure that the role played by our Organization continues to be effective and to keep the Organization as a collective forum for the maintenance of peace and security for humankind while meeting the needs of our people for a decent life.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“In that regard, during its current presidency of the African Union, Egypt has worked to enhance the relationship between the African Union and the United Nations regarding peace and security while building on the comparative advantages of each of them. Sixthly, a genuine reform of the Security Council cannot be based on piecemeal or phased solutions; rather, it should work to end the historic injustice against the African continent. Egypt adheres to the Ezulwini Consensus, which calls for the abolishment of the veto or bestowing that right on new permanent members of the Council to address the structural imbalance in the work of the Council. In conclusion, Egypt understands that the United Nations and its Charter are at a critical crossroads.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Fourthly, serious steps should be taken to achieve sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The capabilities of developing countries have to be boosted in order to access funds from the private sector. Underdevelopment remains the main driver of conflicts. Addressing disputes requires an approach to manage different stages of conflict, from peacebuilding to sustaining peace. Serious steps must be taken to prevent proliferation and achieve nuclear disarmament. Fifthly, relations between the Security Council and regional organizations must be strengthened in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“We cannot continue to stand idly by and watch events of external intervention unfold in Libya and Syria without taking action. In that regard, I underscore what the Secretary-General said earlier in his statement with regard to the commitments of States under Article 25 of the Charter. Secondly, States should cooperate in accordance with the principles of the Charter pertaining to good neighbourliness, the peaceful settlement of disputes, mediation with sincere intentions and mediation encouraged by the international community in various disputes. Thirdly, international coordination must be enhanced through United Nations frameworks in the fight against terrorism, as well as intelligence-sharing in that regard, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Fifthly, we need to review the effectiveness of certain weak implementation tools, particularly those pertaining to sustainable development and the comprehensive concepts of peacekeeping and peacebuilding, while respecting the sovereignty of States. In the light of all those challenges, in order to prevent the United Nations from serving as “a crisis baby-sitter”, in the words of the Secretary-General during the debate on this issue in February 2018 (S/PV.8185, p. 3), Egypt stresses the following. First, the Security Council and other United Nations entities need to shoulder their responsibilities, stand firmly against violations of international resolutions and refuse to tolerate States that sponsor terrorism and violate international resolutions.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Thirdly, the Security Council rushes to use Chapter VII instead of Chapter VI of the Charter, which calls for taking pre-emptive and preventive diplomatic steps and for activating the role of the International Court of Justice, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 36, on the referral of disputes of a legal nature to the Court, in addition to Article 96, on requesting an advisory opinion from the Court. Fourthly, there is a contradiction in the use of the Charter. On the one hand, it stresses the principle of equality among all States, while on the other hand it affords only five States the right of veto, thereby creating a fundamental imbalance in the effectiveness and credibility of the Council and the United Nations in many situations.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“In the Middle East, we see the systematic violation by some of internationally recognized resolutions. The most recent example involves the two memorandums of understanding signed between the Government of Turkey and the Head of the Government of National Accord in Tripoli on 27 November 2019. That is an obvious violation of internationally recognized resolutions, in particular resolution 1970 (2011). Secondly, the use of double standards prevails inside the Organization, in particular with regard to the Palestinian question. Egypt stresses that this question is at the root of all the turbulence in the Middle East. Finding a just and lasting settlement to the Palestinian question, based on international resolutions, would address the main reasons underlying instability in the Middle East.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“In that context, we are currently working to reach an agreement on the rules of operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and we appreciate the role of the United States and the World Bank in negotiations to that end. With regard to the internal challenges facing the Charter, we can encapsulate them in the following related and overlapping points. The first relates to the commitment of States to implementing the Charter, its principles and the international resolutions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the International Court of Justice. Egypt has had an excellent track record of commitment to such resolutions over 75 years, which demonstrates that we uphold our obligations under the Charter. That is not, however, the case for everyone.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Our world today faces challenges of terrorism and extremism that do not differentiate between religions and races while supported and financed by certain States for political purposes. We are also faced by other challenges as some work to dismantle State institutions and plunge others into a morass of identity conflicts. Regrettably, the situation in the Middle East is a case in point reflecting these two challenges, and in particular the situations in Syria, Libya and Yemen. We also face challenges related to climate change, water scarcity and cooperation on the use of transboundary water resources. Addressing such issues requires cooperation and coordination among all States, as they have serious negative repercussions on various regions and must be dealt with.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“The Charter stresses the principles of sovereignty, non-interference in the internal affairs of others, good-neighbourliness, the non-use of force and the peaceful settlement of disputes, all of which serve as the foundations for stable relations among States. Without them, international systems cannot function properly, as evidenced by the many crises that are plaguing our world owing to non-respect for the principles of the Charter. Concerning the challenges, there are internal ones emanating from the Charter and obstructing its implementation, and there are external emerging challenges, owing to the fact that it was adopted 75 years ago. With regard to the emerging challenges, the Charter faces a new and different reality from that of the time of its adoption in the aftermath of the Second World War.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“This meeting comes at a critical time, as we commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the adoption of the Charter. We are proud that Egypt was one of the States that contributed to the drafting of the Charter. This critical moment requires us to scrutinize the successes of and the challenges facing the Charter, while seeking the means to ensure that the United Nations and the Charter meet present and future needs. We should like to address those points in this statement. With regard to successes, Egypt believes that the Charter is well established due to its principles, which represent firm international rules of coexistence that cannot be undone or questioned.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Mr. Ahmed (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, let me congratulate the newly elected members of the Security Council and wish them every success. In particular, I congratulate Viet Nam on assuming the presidency of the Council for this month. We are confident that it will lead the work of the Council wisely and competently. I would like also to convey the greetings of the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Mr. Sameh Shokry, to his Excellency Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam. We thank him for his kind invitation to let us participate in this important discussion. Our Minister was unable to attend this meeting owing to an urgent prior engagement.”
2020-01-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8699 (2020) · source
“Egypt would like to take this opportunity to call on all Member States to ensure that during the current session of the General Assembly we can extend UNRWA's mandate for three years, thereby enabling it to continue to play its important humanitarian role. Egypt once again stresses that the international community, as embodied by the Security Council, must shoulder its responsibility, end the suffering of the Palestinian people and resolve the Palestinian question by implementing the relevant Council and General Assembly resolutions. We cannot achieve security and stability in the Middle East without finding a solution to the Palestinian question and ending the suffering of the Palestinian people.”
2019-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8648 (2019) · source
“Egypt is still hopeful that ajust and comprehensive solution can be found to the Palestinian question, ending the suffering of our brother Palestinian people and fulfilling their long-awaited desire to establish an independent State based on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Until then, we call on the international community, especially donor countries, to continue lending their support by backing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The Agency plays a vital role in providing basic services to Palestinian refugees, which is why we should all support it.”
2019-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8648 (2019) · source
“We are working to maintain calm and stability in the Gaza Strip and to create conditions conducive to intra-Palestinian reconciliation. Here we should not fail to mention the Israeli practices that are aimed at altering the historical and legal status of East Jerusalem, which is of profound significance to the Islamic and Arab worlds. There have been repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The continuing Israeli practices violate the rights of the Palestinian people as well as all the relevant United Nations and Security Council resolutions. Such practices contribute greatly to destabilizing the region and encouraging the dissemination of terrorism and extremist ideology in the absence of a just solution to the Palestinian question.”
2019-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8648 (2019) · source
“Egypt is concerned about Israel's announcement that it intends to annex territories in the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea area, in addition to its announcement that it will construct new housing units as part of its expansionist settlement activities, all of which undermines the possibility of a two-State solution and contravenes Security Council resolutions, especially resolution 2334 (2016). Israel's continued blockade of the Gaza Strip and closure of all the crossings between Israel and Gaza has led to deteriorating living standards for Palestinian citizens and a decline in or even prevention of the provision ofbasic services to them. Egypt is committed to assisting its Palestinian brothers and alleviating their suffering.”
2019-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8648 (2019) · source
“Egypt has always stressed that we cannot achieve stability and security in the Middle East without a just and durable solution to the Palestinian question that will fulfil the aspirations ofthe Palestinian people to establish an independent State within the borders of 4 June 1967 and with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, as well as other terms of reference, particularly the Arab Peace Initiative, which Egypt still considers a viable basis for a solution to the Palestinian question.”
2019-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8648 (2019) · source
“Mr. Ahmed (Egypt) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, Mr. President, I would like to congratulate you on your brotherly country's successful presidency of the Council this month. I also want to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, for his briefing. We are meeting today as the security and stability of the Middle East continue to deteriorate, thanks to the various crises afflicting the region, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories, with the situation in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem worsening owing to the practices and policies of the Israeli occupation, as has been described in reports of the United Nations and the relevant international organizations.”
2019-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8648 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the determination of the Government of the Sudan to cooperate with the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and all partners to reach a lasting and comprehensive solution leading to security and stability for Abyei and the region, while giving the people of Abyei the opportunity to live the decent life that they deserve. We also assert our full readiness for and openness to any initiative aimed at reaching our main objective: resolving the final status of Abyei. I would also like to thank all those who contributed to facilitating the work of UNISFA, particularly the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the African Union Commission and the United Nations.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to the agreements of 27 September 2012 and to the immediate reopening of the Kosti-Renk crossing point. The Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism also held a meeting and issued a full description of the border areas agreed upon by the two countries, and it agreed to meet again to complete its work on disputed and claimed areas. I would like to reaffirm the importance of the Security Council considering these important developments when extending the mandate of UNISFA next month. It is also important for the upcoming mandate to support the positive developments between the two countries, leading to the final status of Abyei, free of any measure that could undermine these developments and efforts on the ground.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“These endeavours are in the interest of the two fraternal peoples and will lead to strengthening cooperation between the two countries, which could represent a solid basis for seeking a solution for Abyei through the implementation of previous agreements. Several meetings were held recently at which joint bodies and commissions between the Sudan and South Sudan addressed pending issues concerning Abyei. The Joint Political and Security Mechanism in Juba held its meeting earlier this month and discussed measures that were implemented in order to establish joint administrative mechanisms and to evacuate both forces from the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone, as well as complete the opening of border crossing points.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“We have gathered here today to discuss the situation in Abyei in the light of recent significant changes in the Sudan followed by a major change in the relationship between the two countries, particularly in the context of the mediation of the Sudan between the parties to the conflict in South Sudan and the fact that the Sudan hosted the negotiations that led to the signing of the peace agreement. Negotiations began recently between the Sudanese parties to achieve peace in the Sudan, sponsored and hosted by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan. This round of talks led to important and positive results that strengthened the chances of reaching a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace. The efforts of the two countries - the Sudan and South Sudan - to assist each other in achieving peace and stability must be supported.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“I want to stress once again that the Agreement of 20 June 2011, on temporary arrangements for the administration and security of the Abyei area, is the basis for a comprehensive settlement of the final status of Abyei. The agreement stated that no change would be made concerning what has been agreed upon without the approval of the three signatory parties: the Government of the Sudan, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. UNISFA is a security force in nature. It was deployed to carry out specific functions for an interim period, as agreed by all parties and as ratified by the Council, taking into consideration that Abyei is part of Sudanese territory and that the Sudan has full sovereignty thereover, pursuant to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“Mr. Ahmed (Sudan) (spoke in Arabic): At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to Mr. Lacroix and Mr. Onanga-Anyanga for their comprehensive briefings. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2019/817). I take this opportunity to reiterate the full commitment of my country to cooperating with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), so that it can implement its mandate pursuant to resolution 1990 (2011) and subsequent resolutions and carry out its functions in a way that contributes to strengthening security and stability in Abyei and along the border between the two countries.”
2019-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8644 (2019) · source
“Thirdly, I would like to urge United Nations States Members to develop proactive, forward-looking youth policies that catalyse young people's positive leadership for peace rather than seek to contain them. We, as young people, can contribute to positive change in our communities, and many of us already are. Recognize that and provide us with the space to define and shape the agenda, and then work with us to implement policies in ways that build trust among Governments, security actors and young people, which the Council is meant to serve and protect. In conclusion, I would like to underline that we young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, we are already leaders now. We are ready and able to shoulder our responsibilities for a more prosperous, peaceful and just world.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“We are encouraged by the continental leadership on that agenda, but the outreach must be intensified so that more young people across Africa can be engaged, including youth who are most marginalized from policy conversations yet most need to know about and employ that agenda. I also see a critical role for the African Union in supporting member States to integrate the youth, peace and security agenda in national youth policies and development plans and to create spaces for member States and a range of young people to exchange on best practices on how to best operationalize resolution 2250 (2015) in a way that genuinely has the potential to reach places like Eastleigh.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“Having said that, I would like to urge the Council, and the United Nations system in general, to explore more innovative ways of engaging with young people. I would, for instance, welcome a Visit from the Council to Eastleigh for it to see first-hand the work of the many young people who are not a threat or a problem but part of the solutions that the Council is seeking. Secondly, given that African Union flagship projects are also at the centre of today's debate, I would like to urge the African Union to continue to strengthen its recent efforts on the Youth4Peace programme.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“As I conclude my remarks, let me share three recommendations that I believe would help me and fellow young peacebuilders to better advance the objectives of resolutions 2250 (2015) and 2419 (2018), as well as the Vision outlined in the African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps for Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020. First, the United Nations should create further opportunities for additional and more diverse young people to engage in higher-level United Nations processes involving key decision-makers, including the Security Council. Having youth briefers here today is a testament to how the Council is living up to the intention in resolution 2419 (2018) to have youth representatives brief the Council.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“A second challenge we need to address is the fact that engagement in peace processes and peace work have largely been the exclusive domain of older, male generations. When young people are involved and brought to the table, it is often tokenistic, and our needs and interests are often reduced to issues of education and employment, when, actually, we have diverse needs as young people, as well as the capacity to contribute to the biggest challenges facing our community and world, not just to so-called youth issues. While we face these deep-rooted obstacles to our meaningful inclusion, many of us persist and continue to make the most of the resources we possess to make positive contributions.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“Urban violence is often not prioritized as a peacebuilding challenge; where I come from, it is seen more as an issue of crime and gangs that can be tackled only through a hard security approach. If we are to truly silence the guns in Africa by 2020, we need to really catch up with the reality that 82 per cent of lethal violence actually occurs outside of conflict zones, with much of it concentrated in urban settings, including the area where I am from. As more than half of the global population now lives in urban areas and the African continent is regarded as the world's fastest urbanizing region, we will need to better understand the changing face of conflict and the interlinked forms and expressions of violence. We need to invest in more youth-led urban peacebuilding going forward.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“Thirdly, many youth have discovered an alternative to crime and been inspired to see their potential, start businesses, go back to school and initiate community projects. Others, like me and my friend Ken, have launched a community initiative called Naweza, which means "I can". The relationship between the police and the community has tremendously improved. For instance, I can now freely call the head of police in my area and share critical information on matters related to community safety. In the past the police were always seen as enemies. Let me now share two major challenges for us young peacebuilders seeking to advance peace in places like Eastleigh. One major challenge that I see is how the world understands what constitutes a peace and security challenge.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“Through dialogue we are able to overcome our stereotypes of one another and use non-violent approaches to reduce and prevent urban violence. During my time engaging in that process I have seen a lot of changes in my community. I will share some examples. First, young men, and especially young women, who previously lacked confidence to speak in public found a safe space to speak up, articulate issues and lead community dialogues. Secondly, stereotypes and perceptions among youth are changing. Before the dialogues, we did not know each other and had all kinds of negative ideas and perceptions. Now we have become friends and recognize that stereotypes unnecessarily disconnect human beings and put up huge walls between us.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“Last year I became a youth moderator for an initiative pioneered by the Life and Peace Institute in Kenya that focuses on sustained dialogue. It is called Tubonge Mtaani, which in our local slang, Sheng, means "Let's talk in our neighbourhoods". Sustained dialogue aims to build relationships among divided communities. Through these youth-led efforts, we share our stories and become empowered to actively address issues together in our neighbourhoods. There is little trust between communities and the police in my area, so spaces are also offered to bring community and police together in order to begin to better understand one another and to discuss challenges in our areas and what we need to do to address them. The work is both simple and complex, but very effective in building bridges.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source
“All of this was done at great risk to our own safety. When the Government halted the operation some months later, we felt that we had made a contribution. From then on I started actively engaging in our area. I decided to train fellow youth on life skills and I hosted talent shows to promote youth talents and peace by bringing together the community. I wanted to show that there was an urgent need to unite the community because the operation caused divisions and a lot of suspicion. I got fired up, recognizing the fact that as young people in Eastleigh we had to do much of the work ourselves. I decided to run for member of the county assembly in 2017, but, unfortunately, I was unsuccessful. Still, I was not deterred.”
2019-10-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8629 (2019) · source