YouSaid · the spoken record

Allen

lines on the record: 1,072
first: 2017-08-15
most recent: 2020-12-07
sittings or episodes: 159
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

“We welcome the steps taken by the Government of Mali to re-establish a State presence by the integrated security plan for the centre. However, in order to ensure that the root causes of instability in the centre are sustainably addressed and enable MINUSMA to provide complementary support, the United Kingdom encourages the Government to also develop a comprehensive political strategy for the centre. The human rights situation remains concerning. However, the United Kingdom welcomes the progress that has been made in the prosecution of members of the Malian defence and security forces who have been accused ofperpetrating human rights violations. In order to increase the people's confidence in those defence forces, it is critical to thoroughly investigate all human rights violations and ensure justice and accountability.”
2019-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8445 (2019) · source
“Turning to the situation on the ground, we recognize the challenging circumstances in which the Malian Government and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) operate. The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns recent attacks against MINUSMA personnel and supporting contractors. We express our condolences to the families of those who have tragically lost their lives, and we thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and all of his staff for their important work in very Challenging circumstances. The United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the large numbers of civilians who continue to be affected by targeted terrorist attacks and intercommunal clashes, particularly in the centre of Mali.”
2019-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8445 (2019) · source
“As Assistant Secretary-General Keita recalled and the parties to the agreement will recall, the Security Council decided last month to place three individuals on the sanctions list compiled by the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017) for impeding the peace process. The parties will also recall our expressed readiness to take further such measures if needed. The United Kingdom therefore reiterates its previous calls on the Government of Mali, the Platform coalition of armed groups and the Coordination des mouvements de l'Azawad to redouble their efforts and take the additional steps needed for the immediate implementation of the agreement. As Assistant Secretary-General Keita said, there is impatience around the table concerning the missed milestones that we have heard about meeting after meeting in the Council.”
2019-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8445 (2019) · source
“For example, as noted in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/1174), progress is being made to establish 10 district-level interim administrations, but steps must now be taken to operationalize those interim administrations. Of the 72 civil administrators appointed in June last year, only 7, we understand, have been deployed to their duty stations. It has been three and a half years since the agreement was signed. Timelines in the March 2018 road map have passed unfulfilled. We are encouraged by the Government's plans for 2019, and we hope that those will be successful so that the Malian people can enjoy a more peaceful and prosperous future.”
2019-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8445 (2019) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes recent progress, notably the launching of the accelerated disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and the establishment of a working group on the participation of women in the peace process. We welcome the efforts of the Malian Prime Minister in support of the implementation of the agreement, including the establishment of a new Ministry. Those developments are welcome and underscore the genuine importance that the Government attaches to the process. Having heard the Minister speak with passion and conviction, I know that she is also personally committed. However, there must be considerable and rapid further action in order to achieve the full implementation committed to by all parties to the agreement.”
2019-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8445 (2019) · source
“Let me thank Assistant Secretary-General Keita for her briefing and wish her well in her new role, as this is the first time that I have seen her since she took it up. I also welcome the presence of Her Excellency Foreign Minister Camara in the Security Council. I will focus largely on the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali in my statement. The year 2018 saw renewed commitments by the Government of Mali and the signatory armed groups to the expedited and full implementation of the 2015 agreement. In March, we saw the parties commit to a road map for the implementation of priority actions. In October, the Pact for Peace was signed, recommitting to the swift and inclusive implementation of the agreement.”
2019-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8445 (2019) · source
“We are increasing our staffing and expertise on tackling organized crime in the region and are working with our partners in the region to counter trafficking and strengthen the rule of law and border security, as well as supporting development and the provision of services. There is no silver bullet to ending drug trafficking and organized crime in West Africa or, indeed, anywhere else. It will take a comprehensive approach by the States in the region, holistically supported by the United Nations family and its international partners. We welcome the renewed focus on criminality brought by you, Mr. President, in calling today's meeting, and we stand ready to assist all countries suffering from this insidious threat, as we ourselves suffer too.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8433 (2018) · source
“I agree very much with those around the table who have talked about the importance of considering the issue holistically within the prevention and peacebuilding setting. We should note and welcome the efforts in the region, in particular the work of the Group of Five for the Sahel, for greater stability and in tackling terrorism. We also need to support the Economic Community of West African States; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr. Chambas; and the excellent efforts of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, as well as those initiatives that address the drivers of instability, including, of course, climate change, poverty, marginalization and corruption. The United Kingdom is playing its part.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8433 (2018) · source
“Drug trafficking is one form ofthat challenge, but we saw the same argument convincingly made in resolutions 2331 (2016) and 2388 (2017) on the trafficking of people. As we have heard today, that has unfortunately been the case in the West African region, which, as UNODC has outlined, has become a significant consumption and transit zone for heroin and cocaine, enabling flows towards destination markets. The money and the Violence that accompany that trade have devastating consequences. As I have said, drug trafficking can be both a means by which armed groups raise funds but also a source of conflict in themselves. Criminal gangs can corrupt and weaken a State at just the time that a strong State with strong institutions is needed to prevent conflict.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8433 (2018) · source
“Indeed, it is quite frequent and common that, in their early stages, terrorist groups rely upon income from organized crime. Sadly, West Africa has been affected by those issues in recent years and we have seen that it is marginalized groups - be they children, women or minority ethnic groups - that often suffer the most. The impact of such criminality is not only felt by individuals; it is felt in communities and by States. It undermines the rule of law, human rights and the ability of States to provide services and pursue the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for all of their citizens. Cross-border criminal networks, smuggling and trafficking goods and people across State jurisdiction can also constitute a threat to international peace and security.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8433 (2018) · source
“May I say, at the outset, how much we welcome Cote d'Ivoire's initiative to bring this issue back to the Council's agenda, which I think we last considered in 2013. It is a timely moment to look at it. May I also welcome the briefing by Mr. Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and thank UNODC for its efforts in that area, including, of course, through its Regional Programme for West Africa. Conflict, corruption and ungoverned spaces all allow criminality to flourish. It can take many forms and includes the trafficking of drugs, but not only drugs. It includes the trafficking of people and of weapons. Organized criminal networks can also support and facilitate the emergence and operations of terrorist groups.”
2018-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8433 (2018) · source
“To make a reality of their hopes for peace and progress, their leaders will need to demonstrate their commitment and will to implement the agreement. This includes putting the mechanisms for peace in place, including finalizing the transitional security arrangements and forming the revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, as highlighted by the Secretary-General. It must also include putting an end to the fighting completely; prioritizing protection from violence, including sexual violence, for the people of South Sudan; pursuing accountability for those that commit violations; and enabling unhindered access to the delivery of humanitarian assistance for all those in need and for human rights and Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism monitors, who were blocked several times in November.”
2018-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8431 (2018) · source
“We reiterate our call on the region to engage fully with the United Nations and the members of the Security Council on any proposal to deploy troops in support of the Agreement. I would echo the comments made by the Secretary- General in his report (S/2018/1103) that any deployment of troops by the region in support of the deal cannot compensate for the lack of political action by the South Sudanese on security issues. We support the comments made by Under-Secretary-General Lacroix during our most recent meeting (see S/PV.8403) that any forces deployed to support would need to be under a unified United Nations chain of command and comply with United Nations peacekeeping standards. In conclusion, I hope that we can look to 2019 with optimism for the people of South Sudan.”
2018-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8431 (2018) · source
“It is absolutely vital that free and unhindered access be granted. However, restrictions continue. A total of 52 access incidents were reported in November; 39 per cent of these involved violence against humanitarian personnel and assets, more than a third caused by State groups. We call on the leaders of South Sudan to allow humanitarian work to proceed unencumbered by threat or hindrance in 2019. Our partners in the region have been key to the progress seen in 2018. We applaud the role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and its members in this respect and urge continued engagement, as it is essential to helping ensure that this latest Agreement delivers a lasting peace.”
2018-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8431 (2018) · source
“Like Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten, we urge that the hybrid court be established as soon as possible. The Council, for its part, should continue to maintain the pressure on those who act against peace in South Sudan and end the culture of impunity that has endured for too long. All Member States should uphold in full the sanctions in place already as a clear message that those who work against peace will not succeed. In that light, I welcome the briefing delivered by Ambassador Wronecka and her activism over the past year. Despite the commitments made in the 12 September peace deal, humanitarian workers continue to face obstruction to the delivery of aid by all sides. The 2019 humanitarian response plan released last week highlights the fact that 7.1 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2019.”
2018-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8431 (2018) · source
“The Council has made clear its revulsion at the acts of rape and brutalization of women and girls reported near Bentiu last month and set out so movingly by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten in this Chamber today. This is, sadly, not unprecedented in South Sudan, as seen by the reports that 900 civilians were abducted in Western Equatoria between April and August, included for sexual slavery. The sexual Violence against girls as young as 8 near Bentiu was truly horrendous and was committed while the parties claimed to be implementing peace. The victims deserve accountability for the crimes committed against them. Full and thorough investigations must be carried out, support provided to survivors and those responsible held to account.”
2018-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8431 (2018) · source
“We have been encouraged by the drop in the overall levels of Violence in South Sudan as a sign that the Agreement is beginning to make life better for the people of South Sudan, although we are concerned by the continuing outbreaks of fighting and breaches of the ceasefire. In addition, although progress has been slow, we are also encouraged by the progress made by the parties in establishing some of the technical committees and processes required to implement the agreement. Our sincere hope is that 2019 will see this progress sustained and built upon, but we should be under no illusion that this will be easy. We must not divert our attention from South Sudan. More than ever, the unified action ofthe Council to support peace is needed to translate hope into real change.”
2018-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8431 (2018) · source
“Five years ago, fighting broke out in South Sudan. Over the past five years, nearly 400,000 people have been killed. Lives have been lost and futures have ended. But in 2018 we have seen significant progress. A year ago, the peace process was stalled. In September, the parties signed the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. We have consistently welcomed that as an important step towards bringing peace to South Sudan. We also welcome the efforts made by the region, the parties to the conflict and our colleagues in the United Nations for their contribution to securing this important progress.”
2018-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8431 (2018) · source
“Let me conclude by reiterating that we have an opportunity to prevent further conflict and the inevitable suffering and insecurity together. I hope we can all act to do so.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“The United Kingdom has played its part in providing humanitarian support, as well as significant support particularly to assist the Nigerian security forces in the fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), but this matter needs the ongoing focus and support of the international community. The deteriorating security situation in north- eastern Nigeria is of particular concern and one, I note, that is shared by the Secretary-General. ISWA has increased the frequency, range and sophistication of its attacks and has attacked forward operating military bases in north-eastern Nigeria. The execution by ISWA of humanitarian workers like Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Liman, who were both abducted while providing antenatal care to communities in desperate need, is a telling reminder of the brutality of the activities of ISWA.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“We strongly encourage other Member States to fund this as an important part of the conflict prevention effort. Preventing a crisis costs significantly less than resolving one. We have raised our concerns quietly and directly with the Government so far, and we are committed to working with the Government of Cameroon in every way we can to help resolve this situation. But I fear that, unless action is taken and the situation improves, concern over the situation in Cameroon is likely to increase among Security Council members and become a more prominent part of our discussions. In addition to Cameroon, I would like to raise our ongoing concerns about the humanitarian and security situation in the wider Lake Chad basin, which continues to deteriorate.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“I would also hope and expect that our own Special Representative of the Secretary- General will have access to wherever he wanted to go. Accountability must also be ensured for all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses. We also call on the armed groups involved to cease their attacks on civilians; to allow full humanitarian access and access to human rights monitors; and to engage with the Government on these issues. The United Kingdom, for its part, is committed to supporting Cameroon, and I am pleased to announce today that the United Kingdom is contributing $3.1 million to the United Nations response in the Anglophone regions. That is equivalent to 20 per cent of this year's flash appeal for the Anglophone crisis to address immediate humanitarian and medical needs.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“We welcome President Biya's recent pledge to address the situation, but words alone will not improve things. We strongly urge the Government of Cameroon to take urgent action, including by actively addressing the situation through inclusive dialogue with the Anglophone leadership to address underlying issues; undertaking confidence-building measures in order to defuse tensions and build conditions for dialogue, including the release of political detainees and implementing the Government's own commitments on decentralization and the recommendations of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism; and allowing full humanitarian access and access for human rights monitors to all parts of the country.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“Reports of human rights violations and abuses perpetrated by armed separatist groups and Government forces - including extrajudicial killings, other killings, abductions, restrictions of movement and restrictions of access to health and education, as described in the Secretary- General's report - mean that we must always be alert to the risk of the situation escalating, affecting the broader peace and stability of the Central African region. We have already seen over 30,000 Cameroonians flee into Nigeria. If grievances are not addressed, tensions are likely to increase further. These concerns are not new. I raised them in the Council's discussion in March, as did others (see S/PV.8212). Unfortunately, we have not seen the action needed to address the situation and, since March, it has deteriorated further.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“I should start by saying that the United Kingdom recognizes the many positive contributions Cameroon is making to stability in the region, including its continued commitment to the fight against Boko Haram and the sanctuary that Cameroon offers to refugees from Nigeria and the Central African Republic. However, we are concerned by the reality of the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon. In particular, we are concerned about high levels of displacement and take very seriously Ms. Ghelani's warning that this is now one of the fastest growing displacement crises in Africa.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“An approach that covers the political, humanitarian and human rights situation and addresses root causes is crucial to conflict prevention and resolution. We also welcome the work of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) to drive forward the women and peace and security agenda under resolution 1325 (2000). We encourage UNOCA to continue to focus on building the capacity of regional organizations to enable delivery of their early-warning mechanisms, conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives. I would like to focus now on a country of particular concern in the region - that is, Cameroon.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“I wish to thank Special Representative Fall and Ms. Ghelani of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for briefing the Council today and for all that their respective teams are doing in what is a complicated and difficult region, as they have both set out. Today, I will address issues that affect the region as a whole: the situation in the Anglophone north-west and south-west regions of Cameroon and the impact of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin. I will not address the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi or the Central African Republic, as we have the opportunity to discuss these issues in other Council meetings. The United Kingdom welcomes the holistic approach that the Special Representative has taken, both with this report (S/2018/1065) and to promote peace and stability in Central Africa.”
2018-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8421 (2018) · source
“Russia has steadily increased tension in the Sea of Azov and has now, by its own admission, fired on Ukrainian ships, injuring sailors on board. Those are not the actions ofa responsible country dedicated to the maintenance of international peace and security and to upholding the United Nations Charter. As my Prime Minister recently made clear, like others in this Chamber today, we remain open to a different relationship with Russia, one where Russia desists from these attacks that undermine international treaties and international security and refrains from actions that undermine the territorial integrity of its neighbours, and instead acts together with the international community to fulfil the common responsibilities we share as permanent members of the Security Council. We hope that the Russian State chooses to take this path.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Anyone who expresses even mild discontent or voices their opposition to the illegal annexation of Crimea risks being charged with extremism and given a lengthy prison sentence, which has forced many into exile. Russia continues to ignore calls by the General Assembly for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Crimea. We remain clear in our support of the rules- based international system, which Russia continues to flout. Russia must not be allowed to rewrite history by establishing new realities on the ground. But this is sadly not the first time Russia has indulged in such reckless and provocative acts this year. Russia was responsible for a chemical-weapon attack on British soil, and its agents were caught red-handed in The Hague.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Russia's illegal annexation constituted a deliberate Violation of a number of international agreements and commitments, including Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act, the Budapest Memorandum and the 1997 Russia-Ukraine Treaty of Friendship. But that is just a start. Russia's actions are also causing human suffering. Appalling human rights abuses in the Crimean peninsula continue with the widespread persecution of such minority groups as the Crimean Tatars. The Crimean Tatars face regular harassment and risk arrest, detentions and threats of seizure of their property. They have had their rights of worship, assembly and expression restricted. The Crimean Tatars are not the only people suffering at the hands of Russia.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“We do not and will not recognize the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia. The General Assembly made its position clear in resolution 68/262, of 27 March 2014, and we continue to fully support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and territorial waters, which is why on 31 July the European Union sanctioned six new entities in connection with Russia opening the Kerch Bridge. We continue to work closely with international partners to ensure the sanctions remain in place as long as Russia's control of the peninsula continues.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Yesterday's action follows months of Russian harassment of international shipping in the Sea of Azov, presumably aimed at destabilizing the Ukrainian economy. Russia's actions are not in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2003 Russia- Ukraine bilateral agreement that provides for the freedom of passage for each State's vessels in the Sea of Azov, including military ships. Russia's actions must stop immediately. International shipping must be allowed free passage in the Sea of Azov. All parties must exercise restraint. We have seen this game before. Russia wants to consolidate its illegal annexation of Crimea and annex the Sea of Azov. Russia seems to hope the international community will simply acquiesce and accept this as a new reality. Well, we will not. The United Kingdom's position is clear.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“It will not work because yesterday, by Moscow's own admission, Russian vessels opened fire on and seized three Ukrainian vessels approaching the Sea of Azov. We are deeply concerned about the six injured Ukrainians and the 23 others who have been detained by the Russian Federation. We call for their immediate release. We condemn Russia's deplorable use of military force. This further demonstrates Russia's ongoing contempt for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and its contempt for the global rules-based international system, which the Organization serves to uphold. It follows Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its construction of the Kerch Strait Bridge in May, which constitutes a further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“May I just start by saying that l was disappointed by the Russian representative's explanation of vote in the previous meeting (see S/PV.8409). As he himself stated, he did not actually make an explanation of vote, but a substantive statement. In doing so Russia showed contempt for the Security Council and its members by not accepting a procedural vote by the Council. Russia has regularly discussed Ukraine here under a different agenda item. In this instance Russia deliberately chose a provocative title for the meeting, which it knew that it would lose. I ask myself why. I assume that Russia knows how weak its position of substance is, and thereby hopes to turn attention on process and play the part of the Victim.”
2018-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8410 (2018) · source
“Many lessons were learned in that process, one being that some of the existing Department of Field Support (DFS) regulations constrained our ability to ensure unbroken clinical coverage. It is therefore key that we all learn from that and that DFS regulations be thoroughly reviewed and adapted so that transitions between smart pledges are as seamless as possible. I would like to finish by paying tribute to all the members of the British military currently serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions and by reiterating my admiration and respect for all peacekeepers who work with bravery, dedication and patience in the places where we in the Council send them.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“That fact underpins our support in principle for African Union-led peace support operations that are in line with the commitments set out in resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017) and authorized by the Security Council under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations to access United Nations-assessed contributions on a case-by-case basis. In conclusion, let me commend the recent successful transition from British to Vietnamese forces at the United Nations field hospital in South Sudan. That is the first time that unbroken clinical coverage has been achieved during a United Nations field hospital transfer, setting a precedent that, we believe, all future operations should seek to emulate.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“We are proud that British peace support teams in Africa provide training to over 10,000 African peacekeeping personnel every year. In Somalia, for example, the United Kingdom continues to support the African Union Military Observer Mission in Somalia, both bilaterally and through the European Union and the United Nations, including through the deployment of personnel to the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM. and through predeployment training for regional forces. We also, of course, have a substantial peacekeeping presence in South Sudan. Thirdly, we must recognize when peacekeeping missions are not best suited to a particular challenge. For example, due to their composition and character, United Nations peacekeeping missions are not suited to engaging in peace enforcement and counter-terrorism operations.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“When we, along with 150 other countries, endorsed the Action for Peacekeeping Declaration of Shared Commitments on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, we committed to enhancing collaboration and planning between the United Nations and the relevant international, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, while recognizing the need for a clear delineation of roles. That includes, of course, the African Union and the European Union, which have deployed several mandated operations in recent years. The United Kingdom also recognizes the importance of collaboration between organizations and their member States to ensure that all peacekeepers in the field are willing, capable of and equipped to effectively and safely implement their mandates.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“The United Nations human rights due diligence policy for all United Nations support and non-United Nations security forces - which includes reimbursements - must be implemented in full, as must the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. As the Secretary-General himself said this morning, the era of silence is over and the era of accountability has begun. Secondly, with regard to collaboration, we should make the best use of our comparative strengths so that our collective effort is greater than the sum of its parts. That means ensuring, for example, that African Union peace enforcement operations complement United Nations peacekeeping missions, while respecting the relevant competencies.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“Additionally, the Council has of course been challenged to write mandates that are better and more realistic. First, we believe that missions must be robustly and fairly assessed, using accurate data collected from the field. That will improve our understanding of what works and what does not work so that lessons can be learned. I welcome the work that the Secretariat has undertaken in that regard to develop and pilot new frameworks for performance assessment. Where assessments do identify issues, they must be followed by appropriate action, including repatriating ineffective units and replacing them as necessary. The principles of robust assessment and accountability are particularly relevant to the conduct of peacekeepers.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“Again, I welcome the adoption of resolution 2436 (2018), which sets out measures for improving peacekeeping performance. Let me be clear, though, that discussing performance in this way should not be seen as just something aimed at troop-contributing countries. The Action for Peacekeeping Declaration of Shared Commitments on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations commits all stakeholders, including the Secretary-General, to developing an integrated performance policy framework, performance data, effective field support, clear operational and technical requirements, and to working with Member States to generate specialized capabilities. Member States have committed to providing well-equipped and well-trained personnel to improve predeployment preparations and coordinate better on training and capacity-building.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“So when we do deploy our peacekeepers, whether in Africa or elsewhere in the world, we need to collectively ensure that they are properly equipped to meet the complex threats and challenges that they will face. That is essential not only to ensuring that they can effectively implement their mandates - those that we set here in the Council - but also to enabling them to ensure their own safety and security. As the report authored by former United Nations Force Commander, Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, entitled Improving security of United Nations peacekeepers, made clear, safety and capability are inextricably linked. Where units perform poorly, they put themselves, as well as the civilians they are mandated to protect, at risk. That is why I will concentrate the remainder of my remarks on performance.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“The African Union and its subregional organizations play a vital role, not only in peacekeeping, but also in preventing conflict and sustaining peace. I pay tribute to their work in mediation, brokering political agreements and supporting peace processes, as for example in South Sudan, where the Intergovernmental Authority on Development has worked to revitalize and support peace negotiations. No such discussion would be complete without recognizing in particular the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the most impressive of the subregional organizations, especially its efforts in The Gambia in 2017 and 2018. Peacekeeping remains one of the most effective tools of the United Nations for the promotion of maintenance of international peace and security.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“This is a topic that should concern us all, and I thank China for convening this important open debate today. Many of the threats and challenges faced by our African partners, including violent extremism, terrorism, serious and organized crime and armed conflict have no regard for borders. In our deeply interconnected world, our security is inextricably linked together, and those threats undermine our shared pursuit of a more peaceful, prosperous world for all. It is therefore vital that we continue to work together to address those complex, shared challenges. Effective partnerships between the United Nations and the African Union and its subregional organizations are particularly important in that context.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“We welcome the recent visit of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, as mentioned by the Swedish Ambassador, and the work on a comprehensive action plan to address that issue. We urge the signatories of the action plans to implement them in full. Let me conclude by repeating that we are strong supporters of the peace deal and we applaud the efforts of the region in achieving it. There has been welcome progress, but there needs to be so much more. It is essential that the parties demonstrate their commitment to the agreement by addressing all outstanding issues urgently. That is because it is the people of South Sudan who are suffering most from hunger and from violence. It is for the sake of the people that we must all redouble our efforts.”
2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8403 (2018) · source
“We know that female involvement in peace processes makes them much more likely to be sustained. That is in everybody's interest. Tackling impunity will also be essential to building confidence in the peace process and preventing future grave violations. We call on the Government of South Sudan to sign the memorandum of understanding with the African Union to establish the hybrid court to ensure perpetrators are held to account for their appalling crimes. I want in particular to highlight our concern about the impact of the conflict in South Sudan on children. The Secretary-General's recent report on children and armed conflict (S/2018/865) finds that children have been deliberately targeted and killed, very young girls have been subjected to gruesome gang rape and children have been abducted and their schools have been destroyed.”
2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8403 (2018) · source
“That includes increasing the transparency of Government revenue so that the people of South Sudan can see that it is being used for their benefit. Fundamental rights and basic freedoms must also be respected, including the freedom of expression, the opening of civic space and the release of the political detainees that are still being held. To build confidence in the peace Agreement, its implementation must be truly inclusive. We welcome the focus of the visit on women's participation. I found the words of the Executive Director of UN-Women particularly important in that regard during her briefing today. I especially noted her comments on the security institutions, the need to end gender based violence and the need to ensure the representation of women.”
2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8403 (2018) · source
“We call on the Government to South Sudan to introduce a temporary waiver from income taxes for international stuff of humanitarian and development organizations, as well as a waiver from other taxes, fees and permit costs and fees for as long as the current acute humanitarian crisis continues. We call on the opposition to cease attempts to impose illegal charges. As of September, the World Food Programme assessed that 6.1 million people, over half of the population, were facing severe food insecurity. The humanitarian community is in South Sudan as a lifesaver, not a revenue raiser. Thirdly, more must be done to ensure that the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan is supported across South Sudanese society.”
2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8403 (2018) · source
“Secondly, we have yet to see the full and unfettered humanitarian access that has been repeatedly promised. That has been improved in some areas, but elsewhere obstructions continue, including around greater Bagari, where access was denied for several months early this year, and has recently been blocked again, and where we know there are people in famine-like conditions. Bureaucratic obstructions also continue, including taxes and fees that divert tens of millions of dollars from providing food, water and shelter for the most vulnerable in South Sudan.”
2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8403 (2018) · source
“Despite the promising start, we remain concerned that several fundamental provisions of the Agreement are yet to be implemented and the targets set out in the time frame are being missed. We are deeply concerned by the reports of continued violence, in particular around Wau and Yei, which threatens to undermine the Agreement and violate the commitments made by all parties in the cessation of hostilities, numerous ceasefire agreements and the revised Peace Agreement. We are also concerned that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism are being denied access to areas, such as south of Wau, to carry out their, including monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire as mandated by the Council and IGAD.”
2018-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8403 (2018) · source