YouSaid · the spoken record

Almoslechner

lines on the record

40

first

2022-01-18

most recent

2023-07-14

sittings or episodes

6

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

1. “Accordingly, we urge the members of the Security Council to take bolder actions, including the use of sanctions, in order to address conflict-related sexual violence and, ultimately, to stop blatant breaches of international law, resolve conflicts and find solutions towards achieving sustainable peace and security. As a staunch supporter of resolution 1325 (2000), which was adopted by the Council 23 years ago, and in view of the discussions on a New Agenda for Peace, Austria calls upon all Security Council members to collectively recommit to reinvigorating the women and peace and security agenda and instil new life into its implementation.”

   2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source

2. “We also commend UN- Women, which we strongly support, including in Ukraine and Afghanistan, and the United Nations Population Fund. We have also renewed our support to the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women this year. The immeasurable contributions of civil society organizations, in particular of women’s and women-led organizations, in preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence also deserve to be emphasized. We stand in solidarity with all victims of conflict- related sexual violence and their families.”

   2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source

3. “Each State is responsible for ensuring accountability and access to justice for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. It is crucial to ensure that perpetrators are swiftly tried and held accountable. In that regard, we reiterate our full support to the International Criminal Court and to United Nations-mandated commissions of inquiry. Moreover, we wish to remind Member States of their obligation, in accordance with resolution 2467 (2019), to apply a survivor-centred approach and provide access to medical and psychosocial care. Austria applauds Special Representative of the Secretary-General Pramila Patten for all her efforts to fulfil her mandate by working with Member States and armed groups towards compliance with international law, international humanitarian law, human rights law and international norms.”

   2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source

4. “In particular, we call upon the Russian Federation, all listed parties and other perpetrators to make and implement specific time-bound commitments to combat sexual violence in line with their international obligations and the recommendations contained in the report. The most effective way to prevent conflict-related sexual violence is through strong compliance with the rule of law, which is also an indispensable precondition for sustainable peace and security. Therefore, we commend the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict for continuing to assist national authorities in over a dozen countries in strengthening rule of law institutions to enhance accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.”

   2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source

5. “We deplore the use of sexual and gender- based violence against civilians and prisoners of war as a result of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine, which has been documented extensively by the United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, based in Vienna. Austria also remains deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban de facto authorities have effectively erased women and girls from public life. We strongly condemn all forms of conflict-related sexual violence and join the Secretary-General’s call on all parties to conflict to immediately cease such crimes, comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions and allow unhindered access to United Nations teams.”

   2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source

6. “While women and girls are the primary targets, it is important to recognize that men, boys and persons with diverse gender identities are also affected. Sexual and gender-based violence is unacceptable in any circumstance and is particularly despicable when used in a widespread, targeted manner, which dramatically affects not only the immediate victims, but also their entire families and communities, as well as generations to come. Austria is appalled by the report’s findings of persisting and even worsening patterns of sexual violence in many different contexts, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti and South Sudan.”

   2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source

7. “Over the past 15 years, the Security Council has established a robust framework of applicable international norms addressing conflict-related sexual violence based on the condemnation of sexual violence as a tool of war and the recognition that rape and other forms of sexual violence can constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity or a constitutive act with respect to genocide. However, both the annual report and today’s briefers paint a dismal picture with regard to compliance with those standards. Rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage and other abhorrent forms of sexual violence continue to be used in situations linked to conflict throughout the world, including as a systematic tactic of war.”

   2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source

8. “Austria aligns itself with the statements made on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. We commend the United Kingdom for its efforts to organize the annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence and thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Pramila Patten for presenting the annual report of the Secretary-General (S/2023/413). Let me also thank the civil society briefers for sharing their perspectives.”

   2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source

9. “We therefore welcome the signing of handover protocols by parties to conflict, as well as the support to children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups through protection or reintegration programmes.”

   2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source

10. “As a member of the International Network on Conflict and Fragility of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Austria supports a systematic gender-sensitive approach to all humanitarian and conflict prevention measures. In that regard, let me also commend the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Pramila Patten. We must stop any further backsliding of the children and armed conflict agenda. The past two and a half decades have shown that, when parties to conflict decide to abide by their international-law obligations and child protection commitments, crimes against children can be prevented.”

    2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source

11. “We encourage all Member States that have not yet done so to adhere to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict and to endorse the Vancouver Principles, the Paris Principles and Commitments and the Safe School Declaration. Child protection should also be a part of the predeployment training of all peacekeepers. For Austrian peacekeepers, such training is obligatory. Since gender norms shape the way that children are exposed to grave violations, gender-sensitive protection schemes are particularly important.”

    2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source

12. “We also strongly condemn all forms of intimidation, violence and attacks against child protection advisers, monitoring teams and all other stakeholders involved. All Member States, as well as other parties to conflicts, must respect international law, international humanitarian law, refugee law and international human rights obligations, as well as international child protection norms. The rule of law is what ultimately makes our very complex world more predictable, reliable, safe and orderly. It is an indispensable precondition for sustainable peace and security. Those responsible for grave violations against children must be brought to justice through swift investigations. Austria reiterates its full and unwavering support for the International Criminal Court.”

    2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source

13. “For example, as a result of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression on Ukraine, the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has documented massive human rights violations against children in Ukraine, including killings, maiming, torture, rape, abductions and forced displacement. For the countless children who have lost their families and loved ones, and those who can no longer access education or health care, the consequences are devastating. They have been brutally robbed of their childhood. Austria calls on the Russian Federation, as well as all the other Government authorities and parties to the conflict listed in the Secretary-General’s report, to grant full access to the United Nations to verify children and armed conflict violations.”

    2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source

14. “Moreover, the report’s finding that Government forces are now the main perpetrators of the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian assistance is particularly disheartening. We are extremely concerned about the country situations in the report, including those that were most recently added, and the largest increases in verified grave violations in Myanmar, South Sudan and Burkina Faso, among other places. And the truly shocking numbers reported represent only the tip of the iceberg — the small percentage of cases that the United Nations can verify. We all know that the grave figures that remain unreported are much higher.”

    2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source

15. “While we have seen some important progress in that regard, the Secretary-General’s report (S/2023/363) for 2022 paints a bleak picture indeed. The evidence suggests that the situation is worsening on a global scale. As the number of armed conflicts continues to surge around the world, the number of children suffering and disproportionately bearing the brunt of war is increasing. Austria is appalled by the growing number of verified grave violations. The overall increase in attacks against schools, hospitals and protected personnel, as well as the denial of humanitarian assistance and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, is truly horrifying.”

    2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source

16. “Austria thanks the United Kingdom for convening today’s open debate and fully aligns itself with the statements to be made on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict. We also wish to thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2023/363) and commend the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Mrs. Virginia Gamba de Potgieter. Furthermore, we pay tribute to the members of the country task forces of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism for their indispensable work. More than 25 years ago, the children and armed conflict agenda was created with the aim of preventing grave violations against children in armed conflicts and holding perpetrators to account through global commitments.”

    2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source

17. “Together let us harness the valuable exchanges taking place during the sixty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Let us make use of the insights gained for the women and peace and security agenda and continue discussions in the Security Council on how information and communications technologies and digital platforms can help empower women and girls in contexts affected by conflict and on developing measures to mitigate risks. I want to assure the Council that Austria will continue to be at the forefront of the collective efforts to put the women and peace and security agenda into practice.”

    2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source

18. “Those funds have been used to establish day-care centres to respond to basic needs and to establish an Afghan women advisory group for the humanitarian coordination team. Furthermore, Austria is supporting women journalists, who often encounter obstacles to their ability to pursue their profession, in finding alternatives in the digital space. In peacekeeping, Austria has also continued to work on increasing the number of uniformed women in its military personnel. Our armed forces therefore remain committed to integrating a gender perspective into their military operations to enhance situational awareness and improve preventive and protective measures. To that end, we recently established a permanent advisory office within the Austrian armed forces to consider the gender perspective.”

    2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source

19. “Austria takes a holistic approach to issues of women and peace and security, with clear commitments in its foreign security and development policies, as well as its humanitarian assistance. The meaningful implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) serves as a pillar for the sustainable development of countries into stable societies built on the principles of the rule of law, human rights and gender equity. In 2022, Austria provided €124 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries, making it the number-one donor country of humanitarian assistance based on gross domestic product, the majority of it delivered to women and children. Austria also provided €5 million of emergency assistance to UN-Women in Afghanistan in 2022.”

    2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source

20. “We also firmly condemn the disproportionate use of force against protesters of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement and the Iranian authorities’ executions of death sentences, which are vivid demonstrations of how women’s attempts to achieve meaningful and equal participation and to assert their rights over their own bodies — such as the right to wear or not to wear a hijab — are forcibly struck down. While it is important to ask ourselves where we have gone wrong in letting such situations persist, we must also be action-oriented and focus on the question of what we can do better. We believe that we can and must do better to promote the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda.”

    2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source

21. “Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and continued targeted attacks on civilian neighbourhoods and institutions, including schools and hospitals, as well as its use of sexual and gender-based violence as a weapon of war, is another painful example of how the situation of women and girls in conflict has worsened. Austria is very committed to ensuring that those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity are held accountable. We therefore strongly support the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine in Vienna and the ongoing investigations of the International Criminal Court in Ukraine.”

    2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source

22. “As we approach the twenty-fifth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000) and the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we are witnessing a significant backlash against the rights of women and girls, especially in conflict-affected countries. The Taliban’s ascent to power in Kabul has wiped out gender equality and women’s rights in Afghanistan in mere months, effectively banning women from participation in social and political life. Austria strongly condemns the recent decree barring women from working in non-governmental organizations, constituting a further major blow to women’s rights in Afghanistan, with devastating consequences for access to humanitarian aid.”

    2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source

23. “Austria aligns itself with the statements delivered earlier by the Ambassador for Gender and Diversity on behalf of the European Union and the representative of Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, respectively. And Austria very much appreciates Mozambique’s efforts and initiative to enable this stocktaking discussion of efforts to implement the women and peace and security agenda. We also thank the briefer, Leymah Gbowee, for sharing her experiences and insights. Austria also commends the continued commitment of Executive Director of UN-Women Sima Sami Bahous, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric Egger and Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Bineta Diop to the women and peace and security agenda.”

    2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source

24. “While the Council bears the responsibility for upholding international peace and security, the wider United Nations membership bears the responsibility for enabling the conduct of effective multilateralism, including compliance with international law and adherence to the rule of law. Austria stands ready to promote those rules and values, including as a candidate for the Security Council during the 2027 to 2028 period.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source

25. “More and more Council members resort to organizing so-called wrap- in meetings at the start of their presidencies as well. We value those opportunities to engage in current issues on the Council’s agenda. However, we also see room for improvement. Those meetings should be more interactive. To that end, the ACT group presented a non-paper on the issue this time last year. We hope that Council members also consider those meetings as an opportunity to further shape public opinion at the United Nations in order to render them more substantial. Finally, I would like to commend those Council members that continue to improve the Council’s working methods by proposing innovative ideas. Specifically, let me highlight Norway’s digital programme of work, which made the Council’s work more accessible and transparent for the wider membership.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source

26. “That aim lies at the heart of the Council’s responsibility. In order to better prepare the Council for future crises, continuously adapting its working methods remains vital. Let me therefore touch upon the following three issues. Inclusivity is one of the core issues that the ACT group focuses upon. While we understand that some Council members at times refer to the merit of holding closed meetings as opposed to open meetings, entering into a dialogue with the wider membership strengthens the accountability of the Council. We therefore recommend keeping a balance between open and closed meetings and ensuring the regular inclusion of non-members in Council deliberations. My second point is closely linked to the first. We commend the Council for regularly organizing wrap- up meetings at the end of the month.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source

27. “We therefore highly welcome the General Assembly stepping up in order to fill the gap when the Council is blocked due to the use of the veto by a permanent member. Moreover, I would like to take this opportunity to invite all Member States to join the ACT code of conduct and support Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. As a medium-sized country, Austria relies heavily on the implementation of international law and adherence to the Charter of the United Nations by all. I would like to take this opportunity to urge all colleagues not to see attempts to make use of the Charter’s full toolbox — such as Article 27 or Article 99 — as a threat to the powers of the Security Council, but rather as additional means to find solutions to international crises.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source

28. “Austria aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Switzerland on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group. At the outset, let me thank Albania for its very successful presidency and the briefers, Ms. Sievers and Ms. Landgren, for their insightful remarks. Today’s debate could not be timelier. In recent weeks, many United Nations States Members have referred to the Security Council’s responsibility for upholding international peace and security. The Russian aggression against Ukraine has clearly highlighted the need to keep improving the Council’s working methods. In a situation that constitutes a blatant breach of international law, the Council should not remain blocked by one Member State.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source

29. “We repeat our call to the Russian Federation to immediately cease its military aggression and withdraw all its troops from Ukrainian territory and to respect its sovereignty in its internationally recognized borders. We echo other colleagues who have underlined that there will be no impunity for the Russian military and decision-makers who are responsible for the killings of civilians and sexual violence, including rape committed against women and girls in Ukraine. Further, Austria closely follows the development of women’s rights in Afghanistan and continues to support efforts by UN-Women and other United Nations agencies to protect women and girls from violence and contributing to their development, participation and empowerment.”

    2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source

30. “We applaud the Special Representative’s efforts in working with conflict- affected Member States and armed groups in order to address the situation of victims. Furthermore, Austria continues to support the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. Let me briefly mention two country- specific situations. Together with EU member States and in close coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF, as well as other United Nations agencies, Austria will continue to support dedicated efforts to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe of the Ukrainian people caused by the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression of the Russian Federation, which Austria strongly condemns.”

    2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source

31. “Austria is proud to support its national human rights institute — the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights — which currently works with the Princeton University Liechtenstein Institute on Self- Determination and other partners on a study on the nexus between conflict-related sexual violence against men, boys and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex persons and human trafficking. We invite all interested delegations to assist in the release of this study here in New York on 9 May during an expert seminar at our Permanent Mission. Austria remains a strong supporter of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten, as well as UN-Women and the United Nations Population Fund in its efforts to address the scourge of conflict- related sexual violence.”

    2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source

32. “In our view, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the most effective and relevant international instrument to assist Member States in establishing accountability and ending impunity. In that context, we welcome the action of the ICC in relation to the first international conviction on a charge of forced pregnancy in February 2021. We urge the members of the Security Council to take bolder action and not shy away in order to address conflict-related sexual violence in all country-specific situations and to apply the sanction regime to any perpetrators in that respect. Austria also recognizes that the crime of conflict- related sexual violence also affects men and boys and persons with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, which must not be forgotten.”

    2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source

33. “We urge all responsible parties to stop this heinous crime, and we stand in full solidarity with all victims and their families. It is each State’s responsibility to ensure accountability and access to justice for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. In accordance with resolution 2467 (2019), Member States have the obligation to apply a survivor-centred approach and focus on access to medical and psychosocial care. We welcome some modest positive trends in certain countries, as identified in the Secretary-General’s report, but we remain deeply concerned that not enough action is being taken on the ground in relationship to assisting victims and, in particular, women and girls who gave birth as a result of conflict-related rape.”

    2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source

34. “Austria aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the European Union (EU)and the Group of Friends on Women, Peace and Security (see S/PV.9016). We commend the United Kingdom for its efforts to organize the annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence, with a special focus on accountability as prevention. We thank the briefers for their insights and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten for presenting the annual report of the Secretary- General (S/2022/272), which paints a bleak picture of the consequences of conflict-related sexual violence in relation to unwanted pregnancies of women and girls as a result of rape in conflicts. Austria strongly condemns all form of sexual and gender-based violence committed in armed conflicts.”

    2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source

35. “Let us commit together to protecting women human rights defenders and unite our forces for the full and effective implementation of the women and peace and security agenda.”

    2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source

36. “Through that Austrian funding, UN-Women will create channels and open political avenues to enable Afghan women to engage on women’s rights and help shape Afghanistan’s future. UN-Women will actively seek ways to amplify the priorities of women and girls at all levels of decision-making in Afghanistan, including in country and intergovernmental platforms. Austria will also continue to engage with the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund and its rapid response window on women’s participation in local peace processes, including in Afghanistan, Liberia, Mali, Iraq and South Sudan. We commend the Fund on the successful launch on the margins of today’s meeting of its new funding window for women human rights defenders.”

    2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source

37. “As a contributor to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, Austria also underlines the importance of supporting victims of reprisals who have faced torture and cruel treatment. We also commend the role of UN-Women for duly exercising its mandate to advocate for the active engagement and leadership of women in all spheres of society and to include girls and the succeeding generation in all its activities. In September 2021, Austria pledged €20 million to ensure humanitarian support for the people of Afghanistan, €5 million of which is dedicated to supporting the activities of the UN-Women Afghanistan country office. Through the various activities of that office, Afghan women organizations and Afghan women human rights defenders will receive support and protection, such as access to safe houses.”

    2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source

38. “The Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution is working with women in several Western African countries to strengthen their capacity and engagement in humanitarian assistance; it is also developing female perspectives on water-related conflicts in Libya and has hosted civil-society-led mediation conferences, including from the South Caucasus region. Among the many civil-society partners we support, Austria would like to highlight the work of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders for carrying the women and peace and security agenda from the Security Council to the ground level through localization programmes and national action plans.”

    2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source

39. “We are appalled by the reported acts of harassment and intimidation towards representatives of civil society organizations who have engaged with the Security Council and the United Nations. Testimony to, and dialogue with, Member States at the United Nations must never result in official or hidden reprisals. We call on Member States to respect, promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of their citizens, in particular the right to be free of fear and the right of freedom of expression and opinion. Austria is a strong supporter of active civil-society participation in peacebuilding, conflict prevention and mediation and United Nations-led processes, including through regional organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.”

    2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source

40. “Austria aligns itself with the statements made on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. We commend Norway for its efforts to address this important topic concerning the role of women human rights defenders engaging in conflict resolution and fostering peace in their communities. We thank the briefers for sharing their perspectives. All our intergovernmental efforts to achieve peace and stability in conflict settings need to build on local ownership. Austria therefore fully supports the inclusion in the Security Council of civil society representatives and country-specific discussions in order to inform its deliberations.”

    2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source