YouSaid · the spoken record

Amayo

lines on the record: 87
first: 2018-07-09
most recent: 2020-03-11
sittings or episodes: 14
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 therefore call on the international community to continue to support AMISOM’s efforts through adequate and predictable financing, given that the war against Al-Shabaab terrorism is yet to be concluded. It is imperative that the international community continue to support the Government of Somalia in strengthening the country’s national security sector and also in the maintenance of law and order.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“The Security Council should also ensure that all associations and affiliations with known terrorist groups are listed in order to better anticipate and counter the groups’ strategies and financing sources. Finally, Kenya supports the efforts of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism to establish a global network of counter-terrorism centres. We have also forged strong regional law-enforcement and judicial cooperation partnerships within the East African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Great Lakes region. In that context, Kenya’s significant troop contribution to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in Somalia confirms our commitment to the elimination of international terrorism in our subregion.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Investment in resilient governance institutions geared towards the establishment of State authority in marginal and vulnerable territories is also a significant preventive measure. Consequently, multilateral humanitarian missions need to include strategies for stabilization and delivery of services that deny terrorists such territorial strongholds; cross-border initiatives to counter terrorism and violent extremism should also be prioritized. We see the example that Kenya and Ethiopia, in partnering with the United Nations Development Programme have set, and the results have been very commendable. Of equal importance is the development of strong disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and rehabilitation capabilities targeted towards returning terrorist fighters, as a crucial factor in the actual reduction of the threat.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Kenya and the United Nations had also agreed to host a side-event to present the outcomes of the conference on the margins of the High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States, to be held in New York in June 2020, which is under review in view of the COVID-19 risk assessment being done. Allow me to also share some additional observations and recommendations based on our experience and lessons learned. First, it is critical to develop a bottom-up approach in prevention frameworks and to have an “all of Government” and “all of society” approach in order, for example, to ensure the empowerment of young people and women in preventing violent extremism and fostering social cohesion at the grass-roots level. Of equal importance is addressing fragility.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Some of the proposals and key deliverables that emerged from the Nairobi July conference that need urgent attention, with concurrent investments in human, institutional, legal and financial resources at the national, regional and global levels include, first, the strengthening of the African regional and subregional counterterrorism cooperation as well as African Union initiatives, including “Silencing the Guns” and Agenda 2063, within the scope of the African Peace and Security Architecture, to be more responsive to the terrorism challenges facing the continent; secondly, the convening of annual counter-terrorism dialogues between the United Nations and the African Union, incorporating regional bodies going forward; and, thirdly, the establishment of an inter-agency platform in Kenya to facilitate the coordination of regional counter- terrorism work.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and the United Nations Secretary-General, His Excellency António Guterres. More than 1,400 participants, including 42 African countries, 60 non-African countries, eight international and regional organizations, and 55 civil-society organizations attended the meeting. The conference provided a platform for sharing good practices and innovations in tackling terrorism and violent extremism. The focus was on African-led and African-owned efforts, working hand in hand with the international community.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“It is against that background that Kenya continues to be a front-line State in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism and remains steadfast in building partnerships for a strategic and operational approach to prevent and combat terrorism and violent extremism. As stated this morning by Ms. DiCarlo and the Permanent Representative of Tunisia on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, on 10 and 11 July 2019 Kenya hosted, along with the African Union and the United Nations, the African Regional High-level Conference on Counter-Terrorism and the Prevention of Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism, held in Nairobi. The Conference was co-chaired by President Kenyatta of Kenya; Mr.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Terror groups are also increasingly mutating, evolving and adapting to their immediate environments and, alarmingly, in some cases taking on the veneer of operating as quasi-Governments with sophisticated public-relations arms and providing public goods and services akin to those provided by the State for the terrorists’ financial benefit. Terrorist and extremist groups exploit investment, trade and humanitarian spaces to sustain their work. This has resulted in reverse development, increased human displacement and political and socioeconomic instability at the national and regional levels.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“I join other speakers in thanking, and welcoming the remarks made this morning by, Ms. DiCarlo, Under- Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; and Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser Abdoulaye Dieye. Kenya also aligns itself with the statement delivered by Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations. As has the rest of the world, Kenya and Africa have suffered greatly from global terrorism. Terrorist groups including Al-Qaida and its affiliates as well as splinter groups such as Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram have an active and growing presence in Africa.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“May I begin by warmly congratulating you, Sir, on China’s accession to the presidency of the Security Council for the month of March and for organizing this important event. I would also like to express my delegation’s appreciation for the focus on peace and security in Africa, particularly on countering terrorism and extremism. Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent challenges in the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin and the Horn of Africa. In that regard, we recognize and remember the victims and all those who have lost their lives at the hands of terrorists and extremists. Kenya strongly condemns the recent assassination attempt against Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of the Sudan, and we express our solidarity with the people and the Government of the Sudan.”
2020-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8743Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Regarding groups perceived to be marginalized, such as minorities, women and young people, the Kenyan experience has taught us that investment in the training of women and youth for peace is not without reward. Women leaders in Kenya have been working in peace and bridge-building activities. The Security Council should seek to systematically and contextually integrate regionally and nationally led transitional justice processes into its work within the broader framework of mission mandates. Kenya joins other Member States in recognizing the African Union’s (AU) adoption of its transitional justice policy in February 2019. It is a critical guide for AU member States to achieve essential transition components, including the political ones. My delegation welcomes that initiative.”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“The inclusion of different voices and perspectives in a conflict situation provides stakeholders with an opportunity to consider the different structural root causes that might at times be side-lined by other approaches. In that regard, the involvement of witnesses, victims, minorities and individuals at risk of reprisal or intimidation, for instance, may be of crucial importance in building confidence and giving credibility to the process. Formal and informal initiatives to support the transitional justice and national reconciliation processes by local actors, such as civil society, as well as private actors and academia, could make an important contribution. At the national level and of equal importance, mechanisms that play a critical role — including national truth and reconciliation commissions — deserve support.”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Transitional justice and peacebuilding are, in our view, multi-dimensional phenomena that should embody several interrelated and critical elements. Those elements include, but are not limited to, the entrenchment of democracy and accountability, resilience-building, the enhancement of affirmative actions for peaceful coexistence and the introduction of programmes for the establishment of national reconciliation, restorative justice, restitution and reparations, inter alia. When addressing a conflict situation, it is important for stakeholders to draw on the principle of inclusivity in seeking to build meaningful partnerships with the parties involved in the conflict.”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“I would like to begin by congratulating Belgium on its presidency over the Security Council for the month of February, as well as commending the Kingdom of Belgium for allocating time for the Security Council to discuss this timely and significant topic. Given that peacebuilding is both a short- and a long- term process, it is beneficial for the Security Council to have regular discussions and exchanges on this topic in order to continue addressing persistent challenges facing fragile and conflict-affected situations around the world, as well as to develop implementable action points on transitional justice framed around sustainable peace processes. Kenya aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Azerbaijan on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (see S/PV.8723).”
2020-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8723Resumption1 (2020) · source
“Partnership with the private sector and civil society has also proved critical in moving this agenda forward. For example, Kenya has endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration to ensure safe education for our women and girls. In conclusion, we have also noted that it is important to build trust, identify champions, localize national action plans, including in the allocation of resources both locally and through all relevant ministries, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems.”
2019-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8649Resumption2 (2019) · source
“Kenya is proud to be one of the many African countries to have developed a national action plan on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), and among the 42 per cent of countries around the world having such a plan. Our own assessment of implementation phase noted that the national action plan has resulted in more gender- responsive language and messaging among leaders and law enforcement personnel when it comes to matters pertaining to women and peace and security, including women and girl survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. We also learned the importance ofinclusivity in the development and implementation of the national action plan. The women and peace and security agenda must be a whole-of-society enterprise and not just left to women.”
2019-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8649Resumption2 (2019) · source
“Despite that, it is particularly important to recognize that, although the process has been slow, many countries and regional organizations are dedicated and committed on delivering on this groundbreaking resolution. Beyond reaffirming the significant role of women in the peace and security agenda, we Member States and the United Nations system need to demonstrate support and invest in this agenda, including its linkages to sustainable peace and sustainable development. Kenya has just finalized the implementation of the first national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000) and is currently drafting the second edition based on the experiences gained and lessons learned from 2016 to 2018. Our mantra continues to be, in Kiswahili, "Kuhusisha Wanawake ni Kudumisha Amani", which means "to involve women is to sustain peace".”
2019-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8649Resumption2 (2019) · source
“We fully subscribe to the theme for this meeting, which calls on all of us positively to move from mere rhetoric to actual accomplishments towards the successful implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. It was a great honour for Kenya to host the first-ever African Women Leaders Network Intergenerational Retreat on Leadership in Africa, held in Nairobi from 16 to 19 August, organized by the African Union, specifically the African Women Leaders Network, and the Office of the African Union Youth Envoy. Through the various interventions and many reports, including that of the Secretary-General, we have heard of the persistent challenges that continue to inhibit the full implementation of the women and peace and security agenda.”
2019-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8649Resumption2 (2019) · source
“I commend South Africa for this initiative and the United Kingdom for further continuing this important discussion to reflect on the achievements and challenges in implementing resolution 1325 (2000) and its subsequent related resolutions in the lead-up to the former's twentieth anniversary. There are still important gaps that need to be addressed, in particular those between rhetoric and actual political and financial investments. Kenya aligns itself with the statements made on behalf of the African Union and UN-Women during 29 October. We also look forward to the Peacebuilding Commission briefing the Security Council on this important agenda item. Kenya also takes this opportunity to commend the Security Council for its sustained engagement over the past 19 years on the women and peace and security agenda.”
2019-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8649Resumption2 (2019) · source
“We can work together and do more to ensure a world in which children, those of this generation and generations to come, can have and enjoy the right to be children.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“That will require the cooperation of the entire United Nations system and the international community in contributing to the pacific settlement of disputes. The protection of children will be guaranteed only where there is peace and where national laws and international humanitarian law are observed and implemented. This calls for the continued observance by all nations, big and small, of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Last but not least, there must be an acknowledgement of the important role played by regional and subregional organizations in developing regional policies to guide their members in developing common national action plans for Child protection during conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“For these reasons, restless young people, most of whom are still children, are easily enticed to fight and also fall into radicalization, with minimum economic incentives. I therefore would conclude by focusing on three important points. Firstly, I stress the importance of the balanced implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in addressing the economic development challenges that are at the root of most conflicts. We believe that the Sustainable Development Goals offer the most cost-effective and sustainable impact in alleviating poverty and conflicts and affording all children the bright future they rightfully deserve. Secondly, we call on the Security Council not only to maintain peace but also, as a priority, to use its mandate to bring peace to areas that are in conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“As such, child protection should be part and parcel of any conflict-management and prevention strategy. In that regard, we appreciate the progress made through the current monitoring and reporting mechanism and by the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. We note with dismay the prevailing challenges with regard to the protection of children growing up in situations of conflict. The fact that children are subjected to reprehensible acts of violence and abuse must move humankind to reimagine the responsibility to protect. It is indeed our collective moral imperative, besides being a legal obligation. In a number of developing countries, the major root causes of conflict include extreme poverty; political, social and economic inequality; and high unemployment.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“We believe that action plans, participation in ceasefire negotiations and demarches with various countries have contributed to improving the lives of the innocent children who are made victims of conflicts and strife. We have no doubt that the recommendations contained in the report will enhance the broad and effective protection of children in armed conflict, including those in schools and hospitals. Over the past decade, the world has witnessed an increase in violent extremism and extremist ideology propagated by terrorist groups to advance their negative agenda, including the targeting of children for recruitment into violent extremism. Kenya decries the recruitment and use of children as weapons of war. We believe that it underlies larger and systemic issues that include the breakdown of a country's social fabric.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“May I begin by congratulating Poland on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council and to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs for having convened this important meeting. We believe that this open debate presents an excellent opportunity to reaffirm our strong support for this important mandate on children and armed conflict. Allow me also to commend Ms. Virginia Gamba, Ms. Henrietta Fore, Ms. Mariatu Kamara and Mr. Peter Awan for their comprehensive briefings this morning. My delegation takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (S/2019/509) and acknowledges the many activities undertaken with the aim of improving the lives of children in conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Strengthening national criminal jurisdictions and ensuring strict compliance with the applicable standards under international humanitarian law are important. International action to end sexual violence as a tool of war should go beyond individual criminal responsibility for crimes committed for military purposes by the rank and file and should rather focus more on assigning collective responsibility to the entire command for such crimes. As we approach the twentieth anniversary ofresolution 1325 (2000) in 2020, we urge Member States to continue working to create an environment that enables women and young people to actively engage in peace and security processes at all levels.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“We have provided guidelines for training military and police personnel on issues of sexual and gender-based violence, with essential procedures focused on the diverse needs of survivors at the grass-roots level. Those efforts have resulted in increased dignity for survivors, more reporting of sexual and gender-based violence and a reduction in the stigma that survivors face. My delegation recognizes and supports the African Union's zero-tolerance policy on sexual violence in times of conflict or peace through its initiatives, including the African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa. We strongly believe that accountability for sexual violence should be enhanced everywhere.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“The Government has gone further, partnering with civil-society organizations in order to translate the plan into various local languages as an outreach initiative. The plan's goals include, first, the active and increased participation of women at all decision-making levels in all institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict in key positions in the peace-conflict continuum, including senior posts in the military, the political arena and public service. We have also established a task force on women and peace and security within a gender-sector working group, as a platform that brings together State and non-State actors to advance our national priorities on gender in addition to integrating women and peace and security into the country's development plans.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Rape is violence and a basic violation of an individual human right. We have also noted that at times men and boys have been neglected as the ignored victims of sexual and gender- based violence during conflict, and in order to curb that, our interventions should be more inclusive. The mainstreaming of the role of gender advisers within peacekeeping missions is a welcome development, although more can still be done. In 2016, Kenya inaugurated a national action plan with strategies for strengthening its judicial mechanisms and ensuring justice in a survivor-centred approach, as well as developing appropriate policy and legislation. That has ensured a conflict- and gender- sensitive approach to addressing matters pertaining to gender-based violence.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Kenya joins other Member States in thanking Germany for convening this important and timely debate under the women and peace and security agenda. Indeed, 2019 is a seminal year. It leads to the twentieth anniversary of the landmark resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, championed by Namibia in 2000, and marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the mandate of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Addressing sexual violence in conflict is a collective endeavour, not just a Government, Security Council or women's affair. Creating awareness and ownership of the objective and process must involve the whole of society in order to achieve sustainable results. Kenya recognizes the importance of military training and accountability at all levels of engagement, including for peacekeeping missions.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Additionally, when deploying female peacekeepers, we should be sensitive to cultural variations in different missions. Fourthly, I am happy to report that Kenya's deployment of women in peacekeeping operations now stands at 19 per cent, thereby surpassing the United Nations recommended percentage of 15 per cent across all United Nations peacekeeping operations. As a country, we shall continue to deploy more women peacekeepers, as necessary. Finally, I wish to reaffirm our delegation's commitment to and support for the Action for Peacekeeping initiative and the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse .”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“First, Governments of Member States should be encouraged to fast-track gender mainstreaming in their national security organizations in order to create a pool from which female peacekeepers can be drawn. Secondly, mission-specific training on gender- related issues is critical to enhancing the readiness and effectiveness of female peacekeepers. That will help in developing a better understanding of the social and cultural setting of the community and hence improve performance and final outcomes. Thirdly, certain considerations ought to be made before a decision is taken on the deployment of women peacekeepers. For instance, shorter deployment periods should be considered for female peacekeepers who find it hard to be away for lengthy periods.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“Where female peacekeepers are able to speak the local language, they are more likely to understand the specific challenges facing local women, which is an ingredient vital to the mission's success. For example, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Swahili speakers have proved to be more effective in enhancing the interaction between local women and peacekeepers, thereby improving situational awareness and further influencing the local women by acting as role models. Similarly, cultural sensitivities in the local communities may affect the deployment of women peacekeepers in certain areas. That is particularly so in communities that still view the profession of arms as a preserve of men. My delegation therefore recommends for consideration the following measures to address the challenges that were already mentioned.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“A country can deploy women to peace support operations only if they are available within the establishment. That is further complicated by the length of time of deployment, bearing in mind the family responsibilities they also shoulder. Equally, the success of women peacekeepers in enhancing the effectiveness of peacekeeping is context- specific and varies from one mission to another. Women peacekeepers have proved to be more effective in missions where they are familiar with the specific gender-related challenges affecting local women and children, including where the locals can resonate with them in terms of culture, race, language and, at times, colour.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“That is particularly so for local women affected by conflict, who presumably find it easier to share their challenges with fellow women and in the process reduce cases of violence. However, beyond the question of gender, many other challenges still exist to their deployment and effectiveness. The ability of women peacekeepers to make a difference in the peace and security arena is sometimes limited by, among other things, their numbers, the lack of training on specific gender- related challenges facing local women in the missions, language and, at times, an inadequate understanding of the local culture and its social and cultural barriers. The sheer lack of sufficient numbers of female soldiers in the rank and file ofmost militaries is perhaps one of the greatest challenges to the participation of women in peacekeeping.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important debate, and take note with appreciation of the comprehensive concept note (S/2019/293, annex) that you circulated to guide today's debate. I also thank Major General Kristin Lund, the first female Force Commander and current Head of Mission and Chief of Staff at the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, and Ms. Lorna Nanjia Merekaje, Secretary General of South Sudan Democratic Engagement Monitoring and Observation Programme, for their briefings. A general consensus exists that women enhance the ability of peacekeepers to reach and interact with local communities in a peacekeeping mission.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“At the local level, the full participation of young people and women, civil society and other partnerships against gun violence is crucial to addressing the problem of the proliferation and use ofillegal weapons, with a View to bringing such activities closer to the people as part ofa general visibility and communications campaign. Last but not least is the importance of capacity- building, so thatAfrican States can fully implement their commitments to ratifying international instruments, a crucial aspect of this issue. Our development partners must ensure that the trade in conventional weapons is properly regulated from the source countries in order to curb unregulated flows of arms into conflict zones inside Africa. At the same time, adequate support is needed to help build resilient national institutions that can regulate such flows.”
2019-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8473 (2019) · source
“First, we have to allocate more resources to address the root causes of conflict, including by strengthening national governance institutions responsible for conflict prevention and the promotion of socioeconomic development. Secondly, we must enhance national and international cooperation at every level in implementing the instruments available, as well as other measures. It will be crucial to ensure the universality of our collective efforts and proper outreach so that no one is left behind, because weakness in one State or region eventually weakens the entire system. This calls for proper weapon and ammunition management, effective legislative and regulatory frameworks and, more importantly, effective data collection, information-sharing, monitoring and evaluation.”
2019-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8473 (2019) · source
“We are currently in the process of implementing the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and its various protocols and regional mechanisms. In that regard, Kenya's national focal point on small arms and light weapons continues to foster enhanced regional and international cooperation in countering the problem of illicit small arms and light weapons, particularly by promoting good practices in marking, record-keeping and tracing small arms and light weapons. As a result, more than 98 per cent of firearms in Kenya are properly marked and can be accounted for. If we are to succeed in implementing the AU Master Roadmap, there are three points that must be met and that my delegation would like to emphasize.”
2019-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8473 (2019) · source
“There have been major achievements in the area of mediation and support for peace processes across the continent, particularly at the subregional level in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. Kenya has been at the forefront in supporting and promoting the objectives and activities of the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps for Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020. We have signed and ratified the AU's and other regional instruments pertaining to peace and security, the facilitation of peace processes and efforts to achieve stability in our region. We have also taken measures to stop the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.”
2019-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8473 (2019) · source
“It will also go a long way to preventing human rights violations and humanitarian disasters, as well as to addressing climate change and other common challenges. To some extent, the continued impact of the illicit circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons, as well as of governance and global economic dynamics, relatively high unemployment rates, particularly for the young, the marginalization of various segments of society, competition for political power, and cases of the mismanagement and exploitation of natural resources, have all played their part in ensuring that the guns are not fully silent in Africa. But despite a picture that is far from rosy, we have also seen many positive steps.”
2019-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8473 (2019) · source
“I would like to sincerely commend you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting. I also want to thank all the briefers today for their insightful remarks on silencing the guns in Africa. My delegation welcomes resolution 2457 (2019), adopted this morning, as a useful road map to be implemented alongside Aspiration 4 of Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), on building a peaceful and secure Africa. I have also noted with appreciation that virtually all the speakers before me have expressed support for Africa's quest to silence the guns on the continent. The strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union will continue to be crucial not only in stopping the guns but also in eliminating wars and conflicts.”
2019-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8473 (2019) · source
“We believe that we should renew our commitment at the global level and revitalize international cooperation and partnerships for disaster and risk reduction, particularly in the key areas of climate-related information gathering, early warning, research and development. Therefore, the mobilization of adequate and predictable financial resources, technology transfer and capacity-building will also enable Governments and regional organizations to respond to the negative effects of climate change more effectively and avert many conflicts and related security threats. In conclusion, I reiterate Kenya's support for multilateral efforts to address the impact of climate-related disasters on international peace and security. We therefore welcome the Secretary- General's prioritization of, and call for, greater ambition on climate action.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“To succeed, we must close implementation gaps through more investments and the strengthening of the relevant national institutions responsible for disaster preparedness and management. Kenya updated its national disaster risk management policy in 2018, after benchmarking the best practices in disaster risk management. The policy lays down strategies to ensure that the Government commits itself to enhancing research in disasters and the formulation of risk reduction strategies. The policy is hinged, inter alia, on an effective early-warning, information and prediction system, mainstreaming disaster management in development planning and a strong institutional framework, particularly at the grass roots level, to coordinate various stakeholders.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“Many climate-related international frameworks, such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, are anchored on the assumption that, through our collective efforts, we can effectively combat disasters and cultivate resilience, especially among the most vulnerable in our societies. However, the key challenge remains mobilizing means of implementation, particularly at local levels. Moreover, due to insufficient financing and a lack of appropriate technologies and other capacities in developing countries, the uniform domestication of international guidelines becomes a major challenge.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“Cases of climate-related extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, have become regular occurrences in many parts of Africa and are a leading threat to sustainable development, as well as peace and security. For instance, in the Horn of Africa, persistent droughts often cause food insecurity in addition to water- and pasture-related conflicts, let alone general economic instability. My delegation believes that, through greater global cooperation and collaboration, we can adapt to, and improve our resilience against, climate-related disasters that continue to threaten international peace and security. We may not be able to change the time, place, frequency or magnitude of climate-related disasters, but we can at least prepare, plan and minimize their impact whenever they occur.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“Kenya attaches great importance to the effective management of climate-related disasters, which remain a major threat to sustainable development. The presentations and experiences shared on climate change by briefers and various speakers today point to the fact that many of our nations remain exposed to droughts, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods and extreme temperatures, among other existential risks. Those hazards have often wiped out investments, destroyed livelihoods, engendered conflict and propagated poverty. Where poverty is high and adaptive capabilities insufficient, there is considerable vulnerability, even to mildly extreme weather and other climatic shocks. In most cases it is women, children and persons with disabilities who hear the greatest risk.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“I wish to congratulate the Dominican Republic onjoining the Security Council, as well as on its ascension to the presidency of the Council for the month of January. I also wish to congratulate the other four newly elected non-permanent members of the Security Council - Belgium, Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa - and, at the outset, convey our support to them as they undertake the noble tasks ahead of them. I should also not forget to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on such an important subject and for circulating the concept note that has guided this debate (S/2019/ 1, annex). I also take this opportunity to thank all the briefers for their enlightening interventions this morning on the nexus between climate change and conflicts, as well as related insecurity.”
2019-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8451 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, Kenya wishes to reiterate its full commitment to the promotion of preventive diplomacy through a strengthened multilateral framework that is aligned with the norms of international law and the principle of national ownership for a peaceful and stable world. Indeed, that will be achieved only through closer cooperation and good will among States, regional arrangements and the United Nations.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“The EAC is an important regional arrangement for fostering and maintaining a conducive peaceful and stable atmosphere, which is a prerequisite to social and economic development. On COMESA, it is particularly important to note that regional arrangements have the potential to reconfigure themselves, based on the contextual circumstances, to be more effective. For example, COMESA is a regional economic arrangement within Africa, with a programme on peace and security that contributes to preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding in the subregion. The United Nations should therefore explore the ways in which it can better strategically partner with those subregional arrangements to enhance preventive diplomacy in the region, including the Horn of Africa.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source