YouSaid · the spoken record

Arbeiter

lines on the record: 129
first: 2018-09-17
most recent: 2023-03-07
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

“Effective efforts towards reconciliation involve balancing concurrent demands, including peace and justice, reckoning with the past, moving forward, accountability for perpetrators and healing for victims. Secondly, successful reconciliation processes rely first and foremost on national ownership and domestic leadership. Thirdly, such processes are survivor- and victim-centric. They counter legacies of exclusion with inclusion, while engaging local communities in both the design of processes and the implementation of the recommendations that flow from them. I would like to recognize Security Council member South Africa, which showed us that truly reckoning with the past can help to build an inclusive future.”
2019-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8668Resumption1 (2019) · source
“That was a key component of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Canada's national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. From that experience, we know first-hand that unjust institutions and systemic inequality are not established overnight and are not dismantled in a day. We know that it will take time, investment, energy, humility and sustained political will to overcome those legacies and to jointly build new ones. We also know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. But from our own experience and the experiences of others, there are a few common elements that we can all learn from. First, we know that reconciliation is not an event or even a single process.”
2019-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8668Resumption1 (2019) · source
“When Canadians think about reconciliation, at the forefront of our minds is, of course, our own colonial history, our relationship with indigenous peoples and our own painful and ongoing process. In 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the General Assembly (see A/72/PV.12) and called the failure of successive Canadian Governments to respect the rights of indigenous peoples our great shame. We see our path towards reconciliation as a series of continuing actions, one of which was endorsing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At the heart of our journey is the opportunity for victims and survivors themselves to tell their stories and be meaningfully listened to and heard across our country.”
2019-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8668Resumption1 (2019) · source
“During our last tenure on the Security Council in 1999-2000, we introduced the first thematic debate on children and armed conflict (see S/PV.4176). We have collectively come a long way since then but much work remains to be done. Should we be elected to serve again on the Security Council for 2021-2022, we will continue to work to put child protection at the centre of our peace and security efforts.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“It takes a gender lens to our efforts, recognizing the differential impact of child recruitment on boys and on girls. Canada is putting that guidance into action. In June, Canada's Minister of National Defence announced the establishment of the Romeo Dallaire Centre of Excellence for Peace and Security, within the Canadian Defence Academy, led by Rear Admiral Cassivi, who is seated behind me. The initial focus of the centre of excellence will be to support the implementation of the Vancouver Principles by our own forces. Canada will also provide the Rome'o Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative with a contribution of more than $1 million to conduct research and identify best practices regarding the prevention of the recruitment and use of child soldiers. Canada has been a long-standing advocate for children in situations of armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“As a testament to the importance of the issue, 91 countries from all regional groups have endorsed the Vancouver Principles since their launch less than two years ago. Canada encourages States that have not yet endorsed the Vancouver Principles or the Paris Principles to do so without delay. (spoke in English) While important, we recognize that political endorsement alone is insufficient to effect change. For that reason, in the past year, Canada has worked with other Member States, the United Nations Secretariat and civil society to develop implementation guidance for the Vancouver Principles. That new tool, launched here at the United Nations yesterday, serves as a practical resource for military, police and civilian organizations engaged in United Nations peacekeeping operations.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“To say that we are disappointed that the Council is unable to maintain international peace and security in those and other cases would be a blatant understatement, especially given the number of children who have been killed or maimed simply because of their place of birth or the time when they were born. Addressing vulnerability to serious violations is not the sole responsibility of the Council. We all have a role to play. Canada's efforts have above all focused on developing the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. The Vancouver Principles are a set of 17 political commitments to undertake measures to prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups in United Nations peacekeeping operations.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“(spoke in French) Allow me now to make some additional remarks in my national capacity. First of all, I would like to warmly thank Ms. Kamara and Mr. Awan for their enlightening briefings. We are honoured that Ms. Kamara has made Canada her home, thereby further enriching our diverse nation. Her courage and resilience inspire us all. I have read her book. I encourage representatives to buy it. I would also like to acknowledge the importance of the sentimental raised by Mr. Awan. The inclusion of that aspect is absolutely key. As the report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/509) clearly indicates, the situation of children in Syria, Yemen and other conflict-affected areas is devastating.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Therefore, cuts to the staffing and budgets of child protection adviser positions as well as consolidation efforts that would undermine the United Nations ability to deliver on the critical child protection mandates put forth by the Security Council should be avoided. Lastly, the Group underlines that combating impunity and ensuring accountability are key to preventing grave violations. We therefore welcome the efforts of the International Criminal Court against war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the recruitment of children, and note the recent conviction of Bosco Ntaganda in that regard. But, as we heard during the briefings earlier today, we need to recall that true justice involves reparations and psychosocial support for victims of such war crimes, whose trauma may endure for years. I will now speak in French.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Those include resolution 2467 (2019) - introduced by Germany - which seeks to take a victim-centred approach to sexual violence in conflict and children born of wartime rape; resolution 2474 (2019) - introduced by Kuwait - which addresses children missing as a result of armed conflict; and resolution 2475 (2019) - introduced by Poland, with the support of the United Kingdom - which stresses the specific needs of children with disabilities in armed conflict. The Security Council should continue to uphold child protection through the deployment of child protection advisers to peacekeeping operations. However, adequate resources are also needed to deliver mission success.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“The Group highlights the contribution of regional and subregional organizations, as recognized in resolution 2427 (2018), in preventing grave violations by reinforcing the normative framework, exchanging best practices, mobilizing resources, coordinating humanitarian assistance, applying pressure on parties to armed conflict and addressing the transnational dimensions of child recruitment. Regional groups of friends of children in armed conflict can also play a helpful role in that regard, and we welcome the recent establishment of such a group in Mali. We also welcome other measures adopted by the Security Council this year that contribute to the protection of children in situations of armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“We further welcome the launch of the ACT to Protect campaign to catalyse global attention and efforts to prevent and end the six grave violations against children. Indeed, there are several practical protection tools available to Member States, notably the Safe Schools Declaration, the Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups, the Paris Commitments and the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. We call upon Member States to further strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict, including through ratification of the first Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as consideration of the endorsement of those commitments.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“We stress the importance of long-term, comprehensive and community-based rehabilitation and reintegration efforts to provide assistance to children and prevent re-recruitment, including in areas formerly controlled by Da'esh. Children formerly associated with such groups should be treated as victims first, consistent with resolution 2427 (2018). The detention of children in armed conflict should be used only as a last resort and for the shortest period necessary and should be in full respect of international humanitarian law and applicable international human rights law. Failure to do so will only sow the seeds of future conflict. The Group is firmly convinced that the protection of children affected by armed conflicts must be at the heart of the prevention, development and sustaining peace agendas.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Without their effective and timely implementation, such plans will not address the suffering of children in armed conflict. Accordingly, the mere signing of an action plan should not form the basis for delisting in the Secretary-General's annual report on children and armed conflict. We therefore commend efforts by the United Nations and the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict to follow up on action plans and to encourage their implementation. The Group welcomes the recent release of more than 13,600 children from armed forces and armed groups and the work of the Global Coalition for the Reintegration of Former Child Soldiers.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“The Group is appalled by the scope and scale ofgrave violations committed against children, as documented in the Secretary-General's report (S/2019/509). On the tenth anniversary of resolution 1882 (2009), we are particularly concerned about the large increase in cases of killing and maiming of children. We urge all parties to armed conflict to fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law, and to put in place concrete effective protection measures for children in armed conflict. In that regard, we welcome the recent signing of action plans and Special Representative Gamba's direct engagement with parties to armed conflict to end grave violations. However, action plans are only means to an end, not ends in themselves.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Allow me to start by congratulating Poland on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August and to thank the Foreign Minister for his personal participation in this open debate. (spoke in Spanish) I would also like to commend and congratulate Peru for its successful work during the month of July. (spoke in English) I have two statements to deliver. I am pleased to speak first on behalf of the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict, an informal network of 42 interested Member States, representing all five regional groups at the United Nations. We wish to thank today's briefers, in particular Ms. Kamara and Mr. Awan, for their compelling personal testimony.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Moreover, the use by returning foreign terrorist fighters of the same routes used by migrants renders the latter even more vulnerable. For that reason, Canada supports projects that take those specific risks into account and attempt to address them. In summary, Canada remains strongly committed to tackling transnational organized crime and terrorism. By working together, the United Nations and Member States cannot only disrupt terrorist groups and criminal organizations, but also prevent them from joining forces.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“(spoke in French) Another important tool for the international community is the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The 40 recommendations of the FATF form the basis for coordinated global action to counter the abuse of the financial system by criminals and terrorists. However, the effectiveness of the FATF framework, as with other counter-terrorism and organized crime initiatives, lies in its implementation by Member States. Recognizing that, Canada provides $55 million for training, equipment procurement and technical assistance to build capacity to prevent and respond to terrorist and criminal activities. For example, Canada has funded INTERPOL projects to strengthen the ability of front- line border officers to use INTERPOL databases, such as the INTERPOL database on foreign terrorists.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Opportunities to confront the criminal-terrorist linkage also flow from work in regional bodies. Canada currently chairs the Organization of American States Inter-American Committee against Terrorism and provides more than half of its budget. At the recent meeting of the Committee, which was focused on building resilience, the Office of Counter-Terrorism and other key United Nations counter-terrorism entities were invited to share their perspectives. We see the value of establishing standards, best practices and measures to improve border, port and document security, and are encouraging this work across the Americas. Doing so provides the dual benefit of making the hemisphere more resistant to the spread of terrorism, the core mandate of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism, while also impeding transnational organized crime.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Those meetings included diverse representatives from the United Nations, Member States, international and regional organizations, international experts, practitioners and academia to review knowledge and share information about the regional contexts and variations of this threat. Under the leadership of the Netherlands, the GCTF developed non-binding good practices and a related practical policy toolkit to disrupt that nexus. In our future role as GCTF co-Chair alongside Morocco, Canada plans to further strengthen the GCTF's relationship with the United Nations, its collaboration with other multilateral and regional organizations and United Nations States Members. It is that type of partnership-driven response that we would also emulate if elected to a term on the Security Council for the period 2021 to 2022.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“But the response also needs to be inclusive and gender responsive in order to address the drivers of insecurity that perpetuate terrorism and organized crime. Canada believes that a key actor in the response is the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF). The GCTF is an informal coordinating body that supports United Nations efforts to advance the implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and relevant resolutions. That work helps sustain the collective international commitment to our obligations to fight terrorism under international law, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law. For example, the GCTF Nexus between Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism Initiative organized four regional meetings in 2017 and 2018 in Algeria, Albania, Singapore and Kenya.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Mr. Arbeiter (Canada) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to thank the delegation of Peru for organizing today's open debate on the linkages between international terrorism and organized crime. (spoke in English) I would also like to thank the briefers for their insightful interventions and, through them, their teams, for their continued engagement on this critical issue. As the concept note (S/2019/537, annex) from the Peruvian presidency indicates, the Security Council has repeated expressed concern over the linkages between organized crime and terrorism. That concern is entirely justified, as the linkages continue to both widen and deepen. Absent a coordinated response by the international community, we will be less effective on all fronts.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Finally, on the eve of the twentieth anniversary of the protection of civilians mandate, we must remember that the failure to implement mandates can have catastrophic effects for regions, Member States, communities and the lives of those whom the peacekeepers are supposed to protect. The training of Blue Helmets is therefore vital in the true sense. We must therefore ensure that they have the necessary skills, training and equipment to carry out their protection mandate. In conclusion, the United Nations can count on Canada to be a partner in training and capacity-building, be it as Chair of the Working Group of the Whole of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, as the host of the next Challenges Forum in June in Montreal, or - as we all know - as a candidate for the Security Council in 2021-2122.”
2019-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8521 (2019) · source
“Because language skills are essential to understanding the local context of peacekeeping operations, our training and capacity-building efforts must also include a language component. That is particularly evident in the light of the high number of large missions deployed in Francophone environments. We therefore stress the importance of developing French-language training materials and offering French-language courses to Blue Helmets. In that regard, we commend Djibouti's efforts to provide a French-language training course on strengthening the peacekeeping capacity of the countries of La Francophonie. This kind of leadership deserves our support.”
2019-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8521 (2019) · source
“Training and capacity-building should seek to increase diversity, not only by expanding the representation of all Member States in peacekeeping operations, but also by ensuring the full and effective participation of women at all levels of peace operations. As part of the Elsie Initiative on Women in Peace Operations, we have found that women do not have the same access to training opportunities that develop the basic skills for deployment. They face ostracism within the training cohorts, as well as the perception that they cannot do their job as well as men. We must ensure that women's personnel in peacekeeping operations have equitable access to training and capacity-building, enabling them to be deployed and contribute to the success of missions.”
2019-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8521 (2019) · source
“More recently, we have worked in developing implementation guidance on the Vancouver Principles to help peacekeepers better deliver on their child-protection mandates. Training is required at all levels. Indeed, in addressing complex challenges, effective leadership is a prerequisite. That is why for the past three years we have supported the United Nations Senior Mission Leaders Course and taken steps to make that course more accessible to a wider and more diverse range of personnel. (spoke in French) Of course, what counts is not only how we train, but also whom we train. Experience and studies show that greater diversity leads to better results for peacekeeping operations by contributing broader perspectives, advantages, connections and varied forces. As we say in Canada, diversity is strength.”
2019-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8521 (2019) · source
“Furthermore, training and capacity-building is an essential component of peacekeeping performance. We simply cannot enhance performance without investing in knowledge and skills. In this regard, partnerships are essential. As troop and police contributors, we do not need to operate alone. We can work together, drawing on one another's strengths and areas of expertise, and eliminating redundancies in our efforts. In this regard, Canada has provided $20 million in the past three years in direct support of identified United Nations training and professional development needs. Canada has also partnered with institutions such as the Ecole de maintien de la paix Alioune Blondin Beye de Bamako to deliver essential training to peacekeepers.”
2019-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8521 (2019) · source
“We recognize that training and capacity-building is inherently a work in progress, whether it is to maintain our edge, prepare successive rotations of peacekeepers or adapt strategies and tactics to the evolving nature of conflict. As noted in the report authored by former United Nations Force Commander Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, entitled "Improving security of United Nations peacekeepers", training and capacity-building is also intimately linked to the safety and security of our peacekeepers. We should not compromise the safety and security of even a single United Nations peacekeeper as a result of a lack of adequate training. That is not a high bar; it is the only responsible way to deploy, for our troops and police and for the communities they serve.”
2019-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8521 (2019) · source
“In order to go from strategic intent to practical effect, we need capabilities that are provided collectively by troop- and police-contributing countries. Delivering on these capabilities requires specialized training and capacity-building, because the tasks and the operational environment of United Nations peacekeeping are often unique. It is for this reason that's today's debate is so timely. Training needs to be specialized and context- specific. Where possible it should be scenario-based, providing concrete examples and practical guidance on how to respond to realities on the ground, and it should be carried out predeployment and in-theatre as needed.”
2019-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8521 (2019) · source
“I wish a Ramadan Mubarak to all who observe and celebrate this month of Ramadan. Germany brought light, and now Indonesia has brought beautiful colour, to the Council Chamber, so it is clear that we can count on the elected members to innovate. I thank them also for their leadership. I commend Indonesia for having convened today's open debate and thank the briefers for their engaging presentations. In recent years the Council has expanded the mandates and tasks to be executed by peacekeeping operations. Guided by the need to protect vulnerable populations and secure a more sustainable peace, we are asking our deployed military, police and civilians to do more than ever before. At the same time, as today's briefers have noted, peacekeeping operations have become more complex, multifaceted and dangerous.”
2019-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8521 (2019) · source
“We cannot promote gender equality, address sexual violence in conflict or implement a survivor-centred approach without ensuring sexual and reproductive health rights. Should Canada be elected to serve on the Council as a non-permanent member for the period from 2021 to 2022, we will be deeply committed to continuing to advance this agenda.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“As my colleague from Uruguayjust pointed out, greater efforts are needed to monitor and report on such violence and ensure that Member States strengthen their national legislation to protect LGBTI victims. Canada also very much regrets that consensus could not be reached on a reference in the resolution to sexual and reproductive health rights. The Security Council should not be backtracking on conclusions that it has itself reached in recent years. One step forward cannot involve two steps back. To be clear, sexual and reproductive health rights are essential to women's autonomy and human rights. That is as true now as it was when the Council considered the issue previously.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“I would expect the same, and I suspect Council members would too. Resolution 2467 (2019), adopted today, has many important elements, and we commend Germany for its tireless efforts. However, we are disappointed that it is silent on at least two counts. We urge the Council to explicitly recognize that LGBTI individuals are targets of sexual violence in conflict owing specifically to their sexual orientation or gender identity. That persecution is nothing new. Homosexuals, branded with pink triangles by the Nazis and pushed off buildings by Da'esh, have always been targeted. Situations of armed conflict magnify underlying discrimination against LGBTI individuals, which can be manifested through sexual violence. While such persecution is unfortunately long-standing, what is new is the growing expectation of concrete action.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Canada's support for the collection of evidence of crimes by Da'esh in Iraq and Syria has encountered a number of challenges. Survivors and witnesses express legitimate and growing frustrations about the delays in obtaining justice, as well as a sense of psychological fatigue from repeatedly having to share their experiences with media outlets and non-governmental organizations. International support for investigative bodies documenting sexual violence is key, but we must acknowledge our own responsibilities if we are to prevent the revictimization of survivors. We must all continue to ensure that the voices of victims and their families are fully reflected in our efforts. All victims of sexual and gender-based violence expect action. They expect justice and accountability, and better efforts on prevention. They are right.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“(spoke in English) A lack of political will, including in the Council, should also not enable impunity. The shortcomings of the systems in place should be recognized and addressed and alternative approaches pursued. For example, Canada is supporting the deployment of experts through UN- Women to secure accountability for sexual and gender- based crimes in Myanmar, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Burundi, Yemen and Mali. Such deployments make a difference. The sexual and gender-based violence experts deployed with Canadian support to the independent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar directly contributed to a finding that sexual and gender-based violence in Myanmar's Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity. While this work is critical, we know it is not easy.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“In Myanmar, we are working with UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund to remove systemic barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights. In the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, we are supporting the work of the United Nations Development Programme in providing survivors of Violence with legal, medical and psychosocial support. For the next two years, Canada will lead the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies. We are also working to strengthen accountability at the global level. The laws are indeed changing, even if too slowly. In the meantime, the inability of existing national legal frameworks to deal with such crimes in no way diminishes the seriousness of those crimes. In such cases, we therefore believe firmly that we have a collective legal and moral responsibility to act.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Supporting gender equality is the best way to build a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world. Sadly, today the Council's briefers confirmed what we already knew. Sexual and gender-based violence is widespread. Women, girls, LGBTI individuals and other members of marginalized groups are targets. That will change only through concerted efforts. My country is not immune to that scourge. In Canada, the double discrimination that indigenous women and girls endure has increased our levels of sexual and gender-based Violence. Within the framework of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which is taking place this week, I want to affirm my Government's strong commitment to addressing the issue. Just as we seek to prevent sexual and gender-based violence at home, we also support efforts around the world.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“We believe that systemic gender-based discrimination, such as women's exclusion from political life and economic marginalization, as well as discriminatory legal systems and customs, is conducive to sexual violence in conflict. Any serious effort to prevent and address sexual violence in conflict must move beyond the immediate symptoms and confront structural inequality itself. Such an approach should include the protection of women human rights defenders, who are themselves the target of attack. (spoke in French) I would now like to make a few additional remarks in my capacity as the representative of Canada. Today's debate is of key importance to my country. Canada's feminist foreign policy puts gender considerations at the core of its global engagement, and the reason is simple. It is because the evidence is irrefutable.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Greater efforts are also needed at all levels to ensure that survivors of sexual violence and children born of rape have access to non-discriminatory and comprehensive health services, including sexual and reproductive health, psychosocial, legal and livelihood support and other multisectoral services, taking into account the specific needs of persons with disabilities and in line with resolution 2106 (2013). As part of our efforts to secure both accountability and victim support, we want to emphasize the importance of providing reparations to survivors of sexual violence in armed conflict. Finally, sexual violence in conflict is part of a continuum of violence, including in peacetime, that is fuelled by gender inequality.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“As a starting point, the United Nations and its Member States should place a greater emphasis on listening to the diverse voices of survivors, as well as collaborating with the civil society organizations working to address sexual violence in armed conflict. That approach helps to empower survivors, identify barriers to assistance and justice, avoid further harm and improve our collective response and accountability. Sexual violence against men and boys is also an expression of unequal gender norms. Responses must take into account the diverse and intersecting experience, identities and needs of all victims and survivors.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“In that regard, we urge the Secretary-General to ensure that gender and sexual violence expertise is included in international procedures, such as investigative mechanisms, commissions of inquiry, United Nations fact-finding missions and Security Council sanctions committees. We repeat our call on the Security Council to systematically and explicitly incorporate and apply sexual violence as a designation criterion in United Nations sanction regimes, where such crimes are persistently perpetrated. We reaffirm that amnesty should not be granted to perpetrators of sexual violence and that sexual violence should be explicitly prohibited by the terms of ceasefires and peace agreements. In all our efforts to ensure accountability, we must not lose sight of the needs and rights of survivors of sexual violence in conflict.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Therefore, we are gravely concerned that, despite the systematic use of sexual violence by groups such as Da'esh and Boko Haram, no individuals from such groups have been convicted for sexual violence crimes. Responsibility for the fight against impunity lies with us, the Member States. Addressing and preventing sexual violence is a core commitment of the women and peace and security agenda. We must ensure that robust legal and institutional arrangements are in place to address sexual violence in armed conflict and that steps are taken to investigate and prosecute perpetrators. As information is an essential prerequisite for accountability, we support survivor-centred efforts to more systematically document and report sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Let me point out that I have two statements to deliver today. The first will be made on behalf of a group of countries and the second in my national capacity. I am pleased to speak on behalf of 55 Member States, representing all five regional groups of the United Nations. On the tenth anniversary of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, we applaud the critical work carried out by Ms. Patten and pledge our full support to her office. We remain outraged by the persistent and widespread occurrence of sexual violence in armed conflict, committed by State and non-State actors. Sexual violence in conflict is not inevitable and is never acceptable. We underline that a climate of impunity discourages reporting, undermines assistance and abets further violations.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Canada is strongly committed to working with the United Nations on practical ways to overcome the barriers facing women peacekeepers. We are convinced that we can achieve those goals by continuing to listen and continuing to act. If elected for the 2021-2022 term on the Security Council, Canada will bring that approach and commitment to its work. We need to encourage and push each other and the United Nations. It will be challenging, but everyone benefits from more inclusive United Nations peace operations. It is only when we work together that we can make that a reality.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“I was there and I learned a tremendous amount from the women peacekeepers, civil society leaders, academics and diplomats who shared their own personal experiences while on mission. Their message was clear - women are agents of change and partners for missions, they are mobilizers and they have deep connections to local communities. They also said, quite clearly, that leaders should be held accountable for being inclusive. Inclusion is easier said than done. It is a choice in how we act. That choice extends to how United Nations operations are designed, resourced, staffed and evaluated. The Security Council has a choice as well. It can demonstrate that it is listening in how it formulates mission mandates, from inception to drawdown and beyond.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“I would also like to commend Germany's leadership in establishing a network for women peacekeepers. We have heard from many Canadian and other women peacekeepers about the value of such a network. We heard the same from briefers this morning, and look forward to working with Germany and other stakeholders on networking in relation to the Elsie Initiative. The importance of networking was also raised repeatedly at the Peacekeeping Ministerial preparatory meeting on women and peace and security, which Ethiopia and Canada co-hosted in Addis Ababa in January. With women and men from over 60 countries participating, the gathering exemplified the diversity that can improve the effectiveness of peacekeeping missions.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“We realize that that may not be an easy thing to do and that some Member States may need some support. In that context, we congratulate UN-Women for launching the Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations on the eve of the Peacekeeping Ministerial. The Elsie Fund offers an innovative approach by financially incentivizing the increased deployment of trained and qualified women, including by providing premiums for the deployment of gender-strong units. Canada has already provided $15 million to the Fund, and we welcome the additional contributions recently announced by the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Finland and, earlier today, by Germany. We encourage all Member States to consider applying for funding to support their own domestic efforts or, alternatively, to consider providing contributions to the Fund.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“For that reason, Canada and Norway are funding the development of a barrier assessment methodology to gather the kind of empirical evidence that can help to sharpen our understanding of the systemic barriers confronting women peacekeepers. The Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are also working alongside our bilateral partners in the Elsie Initiative, the Ghana Armed Forces and the Zambia Police Service to use those barrier assessments to find ways to address the structural barriers that exist in our own systems. Our intention is to share what we learn with everyone and to encourage others to undertake similar efforts. We were very pleased to hear this morning from several members addressing the Council that they are also understanding the barriers in their systems.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“We heard directly from them about the significant structural barriers they continue to face, including a lack of opportunity for training; a lack of mentors and support networks; inadequate accommodations, facilities and equipment in the field; a lack of information about deployment opportunities and a lack of leadership. We also heard about their experiences of unwanted touching, sexual advances and offensive remarks and the impact of such experiences on themselves and their missions. They questioned whether to report such incidents, and if so, to what end. The fact that such a situation persists is disheartening, but we can and must address it. (spoke in English) What we heard was anecdotal, but accurate. We need to continue listening.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“The numbers are nowhere near where they should be. Something is not working. Most members of the Council and the General Assembly agree that progress on the participation of women in peace operations has been scant, slow and insufficient. Canada's Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations seeks to change that. Its concept and design are informed by the views of women who have personally participated in peace operations. Together with our partners, we started by listening to women peacekeepers about their experiences before, during and after deployment.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source