YouSaid · the spoken record

Asomani

lines on the record
11
first
1998-09-29
most recent
1998-09-29
sittings or episodes
1
sources
un-security-council

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  1. “A very current example is the case of Guinea (Conakry), where all the humanitarian actors are convinced of the need to establish Sierra Leonean refugee camps at a reasonable distance from the border, in accordance with the recommendations contained in the Secretary-Generals report. This measure is required in order to lessen the dangers of infiltration of undesirable armed elements into the refugee settlements. However, we continue to ponder whether the costs involved are too high, and in the meantime the security situation continues to deteriorate. I would like to end on this somewhat grim note regarding the tensions that we have to live with between resources and needs relating to the protection for humanitarian assistance.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  2. “It is therefore essential that the Security Council be kept regularly informed of the humanitarian situation in cases of potential or actual conflict, to ensure that humanitarian activities are not viewed in isolation from the overall social, political and economic context. Such actions may also ensure that timely and appropriate action is taken. UNHCR therefore warmly welcomes the growing commitment of the Council to these issues, and it is our fervent hope that it will be accompanied by concrete follow-up measures. One final concern remains to be highlighted: the need for adequate resources to implement these protective measures. This need fuels a tension which we, as operational agencies, must confront on a daily basis in several humanitarian operations.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  3. “As the Ambassador of France noted this morning, I would, in the same vein, like to take advantage of this occasion to remind the Council about the plight of our French colleague, Mr. Vincent Cochetel, who was abducted in North Ossetia 243 days ago. We still hope he will be found and will be released soon. Fourthly, I wish to highlight the role of the Security Council in humanitarian operations. In the open debate, held on 24 April 1998, on the report of the Secretary- General on the situation in Africa, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs. Sadako Ogata, strongly stressed how humanitarian crises, particularly large-scale refugee situations, often affect international peace and security, for which the Security Council has primary responsibility.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  4. “Regrettably, there is even a desire to remove actual or potential witnesses to human rights abuses and other violations of international law by creating an environment in which it is not safe for them to operate. The existing instruments of international law, as many speakers before me have said, do not effectively cover the security needs of United Nations and other humanitarian personnel. The Secretary-General's report outlines a number of measures required to reinforce the safety of humanitarian personnel, and UNHCR fully supports them. In particular, UNHCR welcomes the provisions of the Statute of the International Criminal Court whereby attacks against both United Nations and other humanitarian personnel now constitute war crimes and fall within the jurisdiction of the Court.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  5. “I am pleased to inform the Council, in connection with ongoing measures being developed, that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and UNHCR are collaborating in preparing and elaborating a matrix that presents the range of options which may be deployed in different security situations where there are refugees and internally displaced persons. Thirdly, I wish to highlight concerns that relate to the safety and security of the personnel of the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations. As the Deputy Secretary-General has pointed out, there has been a disturbing increase in recent years in the number and scale of direct, calculated attacks or use of force against humanitarian personnel. Actors in conflict situations disrupt humanitarian actions which they consider as undermining their own strategic goals.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  6. “Furthermore, these groups do have a right to humanitarian assistance and protection, and therefore humanitarian access should not be seen as a concession to be granted to humanitarian organizations on an arbitrary basis. Predictable mechanisms should be developed to ensure security and access for humanitarian operations. Already, a number of measures are under consideration in connection with the Secretary-General's Africa report recommendations. In particular, efforts should be made to ensure that refugee camps are located at a reasonable distance from international borders, that armed combatants are separated from refugees and other civilians, and that trade in arms to conflict areas is adequately monitored and regulated.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  7. “Secondly, there is the issue of humanitarian access, which has been increasingly hampered in recent years by various factors, including general insecurity arising from conflict, the inability or unwillingness of parties to allow access and, finally, obstruction of access, often through armed attacks. The Secretary-General's report rightly reaffirms that States have primary responsibility for ensuring that refugees, internally displaced persons and other civilians in conflict situations benefit from the necessary assistance and protection and that United Nations and other humanitarian organizations must have safe and unimpeded access to these groups.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  8. “To reverse these trends, UNHCR strongly supports the Secretary-General's recommendations regarding the vigorous promotion of accession to international legal instruments, the dissemination and advocacy of humanitarian principles, and more effective mechanisms to ensure compliance with international law. Effective compliance is also linked, in our view, to the important concepts of burden-sharing and solidarity, which have been stressed by other speakers. In this connection, I am pleased to mention that this theme - the theme of solidarity and burden-sharing - will be at the centre of the debate of the governing council of UNHCR - the Executive Committee - which will start meeting next Monday in Geneva.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  9. “Forced displacement of civilian populations is now often a direct objective, rather than a by-product of war. Many conflict situations have been rendered particularly complex and violent because of the involvement of militias, criminals and other disparate groups that may have little knowledge of or respect for the rules of international law. A further problem has been the failure to bring to justice those who violate the law, resulting in the development of what are now characterized as "cultures of impunity". This has been particularly evident in the Great Lakes region of Africa, and more recently in Kosovo.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  10. “I must say here that the report might not have seen the light of day without contributions from several United Nations sister organizations, agencies and departments, as well as the keen advice and support of a number of delegations in the Council, including, Mr. President, your own. In her introduction this morning, the Deputy Secretary- General very competently placed the report of the Secretary-General in the right context. Many delegations have elaborated on key elements of the report. Allow me, however, to share UNHCR's perspectives on aspects of the report. First, there is a need to strengthen compliance by both State and non-State actors within the provisions of international law. This problem of compliance has dramatically worsened in recent years because of the changing pattern of conflicts.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source

  11. “I wish to thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to address the Security Council on the report of the Secretary-General on protection for humanitarian assistance to refugees and others in conflict situations. I should also like to thank all those who have made generous remarks about the work of the Office of the High Commissioner. The report under consideration is of great importance to the whole humanitarian community and to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and we are deeply appreciative that the Council is once again devoting the necessary attention to these issues.”

    1998-09-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.3932 (1998) · source