YouSaid · the spoken record

Barbara Woodward

lines on the record

1,082

first

2020-12-08

most recent

2023-12-29

sittings or episodes

263

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. “Last Friday, Russia stopped this from happening (see S/PV.9087). With today’s vote, innocent Syrians can breathe no sigh of relief. The suffering and the uncertainty go on. Without the confidence of at least 12 months, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations risk being caught in a perpetual cycle of pre-positioning and contingency planning. It is therefore important that we are clear: while this renewal is only for an initial six months, the intent of the Security Council is to renew it for a further six months subject to another resolution. The Secretary-General’s report requested by resolution 2642 (2022) will be able to set out the implications, were this mandate to come to an end in January, as winter is setting in.”

   2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9089 (2022) · source

2. “I join others in thanking Norway and Ireland for their work as co-penholders. The United Kingdom approached this renewal as it has every year since the mandate was first agreed in 2014 (resolution 2165 (2022)): on the basis of humanitarian need and humanitarian need alone. Humanitarian need in Syria is the highest it has ever been: 4.1 million people in need of aid across the north- west, of which 2.4 million are reliant solely on the United Nations cross-border mechanism for life-saving assistance every single month. We have heard repeatedly from the United Nations and from non-governmental organizations that a renewal for 12 months was necessary to provide operational certainty so they could prepare to meet that humanitarian need, especially during the harsh months of winter.”

   2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9089 (2022) · source

3. “Msuya’s call to all donors to ensure that funding is made immediately available for speedy disbursement in order to reduce the suffering. The United Kingdom also remains concerned about the threat posed by the FSO SAFER oil tanker and the shortfall in funding for the United Nations emergency operation. Inaction will come at a high price. The United Kingdom has pledged $5 million towards the United Nations plan, and we urge others to commit funding to bridge the remaining $20 million gap so that the emergency operation can begin to address the risk of profound humanitarian and environmental damage. In conclusion, we urge the parties to continue to show courageous leadership to build on the positive momentum to ensure progress and prioritize the peace and stability of Yemen.”

   2022-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9088 (2022) · source

4. “Secondly, with regard to demining, we have welcomed the reduction in reported civilian casualties since the truce began. But as the Special Envoy said, landmines and unexploded ordnance are claiming an increasing number of civilian lives, including of children. Increasing humanitarian access would enable the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement to protect some of the most vulnerable Yemenis. We therefore continue to call on all parties to support demining efforts across Yemen. Thirdly, with regard to food insecurity, the global growth in commodity prices that both the Special Envoy and Assistant Secretary-General referred to means increased food insecurity, hunger and even famine in Yemen. And food prices have hit record highs. We therefore echo Ms.”

   2022-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9088 (2022) · source

5. “The truce and the confidence-building measures are important first steps, but as we have discussed before, securing sustainable peace will require ambition and progress on a wide range of issues, including the economic and military tracks and the unblocking of roads across Yemen. We also welcome the news that the Military Coordination Committee intends to establish monthly meetings to address the key events of concern. I would like to highlight three concerns in particular. First, the United Kingdom remains concerned about the humanitarian and wider social and economic impact of the continued road closures around Taiz. We echo the Special Envoy’s calls for all sides to coordinate in reaching an agreement as soon as possible on opening the main roads and reaping the benefits of that.”

   2022-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9088 (2022) · source

6. “I would like to start by thanking the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for their briefings. I am grateful to them and the United Nations in general for their continued efforts to secure long-term and lasting peace in Yemen. We welcome the positive impact on the lives of the Yemeni people of the continued reduction in violence resulting from the truce and the progress on the confidence-building measures. We welcome the multitrack process that the Special Envoy has outlined and Ms. Msuya’s proposals for economic recovery.”

   2022-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9088 (2022) · source

7. “The co-penholders consulted Council members extensively and their balanced text also provided important support for planning for early recovery, resilience and livelihoods, which was reflected in the widespread support it received. A renewal of the mechanism for six months only would create significant operational challenges for front-line non-governmental organizations in their planning, procurement, hiring of staff and ultimately their sustainability. We will not support draft resolution S/2022/541, submitted by the Russian Federation, which simply serves to slice in half the fragile certainty that we are giving to humanitarian operations and to bolster the Al-Assad regime. We need to find a way forward to preserve this vital humanitarian lifeline, and the co-penholders have our full support as they seek to do that.”

   2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source

8. “I would like to start by expressing the United Kingdom’s deep condolences following the deaths of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former President José Eduardo dos Santos. Moving to today’s topic, I would like to start by thanking Ireland and Norway for their sterling efforts and masterful diplomacy as co-penholders to find a reasonable compromise on draft resolution S/2022/538. It is deeply regrettable that Russia has yet again vetoed a humanitarian resolution on Syria. That deeply irresponsible veto will have a tragic impact. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly described a 12-month renewal as essential, not least to provide operational hope for the 4.1 million Syrians who desperately rely on the support provided by the cross-border mechanism.”

   2022-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9087 (2022) · source

9. “In that scenario, it will be incumbent on the Security Council to take decisive steps to ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon.”

   2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source

10. “Iran’s nuclear escalation is undermining international peace and security and the global non-proliferation system, and is in clear violation of resolution 2231 (2015). There has been a deal on the table since March, following a year of intensive negotiations. At that point, there was a viable deal, which would return Iran to compliance with its commitments and the United States to the deal, reversing Iran’s nuclear escalation and lifting United States sanctions related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, Iran is refusing to take that opportunity, while making demands beyond the scope of the JCPOA. Iran should urgently take this deal. There will not be a better one and, if a deal is not struck, then Iran’s nuclear escalation will cause the JCPOA to collapse.”

    2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source

11. “Iran has continued to improve its enrichment capabilities by developing, installing and using new advanced centrifuges; it has continued its rapid accumulation of uranium enriched up to 20 per cent, and highly enriched uranium up to 60 per cent; and it has continued to curtail International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring, the most recent example of which was its decision to switch off 27 monitoring cameras as of 8 June. Iran has also been producing uranium metal, which provides weapons-applicable knowledge. At the current enrichment rate, by the end of this year Iran is likely to have enough enriched material to rapidly produce highly enriched uranium at 90 per cent enrichment for several nuclear devices. Iran also continues to develop ballistic missiles in a way that is inconsistent with annex B to resolution 2231 (2015).”

    2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source

12. “I join others in thanking Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. We welcome the Secretary- General’s thirteenth report on the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015) (S/2022/490) and thank the Secretariat for its continued professionalism and support. I would also like to thank Ambassador Byrne Nason and His Excellency Mr. Olof Skoog for their briefings. And let me once again thank Ambassador Byrne Nason and her team for her work as Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015). It is important that we be clear: Iran’s nuclear programme has never been more advanced than it is today, and Iran’s nuclear escalation is a threat to international peace and security.”

    2022-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9085 (2022) · source

13. “Given the scale of challenges facing Mali and MINUSMA, we support a United Nations review and expect it to assess whether and how the Mission may need to adapt in order to ensure its future success. Finally, the United Kingdom hopes that MINUSMA can continue to provide effective support towards establishing Mali’s long-term stability. It is now up to the Malian authorities to deliver on their stated commitments to human rights, to a timely political transition in agreement with the Economic Community of West African States and to upholding MINUSMA’s freedom of movement.”

    2022-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9082 (2022) · source

14. “Nonetheless, MINUSMA has a clear mandate to conduct human rights investigations and to report swiftly and publicly. Its mandate must be respected, and we call on the Malian authorities to cease all restrictions and uphold the status-of-forces agreement. It is vital that the Security Council be kept informed of obstructions to MINUSMA discharging its mandate. We therefore welcome the new reporting requirement in the resolution. Following the allegations against State forces and Wagner Group personnel, we welcome the reinforced conditionality governing MINUSMA’s support for the Malian defence and security forces in order to ensure that is not misused.”

    2022-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9082 (2022) · source

15. “The United Kingdom welcomes the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and I thank our French colleagues for their hard worker as penholder. MINUSMA has a key role to play in helping to build long-term peace in Mali. The mandate renewal takes place in a particularly difficult political and security context in Mali. MINUSMA itself faces significant challenges. Restrictions by Mali’s authorities limit its ability to protect civilians and to monitor and report on the recent surge in human rights violations and abuses. That jeopardizes both the safety and the security of peacekeepers and civilians. In that context, the United Kingdom would have preferred a greater emphasis on human rights and the freedom of movement in resolution 2640 (2022).”

    2022-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9082 (2022) · source

16. “I do not want to take too much more time, but I wanted to say that the Russian representative can try to claim that nothing is true and make outrageous claims of Ukrainian provocations. Cover-ups are as old as crime itself. But the undeniable fact is that Russian forces are in Ukraine, and there are no Ukrainian forces in Russia. There is one aggressor here. The evidence will catch up with them, and there will be accountability for those crimes.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source

17. “We will therefore continue to support Ukraine in its exercise of that right of self-defence and resecuring its privileges and rights under the Charter of the United Nations. We yet again reiterate the calls of the international community for Russia to end its illegal invasion, withdraw outside Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and enter into dialogue and negotiation. At a time when we are facing the existential threats of climate change and food insecurity following a global pandemic, Russia must end its illegal war and its blockade of Ukraine’s ports.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source

18. “When the world calls for peace, dialogue and adherence to international law, Russia answers with escalation, missiles and the targeting of civilians — more attacks, more destruction, more death and, as I am sure we will hear again today, more war propaganda, more lies and more disinformation. Neither can we ignore the prominent role of Belarus in acting as a direct staging post for the attacks over the weekend and yesterday. We praise the extraordinary bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian people in the face of this brutal assault on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its very existence as a country. Ukraine is entitled to defend itself, as any of us would be if our cities, towns and villages were subjected to repeated relentless missile strikes by a foreign army focused on wiping out our existence.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source

19. “I join others in thanking Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing and, while we welcome President Zelenskyy’s participation in this meeting, we again deeply regret the circumstances that have brought him here today. Just over four months since the start of its illegal invasion, Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. Russia continues to pummel Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region in an effort to seize full control. And over the weekend, Russia launched an intense barrage of cruise missile attacks at targets across Ukraine, including a shopping centre in Kremenchuk, which was hit with more than 1,000 people inside. We heard President Zelenskyy’s roll call of the recent dead and extend our condolences to their families and friends.”

    2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9080 (2022) · source

20. “The United Nations and humanitarian partners require a minimum 12-month extension in order to continue to expand early-recovery programming. There is no justification for bringing that vital lifeline to an end. As Mr. Agha said, there are more than 4 million reasons to renew the cross-border mandate — one for each person depending on it. We must stand by the people of Syria.”

    2022-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9068 (2022) · source

21. “Across Syria this year there have been more than 2.9 million indirect beneficiaries of early-recovery projects of the sort set out by Under-Secretary-General Griffiths, backed by $195 million in international funding. The United Kingdom will continue to play its part and has pledged nearly $200 million in humanitarian support in 2022. That will support ongoing early recovery across all areas of Syria, supporting urban and rural livelihoods, the rehabilitation of water networks and quality education for children. But without mandate renewal, early-recovery projects in north-west Syria would be compromised. I therefore urge Council members to review the evidence and listen to the experts. Humanitarian need and regional stability necessitate the renewal and expansion of resolution 2585 (2021).”

    2022-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9068 (2022) · source

22. “It would mean the loss of food, water and basic services for nearly 2.5 million people; reduced access to services for women and girls, who represent 80 per cent of north-western Syria’s population; the loss of oversight provided by the United Nations gold-standard monitoring mechanism, which has scrutinized more than 56,000 trucks since 2014 and prevented aid from getting into the hands of terrorists; and a devastating hindrance to efforts to tackle the coronavirus disease pandemic in the north-west, where only 5.7 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated. The closure of previous crossings should serve as a clear warning. Needs in the north-east have escalated since the closure of the Al-Yarubiyah crossing.”

    2022-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9068 (2022) · source

23. “As we have heard today, the situation in Syria, driven by 11 years of conflict, continues to worsen, with 80 per cent of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. The call this past week from humanitarians at the border, as well as United Nations leaders and more than 32 leaders of non-governmental organizations, is clear. An end to the mandate would be catastrophic.”

    2022-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9068 (2022) · source

24. “I join others in thanking the Secretary-General, Under-Secretary-General Griffiths and Mr. Agha for their briefings. As we have heard, the Security Council will soon consider the United Nations mandate to deliver cross-border aid into Syria. The United Kingdom is in no doubt that the Council should take decisions that alleviate suffering and contribute to peace and security. We base our decisions on evidence and the advice of the humanitarian actors on the ground working to save lives. This month, a United Kingdom ministerial delegation visited the Turkish-Syrian border and witnessed the enormous effort that goes into ensuring regular and transparent cross-border humanitarian operations.”

    2022-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9068 (2022) · source

25. “Seven months after the holding of the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), the EU and the United Kingdom are coordinating to pick up the pace on delivering a net-zero, climate-resilient transition. At a time of global instability, with growing challenges of inflation, debt and food insecurity, we are united in our determination to deliver on the Glasgow Climate Pact and ensure the successful legacy of COP26.”

    2022-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9065 (2022) · source

26. “I would like to support, in particular, the High-Representative’s words rebutting disinformation on sanctions. Secondly, we welcome the EU’s important contribution to the Council’s work. That includes EU efforts on restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, its renewed partnership with the African Union and its contribution to United Nations peace operations and peacebuilding, including, for example, its contribution on Somalia. In Europe, we strongly support the EU’s efforts in the Western Balkans, where we are coordinating to support the region in order to secure progress in the EU- facilitated Serbia-Kosovo dialogue and working towards the renewal of the European Union-led peacekeeping force Operation Althea mandate in November. Finally, we welcome the EU’s work on global systemic challenges.”

    2022-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9065 (2022) · source

27. “We therefore welcome the positive role played by the European Union (EU) and other regional organizations in promoting diplomacy and multilateralism and supporting the Security Council on international peace and security. First, we welcome the incredible support to Ukrainians and the assistance provided to Ukraine to defend itself and in defence of the Charter of the United Nations. The United Kingdom supports an outward- looking EU and values our cooperation on responding to this latest breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. That includes coordinating on measures to limit Russia’s ability to finance and wage its war and on the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine to support Ukraine’s Prosecutor General. We are also working closely together on addressing issues of global food security.”

    2022-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9065 (2022) · source

28. “I join others in thanking the High Representative for his briefing and in wishing him a speedy recovery and return to in-person meetings. As many colleagues said, this has been one of the most challenging years for Europe since the Second World War, with Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine causing death and devastation and forcing millions of refugees into neighbouring States. It has been a challenging year for the international community, with Russia’s actions and other conflicts exacerbating existing problems in a world ravaged by the coronavirus disease pandemic and climate change. And it has been a challenging year for the United Nations, the multilateral system and the rules-based international norms that we value.”

    2022-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9065 (2022) · source

29. “Finally, Member States can share learning experiences and expertise among organizations to strengthen the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda rather than duplicating efforts.”

    2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064 (2022) · source

30. “We have also supported the development of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s first policies on sexual exploitation and abuse and on conflict-related sexual violence. Looking forward, there are further practical actions that regional organizations and Member States can take to support women’s full, equal and meaningful participation. First, as others have said, Member States can ensure that women are at the heart and forefront of organizations in leadership and decision-making roles. Secondly, they can actively promote the agenda through communications and dialogue. Thirdly, Member States can develop regional action plans, toolkits and strategies on women, peace and security, which are then fully implemented.”

    2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064 (2022) · source

31. “We join others in reaffirming our support for all efforts to remove the wholly counterproductive restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women and girls. For our part, the United Kingdom supports and funds the regional Women Mediators across the Commonwealth network, an experienced group of women who stand ready to support our collective efforts for peace at the community level. Members have resolved electoral conflicts in Uganda, mediated the political conflict in Myanmar and bridged divided communities in Northern Ireland and Cyprus. The United Kingdom also supports regional collaboration to drive change on the ground — for example, through our work with institutions of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Member States on capacity-building.”

    2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064 (2022) · source

32. “That is why we, as the United Kingdom, are particularly focused on the threat of sexual violence. In November, London will host an international conference on preventing sexual violence in conflict, the centrepiece of a global campaign launched by Foreign Secretary Truss last year. For us, all options are on the table to strengthen international prevention and response to the heinous crimes of conflict-related sexual violence, which remain one of the many horrifying consequences of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. Turning to the role of regional organizations, in many contexts they have unique influence in advocating for the rights of women and girls — for example, in the case of Afghanistan and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.”

    2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064 (2022) · source

33. “I thank you, Madam President, for convening this important debate, and through you I thank the valuable expert briefers and regional organizations that we heard from today. In April, during our presidency of the Security Council, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and Nadia Murad launched the Murad Code (see S/PV.9016) — a landmark code of conduct for safely and effectively gathering information from survivors. We ensured that the Code was translated into Ukrainian so that it could be used, now, with the aim of holding perpetrators to account for their crimes. The Secretary-General set out very clearly the many serious issues facing women in conflict areas all over the world — from Afghanistan to Ukraine to Myanmar. We need action to address this if we are to prevent the disproportionate suffering of women in those crises.”

    2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064 (2022) · source

34. “At this urgent moment, the United Kingdom calls on all donors to ensure that funding is available and disbursed without delay. Finally, the United Kingdom welcomes the announcement of further pledges towards the United Nations operation to address the threat posed by the FSO SAFER tanker. We call on all who have not yet pledged to step up to meet the remaining $20 million shortfall.”

    2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source

35. “As the Special Envoy mentioned, the number of civilian casualties remains below pre-truce averages, but we must strive for that figure to be zero. The people of Yemen deserve to live their lives without the fear of being killed or maimed. Landmines and unexploded ordnance were the most frequent cause of casualties last month. I would therefore like to acknowledge the crucial work of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement and General Beary in accelerating demining efforts, and I call on all parties to support their work. As we heard from Ms. Mudawi, the Yemeni people also continue to be threatened by acute food insecurity. The future generation — 2.2 million Yemeni children — are at risk of physical and cognitive impairment due to acute malnutrition.”

    2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source

36. “Against that backdrop, however, I would like to reiterate the United Kingdom’s concern about the grave humanitarian impact of the continued road closures around Taiz. We call on the Houthis to continue to demonstrate the flexibility that they have shown so far in order to reach a compromise as soon as possible and open the main roads. In the meantime, the three-track process that Mr. Grundberg outlined has allowed for positive progress on the economic and military tracks. That includes dialogue on the payment of salaries and initiatives to support improved monetary policy coordination. The news that the Yemeni parties’ Military Coordination Committee intends to establish a joint coordination room is also an extremely welcome step.”

    2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source

37. “I would like to thank Mr. Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, and Ms. Mudawi, Acting Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for their very informative briefings. It was also very powerful to hear from Ms. Al-Salafi the views of Yemeni civil society, for which I thank her. I would like to start by commending and thanking Mr. Grundberg for the leadership shown by the United Nations in extending the truce for a two-month period on 2 June. We welcome the commendable flexibility of the parties, which have shown that they are committed to the opportunity the truce presents. We should build on that positive momentum.”

    2022-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9063 (2022) · source

38. “The World Bank must deliver swiftly on its plans to strengthen fragile economies by distributing $170 billion over the next 15 months. Finally, actors on the ground need to live up to their responsibilities under international humanitarian law. We will continue to pursue accountability for those using starvation as a weapon of war. This human-made global crisis requires a collective global response. The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with vulnerable countries and will play its part. Russia must now play hers: end the conflict and the global shocks it is inflicting on the world’s poorest.”

    2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036 (2022) · source

39. “Alongside more than 50 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Kingdom has committed to keeping food and agricultural markets open, predictable and transparent. All WTO members must prohibit export restrictions on food bought for the World Food Programme. Secondly, it is vital that we strengthen global resilience to prevent future famine risks. As we set out in the United Kingdom’s international development strategy, which we launched this week, the United Kingdom will support the most vulnerable countries with more than $3.5 billion of humanitarian aid in the next three years. British International Investment — the United Kingdom’s development finance institution — will scale up high-quality and sustainable investments, including in the food and agricultural sector.”

    2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036 (2022) · source

40. “Ukraine’s food and fertilizer exports were feeding up to 400 million people worldwide. And now a critical part of the world’s food supply chain is being throttled by Russia. Across the world, 13 million hungry children are already subsisting on a knife edge; of those, 2 million will now face starvation this year. As our Minister explained yesterday, the United Kingdom fully supports the United States-led Road Map for Global Food Security and the Global Alliance for Food Security launched under Germany’s presidency of the Group of Seven. We have the food and the means to help the most vulnerable, but we must act now. First, the international community must enable the free movement of food.”

    2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036 (2022) · source

41. “I join others, Mr. President, in thanking you for having convened the debate today, and I also thank our briefers for their very insightful remarks. At the start of the year, the United Nations Global Humanitarian Overview warned of unprecedented levels of global food insecurity, driven by a perfect storm of the coronavirus disease, the climate crisis and conflict. Yemen faces catastrophic levels of food insecurity for the fifth year running. Refugees across the Sahel are suffering from increased violence and reduced humanitarian access, and, in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Ethiopia and Somalia, millions of people affected by conflict are also grappling with the worst drought in 40 years. Russia ignored that suffering in choosing to invade Ukraine, the breadbasket of the world.”

    2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036 (2022) · source

42. “We therefore support the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to encourage timely transitions back to constitutional order in Mali and Burkina Faso, and we encourage the transitional authorities in both countries to continue to engage constructively with ECOWAS on timetables for political transition and practical steps to prepare for elections. In conclusion, the United Kingdom is proud to be supporting efforts to stabilize the Sahel, including through our deployment in MINUSMA and our humanitarian and development partnerships. We remain committed to helping to address the Sahel’s challenges through a holistic approach incorporating security, governance and development.”

    2022-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9035 (2022) · source

43. “We urge the Malian authorities to end their relationship with the Wagner Group in the interests of national and regional stability. They should also allow the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) unfettered access to Moura to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into allegations that Malian troops, operating alongside Wagner Group mercenaries, massacred civilians in March. Thirdly, lasting peace and stability in the Sahel will depend on good governance, built around the rule of law, accountable and effective State institutions and the development of sustainable livelihoods.”

    2022-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9035 (2022) · source

44. “In addition to agreeing on unprecedented World Bank financing to protect vulnerable countries from the economic impact of Russia’s invasion, the United Kingdom’s previous funding of $200 million, plus our new humanitarian funding, will help more than 3 million people in the region with food assistance. Secondly, I would like to emphasize the importance of ensuring that all actors in the Sahel promote and protect human rights and comply with international human rights law and humanitarian law. In that respect, we remain seriously concerned about the presence of the Wagner Group in Mali. Allegations of human rights violations and abuses have increased significantly since the Wagner Group deployed to Mali in December 2021. The Wagner Group also has a track record of exploiting natural resources and spreading destabilizing disinformation.”

    2022-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9035 (2022) · source

45. “I would like to thank our briefers. I would like to make three points. First, the peoples of the Sahel can continue to count on the United Kingdom’s steadfast support. The challenges facing the region are complex, interlinked and require holistic solutions. We are working with our partners in the Sahel to foster long-term stability by addressing the drivers of conflict, including climate change. We are also working to protect the most vulnerable in the Sahel from the impact of the global food crisis caused by Russia’s illegal and unjustified aggression against Ukraine.”

    2022-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9035 (2022) · source

46. “Thirdly, the United Kingdom is proud to continue to play a leading role in the humanitarian effort in Ukraine, delivering vital supplies and life-saving medical aid to those most in need, including children, but humanitarian support is not a solution to the suffering of children in Ukraine. Only the withdrawal of Russian troops and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine will end the cause of the suffering.”

    2022-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9032 (2022) · source

47. “First, we urge all countries to endorse and implement the Safe Schools Declaration of 2015, which is designed to protect education in armed conflict. Secondly, the international community must ensure that all credible allegations of crimes on the territory of Ukraine be investigated, including grave violations against children, whoever is accused of committing them. We support all efforts to improve our collective understanding of the situation on the ground through the collection of evidence and data and the work of the monitoring and reporting mechanism.”

    2022-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9032 (2022) · source

48. “Secondly, schools and nurseries have been targeted across Ukraine and, as with the tragic bombing of the Mariupol theatre, children sheltering have been mercilessly targeted. Thirdly, there are credible allegations of sexual violence against children by Russian forces and, as others have said, mass displacement has left children exposed to human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Fourthly, reports of forced deportations continue, with more than 700,000 people, including many mothers and children, having been moved to Russia. There is now a very real risk of a lost generation and the continuation of a cycle of violence caused by Russia’s invasion and the devastation that it has created. In order to address that, we need to work together.”

    2022-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9032 (2022) · source

49. “I would like to start by thanking Ms. Msuya and Mr. Abdi for their helpful and informative briefings. Over the past 25 years, the Security Council has repeatedly recognized, condemned and sought to address the impact of conflict on children. While it will take time for the United Nations monitoring and reporting mechanism to establish the full extent of the impact of Russia’s invasion on children, there is already evidence that Russia is committing four of the Security Council’s six grave violations against children in times of war that are listed in resolution 1261 (1999). First, children have been killed and maimed. Reporting from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights suggests that at least 238 children have been killed and 347 injured, although the true toll is likely to be far higher.”

    2022-05-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9032 (2022) · source

50. “We call on North Korea to refrain from further provocations, to engage meaningfully in dialogue with the United States and to take concrete steps towards denuclearization in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner.”

    2022-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9030 (2022) · source