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. “May I start by paying tribute to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and recognize its successes over the past 14 years. In resolution 2568 (2021), the Security Council asked the Secretary-General, jointly with the African Union, and in consultation with the Federal Government of Somalia and donors, to produce a proposal on the strategic objectives, size and composition of a reconfigured African Union mission. Unfortunately, more time is required to reach consensus on that proposal. We therefore recommended a rollover of the current mandate to enable this process to conclude, and we thank Council members for their support for this approach.”

   2021-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8939 (2021) · source

2. “Finally, this year marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Global 16 Days Campaign, focused on the issue of the gender-related killing of women. Women and girls continue to be acutely affected by the conflict in Syria, with gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and assault widespread, particularly in camps. Poverty, displacement and COVID-19 have exacerbated the problem. We should continue to ensure the availability of humanitarian funding to counter gender-based violence in Syria. The United Kingdom has contributed more than $34 million to the United Nations Population Fund to counter gender-based violence in Syria since 2019. We encourage others to do the same.”

   2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source

3. “Those needs are exacerbated by the approach of winter and the lack of testing and treatment capabilities amid the continued spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. It is vital that the Council continue to support the provision of assistance to Syrians in need by the most effective and efficient means. At present, it is clear that nothing can replace the scale or scope of the United Nations-mandated cross-border mechanism for achieving that. We welcome evidence in the reports of the progress made by the United Nations to scale up cross-line assistance into north-west and north- east Syria, as well as to increase humanitarian early- recovery interventions. We should continue to be guided by the objective and thorough reporting by the United Nations on the humanitarian situation in Syria.”

   2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source

4. “Until there is genuine willingness to engage in the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned process endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2254 (2015), there is no prospect of a successful peace process, or of a sustainable solution, which should remain the priority for us all. I would also like to thank Under-Secretary- General Griffiths for his briefing and for the ongoing work of the United Nations and its partners to address the dire humanitarian situation in Syria. I also thank Ms. Ballour for returning to the Security Council and for her powerful testimony and her appeal for what a normal childhood would look like for the children she names. It is evident from the Secretary-General’s reports submitted pursuant to resolutions 2139 (2014) and 2585 (2021) (S/2021/1029 and S/2021/1030) that the humanitarian needs in Syria remain vast.”

   2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source

5. “Let me start by thanking Special Envoy Pedersen for his briefing. We very much welcome his efforts over the past month to facilitate a political solution, including his recent visit to Damascus to seek to unblock progress on the Constitutional Committee. For years, the Security Council, on behalf of the wider membership of the United Nations, has demanded the implementation of the steps in resolution 2254 (2015). Yet not only has the regime failed to engage genuinely in the process, but the issues that gave rise to and sustained the conflict continue — atrocities, human rights abuses, disregard for the rule of law, widespread corruption and economic mismanagement.”

   2021-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8937 (2021) · source

6. “We hope that Iran will choose to conclude a fair and comprehensive deal that would benefit the Iranian people and nation. If Iran continues its current path of nuclear escalation, in weeks, not months, it will be responsible for collapsing the JCPOA and provoking a serious crisis, which would require a robust response from the Council.”

   2021-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8930 (2021) · source

7. “Iran is producing highly-enriched uranium, which is unprecedented for a State without a nuclear- weapons programme, as well as uranium metal, which provides weapons-applicable knowledge. Moreover, since February, Iran has curtailed monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in violation of resolution 2231 (2015); and since 2019, has failed to cooperate with the Agency on safeguards investigations. Iran has also failed to implement its bilateral agreement with the IAEA to service cameras and allow access to the Karaj site. We therefore call on Iran to restore fully all access under resolution 2231 (2015) and to implement its legal obligations and bilateral understanding with the Agency without delay. We have reached a fork in the road.”

   2021-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8930 (2021) · source

8. “As the Secretary-General notes in his report, the latest talks in Vienna resumed on 29 November, five months after Iran broke them off. During those talks, Iran has introduced new maximalist demands, many of which go beyond the JCPOA. The process is not moving fast enough, and time is running out. At the same time, Iran’s nuclear escalation is undermining international peace and security and the global non-proliferation system. Iran has continued to develop a ballistic missile programme, which is inconsistent with resolution 2231 (2015). It is important that the Security Council focus on the gravity of the current situation. The Iranian nuclear programme has never been more advanced than it is today. Iran’s total stockpile contains enough fissile material that, if enriched further, could produce several nuclear weapons.”

   2021-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8930 (2021) · source

9. “I would like to begin by thanking Under-Secretary- General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. We welcome the Secretary-General’s twelfth report (S/2021/995) on the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015) and thank the Secretariat for its continued professionalism and support. I would also like to thank Ambassador Byrne Nason and her team for the work of the Security Council Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015) and for her briefing. I also thank His Excellency Mr. Olaf Skoog for his briefing. The United Kingdom has consistently demonstrated our commitment to implementing resolution 2231 (2015) and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Our priority is to see the United States return to the agreement and Iran to return to compliance, and we are negotiating in Vienna towards that goal.”

   2021-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8930 (2021) · source

10. “We should also not lose sight of the humanitarian urgency of diffusing the threat posed by FSO SAFER oil tanker, which continues to deteriorate off the coast of Yemen, risking an oil spill that would devastate the livelihoods of nearly 4 million people. Lastly, I should like to express our appreciation to Hans Grundberg for his continued efforts to chart a way forward for peace in Yemen. I know that the international community looks forward to receiving his road map and we are committed to helping him and mobilizing behind the United Nations-led approach. The United Kingdom calls on all parties to work with the United Nations to reach sustainable peace in Yemen.”

    2021-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8929 (2021) · source

11. “Facilitating humanitarian access across the country to those in need is paramount. The United Kingdom calls on the Government of Yemen to facilitate access for non-governmental agency partners to the country to help deliver much-needed life-saving assistance. We are encouraged by the new appointment of Ahmed bin Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Maabqi as the Governor of the Central Bank of Yemen, but the Government of Yemen must commit to carrying out necessary economic reforms now, as Mr. Rajasingham emphasized. The international community and international financial institutions must also continue to assist the Government of Yemen in the implementation of reform and the facilitation of immediate external financial assistance.”

    2021-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8929 (2021) · source

12. “I thank Mr. Hans Grundberg and Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham for their briefings, which were both informative and very sobering. The United Kingdom is also deeply concerned about the further escalation in the conflict in Yemen over the past month. It pushes the country deeper into a humanitarian crisis, with increased civilian casualties and displacement. We are particularly worried by the impact of fighting on front lines in populated areas, such as Al-Hudaydah, Taiz and Marib. We also once again condemn the continued Houthi attacks across Yemen’s border into Saudi Arabia, including the recent ballistic missile attack near Riyadh. Such attacks are unacceptable and diminish the opportunity for real progress towards a political settlement. As the military picture worsens, the humanitarian imperatives increase.”

    2021-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8929 (2021) · source

13. “The consequences of inaction will be catastrophic. We must act now. We must all act now. We must all act now. The United Kingdom therefore strongly supported this draft resolution and will continue to support further action across the United Nations, including in the Security Council, to combat climate change.”

    2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8926 (2021) · source

14. “Small island developing States, where sea levels are rising faster than global averages, know we do not have the luxury of time. Mountain States, whose glaciers are melting, know we do not have the luxury of time. At the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, we saw that countries can work together to take decisive action. And today, well over 100 Member States, including many developing countries, as well as countries outside the Security Council, sponsored this draft resolution. We welcome steps taken by all Council members and Member States to combat climate change, but actions must follow words. The Security Council can play its part. More frequent reporting on the links between climate and security would be a good start. Climate change is a threat to us all.”

    2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8926 (2021) · source

15. “The United Kingdom, too, regrets the outcome of the voting on draft resolution S/2021/990. For more than 75 years, across thousands of resolutions, the Security Council has sought to address the greatest challenges to international peace and security. It is clear that climate change is such a challenge. In the past few years, the political consensus has caught up with the scientific consensus that climate change is caused by human activity and the burning of fossil fuels and that those changes have a direct impact on peace and security. Member States on the forefront of climate change, like those in the Sahel, where temperatures are rising 50 per cent faster than global averages, are acutely aware of this. They know we do not have the luxury of time.”

    2021-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8926 (2021) · source

16. “But all parts of the United Nations, including the Security Council, have a critical role to play to meet the challenge. Therefore, we support the draft resolution submitted to the Council as an important first step. Thirdly, we wholeheartedly support a fully inclusive approach, in particular with respect to women and girls, who suffer disproportionately from conflict and climate change, so that they can play a meaningful role. In conclusion, we must act effectively, urgently and together to address the climate crisis and reduce the increasing risks of climate insecurity.”

    2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source

17. “We saw strong commitments made at COP26 on net zero, ending and reversing deforestation, the doubling of adaptation financing and meeting the $100 billion goal by 2023 at the latest. That will help countries increase their preparedness to climate risks and protect vulnerable communities from some of the worst impacts of climate change and its effects on stability. Secondly, we need the United Nations system to report comprehensively on the links between climate and security so that we have the best information to inform our decisions. The Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate has a clear role in that regard and should continue to examine the conditions and environments in which terrorism develops and thrives.”

    2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source

18. “In Iraq and Syria, farming communities affected by climate-induced crop failures and droughts were thought to have been an important source of recruits for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant between 2014 and 2016. We therefore welcome the United Nations efforts to address both terrorism and climate change. With the climate crisis posing an existential threat to our future — not only to our environment, but to our common security — we must act. I want to emphasize three ways we can do this. First, at the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), we saw that countries can work together to deliver ambitious commitments. Through the Glasgow Climate Pact, we have kept alive the hope of limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C.”

    2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source

19. “I thank you, Mr. President, in particular for your clear account of the impact of climate change and terrorism in the Niger. And I thank the other experts too for their valuable briefings. It is a cruel reality that many of the nations most affected by climate change are also among the world’s most fragile. As the Secretary-General made clear, the impacts of climate change act as a multiplier of the threats already facing vulnerable populations. And countries enduring conflict are hit especially hard. With institutions under pressure, communities displaced and societies insecure, those nations are less equipped to cope with the impacts of climate change. As you highlighted, Mr. President, in the Sahel, changes in rainfall have fuelled conflict between farmer and herder communities. That can create the conditions for violent extremism.”

    2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source

20. “We continue to call on the Government of Israel to reverse its decisions of 24 and 27 October to advance the construction of settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements being advanced around Jerusalem are a threat to the viability of a future Palestinian State and, therefore, to peace and stability. Peace will be achieved only through real movement towards renewed dialogue between the parties. We encourage further and deeper engagement in that regard, aimed at creating the foundations for future progress towards a two-State solution.”

    2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source

21. “We have heard today of rising pressure and risk of instability in the West Bank, linked to the Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis, the lack of UNRWA funding and increasing settler violence. As we reiterated at the international ministerial conference on 16 November, the United Kingdom remains a firm supporter of UNRWA and values its importance as a vital humanitarian and stabilizing force in the region. We encourage all efforts to improve the Agency’s serious financial situation, which threatens its service delivery. We condemn any incidence of violence by settlers against Palestinians; that deteriorating trend must be reversed. We welcome Israeli authorities’ discussion of how to address this issue, and urge Israel to bring those responsible to justice and end the culture of impunity.”

    2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source

22. “I offer my condolences to the family of an Israeli civilian, Eliyahu Kay, who was killed in Jerusalem on 21 November, reportedly by a member of Hamas. We condemn Hamas’ continued attacks against civilians, which are unacceptable and unjustifiable. The decision by the Israeli authorities to designate six Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the evidence which forms the basis of those designations, is a matter for the Government of Israel. The United Kingdom maintains its own criteria for designation. We continue engagement with a number of those organizations on human rights issues and respect the role that NGOs and civil society organizations play in upholding human rights and democracy.”

    2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source

23. “In particular, we welcome the commitments made to reinvigorate the Joint Economic Committee and to resolve key technical issues, including an electronic value added tax pilot by the end of 2021. Further direct engagement between the parties, including to progress commitments made at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting, is essential, and we should all spare no effort in supporting it. On 19 November, the Government of the United Kingdom proscribed Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organization, including its political wing. We remain clear that Hamas must renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept previously signed agreements. Those conditions remain the benchmark against which its intentions should be judged.”

    2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source

24. “I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland and Ms. Ero for their briefings. Let me reaffirm at the outset that the United Kingdom remains firmly committed to a two-State solution, based on the 1967 lines and with Jerusalem as a shared capital. In the absence of a political solution, it is vital that we continue to support efforts to improve conditions on the ground and promote stability for Israelis and Palestinians alike. In that regard, we thank Norway for hosting the recent meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians (AHLC) and the parties for the spirit of cooperation they brought to it.”

    2021-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8913 (2021) · source

25. “The United Kingdom will continue engaging with all stakeholders, including the Federal Government of Somalia, the United Nations, African Union, troop-contributing countries and donors in order to identify areas of common ground and help stakeholders reach consensus. Somalia faces important electoral and security transitions in the months ahead. Successful completion of those processes will form a crucial part of enabling Somalia’s security and prosperity for the long term. We hope that Somalia’s leaders, the United Nations, the AU and donors will come together and collaborate to achieve lasting peace and security in Somalia, and we encourage them to do so.”

    2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source

26. “In our view, it would run counter to the idea of progressive transition to full Somali security responsibility. Reaching agreement on a joint United Nations-AU proposal, in consultation with the Federal Government of Somalia and donors, as requested by the Council, will mean moving past the current impasse and finding consensus on the way forward. Such a joint proposal should reflect our common objectives of preserving AMISOM’s hard-won achievements but beginning the transition away from external support to full Somali responsibility for security, as the Council set out unanimously in resolution 2568 (2021).”

    2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source

27. “With the expiry of the current African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) mandate fast approaching, we need to make urgent progress on the security transition in order to ensure continuity of international security support to Somalia in a manner that reflects the evolving situation on the ground. It is clear that there is a broad range of views about what such support should look like. In our view, that support must be both realistic and affordable and should support the progressive transition to Somali-led security, as set out in the Somali transition plan. Our view is that the African Union (AU)-United Nations multidimensional stabilization mission model endorsed by the African Union Peace and Security Council will not achieve that.”

    2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source

28. “Turning back to elections, we remain deeply concerned by the very slow electoral progress overall. Somalia has committed to starting the lower house elections immediately and to conclude them by 24 December. It is vital that the elections are not delayed beyond that date, as that would only continue to undermine progress on Somalia’s national priorities, increase political uncertainty, provide Al-Shabaab with the opportunity to regain ground and boost its political influence and, as Ms. Siyad said, disadvantage women. We have a collective interest in protecting against any deterioration of security in Somalia. That leads me to my second point — international support.”

    2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source

29. “May I start by thanking the briefers — Special Representative Swan, Special Representative Madeira and Executive Director Siyad — for their briefings. I will focus my remarks today on two issues: elections and the future of international security support to Somalia. The Security Council has closely followed the electoral process in Somalia, and the United Kingdom welcomes the completion of the Upper House process, which represents an important milestone, as does the election of women to constitute 26 per cent of the Upper House. However, that achievement was eloquently qualified by Executive Director Siyad’s challenge to meet the 30 per cent quota in the lower house elections and to see the full inclusion of women in the political, social and economic decision-making in Somalia.”

    2021-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8907 (2021) · source

30. “President, an international order based on the rule of law is indispensable for a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. That includes the Security Council holding Governments to account when they disregard international treaties, especially when that involves serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. For the United Kingdom, that also means promoting open societies, good governance and the rule of law at the national level. Combatting corruption and ensuring that people have access to justice and security can be important steps in preventing conflict. In conclusion, overcoming the silos of the United Nations system is critical for United Nations conflict prevention. The United Kingdom is committed to realizing the promise of the 2016 twin resolutions. We are grateful to you, Mr.”

    2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source

31. “Those who hide behind arguments about mandates and competencies in order to maintain that human rights have no bearing on peace and security would do well to revisit the Charter of the United Nations. Moreover, as we see, human rights violations are often an early indicator of conflict, and human rights diplomacy is a key part of preventive diplomacy. Secondly, peace needs to be more firmly embedded in the work of United Nations bodies concerned with development. Development may be the best form of conflict prevention, but, as we have said before, development done poorly is not the master key to unlocking all problems. For development to be sustainable, it needs to simultaneously address issues that we know drive conflict, including social, economic and political exclusion. Thirdly, as your concept note (S/2021/888/annex) states, Mr.”

    2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source

32. “As we heard today and as the 2020 United Nations peacebuilding architecture review also reminded us, making that a reality is still a work in progress. We warmly welcome the Secretary-General’s prioritization of peace in Our Common Agenda. I would like to make three points on this issue. First, a system-wide approach to sustaining peace is critical. By the time an issue reaches the Security Council, it may be too late for many on the front line — the receiving end of conflict. Peace needs to be a core consideration of the wider United Nations architecture. The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is obviously key, but we can do more to realize the PBC’s full potential and, as we heard today, to enhance the role of other United Nations bodies and organs. The human rights architecture is particularly important in that regard.”

    2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source

33. “I would like to thank you, Mr. President, as well as the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Kelapile from the Economic and Social Council and Judge Donoghue for their briefings. In 2016, the Security Council and the General Assembly adopted a pair of ground-breaking resolutions on peacebuilding and sustaining peace (resolution 2282 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 70/262). Those resolutions explicitly acknowledged — for the first time — that conflict prevention was the responsibility of the entire United Nations system. Building on our collective recognition that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, the resolutions envisioned a more integrated and coherent United Nations approach to preventing conflict.”

    2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source

34. “In conclusion, the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process continues to impact negatively the lives of everyday Israelis and Palestinians, and the ongoing conflict is in need of a just and lasting resolution. We continue to urge all parties to renew their commitment to peacebuilding and to work to deliver it. The United Kingdom continues to believe that a two-State solution offers the only meaningful prospect for durable peace.”

    2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8883 (2021) · source

35. “The dire fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) carries the risk that it will be unable to pay salaries or its suppliers in full, starting next month. Rapid action is needed to improve the situation. The United Kingdom will continue to work with the PA to help it implement necessary reforms, and we urge our international partners to do the same. Lastly, as we celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child last week, we were reminded of the impressive educational attainment rates for girls across the occupied Palestinian territories. We must celebrate that success and ensure that the vital provision of education, including to girls, is protected from the threat of instability.”

    2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8883 (2021) · source

36. “The shocking attack, on 28 September, on the Palestinian village of Umm Mufaqarah, in the south Hebron hills, resulted in a 3-year-old Palestinian child being hospitalized. We call on Israel to provide appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, to ensure all such incidents are investigated thoroughly and to bring to justice those responsible. We welcome the Government of Israel’s commitment to addressing settler violence, as well as Foreign Minister Lapid’s condemnation of the Umm Mufaqarah attack. We are also concerned about the Israeli security forces’ use of excessive force. We continue to urge Israel to uphold the principles of necessity and proportionality when defending its legitimate security interests.”

    2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8883 (2021) · source

37. “We now ask Israel to set out a full and transparent plan to improve movement and access in Gaza, in line with international humanitarian law, to allow for reconstruction and development to advance. Notwithstanding a number of positive signals, we continue to see negative trends in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. As we have heard, rates of demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes have continued to rise, and this year may see the worst rate of demolitions in five years. We urge the Government of Israel to ensure that Palestinian families living in the occupied territories can remain safely in their homes. Violence in the West Bank, including settler attacks against Palestinian people and property, is now on the rise.”

    2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8883 (2021) · source

38. “May I welcome you, Mr. President, back to New York. I also thank the Special Coordinator for his briefing and our two civil-society briefers, Mr. Daniel Levy and Ms. Hanan Ashrawi, for their thought- provoking contributions. I would like to start by welcoming the increased engagement between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority over recent months. We are confident that this dialogue will continue, and it is our hope that it will deliver tangible results to tackle immediate and long-term threats to peace and stability. The parties have our full support in that. The United Kingdom also welcomes the increased calm in Gaza and the recent steps taken by Israel to loosen constraints on access for goods and people into and out of the Gaza Strip.”

    2021-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8883 (2021) · source

39. “As the Security Council, we must now place greater pressure on the Houthis to end such appalling, indiscriminate attacks. Respect for international humanitarian law, including protecting civilians and assisting them to move out of conflict zones, is imperative. We also condemn in the strongest possible terms the incessant and unjustifiable Houthi cross-border attacks into Saudi Arabia, including the drone attack on 8 October, which left 10 people wounded at a civilian airport in Jizan. Finally, we wish to express our deep disappointment that the Human Rights Council failed to renew the mandate of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen. Monitoring and accountability are essential in all conflict situations. We call on all parties to the conflict to respect human rights and to investigate allegations of violations where they arise.”

    2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8878 (2021) · source

40. “Ramesh Rajasingham today remind us that, after six years of war, the people of Yemen are still suffering from the world’s worst human- made humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian relief can only do so much for so long. As Mr. Rajasingham emphasized, we need a political solution to end the war, and we need initiatives to support the economy in order to reduce humanitarian need. The picture painted by Ms. Al-Deen today of the situation in Ma’rib is bleak, and her recommendations are far-reaching. It is galling to see the Houthi offensive on Ma’rib continue, including their siege of Ma’rib’s Al-Abdiyah district. Ma’rib’s citizens witnessed an atrocity on 3 October when a Houthi missile attack on the densely populated Al-Rawdah neighbourhood in Ma’rib killed two children and injured 33 civilians.”

    2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8878 (2021) · source

41. “At the outset, I would like to commend Special Envoy Hans Grundberg for his efforts during his first month. His engagement with a broad range of actors has laid an important foundation for a revived peace process. We are committed to helping him and to mobilizing international support behind the United Nations-led approach. I would also like to welcome the return of the Prime Minister and wider Cabinet to Yemen. The parties must now work together to secure the sustained presence of the Government of Yemen in the country. As the Special Envoy has previously stressed, we need to see implementation of the Riyadh agreement in order to support stability, services and functional State institutions. The sobering words of Mr.”

    2021-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8878 (2021) · source

42. “In conclusion, identity does not need to be a source of violence, but a source of pride. By supporting diversity, we can build stronger national and international bonds and open, resilient and prosperous societies.”

    2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source

43. “In United Nations peace operations, human rights monitoring is a critical early- warning function. United Nations political leaders, mediators and advisers facilitate inclusive peace processes to build sustainable peace. The Peacebuilding Commission supports countries grappling with their peacebuilding challenges, while the Peacebuilding Fund — to which the United Kingdom remains a major donor — provides catalytic funding to encourage those efforts. But as you said, President Kenyatta, the system can do a better job of getting ahead of threats to peace. Peace and development are mutually reinforcing, and many of the tools to build sustainable peace are found in the United Nations development system. We urge the development system to embed peacebuilding approaches now in order to avert humanitarian crises later.”

    2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source

44. “In Ethiopia, identity politics and hate speech are dividing communities, exacerbating a conflict that has already pushed 400,000 people into famine. Therefore, the Council should not stand by as violence escalates. We should heed the warnings of humanitarians on the ground. Secondly, inclusion is central to peacebuilding and makes States more resilient to shocks. As we heard so clearly from our speakers today on the lessons of Rwanda and the situation in Afghanistan, peace processes that include the warring parties, civil society actors and women’s groups strengthen national ownership. Thirdly, as other speakers mentioned, the United Nations has a range of tools to support countries that are struggling with identity-based violence and are committed to pursuing peace.”

    2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source

45. “But history has also shown us what happens when identity is weaponized — from Bosnia to Rwanda. I want to support this important debate by offering three thoughts: first, why the Council should be concerned when identity is used to stoke conflict; secondly, why inclusivity matters for peacebuilding; and thirdly, how to advance the use of United Nations peacebuilding tools more fully. First, we know the danger of identity-based incitement. It marginalizes already vulnerable populations, fuels extremism, manifests in human rights violations and sparks war. The Council, with its responsibility for peace and security, has an obligation to call it out and to end the protection of States that choose to ignore warning signs. In Myanmar, the exclusion of the Rohingya population has escalated into systematic violence and forced displacement.”

    2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source

46. “I thank you, President Kenyatta, for convening this important and timely debate. The United Kingdom values our close cooperation with Kenya on the issues brought to the Security Council. I would also like to thank our briefers for sharing their experience and distilling it into insightful comments for us today. Today’s topic is a pressing one. Economic pressures, a global pandemic and climate change have put unprecedented strain on the social contract that holds States together. The United Kingdom believes in open societies. We value human rights, inclusion, gender equality and free expression. Open societies respect identities and differences as integral aspects of community, and not as forces for division. Our experience is that societies are stronger and more stable when we embrace diversity.”

    2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source

47. “We welcomed the African Union’s decision to appoint former President His Excellency Mr. Obasanjo as an envoy in August. I reiterate our full support for him, the African Union and the United Nations as they work to end this tragic conflict and to help those in need.”

    2021-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8875 (2021) · source

48. “Likewise, I reiterate our call on the Federal Government to work with the United Nations and other international partners to eliminate all barriers to humanitarian access. As we have heard before, that needs to include urgent action to restore telecommunications and banking services in Tigray, enable deliveries of food and fuel and expedite the issuing of visas for humanitarian response staff. Time is of the essence. Thousands of truckloads of food and medicine and millions of litres of fuel need to move into Tigray in order to avert deaths on a catastrophic scale before the end of this year. Finally, we know that there will be no military solution to this conflict. It is past time to stop fighting and, as the Secretary-General urged, it is time to start talking.”

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49. “As we have heard and seen, the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia is critical. The United Nations personnel who were expelled were dealing with the increasingly acute needs of those in the north of Ethiopia. The United Kingdom Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs visited Tigray and Amhara last week and saw first-hand the United Nations efforts to respond to that emergency. The removal of key United Nations personnel will have a direct impact on the ability of the international community to deliver vital humanitarian assistance. Unfortunately, that is not the only obstacle to delivering aid in northern Ethiopia. I want to reiterate our urgent call for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to cease its military campaign and act in the best interests of ordinary people in Tigray.”

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50. “I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. I start by paying tribute to the United Nations staff around the world who work tirelessly to deliver humanitarian aid, assessing and addressing needs on a neutral, impartial basis. I think that we all agree that their life-saving activities should not be politicized and that Member States should make every effort to support and facilitate their work. That is why the United Kingdom, like many of Ethiopia’s partners, was deeply disappointed by the Government of Ethiopia’s decision to expel seven United Nations officials. The strength of international concern over that is apparent in the fact that more than 40 countries quickly joined a joint statement delivered by the United Kingdom at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 4 October.”

    2021-10-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8875 (2021) · source