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

“Similarly, aid organizations and workers, whose mission is to help innocent civilians in humanitarian need, are not a target. In the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, an estimated 4 million people are living in dire and forlorn conditions. Despite regular attempts by the United Nations to gain access to deliver humanitarian support, Russia has never provided the necessary security guarantees for access. We continue to call for unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to the people of Ukraine. We call on Russia to stop denying access and to cease its attacks on critical infrastructure and residential areas. As we heard from others, the Black Sea Grain Initiative is critically important. More than 30 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs have been exported under the Initiative since 1 August.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“I join others in thanking Under-Secretary-General Griffiths for his briefing and work on the ground. His briefing reminds us of the enormous cost of Russia’s war of aggression. Russia has continued to conduct massive missile and unmanned aerial vehicle strikes against inhabited areas across Ukraine, killing innocent civilians. The United Kingdom is appalled by the reports of recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian Red Cross Society warehouses in Odesa and a mobile hospital in Mykolaiv. There is no excuse for attacking the most vulnerable or the brave humanitarian workers who support them. We therefore call on Russia to abide by international humanitarian law, in particular to observe the distinction between combatants and civilians. Ukrainian civilians — indeed all civilians — should be protected by all combatants.”
2023-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9321 (2023) · source
“We need to translate our commitments into action, strengthening women’s full and meaningful inclusion in decision-making and in peace and development processes. The United Kingdom is committed to working with all countries to advance nationally owned peace, security and development objectives. Let us all work — here and at home — to restore the truth and the trust needed to realize those goals.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“First, the Council and the United Nations system can do more to anticipate risks and mobilize multilateral assistance earlier. Harnessing new technologies will revolutionize the way we understand conflict dynamics, enabling us to get ahead of crises and mitigate human suffering. We should nurture the trust and cooperation necessary to realize that. Secondly, we should use the full breadth of peacebuilding tools for more integrated and coherent responses. The Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission can support nationally led prevention strategies and empower countries to build the trust and partnerships needed to turbo-charge their peace and development trajectories. Thirdly, and critical to building trust and sustaining peace, is our collective commitment to the women and peace and security agenda.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“Trust in national and international institutions is central to their legitimacy and to the fabric of society, as we heard today. Yet that trust in both has been severely tested. We face complex and interconnected challenges today to peace, security and development. In order to overcome them, we have to rebuild that trust. Switzerland’s concept note (S/2023/283, annex) should chime with us all — inclusion is key to building peaceful societies; global normative frameworks provide the guardrails for peaceful order; and facts, truth and transparency are crucial for enabling trust. These elements are at the heart of the sustaining peace agenda. How can we build on that? I echo and underline three themes that were mentioned today.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“I join others in congratulating Switzerland on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and assure you, Sir, of our full support. I would also like to thank United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Türk, Youth Ambassador Chigwenya and Professor Olonisakin for their informative briefings. It is fitting that the country of Jean-Jacques Rousseau begin its Security Council presidency by convening an event on the importance of trust and the social contract. That Swiss philosopher’s belief that people could experience true freedom only in a society that ensured the rights and well-being of its citizens still resonates more than two and a half centuries later. And Rousseau’s veneration of Government under law finds a natural home in this Chamber and the Charter of the United Nations.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“We therefore welcome the Council’s unanimous condemnation of the Taliban’s latest decision and the call for an immediate reversal of all policies that restrict women’s rights and fundamental freedoms. We joined other Council members and Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries in co-sponsoring this resolution to send an unequivocal message to the Taliban: there is no justification for what you are doing to women and girls of your country. Since April 2021, the United Kingdom has given $662 million to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. We remain committed to supporting the United Nations and our partners working in-country. We will not abandon the women and girls of Afghanistan.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9314 (2023) · source
“Let me start by commending the co-penholders — the United Arab Emirates and Japan — for their approach to securing the Security Council’s support for this important resolution (resolution 2681 (2023). Since the Taliban took power, they have imposed restriction after restriction, resulting in the systematic erasure of women and girls from society. Banning Afghan women working for the United Nations in-country is the latest example of the Taliban’s complete disregard for women’s fundamental human rights. This latest ban is a direct violation of the core tenets underpinning the Charter of the United Nations, including the principle of non-discrimination. It will severely impede the delivery of life-saving aid to women and girls at a time when 28 million people, over two thirds of all Afghans, are in need of assistance.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9314 (2023) · source
“Without a ceasefire, Syrians will not be able to rebuild their lives. Without national reconciliation and commitments on the release of detainees, refugees will not be assured of a safe return to their country. Without information on missing persons, families will forever suffer from not knowing what happened to their loved ones. Those elements represent a pathway towards a sustainable peace. We welcome meaningful efforts to advance that, and we urge the regime to engage immediately and in good faith.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“It is clear what humanitarians need to operate: regular and predictable humanitarian access through all modalities and to all Syrians. Ms. Doughten’s briefing underlined that point. Not knowing if the border crossings at Bab Al-Rai and Bab Al-Salam will remain open beyond next month undermines humanitarians’ ability to plan and operate safely. The people who pay the price are the Syrians who need their help. I want to make it clear that the Council must be ready to act to ensure that humanitarians have access to all Syrians, including the 4.1 million people in north-west Syria. As we have said many times, and will say again today, a political solution is key to ending the suffering of the Syrian people. Resolution 2254 (2015) remains the cornerstone of a future peaceful Syria that does not destabilize the wider region.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and Lisa Doughten for their helpful briefings. Let me also commend the work of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations in the particularly challenging circumstances that have prevailed in recent months. The earthquakes in February exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation and added further complexity to operations in the north-west. Meanwhile, as the Special Envoy outlined, the conflict continues. Between 6 February and 10 April, ground-based attacks by the Syrian regime and its allies were conducted near the camps where earthquake victims are taking shelter. A school, medical facilities, markets and places of worship were hit.”
2023-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9313 (2023) · source
“We will continue to work with all Security Council members and the Secretary-General to ensure that the Council supports efforts towards an end to the fighting, a permanent ceasefire and a political resolution. In conclusion, we stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people in their demands for a peaceful and democratic future.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9310 (2023) · source
“We welcome the 72-hour ceasefire brokered yesterday by the United States, but we are concerned that, once again, the parties have failed to uphold their commitments. We call on both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately establish a lasting ceasefire across the country — and we are in direct contact with the leadership of both — in order to end the violence and de-escalate tensions. We call on both sides to allow humanitarian access, comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian and medical workers. We welcome and encourage continued regional and diplomatic initiatives, including those set out today.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9310 (2023) · source
“We extend our condolences for those colleagues who have lost their lives. For the United Kingdom’s part, we carried out an operation to evacuate British embassy personnel on 23 April, and today we have begun flying out British nationals. We would like to thank our international partners for their cooperation in those efforts. Our priority continues to be the safety of all British nationals in the Sudan and providing support to those in need. The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns the military clashes that continue to take place across the Sudan. We echo the Secretary-General’s calls for peace and especially for an end to attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers. Hundreds have died, and thousands are injured, adding to the acute humanitarian needs across the country.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9310 (2023) · source
“I would like to start by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Volker Perthes, Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya, Ms. Fatima Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, and, in his absence, Special Envoy Ismael Wais — when we hear from him. I would like to begin by paying tribute to the tireless work of the Special Representative, as well as the work of the team of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan and the United Nations agencies and non-governmental organization implementing partners on the ground. We are very relieved that the operation to evacuate and relocate international and United Nations workers was successful, and we thank the Special Representative and his teams for their commitment and dedication to the Sudan.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9310 (2023) · source
“Peace will be sustainable only if both Israelis and Palestinians recommit to a negotiated settlement leading to a secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian State.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309 (2023) · source
“Thirdly, we urgently need to redouble efforts towards achieving long-term peace. We applaud the recent efforts to lay a foundation for dialogue, and notably the initiatives by Jordan, Egypt and the United States. It remains critical to ensure that both Israel and the Palestinians respect the commitments they have made, including Israel’s commitment to suspending the advancement of settlements. Settlements are illegal under international law and threaten the viability of a two-State solution. Our position is reflected in our enduring support for resolution 2334 (2016). The United Kingdom remains committed to working with Israel, the Palestinian Authority and international partners to end the terrorism that Israel faces and the destructive cycle of violence that continues.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309 (2023) · source
“Among those, three British-Israeli nationals, members of the same family, were victims of a terror attack in the West Bank on 7 April. We urge the Palestinian Authority to condemn incitements to violence. There is never any justification for such acts. Among Palestinian fatalities, a 15-year-old boy was killed near Jericho on 10 April. While Israel has a legitimate right to self-defence, its security forces must exercise restraint in the use of force and investigate all fatalities. Secondly, we urge all the parties to cease unilateral actions that diminish prospects for peace. We condemn the raids made by Israeli security forces on the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, injuring many worshippers, and we call on all parties to respect the historic status quo and the Hashemite custodianship.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309 (2023) · source
“At the outset, I want to recognize that today is Memorial Day in Israel and express the hope that this conflict, which has cost so many lives on all sides, may be brought to a just and peaceful end. I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing and acknowledge the presence here earlier today of Foreign Minister Al-Malki. Sadly, as we have heard, in recent weeks we have witnessed violence that is unacceptable. We call on all the parties to desist from unilateral measures that undermine peace, stability and the possibility of a two- State solution. First, de-escalation remains imperative. We condemn indiscriminate rocket fire into Israel from terror factions in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon. Nineteen Israelis have been killed this year in acts of terrorism, and 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces.”
2023-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9309 (2023) · source
“Change must be underpinned by respect for the basic principles of the Charter, above all, the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The world also needs a free and safe Ukraine that can return to supplying the world with food. The United Kingdom will continue to stand together with Ukraine as it lawfully defends itself. Foreign Minister Lavrov claims that he is interested in ending the conflict as soon as possible. To do so, Russia must immediately remove its troops from all Ukrainian territory.”
2023-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9308 (2023) · source
“Its army is in disarray, reliant on Wagner — an unaccountable mercenary group whose existence was denied a year ago, but who now offers the Russian Foreign Ministry advice on its Security Council presidency. A Russian generation has lost its future, and the Russian Government cannot even explain why. Russia’s justifications for the war — defeating Nazis and defending against bioweapons — are obvious falsehoods. Russia’s claims to Ukraine’s territory will never be recognized. For all of Minister Lavrov’s claims about effective multilateralism, I see nothing effective or multilateral about Russia’s foreign policy. Multilateral institutions can and should evolve, the Security Council included, and, with the United Kingdom, it supports reforms to make it more effective and representative.”
2023-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9308 (2023) · source
“It has been an unmitigated disaster for Russia too. Neither Russia nor its neighbours feel safer. Trust in Russia’s promises to other States and to its own people is at a catastrophic low. Again and again the General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia’s invasion. President Putin can count the supporters of his war on one hand. Russia has severely damaged its reputation in the international community, and now President Putin is threatening to move nuclear weapons into a neighbouring State. For Russians, the world is getting smaller. Many tens of thousands of Russian men and women have been killed. Hundreds of thousands have been mobilized against their will; millions are fleeing the country to escape the draft. Independent journalists have been arrested; free speech has been crushed. Russia’s economy is shrinking.”
2023-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9308 (2023) · source
“At the outset, let me echo the strong concerns set out by the Secretary-General about the situation in the Sudan and the call for an immediate end to the violence. We have requested a Council meeting to address the situation tomorrow. I join others in thanking the Secretary- General for his briefing. Minister Lavrov has called this meeting to share the Russian vision for the future of multilateralism. We have seen what Russia’s idea of multilateralism means for the world. More than a year into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Putin has brought unimaginable suffering to that country while trampling on the Charter of the United Nations. Thousands of Ukrainians have been killed. Millions have been displaced. Across the world, billions have faced rocketing commodity prices and food insecurity.”
2023-04-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9308 (2023) · source
“We must continue to work together constructively to support the Libyan people to address long-standing issues. It is only through coordinated efforts, with a leading role by UNSMIL, that we can help to pave the way for elections and beyond, to ensure that Libya achieves the stability and prosperity its people deserve.”
2023-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9306 (2023) · source
“Finally, as Special Representative Bathily said, the crackdown on civil society is deeply concerning. Civic space must be protected to empower all Libyans to play a role in developing an open and democratic society. It is incumbent on the Libyan authorities to rapidly develop and clarify a sustainable legal mechanism that allows for freedom of association, operation and assembly, as guaranteed in the constitutional declaration. Additionally, I encourage Special Representative Bathily to continue to undertake meaningful engagement with civil society to ensure that a wider range of Libyan voices, including — as he mentioned — those of women and young people, are heard throughout the political process. There has been a positive start already to helping Libya to find the solutions to its problems.”
2023-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9306 (2023) · source
“It is vital to bind Libya’s powerbrokers into an agreement that will enable the holding of elections as soon as feasible, without risking the progress achieved on peace and stability to date. Mediation should take place between those empowered to resolve key sticking points that have long delayed Libya’s progress towards long-term security. Secondly, I note positively the efforts of security actors to come together in support of delivering successful elections. Their initial commitments are welcome and should be the foundation for more substantive political compromises that create the conditions for successful elections. Security actors also have an important role in committing to and upholding the security guarantees necessary to enable Libyans’ access to safe, free and fair elections.”
2023-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9306 (2023) · source
“Let me start by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bathily and Ambassador Ishikane Kimihiro for their briefings today. I would like to focus on the political process, the role of security actors and civil society. The United Kingdom continues to support fully Special Representative Bathily and his work in Libya. I welcome Special Representative Bathily’s consultations with an inclusive set of stakeholders. All Libyans, from social leaders to civil society, have an important role to play in Libya’s long-term efforts towards stability. First, mediation, under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), is key for elections to succeed.”
2023-04-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9306 (2023) · source
“These violations of Council resolutions are too serious to ignore. We should set aside our differences and send a united message that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s behaviour is unacceptable. The United Kingdom is ready to work with all Council members to send that clear message, as well as to build a framework for renewed dialogue and to facilitate aid. We once again call on all Member States to implement the existing resolutions, which were unanimously agreed by the Council in full. We also call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to take up the repeated offers from the United States and the Republic of Korea aimed at holding a dialogue. As we have said repeatedly and consistently, diplomacy is the only route towards sustained peace on the peninsula.”
2023-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9305 (2023) · source
“I would like to start by thanking Assistant Secretary- General Khiari for his briefing. The United Kingdom condemns the launch on 13 April of what the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has called an intercontinental ballistic missile. This first launch of a solid-fuel missile represents a significant increase in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s ballistic-missile capabilities. Such missiles could potentially reach almost every point on Earth. While it chose to limit the flight distance this time, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s reckless actions nonetheless created concern and alarm among the people of Japan, who are directly threatened by them. We can expect that threat to intensify as long as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is able to continue to develop weapons of mass destruction capabilities.”
2023-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9305 (2023) · source
“On 4 May, the United Kingdom will co-host a pledging conference with the Netherlands and in partnership with the United Nations, as Ms. Mudawi mentioned. The event is aimed at filling the shortfall and providing a long-term solution for Yemen. It is on all of us — States, the private sector and individuals — to step up and help. The time to act is now. We all have a stake in averting this potential catastrophe.”
2023-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9304 (2023) · source
“In particular, we echo her calls for an end to the impediments to independent assessment and monitoring, the fair selection of service providers and free movement, especially of national female aid workers in the north. The United Nations, donors and local authorities should step up and work together to effectively address the needs of people in Yemen. Finally, we are at a critical moment in the efforts to address the threat posed by the FSO SAFER. The replacement vessel has begun its journey to Yemen, but there is not enough funding for the salvage operation to take place. The costs of inaction will be severe, with marine life and coastal livelihoods devastated, life-saving humanitarian assistance for 17 million people disrupted and the global economy losing billions in trade every day.”
2023-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9304 (2023) · source
“With that in mind, we call on the parties to refrain from provocation. The recent clashes in Ma’rib and Shabwah have had significant humanitarian consequences, displacing 10,000 people as well as threatening progress towards peace. Clearly the need for an impactful humanitarian response remains critical, especially as long as a sizeable funding gap remains. While we commend the progress made, we still call for greater ambition in addressing the recommendations of the inter-agency humanitarian evaluation. As Ms. Mudawi just said, we urge authorities across Yemen to allow unfettered humanitarian access in order for vital humanitarian work to go ahead.”
2023-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9304 (2023) · source
“Let me start by thanking Special Envoy Grundberg and Deputy Director Mudawi for their briefings and wishing Mr. Grundberg a speedy recovery for his right arm. The United Kingdom welcomes the ongoing efforts to advance peace in Yemen. The Saudi and Omani delegations’ visit to Sana’a represents progress in the efforts to find a settlement to the eight-year conflict. The return of hundreds of former detainees to their homes is welcome progress for the individuals and their families, as well as for the prospects for wider peace. We congratulate all involved in their safe return. Inclusive intra-Yemeni political talks under the auspices of the Special Envoy are a vital next step. At this time of hope, we are grateful for the unity of the Security Council. Sustainably improving the lives of the Yemeni people must remain our collective priority.”
2023-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9304 (2023) · source
“Colombia remains an example to the world of the transformative power of peace, but realizing the full benefits of the peace agreement and securing sustainable peace across the country will require continued investment. The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting Colombia through that process.”
2023-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9303 (2023) · source
“It is also clear that much of the ongoing violence is driven by criminality, in particular the drug trade. It is essential that we bear down together on those who are profiting from misery and destruction. We look forward to working with the Colombian authorities to tackle that shared problem with renewed vigour. Thirdly, with regard to the issue of rural reform, we welcome the progress made on the restitution of land to indigenous communities and the Government’s ambition to further expand access to land. We urge further momentum in its implementation, including through the agreement and delivery of the national development plan and the provision of support to former combatants living outside reintegration areas. We commend wider reintegration efforts, including to promote greater political participation.”
2023-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9303 (2023) · source
“Secondly, violence and weak State presence in many areas of the country continue to have a serious impact on the daily lives of too many Colombians, particularly in rural, Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities. It also frustrates the implementation of many aspects of the peace agreement, including the safety of former combatants. The Government’s efforts to secure a reduction in violence across the country, including over the course of the upcoming round of talks between the Government and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional, are therefore crucial. In that context, we thank Foreign Minister Leyva Durán for his recent letter (S/2023/112, annex) inviting the Security Council to consider an expanded role for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, and we look forward to the Secretary-General’s advice on possible outcomes.”
2023-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9303 (2023) · source
“I would like start by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ruiz Massieu, Mr. Šimonović and Mr. Londoño Echeverri, and I welcome Foreign Minister Leyva Durán to this meeting. I would like to make three points. First, I would like to recognize President Petro Urrego’s restated commitment to putting the comprehensive implementation of the peace agreement at the heart of his Government’s approach to building sustainable peace. We welcome the strengthened peace architecture in Colombia, including the recent mandate extension of the Commission for the Follow- Up, Promotion and Verification of the Implementation of the Final Peace Agreement.”
2023-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9303 (2023) · source
“We should be ready to adapt and refocus the Mission, reviewing any support that carries risks to the credibility and reputation of the United Nations.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“We urge the parties to engage with the international mediation proposals presented last week and aimed at relaunching the peace process. While all the parties need to show a willingness to engage on concrete implementation measures, it is the Malian authorities that ultimately have the primary responsibility to implement the agreement. We urge them to take the first step. Fourthly, the timely transition to constitutional rule by March 2024 remains imperative. Electoral and constitutional reforms should not be allowed to impede that. The Council will be faced with some difficult decisions in June. With few visible signs from the Malian authorities of a commitment to meeting the Secretary-General’s parameters, the June renewal of MINUSMA’s mandate cannot be seen as business as usual.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“That impedes the protection of civilians and puts peacekeepers at risk. Secondly, MINUSMA’s human rights director was expelled following the dangerous criticism directed at the civil-society representative who briefed the Council in January. That reflects a worrisome disregard for the Mission’s mandate. We count on the Mission’s continued commitment to investigating and reporting on human rights. In that regard, we urge the release, without further delay, of the United Nations report on the alleged massacre of civilians in Moura by Malian armed forces and Wagner Group personnel in March 2022. Thirdly, tensions persist between signatories to the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. The United Kingdom, along with the wider international mediation representatives, stands ready to provide support.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Representative Wane for his briefing and underscore our appreciation for the hard work and courage of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) peacekeepers. When the Council last met to discuss Mali (see S/PV.9251) we had just received the Secretary- General’s review (S/2023/36). It established four parameters against which progress was needed for MINUSMA to remain effective and relevant. There are clear indications in the latest report (S/2023/236) that such progress has not been made. In fact, the trajectory seems to be worsening in several respects. First, ground and air movement restrictions continue to hinder peacekeepers, with almost a quarter of flight requests rejected by the authorities during the reporting period.”
2023-04-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9302 (2023) · source
“The Taliban’s recent decree barring Afghan women from working for non-governmental organizations has also affected humanitarian operations, and this at a time when more than 28 million people — two thirds of the population — are in humanitarian need. We commend UNAMA’s ongoing work in leading and coordinating efforts in challenging circumstances to get aid to those who need it most. In closing, I want to pay tribute to the tireless work of UNAMA, United Nations agencies and non-governmental-organization implementing partners on the ground and to reaffirm the United Kingdom’s solidarity with the Afghan people.”
2023-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9283 (2023) · source
“Restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls across political, economic and social spheres are becoming increasingly acute. Women continue to be erased from Afghan society, and girls are still barred from secondary school. Today’s unanimous decision to renew the robust mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) sends a clear message: the international community will not abandon women and girls. The work of the Mission in protecting, promoting and monitoring the rights of all Afghans, including advocating inclusive and representative governance, is more important than ever. And through it, we will work to hold the Taliban to account on its commitments.”
2023-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9283 (2023) · source
“Houthi terrorist attacks and threats have blocked the Government of Yemen’s oil exports, again increasing the cost of living for Yemenis. We call on the Houthis to refrain from all escalatory action. Arms smuggling is destabilizing Yemen and the region. The British Royal Navy and our United States and French partners continue to interdict Iranian arms shipments. We call on all involved to stop driving regional instability. Finally, like other speakers, we welcome the major progress made on the FSO SAFER salvage operation. The procurement by the United Nations of a replacement vessel is a vital step towards mitigating the threat of a spill. But the mission does not stop there. We ask the United Nations to share its detailed budget and for the international community to step up and fill the $34 million funding gap.”
2023-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9282 (2023) · source
“Nearly 22 million Yemenis are in urgent need of assistance. The United Kingdom welcomes the vital role of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism in facilitating commercial cargo flows into Yemen to alleviate the suffering. Mahram requirements in the north are excluding women from delivering and accessing assistance. As well as being an egregious injustice, that drives up the cost of living. We strongly urge the Houthi authorities to reconsider that policy. Efforts to address economic instability are also fundamental to reducing the humanitarian need. The United Kingdom welcomes the generous financial contributions of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to address the serious economic situation of the Yemeni people.”
2023-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9282 (2023) · source
“I would like to start by joining other speakers in offering condolences to Mozambique and Malawi for the terrible damage that Cyclone Freddy has caused in those countries. I thank Mr. Grundberg and Ms. Msuya for their briefings. As Ramadan approaches, so too does the one-year anniversary of the United Nations-brokered truce. The United Kingdom welcomes the continued efforts towards a negotiated political settlement and reiterates the need for dialogue to bring together all Yemeni parties. We urge the Houthis to engage directly with the internationally recognized Government of Yemen and with the United Nations. An inclusive political settlement is the only way to bring about stability in Yemen. While we work towards long-term stability, as other speakers said, we must also act to mitigate the suffering of the Yemeni people right now.”
2023-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9282 (2023) · source
“They need a sustainable, inclusive and just peace. As Ms. Muhrez said, we owe that to them. The United Nations-facilitated political process set out in resolution 2254 (2015) remains the only viable route to deliver that peace. We welcome meaningful efforts to progress towards that end, including important efforts in the region. We urge the regime to engage immediately and in good faith.”
2023-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9272 (2023) · source
“We cannot allow the regime to use the latest tragedy to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. Just this month, the Council heard further evidence of the regime’s criminal use of chemical weapons against the civilian population in Douma in 2018 (see S/PV.9255). Thousands of families are left without answers about loved ones who have been disappeared into Al-Assad’s prison system. At the same time, the regime continues to project instability into the region, including through the production and smuggling of captagon. That illicit narcotic industry, worth tens of billions of dollars, funds a luxury lifestyle for a regime whose people, as Mr. Griffiths said, are packed into tents in freezing conditions. The people of Syria’s immediate need is for humanitarian support, but they need and deserve more than that.”
2023-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9272 (2023) · source
“That has provided much-needed assistance, including shelter, to thousands in freezing conditions. We welcome the urgent efforts of the United Nations to scale up the humanitarian response, as well as the opening of crossings at Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai. This latest tragedy has brought into sharp focus the importance of unhindered and predictable access, without conditions, into north-west Syria. The Council must continue to monitor this closely in the light of ongoing concerns that the regime continues to divert and interfere with aid deliveries. Even before the earthquake hit, needs were already at their highest-ever levels after more than a decade of conflict, during which the Al-Assad regime has acted with complete disregard for the well-being of Syria and its people.”
2023-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9272 (2023) · source
“Let me join others in thanking Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General Griffiths for their briefings. I would like to offer condolences to Ms. Muhrez on the tragic loss of her cousins and thank her for her valuable insights and powerful testimony describing, in particular, the impact of the earthquake on children and their families. I again want to express the United Kingdom’s deepest condolences to all those affected by the deadly earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria this month. The United Kingdom acted immediately, providing additional funding to first responders in north- west Syria and announcing a further $30 million in emergency relief to the United Nations and humanitarian partners across Syria and Türkiye and issuing a general license exempting further aid from sanctions.”
2023-02-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9272 (2023) · source