YouSaid · the spoken record

Barnes

lines on the record

9

first

2007-03-28

most recent

2008-07-17

sittings or episodes

2

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. “If we of this generation do not do right by our children - who are the future - we can rest assured that the bleeding edge will be the dominant force of the future of our common humanity. My delegation seizes this opportunity on behalf of the children of the world to plead to the collective conscience and morality of the United Nations - which represents the best hope for a future that is safe, free, just and prosperous - to take the bold and courageous actions necessary to protect our children and the future of our planet. We can choose to take those bold and courageous steps now and correct this scourge or pay the drastic price of a more violent and uncertain future. Left to its own devices, the phenomenon that produces children victims and killers today will only yield adult victims and killers tomorrow.”

   2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source

2. “Most of my conversations with this young man left me speechless, but once I did ask him if he had any regrets. He said to me, "Only one. Once, an old man begged me not to kill him, and I shot him anyway." My young friend looked haunted. His humanity had been taken away. While he is only one example, there are countless other examples of children worldwide who have been directly involved in and impacted by armed conflict. Our world is continually becoming a smaller place thanks to the phenomenon we all call globalization. I say that this globalization is a double- edged sword. Humanity can choose to be on the cutting edge or the bleeding edge of the globalization sword.”

   2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source

3. “Most of my neighbours wanted nothing to do with this unfortunate young man and treated him like a pariah. Over time, we would talk and my young friend told me how he had gotten into the killing business. He was only about 10 years old when rebels raided his village and killed his parents in front of him. Orphaned, he was soon urged to join another rebel group, as part of what was referred to as the "small boys unit", to avenge his family and just in order to survive. At first, his rebel commanders armed him with a slingshot and a machete. As a novice, he would hit his target with a stone slung from his slingshot and then finish off the stunned victim by chopping him to pieces with his machete. Eventually, as a sign that he was a fully matured killer, he graduated to the prized AK-47.”

   2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source

4. “As a result of our civil conflict, I am personally acquainted with quite a few former child soldiers whom I have observed to be physically and emotionally damaged. In many ways, the kids and young adults whom I know and who are ex-combatants are just that: children and young adults. Yet, upon closer examination, one can see the scars of deep hurt and pain in their eyes. At the slightest provocation, such individuals may be prone to resort to violence because they have been conditioned to respond to almost any situation with brutality. Their humanity has been buried deep beneath a tough, unfeeling exterior. I encountered a young Liberian during a time when there was a brief respite in the fighting. He asked me for a job, and, although I had been warned that he was an ex-combatant, I wanted to help. Thus, I hired him.”

   2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source

5. “I would like to thank the presidency of the Security Council for organizing this meeting to discuss and debate this very important matter. In view of the fact that my country, Liberia, is just emerging from a tragic drama in which children were devastatingly victimized in a brutal civil war, I feel morally obligated to add my voice to the ardent appeal for the international community in general, and this body in particular, to find practical and effective solutions to the issue of children and armed conflict. For me personally, the problem of children and armed conflict and the far-reaching consequences of children being caught up in armed conflict - whether as innocent victims or as conscripted armed fighters trained and conditioned to perpetuate unspeakable violence against their fellow human beings - is not an abstract concept.”

   2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source

6. “We pray that, as this institution re-engineers itself in the light of the multifaceted issues of globalization, the approach of building sustainable capacity to reduce poverty and conflict will be its guiding principle.”

   2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649Resumption1 (2007) · source

7. “It is an established fact that one of the underlying causes of conflict and strife on the African continent is poverty. It is therefore the fervent belief of the Liberian delegation that the most effective solution to poverty reduction and conflict is sustained capacity-building. A valuable lesson learned from our national crisis is that solid cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations should be anchored by a cohesive capacity-building mechanism. We view that as the best solution in preventing conflict and adequately addressing the problems of poverty and development in Africa, even as we expand our efforts in Darfur and Somalia.”

   2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649Resumption1 (2007) · source

8. “We would like to address three priority areas of concern to the Liberian delegation which, we believe, when implemented, would further enhance the cooperation between the two organizations. First, there is the potential for significant cost savings inherent in the deployment of the AU peacekeeping mechanism and rapid response as opposed to applying immediate solutions from areas outside the continent of Africa. Secondly, response to conflict in a timely manner is better addressed with geographic proximity. Thirdly, there is a philosophical imperative that holds that African problems require African solutions. With respect to each of the aforementioned factors, the African Union, in order to succeed, must have its capacity expanded. That, we believe, should be the underpinning objective of United Nations-AU cooperation.”

   2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649Resumption1 (2007) · source

9. “At the outset, Madam President, I would like to join previous speakers in congratulating you and the delegation of South Africa, under whose presidency this debate is being conducted. My delegation is gratified by the opportunity to participate in this crucial debate on the relationship between the United Nations and regional organizations, particularly the African Union (AU), in the maintenance of international peace and security. Liberia is a beneficiary of that cooperation, as evidenced by the deployment by the United Nations peacekeeping force which has been largely responsible for maintaining peace and stability in my country. It should be noted that the Liberian experience has given practical meaning to the classic provision of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and can be seen as a success story of this relationship.”

   2007-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5649Resumption1 (2007) · source