YouSaid · the spoken record

Barriga

lines on the record: 146
first: 2006-06-22
most recent: 2016-06-10
sittings or episodes: 25
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

“Missions should effectively implement that policy and, in particular, consistently apply the policy of avoiding non-essential contact with fugitives. Of course, peacekeeping missions can also play a larger role in preventing and ending atrocity crimes. They have unique access to information on the ground that should be put before the Security Council, in accordance with the Human Rights Up Front initiative. Acting on such information is then the responsibility of Council members. As ofthis morning, with the addition of Canada, 112 States have joined the code of conduct against atrocity crimes. That includes a majority of the current members of the Council. Those States have committed to making the Council more responsive in cases ofmass atrocities.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“Most important, the Council should refer situations of large-scale impunity, such as those in Syria, to the International Criminal Court and ensure the necessary follow-up. The potential for United Nations peacekeeping operations to enhance accountability efforts is still largely untapped, but there are also encouraging signs of progress, such as the example of the direct support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic for the special criminal court of the Central African Republic and the International Criminal Court. We believe that the Council should consistently task peacekeeping missions to support the Court's work on the ground.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“It has been a very long day, so rather than reading out my statement I will try to summarize its most important points. There have been important appeals by parties to conflict for the norms that safeguard humankind to be upheld, most recently at the World Humanitarian Summit, but we believe that such appeals must be supported by concrete action, especially by the Security Council. We support the Secretary-General's recommendations in that regard, especially that the Council should systematically condemn Violations of international humanitarian law by any party to conflict, take action on the most serious violations, to apply targeted sanctions and to mandate commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions.”
2016-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7711 (2016) · source
“One hundred and nine States, including eight current members of the Council have already done so. The code is a strong expression of the commitment of the supporting States to actively contributing to timely and decisive Security Council action to prevent or end mass atrocities. We are strongly encouraged by the positive response of the membership to the initiative and are confident that the list will continue to grow. The code also reflects the conviction that the protection of civilians is not just another thematic issue for the Council to deal with, but a core responsibility of the Council. We therefore call on all Council members to deploy much greater efforts, to engage with a greater spirit of cooperation, and to live up to that responsibility for the sake of innocent men, women and children trapped in conflict everywhere.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“United Nations peace operations can do much in the fight against impunity, including by supporting domestic, hybrid or international accountability and truth-finding mechanisms. In particular, United Nations peace operations could do much more to support the work of the International Criminal Court. That will also require greater commitment on the part of the Council itself to the fight against impunity, and more principled, concrete action, for example by referring situations such as those in Syria and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the to the ICC, and by ensuring the necessary follow-up. Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to remind Council members, as well as non-members, that they are invited to join the code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“In any armed conflict, the protection of civilians is first and foremost the responsibility and legal obligation of parties to a conflict, and thus primarily of the States and non-State actors involved. At the same time, the Council, and in particular United Nations peace operations on the ground also have an important role to play. We generally support the recommendations of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, but we were surprised that the report stayed clear of one important dimension - accountability. Bringing perpetrators of war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law to justice is crucial to help deter future crimes, end cycles of impunity and address the rights of victims.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Clearly, lack of compliance with the most basic rules of international humanitarian law is its greatest problem today. We therefore regret that the recent International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent was not able to agree on more concrete measures to improve compliance. The proposals on the table were already extremely modest and designed to accommodate the concerns of some opposing States. We therefore encourage Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as facilitators of the process, to remain steadfast. However, we cannot wait another four years in the current situation of crisis. Complementary steps for enhancing compliance have to be considered urgently, both in the Council and outside. We also hope that the World Humanitarian Summit will give a boost to these efforts.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“How can we expect non-State actors to comply with at least the basic tenets of international humanitarian law when even States parties to the Geneva Conventions fail to do so? The discrepancy between the success of the Geneva Conventions on paper and the dramatic erosion of their respect in practice has become intolerable. Discussions about international humanitarian law sometimes get stuck in arguments about its relevance in the light of the technological advances of the arms industry, yet much of the suffering of innocent civilians today arises from rather old-fashioned forms of military action. In all too many cases, there is no need to resort to sophisticated legal arguments to conclude that a certain act amounted to a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“The joint warning issued by the Secretary-General and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross on 31 October 2015 leaves no doubt that disrespect for the well-being of civilians in armed conflict has reached unprecedented levels, reminiscent of the Dark Ages. Families are starving in besieged towns, patients are being killed by bombs in their hospital beds, and there have been unprecedented levels of sexual violence and attacks on humanitarian workers - these are not just clear violations of international humanitarian law, but are, simply, barbarities. Shockingly, not all of such acts and strategies can be ascribed to extremists, rebels and non- State actors; some of them fall squarely within the responsibility of States.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“There are several specific aspects of the 2030 Agenda that merit separate discussion, but the issue of human trafficking, in particular, is a challenge that would be worthy of an open debate in the Security Council. Human trafficking is not merely one of the great human rights challenges and tragedies of our time; it can also destabilize societies and pose a threat to international peace and security. We hope that such a debate could galvanize a coordinated approach to human trafficking across the United Nations system.”
2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source
“There are also great opportunities for the Peacebuilding Commission in that regard. In most cases, justice efforts should be driven by the countries concerned, but at the same time the Council should consistently call on them to fulfil their obligation to fight impunity for the most serious crimes and should mandate international assistance where needed. Where a country is clearly unwilling to provide justice, with impunity impeding sustainable peace, the Council should consider referring situations to the International Criminal Court. However, given its track record in that regard, the Council should reconsider its referral modalities; in particular, it should ensure a strategy for effective follow-up.”
2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source
“We also hope that it will serve as an additional incentive for the Secretariat to be very proactive in forwarding information to the Security Council. The Council can also play a much stronger role in helping to create accountable institutions and ensuring equal access to justice as a key ingredient of sustainable peace. Such efforts should focus primarily on the strengthening of national judiciaries, which is the best way to ensure a lasting contribution to sustainable development in the countries concerned. Capacity- building and technical assistance can be made available, and are already being made available, by different parts of the United Nations system. If necessary, hybrid models can be put in place, particularly in situations of transition from armed conflict.”
2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source
“In that respect, the Human Rights Up Front initiative should prove to be an important advance. The decisive aspect, however, is Council members' resolve to take action when the relevant information is before them, especially when a situation is about to escalate and could result in atrocity crimes. The code of conduct on Security Council action against atrocity crimes, which 106 States support at the moment, gives hope that the Council will become more effective at prevention. Resolution 2248 (2015) on Burundi, which was adopted by consensus last Friday, is certainly a positive signal. We look forward to seeing more States support the code of conduct and also to its consistent application, especially by those Council members who have already signed it.”
2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source
“Serious violations of human rights are often a key indicator of conflict to come and are thus a key aspect of prevention. Two key elements must be in place for the Security Council to play its rightful role in that regard. First, the Council must have access to relevant information at an early stage. Secondly, the Council must be willing to take decisive action on the information before it. Concerning the first aspect, the United Nations system has significantly enhanced its early warning capacity over the past few years. Generally speaking, the information necessary for the Council to act in a preventive manner is available within the United Nations system. That, however, will have an effect only if such information is placed before the Council in time.”
2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source
“At the outset, I would like to express the heartfelt condolences of the people and Government of Liechtenstein to all those affected by the recent terrorist attacks committed by Daesh in France, Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere. When adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/1) in September, our Heads of State and Government recognized that peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. We are grateful to the presidency for organizing today's debate, which offers a first opportunity to explore some of the relevant issues. The concept paper (S/2015/845, annex) rightly places strong emphasis on the need for prevention. Conflict prevention and the promotion of peaceful societies, as established in Sustainable Development Goal 16, go hand in hand.”
2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source
“For Liechtenstein, women's human rights and empowerment are high priorities in our budget for international cooperation, and we hope that other countries, especially major donors, will continue to take the same approach.”
2015-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7533 (2015) · source
“But we believe that to achieve the meaningful participation of women, we need to really change attitudes, harmful stereotypes and the violent ideas of men that persist in many parts of the world, and education is the only way to change that. Our fifth point is that we also need to tackle the culture of impunity. We believe that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has an important role to play in this regard, especially since sexual violence plays a role in nearly every case before the ICC. We would also like to emphasize that collecting evidence in a professional manner at the earliest possible stage is crucial for successful prosecutions, and we support the Justice Rapid Response initiative in that regard. Our sixth and final point is that sufficient funding is required.”
2015-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7533 (2015) · source
“We therefore need a broader approach in tackling the root causes. Secondly, we believe that the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda (General Assembly resolution 70/1), will be an important tool to improve implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. Sustainable Development Goal 5, on gender equality, and Goal 16, on peaceful societies, establish a long-overdue link between the work of the Council and our development efforts. Thirdly, we would like to emphasize that the World Humanitarian Summit next year will also provide an important opportunity to promote this agenda, especially since we know that including women also enhances humanitarian work. Fourthly, participation is an important pillar of this agenda.”
2015-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7533 (2015) · source
“Allow me first to congratulate you, Sir, on the successful adoption today of resolution 2242 (2015). Given this unprecedented debate, I will not read out our whole statement, but will simply highlight the six most important points. IfI get anything wrong, I would ask listeners not quote me but refer to the written statement, which is available. Our first point is that the main challenge to the women and peace and security agenda is implementation. We need to move away from a silo approach and to more strongly tackle the root causes of the lack of implementation of the agenda, which concerns gender-based discrimination more broadly, irrespective of conflict. A study suggests that rising levels of violence against women are in fact indicators of impending conflict, before the conflict starts.”
2015-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7533 (2015) · source
“Proper training and resources must be made available to local staff, freelancers and international war correspondents alike. The freedom of expression and of information are essential human rights and are among the main pillars of a free society. The work of journalists is also an indispensable tool for the Council, be it in the context of early warning and prevention or in the middle of violent conflict. Their activities are not only under fire by missiles and bullets, but are also threatened by other means: illegal surveillance, censorship, reprisals and violence. Oppressive Governments and groups wage silent wars by suppressing access to information and imprisoning those who dare to report the facts. Countering those actions should be high on the Council's agenda.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450Resumption1 (2015) · source
“Attacks againstjournalists in conflict situations are not only serious violations of international humanitarian law, but also in and of themselves are attacks on the freedom of expression. Governments are obliged to protect journalists as a matter of human rights law. We must increase our efforts towards accountability for those crimes, with a view to increasing deterrence. The primary responsibility in that regard falls upon domestic justice systems. The International Criminal Court, where it has jurisdiction or such jurisdiction is conferred by the Security Council, could also play an important role. I should also say that media organizations also have an obligation to help ensure the safety of journalists in armed conflict.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450Resumption1 (2015) · source
“They will not hesitate to target them openly, just as they routinely disregard other basic rules of international humanitarian law. It is therefore time for the Council to pay greater attention to the protection of journalists. We particularly welcome the adoption of the resolution today (resolution 2222 (2015)) and its strong references to international humanitarian law, which guarantees equal protection for journalists and civilians. In many conflict zones, however, respect for international humanitarian law has completely eroded. We strongly support efforts aimed at increasing compliance with international humanitarian law for this reason and many others, in particular the joint initiative by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Switzerland.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450Resumption1 (2015) · source
“It is not just an important aspect of the Council's work on the protection of civilians, it is also an issue of self- interest for the Council. After all, the Council itself has to rely on information received from journalists. Such independent reporting is particularly crucial in situations of escalated violent conflict, when other reliable sources of information may be hard to come by. In considering the Council's role, we must recognize the dramatic changes in the world's media landscape. Technology has altered the ways we consume news, social media has opened new channels for distribution of information, and smartphones have fuelled the rise of the citizen journalist. Furthermore, some extremist groups consider journalists as enemies rather than neutral observers.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450Resumption1 (2015) · source
“My delegation would like to commend and thank your delegation, Madam President, for organizing today's very timely debate. I will not repeat some of the basic facts and figures that we heard this morning, but I would like to emphasize that local journalists, freelancers and women are in a particularly vulnerable position. Female journalists encounter abuses similar to those met by their male counterparts, but they have also endured appalling levels of sexual violence. Despite those obstacles, female journalists have continued to display impressive dedication to their work, relaying important stories of people caught in some ofthe world's deadliest conflicts, such as the one in Syria. The Council has an important role to play in promoting the safety ofjournalists, media professionals and associated personnel in conflict situations.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450Resumption1 (2015) · source
“Such action needs to take place at all levels, but it needs to include action to ensure State cooperation with ICC investigations requested by the Council.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“In addition to providing justice to the victims of sexual violence, ICC investigations and prosecutions can also deter the commission of future crimes, as has been confirmed by recent research. But, of course, the ICC's impact is limited to situations within its jurisdiction. It is the Security Council's responsibility to ensure that appropriate situations involving sexual violence are referred to the Court. The Council's role does not end with the referral, however. As States parties to the Rome Statute have stressed time and again, consistent follow-up to ICC referrals is essential to their success, and the Council's track record in this respect is mixed at best. We therefore call on the Council to match its stated commitment to the survivors of conflict-related sexual violence with appropriate action.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“During the past few years, they have had a significant impact in improving the knowledge and capacity of key players in the fields of security, justice and conflict resolution, both domestically and within United Nations field missions. It is crucial to address this issue through a comprehensive effort and to hear the voices of all concerned, including women and survivors. Fighting impunity is an essential component of our response to conflict-related sexual violence. While the primary responsibility in this regard lies with States, the Security Council and the International Criminal Court (ICC) can play important complementary roles. Nearly every case currently before the Court addresses sexual Violence. The ICC Prosecutor pursues sexual and gender-based crimes as a matter of priority.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“That should also include greater efforts to ensure effective accountability at the national level, as required under the Geneva Conventions. We were pleased to hear this morning that there has been some progress in that regard, as reported by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. National ownership and leadership are key to successfully tackling the challenge posed by conflict- related sexual violence. I would like to commend Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bangura, United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict for their efforts.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“One meaningful step the Council could take would be to consistently use conflict- related sexual violence as a criterion for the imposition of targeted sanctions. Member States can also play an important role by holding terrorist fighters to account for the crimes they committed abroad, especially when those crimes involve sexual violence. The surge in conflict-related sexual violence is also a direct challenge to the authority of international humanitarian law. Liechtenstein strongly supports efforts to enhance compliance with international humanitarian law, in particular through improved monitoring. In that regard, we have high hopes for the joint initiative of Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is aimed at strengthening compliance mechanisms.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“At the outset, allow me to warmly thank the briefers for their very important contributions this morning. The scourge of conflict-related sexual violence continues unabated. Non-State armed actors and extremist groups have been primarily responsible for these egregious crimes, which are often used as a tactic to terrorize civilian populations and as a method of warfare. While women and girls are the primary targets of this type ofviolence, men and boys are also affected. The women, peace and security agenda should guide our actions in response. As we deal with multifaceted challenges such as those posed by groups like Daesh, the international community should attach high priority to fighting sexual Violence.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“In sum, we believe that justice mechanisms can be a great ally to the Security Council in its fight to protect children in armed conflict. We call on the Security Council to make better and more consistent use of that important tool.”
2015-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7414 (2015) · source
“The study's main result was that, under certain conditions, the ICC can, indeed, prevent crimes and have an impact on the people on the ground. It does so through prosecutorial deterrence, by signaling to perpetrators that they could be subject to indictment, trial and jail sentences, as well as through social deterrence. There are indirect and extralegal consequences to the activities of the ICC. It can lead to perpetrators and potential perpetrators being shunned by their communities, or being subjected to informal sanctions and other measures. At our even, one example cited was that, in the Central African Republic, rebel commanders told Human Rights Watch researchers that they did not want to end up before the ICC, and they offered to demobilize child soldiers. And children were, in fact, demobilized.”
2015-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7414 (2015) · source
“That requires either a functioning national judicial system or the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Referral by the Security Council may sometimes be necessary to establish jurisdiction. Furthermore, third States could and should exercise jurisdiction, either based on the nationality of the perpetrator, which is becoming increasingly relevant as ever greater numbers of fighters are traveling to conflict zones, on the basis of universal jurisdiction, which is well established with respect to war crimes. I would like to particularly emphasize the deterrent effect of the International Criminal Court, which is increasingly being documented. Liechtenstein had the great pleasure of co-hosting a recent event at the International Peace Institute, where a study undertaken by Harvard and Texas A&M. Universities was presented.”
2015-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7414 (2015) · source
“We are also very grateful for the direct engagement undertaken by non-governmental organizations, which often have a different way of accessing those groups that is extremely crucial, from our perspective. My third point underlines the important role of justice mechanisms in deterring violations against children; there two aspects to this issue. The first is that perpetrators must be made aware that their actions are illegal. That does not always go without saying, as seen in the case of the conscription of child soldiers. In the example of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the International Center for Transitional Justice documented the educational impact of the International Criminal Court (ICC) trial against Thomas Lubanga on other rebels in the field. Secondly, perpetrators must be made aware that they can be prosecuted.”
2015-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7414 (2015) · source
“Secondly, we support the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to negotiate and help to implement action plans directly with armed non-State actors. We believe that such direct engagement is crucial. In this Chamber, we often call on conflict parties to respect international human rights law and on rebel groups not to use schools for military activities. But we all know, of course, that they are not listening to the webcast ofthis event or reading the press release the day after. Without the direct engagement with those actors, many of the efforts we undertake will prove meaningless. We therefore urge concerned Governments to fully support such engagement.”
2015-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7414 (2015) · source
“My delegation warmly welcomes the focus of this debate on armed non-State actors. We thank the briefers. We particularly appreciate the comments made by those who have suggested concrete measures to make progress on the issue. In that regard, I would like to add three points from my delegation's perspective. The first point concerns abductions. Mass abductions of children are becoming ever more frequent. We have seen horrific cases in recent times, including by Boko Haram in Nigeria and by Daesh in Syria and Iraq. We believe that the Security Council should recognize abduction as grounds for listing conflict parties in the annexes to the Secretary- General's reports on children and armed conflict. In fact, we believe that such action is overdue.”
2015-03-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7414 (2015) · source
“Such an approach also constitutes a return to the Charter itself, which at the beginning of its Preamble established that we the peoples of the United Nations are determined "to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights ofmen and women and of nations large and small". Therefore, if the world's greatest Powers were able to make such a statement in 1945, just after the end of the Second World War and a complete collapse of human decency, they will hopefully also be determined to reaffirm their faith in the role of the Security Council, 70 years later. The Security Council Chamber remains the most important forum for that win-win cooperation that the presidency has called for.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“We therefore reiterate our call to Security Council members not to block Council action aimed at preventing or ending mass atrocities, and to put such a commitment in writing. Thirdly, we should recognize that the Charter and change go hand in hand. The Charter's values and principles underpin the international system and have inspired new instruments, such as the Arms Trade Treaty. We must act on our evolving understanding of threats to peace and security, as, for example, has been recognized by the Council in the case of terrorism, and as it has sometimes done in response to massive human rights violations. But we must place human rights and people's dignity, especially the rights of civilians in armed conflict, more firmly at the centre of our reference.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“We therefore believe that there is now an increased responsibility on the part of the elected members of the Council to take greater ownership of the Council's work and lead the way to more compromises. Secondly, the veto - the use of the veto, the threat of the veto and the possibility of the threat of the veto - remains the greatest procedural obstacle to Security Council actions where permanent members have difficulty agreeing on a course of action. The price of such inaction is unacceptably high when we are faced with mass atrocities and thousands of innocent victims. We cannot continue to give greater weight to the opinion of one single permanent member than to the need to save thousands of lives.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“It is true that the number of meetings, resolutions, field missions and so on is ever increasing; but so is the number of conflicts and the number of people affected by conflict worldwide. Today we have more refugees than at any point since the Second World War. We therefore need even more Security Council action. How do we achieve that? First, in reaffirming their commitment to the Charter, we believe that Council members must make greater effort to overcome their differences and commit to working for compromise. Rather than debating the contours of abstract concepts, they should search for practical solutions in concrete situations. In recent years that has become more difficult as differences, especially among permanent members, have grown.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“It might be said that that is easy for a small State with no army to do, but my point underlines the fact that for many small States, respect for the Charter is a matter of survival, and a very serious one. It has also emerged in today's debate that everyone seems to have his favourite purposes and principles of the Charter, a choice that is usually inspired by a country's history or standing in the world. For us, the starting point for the Charter's purposes and principles is its very first purpose: "To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace". In our view, the Charter envisages an activist Security Council that responds to the needs ofthe world.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“I would like to thank your delegation warmly, Mr. President, for convening a debate on this very important topic. We also appreciate the opportunity for us to present the perspective of the smallest State participating in today's debate, and I would like to thank New Zealand for pointing out the importance of listening to the views of small States as well. This morning we have heard expressions of what I believe is a worrying trend to considering the Security Council as a playground of the powerful, a place where grand geopolitical moves are made or prevented. The focus on the Charter of the United Nations in this debate is therefore appropriate and one that we appreciate. Liechtenstein affirms its strong commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter.”
2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source
“If we compare the level of attention given to this issue to that given by the Security Council to the protection of women and girls in conflict, we find that many policy debates have focused on women and peace and security and the challenges of protecting them. It seems that we have actually been struggling to say new things in such debates. However, the issue of persons with disabilities in conflict has barely been discussed in the Council. There appears to be a gaping hole on the issue. Respectfully, my delegation would like to call upon the Security Council to start building a ramp over that gaping hole.”
2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source
“Those injured persons in many cases continue their lives as persons with disabilities, and as I noted, persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by conflict. Even more affected are women and girls with disabilities. They are at particular risk of violence and of sexual violence. It may seem hard to believe, but women and girls with disabilities are at higher risk because perpetrators often believe that they will get away with sexual violence against women and girls with disabilities, because nobody will believe the victim. This problem has been little studied and requires the urgent attention of humanitarian actors and the Security Council.”
2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source
“During conflict, all these challenges are exacerbated. Persons with disabilities confront some incredibly practical problems in times of conflict, such as having difficulty fleeing violence during attacks on civilians. The problems faced by persons with disabilities are numerous. Just because persons with disabilities are largely invisible in society - including our own society - does not mean that they are not there. It is generally estimated that 15 per cent of persons in the general population have a disability. The rate is significantly higher in conflict zones, because conflict is of course a cause of disability. We read about casualty numbers, persons killed in certain incidents and persons injured.”
2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source
“Sometimes that will require a great degree of capacity-building and creativity, as evidenced, for example, by the mobile courts that are under way in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Finally, I would like to take a brief moment to draw attention to a slightly different issue that, thankfully, has already been raised today by the representative of New Zealand. whom I would like to thank for raising the absolutely crucial topic - the protection challenges faced by persons with disabilities in conflict and post- conflict settings. Persons with disabilities are highly vulnerable in conflict due to the multitude of challenges they face. There are three typical barriers that persons with disabilities face: barriers in the environment, barriers regarding communication and barriers in the attitudes of other persons.”
2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source
“Both national and international justice mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), are crucial. We have also seen increasing evidence of the deterrent effect of the International Criminal Court, especially with regard to actors who seek some degree of legitimacy. Deterrence can be very difficult to measure, but there has been a recent study on the issue and I think we should seriously look into it further. I would also like to remind Council members that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has declared the fight against sexual crimes and violence against women as one of her priorities. Therefore, we really believe that the ICC is an important ally of the United Nations in the fight against sexual violence. We must also emphasize that criminal accountability must start at the domestic level, when possible.”
2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source
“In that regard, we should like to highlight the very positive examples set by Hilda Johnson in South Sudan and Mary Robinson in the Great Lakes region. These leaders have insisted on bringing appropriate gender expertise to their efforts. For example, one ofthe first things that Mary Robinson did as part of her conflict-resolution effort was to convene a women's forum for the Great Lakes region. I would also like to briefly touch on the issue of criminal accountability. It is a fact that the United Nations and the international community have very limited tools at their disposal to fight violence against women and girls in conflict. Of course, we have peacekeepers and we have troops on the ground, but judicial systems are another hugely important tool not just to providejustice after crimes have occurred but also to provide deterrents.”
2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source
“Liechtenstein appreciates the increasing recognition of women's vital role in preventing and resolving conflict in peacebuilding, and not just a focus on their vulnerability. While the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Peacebuilding Commission in particular have very strongly acknowledged this, we need to translate those commitments into progress on the ground. We especially want to emphasize that implementing those existing commitments is absolutely key and will require leadership, not just in United Nations Headquarters, but particularly in the field on the part of heads of missions, special envoys and so on. They must lead by example. They must ensure that an adequate number of gender advisers are deployed and that there is sufficient focus on including women in conflict-resolution efforts.”
2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source
“As to the topic of today's debate - the protection challenges and needs faced by women and girls in armed conflict and post-conflict settings * we appreciate the focus. At the same time, we want to ensure that women are not just portrayed as victims during conflict. It is absolutely crucial that we emphasize the importance of women being part of the solution as empowered members of society, with the right to participate at every level of decision-making. Obviously, that is a long-term project, and we need to address vulnerabilities well before conflicts break out. Promoting gender equality, I believe, can best be done in times of peace and not as well during times of conflict.”
2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source