YouSaid · the spoken record

Beresford-Hill

lines on the record: 25
first: 2023-07-27
most recent: 2023-12-07
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“Prevention, detection and treatment are all enhanced by multiple stakeholders strengthening their efforts to share resources and information. We must strengthen inter-agency, bilateral, regional and international cooperation. Otherwise, transnational human traffickers will continue to benefit from an incohesive law enforcement effort. All those principles and methods are outlined in the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Crucially, they promote a strategy acknowledging that the eradication of that heinous crime requires collective, cohesive action and determined willpower.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Efforts must be made through United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations operating in the region to prevent a surge in the commercialization of those children by unscrupulous transnational operators, who probably even now are planning ways to gain access to those children and to profit from their vulnerability. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, has already voiced concerns that, unless the needs of these children are taken into account by those who will be responsible for the reconstruction of Gaza and the welfare of those who remain there post-conflict, the lives of many young Palestinians will be further destroyed, along with any hope of a positive future on the altar of profit. The principles of collaboration and cooperation need to be central in the fight against human trafficking.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We cooperated with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross to expand our outreach and spread that information as efficiently as possible, operating in the biggest refugee population centres. We draw the attention of the Security Council to the potential for a major human trafficking harvest when hostilities finally cease in Gaza. There are unconfirmed reports that between 10,000 and 17,000 children have been left parentless as a consequence of the conflict.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The Order of Malta has been at the front line of preventative efforts, particularly in Ukraine, where transnational human traffickers have flocked to exploit the refugees who fled for their lives once hostilities began. Trafficking was one of the biggest problems for women and children from the very first day, as logic gave way to desperation. Therefore, we collaborated with mobile phone carriers and telecommunications companies to disseminate information as effectively as possible, sending out texts in multiple languages, informing refugees to be aware of the issues of human trafficking.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We join with the global community, particularly in our desire to end the scourge of human trafficking, a practice that preys particularly upon women and children and that contributes at least $150 billion a year to criminal organizations. As we know, 50 per cent of trafficked victims are used for sexual exploitation, and the rest go through transnational systems of modern slavery. It is a plague that afflicts every State, whether as a point of origin, transit or destination. Unfortunately, we have no accurate handle on the scale of the issue, as international detection mechanisms are often, themselves, victims of transnational criminal enterprise.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Beresford-Hill: The Sovereign Order of Malta is grateful to the Republic of Ecuador and the Republic’s Ambassador to the United Nations for inviting us to contribute to this open debate on threats to international peace and security. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the relevant working groups for their diligent commitment to improving national technical capacity, awareness campaigns and specialized knowledge to combat transnational crime and corruption. The Sovereign Order of Malta has stood proudly as a representative of the world’s most vulnerable people for more than 900 years.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“On behalf of the world’s forgotten, the sick and the poor, the Sovereign Order of Malta appeals to everyone in this Chamber to find a path to peace in the Holy Land that is rooted in justice and humanitarian law and that will finally turn swords into ploughshares and end the suffering and privation of the innocent, a solution that we hope will hold fast to the revealed truth of Allah, of Yahweh and of our Heavenly Father — the one God of the three Abrahamic faiths — who is at one and the same time a God of mercy, a God of love, a God of compassion and above all a God of forgiveness.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Perhaps this moment of global introspection, with its fear of the potential that it could escalate into another Balkan crisis reminiscent of the First World War, will result in something more than safe corridors or 20 trucks a day bringing critical aid to 2 million people or the staggered release of innocent hostages, all of them victims. All those things are necessary and needed — but are they enough?”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Whether that burden was created by wars and invasions long ago; whether it is the consequence of great Powers intent on creating their spheres of influence; or whether it is an expression of the struggle between the haves and the have-nots, whatever the origin, Al Ahli Hospital is symbolic of what that once Holy Land has become — a self-fulfilling prophecy of death, destruction and hatred. The Security Council has been debating Palestine for many decades, and some of the best and most astute brains in the world have failed to achieve much more than piecemeal and half-won compromises. Yes, there have been promises — a lot of promises.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In Gaza, 62 attacks on medical facilities have resulted in more than 500 fatalities and another 500 health-care workers injured and unable to accomplish their mission. That is alongside the thousands of civilians killed and the tens of thousands injured. The numbers go on and on, with one single question in the mind of all who hear a bomb explode or are anticipating their own death or injury — when will all of this end? Regardless of which faction was responsible for the attack on Al Ahli Hospital or who the missiles that landed in its grounds belonged to, one thing is clear. It is the innocent who ultimately bear the heaviest burden.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We have seen the devastating bombing of cities and towns, the million people displaced, heard the cries of Palestinian children and their parents and witnessed the sheer hopelessness of it all. We are very much aware of the level of carnage and destruction, a level that we have not seen since the Second World War but have been starkly reminded of as we have watched the conflict unfold in Ukraine. The health-care system in Gaza is under immense strain, as 30 per cent of hospitals cannot function and the rest are at breaking point. Since 7 October, there have been 143 attacks on health-care facilities, 81 of them in the West Bank, affecting ambulances and compounded by physical violence against health and emergency personnel.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Beresford-Hill: The Sovereign Order of Malta would like to express its appreciation to the Brazilian presidency for the opportunity to speak as a neutral and non-partisan witness to the pain and suffering that has bedevilled the land in which the Order was founded 900 years ago. Our love of the Holy Land, sacred as it is to Jews and to Muslims, has been severely tested by the calculated violence that has recently been unleashed on so many innocent people, whose only desire is to live in communities that are peaceful and prosperous, where the young can live lives of opportunity and brotherhood, not poverty, hatred or mistrust. We all know the statistics, which we have heard so often — the numbers of innocent Jewish children, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and elders.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The recent collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative raises concerns about the potential for a similar humanitarian disaster, particularly in vulnerable parts of Africa, if the underlying issues are not promptly addressed. In conclusion, I would like to quote the words of Pope Francis, who recently said, “I appeal to my brothers [and sisters], the authorities of the Russian Federation, so that the Black Sea Initiative may be restored, and grain may be transported safely”. To that prayer, I think we should all say “Amen”.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“There is a thin line between nutrition and health care, as an increase in illness and loss of life from starvation and malnourishment burdens the aid workers, volunteers and medical providers striving to build and maintain a sustainable future in developing nations. Seeking parallels in history, we think of South Asia, particularly Bangladesh between 1970 and 1974, where we saw how environmental and human-made factors can combine to have significant repercussions for the civilian population. During that period, the interplay between inadequate preparedness and a lack of post-crisis care against a backdrop of both natural disaster and military conflict led to the loss of approximately 2 million lives due to undernutrition and starvation.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In particular, our extensive involvement in food distribution operations in Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan relies heavily on the supply of grain from Russia and Ukraine. Consequently, escalating expenses from sourcing agents, along with higher costs for distribution, have nearly doubled operational costs, and there are expectations of further increases. Furthermore, those developments have created immediate humanitarian crises in numerous countries in which we function. The breakdown of the Initiative has far-reaching consequences, not only worsening food security issues in various regions but also placing an additional burden on affected populations seeking medical assistance due to malnutrition.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Operating in 122 countries and holding bilateral and diplomatic relations with 114, we have a special focus on the Middle East and Africa, providing humanitarian aid through health care, water, sanitation and hygiene, disaster preparedness and food security. Regrettably, the Ukrainian conflict, especially through the breakdown of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, has significantly hindered our humanitarian efforts in the Middle East and Africa. As reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Initiative played a significant role in reducing global food prices by more than 23 per cent over the past year, benefiting food security across many regions. However, since the collapse of the Initiative, wheat prices have risen in global markets, leading to challenges in securing affordable food supplies.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“A mile away, in verdant pastures with cool running waters, we see enough food, loaves of bread, fish, meat and vegetation to fill all of those people and millions more. And between those two images of hunger and plenty we see barbed wire, landmines, trenches, destroyed bridges and roads and eyes staring across the divide with hatred. That is what humankind has been reduced to. And that is why we are here today. It is a problem that we are all called on to solve. The topic holds immense significance for us at the Sovereign Order of Malta because we have diligently dedicated ourselves to providing humanitarian care and medical services to the poor and sick across the globe for 900 years.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Beresford-Hill: I would like to express my appreciation and congratulations to you, Madam President, on your country’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month, and to thank the United States and the Council members for organizing today’s crucial debate and granting us the privilege of being part of the discussion. I also want to express my appreciation for the successful July presidency of my United Kingdom colleagues. Earlier today we heard harrowing and heartbreaking testimonies from three briefers, who gave us a very human perspective on the dilemma that is facing our world, and I thank Reena Ghelani, Navyn Salem and David Miliband for their contributions. The statistics are undeniable. Imagine a quarter of a billion human beings experiencing hunger, standing on a huge desert plain.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Combined with resolution 2686 (2023), it provides a clear directive to the international community that violations of those principles not only exacerbate tensions but contribute to instability and pile intolerance on intolerance. Let me conclude with a quotation from our Grand Master, His Most Eminent Highness Fra’ John Dunlap, who recently remarked with regard to global conflict that “I express my grave concern about acute human rights violations perpetrated against defenceless civilians, and I hope that the international community will step up its action to prevent the erosion of those human rights, particularly in the area of unrestricted access to health care and the fundamental right to religious freedom”.”
2023-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9387 (2023) · source
“Similarly, there have been distressing attacks on mosques, and as we have heard, some of those happened this very day. However, strikes against places of worship and the intimidation of their congregations tragically reflect a broader international trend that is not exclusive to Palestine or to Israel, but is inspired by extremism. It is a trend that has led to an alarming global rise in Christianophobia, Islamophobia and, I might add with emphasis, antisemitism. The protection of civilians, especially medical and aid workers, in conflict zones has always been a priority of the United Nations, as referenced by resolution 2286 (2016).”
2023-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9387 (2023) · source
“Likewise, we appeal to the Palestinian authorities to work to unify the opposing factions in the State and thereby reduce confrontation through dialogue and diplomacy. The second issue is freedom of belief and tolerance for religious diversity because it remains a concern in the conflict. Actions prejudicial to religious freedom in the region have dramatically increased. There has been a marked rise in physical and verbal abuse, directed not just at Christian clergy but also at pilgrims, worshippers and religious sites. Christian locations that have been targeted include the Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, as well as Orthodox and other denominational churches. The desecration of the Anglican cemetery in Jerusalem earlier this year caused an international outcry.”
2023-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9387 (2023) · source
“Furthermore, as a result of financial constraints and complex tax arrangements negotiated under the 1994 Paris Protocol, we encounter frequent obstacles to the smooth movement of medical aid across borders. Additionally, the intricacies and delays within customs and excise bureaucracies create hurdles that impede the timely and efficient entry of essential medical supplies and equipment into the region. Addressing those issues is vital to making health care more readily available to the sick and the poor. We respectfully call on both the Israeli and Palestinian Governments to fulfil their commitments to the international community. We ask that Israel, as agreed to in the Oslo II Accords, abide by the clauses reflecting the Paris Protocol signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Israel.”
2023-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9387 (2023) · source
“However, amid the ongoing conflict in Palestine, providing essential health-care services to its people has become increasingly difficult. The prevalence of roadblocks and delays at checkpoints has worsened the health situation for those in need, resulting in unnecessary and untimely suffering and even death. The provision of medical care has been severely limited due to ambulances and aid workers becoming frequent targets of attack, endangering patients and medical personnel alike. According to the World Health Organization, 750 health-related attacks were recorded in the Palestinian territory between 2019 and 2022. These have led to the death of one health worker and caused injuries to 568 others. Additionally, 315 ambulances and 160 health-care facilities were affected by those incidents, and the number is still rising.”
2023-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9387 (2023) · source
“Permit me to highlight two issues pertinent to the current conflict in Palestine that are of concern. First, our humanitarian efforts in the Middle East are extensive, with multiple clinics, hospitals and health-care facilities. In response to the growing needs and regional upheaval and conflict, we have a prominent role serving displaced communities in refugee camps in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. In Palestine, the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, run by our Order, stands out as a source of hope, offering comprehensive medical care and services to a geographically diverse yet largely impoverished community. Similar essential health- care services are provided by our Alliance confrères, including the Venerable Order of St. John, which operates the renowned St. John Ophthalmic Hospital.”
2023-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9387 (2023) · source
“Mr. Beresford-Hill: I extend my sincere appreciation to the presidency of the United Kingdom and to the members of the Security Council for organizing this crucial debate on the Middle East and for granting us the privilege of being part of this discussion. I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing. The Sovereign Order of Malta was created 900 years ago in Jerusalem. Our first mission was to care for sick pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. Our hospitals soon became a haven of support and care not only for Christians, but also for Muslims and Jews. While we now operate in over 122 countries, providing humanitarian care and medical services to those of all religions and none, the Middle East — particularly Israel and Palestine — are very close to us.”
2023-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9387 (2023) · source