YouSaid · the spoken record

Butagira

lines on the record: 167
first: 2003-07-23
most recent: 2009-01-23
sittings or episodes: 26
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

“This being my last day and meeting in the Council, I feel very nostalgic in saying farewell to all my colleagues. It has been a pleasure and great delight working with all of them. I appreciate the support and cooperation that I have received from all members of the Council within this brief period. I trust that the same support will be extended to my successors.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Once conflicts have ended, it is vital to undertake actions to consolidate peace and prevent the recurrence of armed confrontation. That requires not only diplomatic and military action, but also measures within an integrated peacebuilding effort to tackle the various factors which have caused or are causing threats of conflict. The crucial underlying need in post- conflict peacebuilding situations is the security of ordinary people in the form of real peace and access to basic social facilities. That has been stressed by a number of speakers. Such efforts must be timely, multifaceted and adequately financed, and there must be high-level strategic and administrative coordination among a large number of actors. Finally, before I conclude, I wish to thank you, Mr. President, and all my colleagues for the very kind words spoken about me.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“There is no doubt that the international community is slowly learning some of the lessons of the major tragedies of the past. But we still find ourselves engaged in some of the old debates. In a crisis situation, the lingering questions remain. Do we decide to call the attention of the world to the crisis and bring the assets to that crisis, risking that we will not have enough assets and that the crisis could turn into a United Nations debacle, possibly damaging the credibility of peacekeeping for years to come because we are unsure of final support levels throughout every step of the road? Or do we look the other way, thinking that maybe the storm will blow away, that it will not be a disaster and that it will go away without United Nations involvement? That is the key dilemma of peacekeeping, and we have to face it head on.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“But in any consideration of a peacekeeping operation, there is a need for a clear understanding of the prevailing situation in the country. That must be studied well before designing mandates. This requires a clear analysis of the situation on the ground. Clear and measurable benchmarks should be set in the light of the problems on the ground. Establishing the criteria for determining when they are met is important. In addition to exit strategies, entrance strategies also must be well elaborated. It should be understood that a conflict can flare up upon the departure of the peacekeeping force if it leaves too soon, amounting to the abandonment of a fragile peace. Exit conditions, rather than the setting of dates for departure, are critical.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“However, the inability of the United Nations to restore peace in Somalia in the 1990s, culminating in the Security Council's unprecedented decision to withdraw from the country before completing its mission, clearly dampened international support for conflict intervention and precipitated a rapid retreat by the international community from peacekeeping worldwide. One tragic consequence acknowledged by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan was the failure of the international community, including the United Nations, to intervene in order to prevent genocide in Rwanda. The perception of the Organization's near indifference by the international community over Rwanda left a poisonous legacy that continues to undermine confidence in the United Nations throughout the continent.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“United Nations peacekeepers are regularly charged with the responsibility not only of protecting themselves, but in many cases, such as the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, of also protecting innocent civilians in their areas of operation. As new and peacekeeping missions are reviewed, it is therefore imperative that they be properly trained, equipped and ready to succeed. In the immediate wake of the cold war, the international community supported peacekeeping and peacemaking initiatives around the world, including in Africa. That brought some significant successes.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“In keeping with your advice, Mr. President, my statement will be circulated and I will try to brief, giving only a summary of my text. I would like first of all to thank Under- Secretaries-General Le Roy and Malcorra and the Special Representative Hedi Annabi for their thoughtful remarks. As we have heard, the number and scope of United Nations peace operations are approaching what may be their highest levels ever, improving prospects for conflict resolution but stretching the capacities of the system. Peacekeeping has changed dramatically over the past two decades. The patrolling of static ceasefire lines, which was once the norm, is no more; now it is almost the exception.”
2009-01-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6075 (2009) · source
“Lastly, Uganda welcomes the guiding principles agreed by the parties in the Djibouti peace agreement on 26 November 2008, in particular the importance of broad-based and representative institutions reached through a political process that is ultimately inclusive. The responsibility for peace in Somalia is ultimately that of the Somali people. Therefore this is a challenge to them. The Council has given encouragement and has spoken, but the challenge is for the Somali people to move fast and unify themselves, putting such institutions in place. Then the international community can come to their support.”
2009-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6068 (2009) · source
“Since there are some misgivings about when that stage will arise, I would like to emphasize that the situation in Somalia is so unique and challenging that if we have to wait for a complete restoration of peace as the sine qua non for deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping force, we may never achieve that goal. What I am saying is that the United Nations and the Security Council should sometimes engage in peacemaking as well. The presence of United Nations peacekeepers can be a catalyst for peace. We should therefore not be timid and wait for when the situation is completely peaceful. In fact, when it is peaceful, why would the United Nations be required there? I would like therefore to flag that issue, so that when the time comes, we will also bear it in mind.”
2009-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6068 (2009) · source
“Without shirking our responsibilities on the maintenance of international peace and security, we have stayed the course in Somalia despite the difficulties and the lack of reinforcement from other countries. We did so because we believe that the cause of Somali peace is just and very crucial. Therefore, we stayed in the hope that the international community would come in and reinforce us. That is why we welcome this resolution: it envisages not only strengthening AMISOM. as it is, but also, at the appropriate stage, within six months, considering the establishment of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Somalia.”
2009-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6068 (2009) · source
“On the resolution just adopted, Uganda welcomes its adoption and would like to thank the United States and all of those who have put in a lot of work to see to it that this resolution was before us today. For a while now, whenever the occasion arose for us to take part as outsiders in the open debates in this Council on matters concerning peacekeeping, Uganda and the African Union have almost invariably urged the United Nations to shoulder its responsibility and establish a United Nations peacekeeping force in Somalia. We are thus very happy that we have reached this stage. I would like therefore to thank the Council for this unanimous decision. The resolution envisages two stages; one is support for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). As Council members know, Uganda is playing a leading part in AMISOM, along with Burundi.”
2009-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6068 (2009) · source
“Allow me to also join those who have paid tribute to Ambassador Khalilzad. One may wonder if somebody who has just joined the Council has the qualifications to pay such tribute. But I can assure my colleagues that, although I am new to the Council, I have been around the United Nations for a while, and during my work I have come across the Ambassador. We have interacted insofar as some of the work of the Security Council touches on our interests. So when I pay tribute, I mean it. I know him. Lastly on this point, I would like to place on the record his active encouragement and support for our bid for Security Council membership. As he can see, it was successful, and I would like to thank him on that score.”
2009-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6068 (2009) · source
“In conclusion, I would like to pay tribute to the various United Nations agencies and international non- governmental organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, that have protection mandates and have worked closely with our Government in times of instability and hardship.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“Uganda welcomes the presidential statement and the aide-memoire to be adopted by the Security Council today, particularly because regional organizations like the African Union have recently taken up peacekeeping mandates in certain areas of conflict in the region. The actions of the Council are of great importance to Uganda as country whose troops make up a large percentage of the current deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia. These documents serve as a reliable blueprint for us, especially as we venture into situations of uncertainty that are characterized by quickly evolving circumstances.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“The Uganda People's Defence Force has always provided protection to humanitarian workers. As part of Government efforts to implement resolution 1612 (2005) and to instil respect for the rights of civilians among armed groups, Uganda has spared no effort in setting up educational programmes to curb the incidence of rights abuses. The Government of Uganda has periodically carried out human rights education programmes for the Uganda People's Defence Force and has participated in joint activities with UNICEF and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the development of a national action plan against the recruitment of children in armed conflict.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“As far back as 2004, Uganda developed a national policy on internally displaced persons in order to guide all actors in the protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons. With this policy in place, there was improvement in the standing of the rights of internally displaced persons and in the Government's meeting its responsibilities with regard to protection and assistance, as well as living conditions. It is against that background that Uganda reiterates its commitment to the protection of the most vulnerable groups of civilians, especially women, children and persons with disabilities. The Government of Uganda has always ensured that it provides unhindered access to humanitarian personnel to provide assistance to civilians in armed conflict.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“They said we should talk peace. We pointed out these rebels were not interested in peace. Eventually, we agreed to talks. But what has happened? We have been vindicated. The Lord's Resistance Army has refused to sign the final peace agreement. The rest now is history. As I have said, they are now terrorizing the region, killing civilians. The international community has now realized that these gangs must be fought. What lessons can we draw from this history? These rebel groups must not be appeased. Sometimes we give them encouragement by expressions to the effect that there is no military solution, and this has given them a pretext to continue their heinous crimes.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“At the same time, the Government created protected areas in which the population in northern Uganda could assemble for easier protection as well as for the distribution of humanitarian assistance, leading to the hitherto unrecognized phenomenon of internal displacement. All this notwithstanding, the Government of Uganda continues to welcome an influx of refugees from within the region, which has put an undeniable strain on our limited resources. Something should be done about non-State actors. These rebel groups who have terrorized civilians have no legitimate reason to be protected. These marauding groups of gangs must be dealt with. They have no respect for international humanitarian law. Uganda at one time was being threatened with being placed on the agenda of the Security Council simply because we were fighting these gangs.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“In this regard, Uganda condemns the renewed activities of the Lord's Resistance Army in Orientale Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as the continuous forced recruitment of women and children, massacres of civilians and wilful acts of rape and torture, looting and destruction of civilian property. Not only do these acts constitute a permanent threat to security in the region but they are also in direct contravention of relevant Security Council resolutions. Long before the international community got involved in northern Uganda, our Government made several attempts to put an end to the senseless activities of the Lord's Resistance Army; those attempts ranged from combat operations and cross-border agreements to offers of amnesty.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“Uganda is a country that has had to endure the hardship of having a large segment of our population become internally displaced persons and is a troop- contributing country within the region and beyond Africa, and the level of commitment that it attaches to the implementation of all the relevant resolutions on the protection of civilians cannot be overstated. In countless forums, Uganda has decried the actions of the so-called Lord's Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony. The activities of the Lord's Resistance Army have been characterized by crimes under international law, violations of international humanitarian law and countless human rights abuses.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“Let me take this opportunity to thank Under-Secretary-General Holmes for his statement and for the good work that he and his team are doing. Uganda's commitment to the protection of civilians is and will remain a priority. Our experiences with regard to the reception and protection of refugees, for example, date back as far as 1959 and have continued as recently as December 2008, when over 40,000 refugees crossed into Uganda due to instability in the region. Today, Uganda is host to approximately 145,000 refugees from various parts of the region.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066 (2009) · source
“Uganda voted in favour of the resolution because of the urgency of the need to put an end to the hostilities and to the humanitarian tragedy. We believe that the resolution is balanced and provides for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire, the protection of civilians and humanitarian access. During the past few days, Uganda has called for the Council to maintain its unity, and today's outcome reflects a consensus resolution, which is an indication that the Council is aware of its important responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Recent developments are a reminder that the Council should remain fully engaged in seeking a comprehensive peace in the Middle East through the two-State solution, with Palestine and Israel living in peace with one another.”
2009-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6063 (2009) · source
“In my concluding remarks, I would like, once again, to commend Mr. Guterres for his exemplary leadership which he has shown, as usual, in addressing these issues.”
2009-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6062 (2009) · source
“This is a broad concept that applies not only to programmes that you can put in place, but also to issues of governance. It is important to note that some internal displacement is the result of poor governance and poor democratic institutions in a country. This must be addressed. I do not believe that, in matters concerning the responsibility of the Council in maintaining international peace and security, we should avoid very watertight compartments. When does a matter fall under the ambit of the maintenance of international peace and security? Obviously the lines are very difficult to define, but it is equally unacceptable that the issue not be addressed. Roles have been defined very narrowly and therefore issues are left out that should have been addressed, such as that I touched on earlier regarding democratization. I want to be brief.”
2009-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6062 (2009) · source
“As the Council knows, that issue was touched on by the 2005 World Summit, and it was endorsed. Unfortunately, nothing has moved to make it a reality, and there are many issues concerning sovereignty which no one wants to touch. Yet, in my opinion, perhaps it is high time that the Council took the lead in reactivating this issue and in finding out how we can put into practice that principle endorsed by the World Summit. Obviously, one cannot simply watch helplessly as no one else cares for the internally displaced people. I think if we address that, it could go a long way towards helping the internally displaced. Mr. Guterres also touched on prevention. Obviously, it is far cheaper to concentrate on prevention than to address the results of a catastrophe. Quite rightly, Mr. Guterres emphasized prevention.”
2009-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6062 (2009) · source
“As the Council knows very well, the issue of internal displacement is the responsibility of the sovereign State and not a matter within the mandate of the High Commissioner for Refugees. Recently, we have witnessed displacement, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is the result of the brutal activities of the so-called Lord's Resistance Army. Many people have been displaced. This is just one example of internal displacement. In circumstances where internal structures or State institutions have collapsed and therefore the State cannot shoulder its responsibility to protect its citizens, the question arises: What will the international community do? Mr. Guterres was quite right in referring to the issue of the responsibility to protect.”
2009-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6062 (2009) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this important meeting. I would like to commend Mr. Antonio Guterres for his exemplary leadership and his entire organization for protecting and looking after the unfortunate people who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves to be refugees or internally displaced persons. He touched upon a number of very important issues. However, before I make a brief comment on that, let me reaffirm the commitment of Uganda to host a special African Union summit on internal displacement. We assure Mr. Guterres and the Council that Uganda will do everything possible to make the meeting a success. Mr. Guterres touched on the issue of internal displacement.”
2009-01-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6062 (2009) · source
“We commend all those countries and organizations, particularly the Arab League, that have worked tirelessly in recent days in pursuit of that goal.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“Uganda would like to express its support for those who have called for a ceasefire that is durable and sustainable. The Council would be engaged in a futile exercise if we called for a ceasefire only to return to the situation that prevailed earlier. In other words, the ceasefire must not be abused by those who might wish to cause violence. Thus, it must be sustainable and durable and must be monitored effectively. Secondly, there is an urgent need for access to Gaza for humanitarian assistance. The ceasefire will facilitate that, but the border crossings should also be opened in order to improve the humanitarian situation. Uganda will continue to support all efforts aimed at reducing tension and achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, consistent with the relevant United Nations resolutions.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“That said, the escalation is a reminder that the international community, and the Council in particular, should remain firmly engaged, working with the parties to achieve a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. That will be achieved only through negotiations between the parties with the support of the international community. It is for that reason that Uganda welcomes this meeting, as it serves as a reminder to the Palestinians, the Israelis and the international community of our obligation to support peace. To that end, we call for and support intra- Palestinian reconciliation, national dialogue and unity. Given the current escalation, the first priority is an immediate end to the violence. My delegation has called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire whose implementation must be monitored to ensure full compliance.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“The Violence further complicates efforts to reach a negotiated and peaceful solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, even more so after the Council, a few weeks ago, unanimously adopted resolution 1850 (2008). Much as we are appalled by the ongoing violence and counter-violence, I do not think that we will do justice if we do not also address what was the immediate cause of this escalation. So, we must not keep silent on the issue of rockets being fired at Israel, injuring civilians. At the same time, we must not turn a blind eye to what Israel's response has been in relation to the unfolding tragedy. In other words, we should be balanced and look at the picture in toto.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“Uganda is pleased to see you, Mr. Minister, chairing this important meeting. I wish to thank you for organizing this meeting, given the situation in the Middle East. At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the presence in our midst today of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas and the Foreign Ministers of various countries. I would also like to thank the Secretary- General for his statement. Uganda has followed with deep concern the escalation of violence in the region. This has had a disastrous impact on the civilian population, with many lives lost and livelihoods disrupted. The humanitarian tragedy is shameful and must be put to an end.”
2009-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6061 (2009) · source
“The programme will also work with local government institutions to adopt gender-responsive by-laws in the aforementioned priority districts. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Uganda's commitment to continue building capacity to implement resolution 1325 (2000).”
2008-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6005Resumption1 (2008) · source
“It places special emphasis on Gulu, Kitgum and Lira Districts by supporting women's engagement in the Juba peace process and by working with the Department of Political Affairs to provide a gender adviser to the United Nations special envoy, as well as by working to ensure that women's priorities are addressed in the peace process. The programme has also supported the launch of a campaign to increase the presence of women in northern Uganda's police force to a minimum of 30 per cent. At the policy level, the Uganda Women's Parliamentary Association has undertaken the gender sensitization of fellow parliamentarians on two important bills: the Domestic Relations bill and the Domestic Violence bill, which are under discussions by competent organs in Uganda.”
2008-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6005Resumption1 (2008) · source
“In that regard, the Ugandan Government welcomes the support and cooperation exhibited by the United Nations and the international community for Uganda's efforts at implementing the resolution, in particular the two-year programme entitled "Supporting Women's Engagement in Peacebuilding and Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict: Community-led Approaches" launched by the United Nations Development Fund for Women in Uganda in 2007 with the support of the United Kingdom's Department for International Development. That programme has focused on supporting women's access to justice and their participation in peacebuilding processes.”
2008-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6005Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Besides the usual judicial system, there are proposals to include the use of traditional justice systems, such as mato oput in northern Uganda, to resolve and settle grievances without condoning impunity. None of those achievements has been made without some challenges. One of the Government's major hurdles is that women's participation includes a limited understanding of resolution 1325 (2000) at all levels. More workshops and seminars to sensitize women are crucial. Some of the challenges are being addressed by civil society organization-led initiatives that have facilitated skills training for women leaders, cross-learning visits and consultative meetings at the community level in a bid to put resolution 1325 (2000) into practice.”
2008-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6005Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Special provisions are being made for the most vulnerable groups that include women under the National Peace Recovery and Development Plan for northern Uganda. The national machinery has initiated the process of integrating the gender perspective into that document so as to ensure that women equally enjoy the opportunities and benefit from the planned interventions. Ugandan women are engaged in peacekeeping missions. There are currently 16 women police officers serving in peacekeeping missions in Liberia, the Sudan and Timor-Leste, and also under the African Union Mission in Somalia. Redress for victims of human rights violations is being addressed.”
2008-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6005Resumption1 (2008) · source
“The Ugandan Government's efforts have been backed by civil society organization initiatives, such as the Civil Society Women's Peace Coalition, which has played an instrumental role in bringing women's voices and issues to the table through its peace campaigns and capacity-building programmes for women leaders and organizations at the community level. Those activities are in recognition of women's crucial role in sustaining the community during conflict and in rebuilding society thereafter. The Ugandan Government, in collaboration with its development partners, is currently working on different recovery programmes to resettle and rehabilitate displaced communities in conflict-affected regions.”
2008-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6005Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Uganda has a very advanced, articulate and organized women's peace movement. Even before the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), my Government had previously supported the efforts of such women leaders as Ms. Betty Bigombe, who initially headed the peace talks from 1994 to 2004 with the Lord's Resistance Army to end the conflict in the northern part of Uganda. The Ugandan Government has also made some provisions for women's participation in the ongoing peace talks in Juba. In addition to the two women directly on the peace team, Uganda has facilitated women's attendance at meetings.”
2008-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6005Resumption1 (2008) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for organizing this important debate. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Rachel Mayanja, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women; Mr. Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations; and Ms. Ines Alberdi, Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, for the commendable work that they are doing. I wish to reiterate Uganda's commitment to the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). We take note of the report of the Secretary- General (S/2008/622) and would like to highlight what Uganda has done. Women's participation in Uganda's political life goes beyond elective office and has extended to other spheres, including peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts, as stipulated in resolution 1325 (2000).”
2008-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6005Resumption1 (2008) · source
“I would like to reiterate that Uganda remains committed to the protection of the world's children who are affected by armed conflict, and to ensuring respect for international norms and standards for the protection of children affected by armed conflict.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Demonizing countries and condemning Member States, even with the objective of ending impunity, will only delay and may derail an otherwise noble initiative. Uganda is of the View that the fastest and most sustainable avenue for solving a problem is not by placing emphasis on punishment, but by engaging the 3 parties involved in dialogue. Sanctions only punish the most vulnerable of society and, as history will show, only serve to harden an accused State's resolve. In conclusion, there can be no durable solution to a problem whose root causes have not been identified or contextualized or are ignored when they are pointed out. Issues like poverty, lack of vocational skills or even the total absence of registration systems for births in conflict areas are too serious to be pushed aside.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source
“In this regard, I am happy to report that the Ugandan Government and the Uganda Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting have vowed to start negotiations to iron out the few hitches inhibiting the finalization of the action plan. This will soon be completed. We believe that, as far as Government cooperation goes, Uganda has exhibited an undeniable spirit of partnership in the implementation of resolution 1612 (2005), regardless of the circumstances under which UPDF and LDU were included in Annex II to the resolution. With regard to the sanctions or punishment regime, if it is to be believed that the motive for punitive measures against States accused of recruiting children into armed forces is actually to help the children, then a different approach, in my View, may have to be adopted.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Article 6 (e) of the Statute recognizes that forcibly transferring children of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group to another group with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the first group constitutes genocide. Uganda holds in the highest regard the mandate of the ICC to fight against impunity. It is with that in mind that Uganda was the first to make a referral. In that same spirit of cooperation, the Ugandan Government has been engaged in various initiatives with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to put an end to the practice wherever it has been identified and to ensure the delistment of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and Local Defence Units (LDUs) - which have now been disbanded - from annex II of resolution 1612 (2005).”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source
“That was an issue that was, in the end, acknowledged by the Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting and by the Secretary-General in his seventh report to the Security Council on children and armed conflict. 08-42816 The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established with the determination to put an end to impunity for perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole and contribute to the prevention of such crimes. The parties to the Rome Statute were also mindful of the millions of children, women and men who had been Victims of unimaginable atrocities that deeply shock the conscience of humanity.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor. Allow me to congratulate you on presiding over this meeting. Uganda has been a proponent of identifying the causes of underage children finding their way into armed forces, in order to find a sustainable solution to the problem. We were quick to point out that even though the recruitment of children into our army was not institutionalized, we were not oblivious to the fact that some children, owing to the breakdown in institutional, social, economic and cultural values, managed to circumvent the system, present false information as to their age and be recruited. In most cases, the abject poverty in those areas led the parents to get their children employed in the armed forces by overstating their ages.”
2008-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5936Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Before I conclude, I want to bring a disturbing piece of information to the attention of the Council. It has been reported in some international media that there is credible evidence that some peacekeepers of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have been giving weapons to illegal militias in exchange for gold and ivory. Among those militias is the notorious Uganda rebel group known as Allied Democratic Forces. Obviously, Uganda is concerned. A thorough investigation should be carried out. We also call on MONUC to undertake robust action to disarm all negative forces on the soil of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which pose a threat to peace and stability in neighbouring countries.”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5881Resumption1 (2008) · source
“So far, the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People's Defence Forces have started to mark their weapons under State control, including those for licensed civilians. During May and June 2006, a major destruction exercise was coordinated under the national plan in which more than 57,000 small arms and light weapons were melted down at Steel Rolling Mills in the town known as J inja. It was billed as the largest single small arms destruction effort in Africa. A second round of destroying small arms and light weapons was carried out on 25 July 2007, and more than 237 tons of such weapons had been destroyed by November of that year. In all these endeavours, financial and logistical support was provided by the United Nations Development Programme and the United States State Department, with Saferworld extending technical assistance.”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5881Resumption1 (2008) · source
“A legal drafting committee, comprising legal experts, has since embarked on the drafting of the bill and the policy, which, upon completion, will be presented to the Minister of Internal Affairs for submission to the Cabinet. It is on the basis of that policy that the review of the Firearms Act and other relevant laws will be carried out. I now turn to the issue of stockpile management, which involves the marking, collection and destruction of illicit, surplus, obsolete and unserviceable small arms and light weapons. It remains an obligation of States parties to the Nairobi Declaration and the Nairobi Protocol within the region to mark their weapons by the end of December 2008.”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5881Resumption1 (2008) · source
“A functional analysis of the Uganda plan on small arms and light weapons was carried out in September 2007 by a consultancy commissioned by the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States with a view to rationalizing the functioning of the national plan and streamlining its organization, structure and staffing. The report setting out the analysis has already been released and outlines the challenges at hand. The key objective in developing a comprehensive national policy was to address the full spectrum of issues related to small arms and light weapons and to provide a basis for the review of national legislation, regulations and administrative procedures governing small arms and light weapons.”
2008-04-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5881Resumption1 (2008) · source