YouSaid · the spoken record

Byrne Nason

lines on the record: 1,154
first: 2018-04-16
most recent: 2022-07-29
sittings or episodes: 170
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

“Let us be clear: the world over, there is a direct correlation between the political participation of women and the stability, peace and prosperity of their societies. Women’s participation in every aspect of public life is a sine qua non for sustained peace and security. In Somalia, the upcoming national elections represent an opportunity to build on progress already made and to see women assume their rightful place at the helm of their society. Encouraging, in 2019, the landmark Somalia Women’s Charter set a target for women’s participation in all aspects of Somali public life at 50 per cent. The leaders of the Federal Government and federal member states took the next steps towards that goal when they recommitted to the 30 per cent quota for women’s representation for the upcoming parliamentary elections.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ireland. I thank the Deputy Secretary-General for her leadership in general, but in particular today in supporting women’s political participation in Somalia. I also sincerely thank Ms. Dini for joining us today. I know that the Irish Foreign Minister greatly appreciated her insights when she met with him in Mogadishu in July. I was particularly struck by her heartfelt presentation today. I express my deep condolences to the families of the victims of the attacks this weekend, including Ms. Abukar, whose death is truly a tragic reminder of the toll that Somalia’s conflicts continue to extract from the women of Somalia, including those courageously working for change.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“I thank Ms. Dini for her excellent briefing. I shall now give the floor to those Council members wishing to make statements.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Shukria Dini, co-Founder and Executive Director of the Somali Women’s Studies Centre, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to warmly welcome the Deputy Secretary- General, Her Excellency Ms. Amina Mohammed, to whom I now give the floor.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“The worrying escalation of violence in north-west Syria has continued at a time when the coronavirus disease is surging. We continue to receive reports of indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian objects. Those remain utterly unacceptable. Finally, I want to repeat Ireland’s longstanding call for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria. Once again, we say sincerely that it is incumbent upon all of us here in the Council to do all in our power to support the efforts of the Special Envoy and to work to prevent further destruction and loss in Syria. Now is the time to act. The people of Syria have waited too long and suffered too much. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“Unfortunately, the fact remains that Syria does not yet offer a safe and stable environment for the sustainable and dignified return of refugees. I want to underline that all returns should be safe, voluntary and dignified. As we speak, tens of thousands of Syrians desperately await news from missing or disappeared loved ones. Tens of thousands more, including women and children, remain unlawfully deprived of their liberty. I repeat our call on the Syrian authorities and other parties to release detainees and abductees in meaningful numbers. The ceasefire in Dara’a city earlier this month was a positive development. However, we remain concerned about its fragility as well as the lasting impact of the fighting that took place.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“They have been subjected to horrific sexual and gender-based violence as well as to early and forced marriage. Many have experienced food insecurity and lack access to education and health care. Despite these challenges, the women of Syria, as Ms. Mhaissen has so clearly described, are keeping faith with the future of Syria and are playing a critical role in leadership development and conflict resolution. We salute their courage, determination and commitment, Their resilience inspires us. We should listen and learn from their valuable experiences. Put simply, their meaningful participation, to which some of us often pay lip service in this Chamber, is an actual reality and is key to achieving long-lasting peace. We are deeply concerned by reports of the explicit targeting of refugees returning to Syria.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“As High Commissioner Bachelet set out last week, a decade of conflict has already caused over 350,000 identifiable deaths. This is unconscionable and cannot continue. A comprehensive political solution in line with resolution 2254 (2015) is more urgently needed now than ever. To achieve that, addressing the root causes of the conflict and the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons remains fundamental. In Ireland, we know that inclusive peace is sustainable peace. It is critical that Syrian women, representing all backgrounds, are fully, equally and meaningfully involved at all levels in the political process. All of us in this Chamber know that Syrian women and girls have been disproportionately affected by this devastating decade-long war.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“We reiterate our call on the Syrian Government to cooperate constructively with the United Nations and to engage fully and in good faith with the efforts of the Special Envoy. The upcoming round of negotiations of the Constitutional Committee is a welcome development. It presents a rare opportunity now for real progress. I urge all parties to grasp that opportunity. Otherwise put, we cannot afford to squander this chance. Our briefers today have put into stark relief the fact that peace and stability remain distant dreams for the Syrian people. We know that there are differing views around this table about how to address that. But let us be clear: when we are divided in this Chamber, it is almost always the vulnerable who suffer the consequences.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ireland. I want to thank Special Envoy Pedersen for his briefing and express the deep appreciation of my country, Ireland, for his ongoing and tireless efforts. I also want to sincerely thank Ms. Rouba Mhaissen for her impressive remarks this morning. Her voice and, through her, the voices of the countless communities affected and displaced by the tragic conflict in Syria are exactly what the Security Council needs to hear. Her presence today matters, and I want to thank her. Regrettably, of course, we meet again against the backdrop of extremely limited political progress. For millions of vulnerable people, that means another month of conflict, another month of suffering and loss, and another month without hope.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“I thank Ms. Mhaissen for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria; and Ms. Rouba Mhaissen, Founder and Director of Sawa for Development and Aid. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Pedersen.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8866 (2021) · source
“The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2597 (2021). The meeting rose at 10.30 a.m.”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8863 (2021) · source
“The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2021/803, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: China, Estonia, France, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Viet Nam”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8863 (2021) · source
“Ireland also reaffirms its strong commitment to the protection of civilians. The resolution provides a clear and structured basis for the engagement of the Council and that of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan for the next six months. I will not tire of saying that we will judge the Taliban during this period by its actions, not by its words. During the period ahead, we will consider our next steps, including the parameters for future United Nations engagement. Today’s resolution is an important step, but it is but one step. Ireland will continue to place the rights and needs of the Afghan people, in particular women and girls, at the forefront of our engagement in the period ahead. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8862 (2021) · source
“I also welcome the emphasis we have placed on the responsibility of any future Government to uphold human rights, including for women, children and minorities. In welcoming the adoption of today’s resolution, we know that this text does not capture all of the issues facing Afghanistan at this time of upheaval. I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate the central importance of the upholding of Afghanistan’s obligations under international, humanitarian, refugee and human rights laws. We also reiterate our call on all actors to ensure full, safe and unhindered access to all humanitarian workers delivering vital aid in Afghanistan. This is particularly important for women humanitarian workers, who are facing challenges as they seek to undertake their life-saving and life-sustaining work.”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8862 (2021) · source
“I shall now make a statement as the representative of Ireland. We welcome the adoption this morning of resolution 2596 (2021), extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). I want to express my appreciation to Estonia and Norway, as penholders, for their efforts to secure agreement on this text. Today’s resolution demonstrates the unanimous support of the Council for the vital of work of UNAMA in supporting the people of Afghanistan. We welcome the recognition in the text that a sustainable future for Afghanistan can come only through the establishment of an inclusive and representative Government. The Council has also reaffirmed the importance of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in any future political settlement.”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8862 (2021) · source
“The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2596 (2021). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the vote.”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8862 (2021) · source
“The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2021/804, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Estonia and Norway. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2021/759, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: China, Estonia, France, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Viet Nam”
2021-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8862 (2021) · source
“There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I shall now adjourn the meeting so that the Council can continue its discussion on the subject in closed consultations. The meeting rose at 5.10 p.m.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“I thank Mr. Griffiths for his clarifications and additional comments. I now give the floor to the representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“I thank Ms. Qaddour for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Ms. Amany Qaddour, Regional Director of Syria Relief and Development. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Griffiths.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8861 (2021) · source
“The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council has before it the text of a statement by the President on behalf of the Council on the subject of today’s meeting. I thank the Council members for their valuable contributions to this statement. In accordance with the understanding reached among the members of the Council, I shall take it that the members of the Security Council agree to the statement, which will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2021/18. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.”
2021-09-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8860 (2021) · source
“There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I will now adjourn the meeting so that the Council can continue its discussion on the subject in closed consultations. The meeting rose at noon.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“While we welcome the establishment of state-level protection-of-civilians committees and deployments of the joint protection force in some areas, addressing the root causes of insecurity is the only way to break the cycle of civilian harm. Finally, as we heard earlier and graphically from Hala Alkarib, we are seeing alarming levels of sexual and gender-based violence across the Sudan, including evidence of targeting of politically active women, intended no doubt to silence their voices. In that regard, I welcome the Government’s enhanced cooperation with the International Criminal Courts. Perpetrators must be held accountable if we are to end impunity, and this is a vital step in that direction. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“We welcome the progress on implementing the Juba Peace Agreement, including the formation of key committees, such as the Darfur Permanent Ceasefire Committee. What is needed now is swift operationalization of the work of those bodies. Meanwhile, we continue to urge all remaining non-signatories to join the Juba Peace Agreement. I want to add that the support of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS) to women peacebuilders in this negotiation process has also been commendable. Despite some progress, the security situation in many parts of the country remains deeply concerning, especially in Darfur. The full implementation of the Government’s integrated National Plan for the Protection of Civilians is therefore a matter of real urgency.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“It is crucial that the Sudan meet its own commitments, on both the full, equal and meaningful, as well as the safe, participation of women. The current representation of women in the transitional Government is far below the 40 per cent quota agreed. As Hala Alkarib said, only one woman sits on the Sovereign Council. I want to underline that this representation is a right, not a request. Youth should also be represented in such peacebuilding processes. The Sudan’s transition is taking place against a backdrop of a stark economic crisis. The commitment to implementing exceptionally difficult but necessary economic reforms is admirable. With the cost of many food commodities having doubled in one year, and 3 million children under five suffering from acute malnutrition, our support for the Sudan’s response to humanitarian needs is vital.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“As we have heard today, much more needs to be done across the reform agenda, from human rights to the security sector. It is critical that key democratic institutions, such as the Transitional Legislative Council, be established on an urgent basis. The success of the Sudan’s transition will depend, therefore, on broadening the political agreement and investing in the country’s marginalized and conflict- affected areas. We simply cannot expect real buy-in if those at the peace table and in the new institutions do not represent the diversity of the people of the Sudan. Women were at the forefront of the protests that lit the spark of change. They must also be at the forefront of the Government that will deliver that change.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“In the Sudan, we saw, as we see so often in our work in the Security Council, that the cause of women’s rights is the cause of peace and democracy. As Alaa Salah told the Security Council (see S/PV.8649), women in the Sudan spoke out against public order laws that restricted their rights and, in so doing, opposed a system built on quashing dissent. Historic as it is, progress on the Sudan’s transition is, as we have heard this morning, slow and uneven. Crucially, however, the power-sharing agreement at the centre continues to hold. I am also encouraged by the Prime Minister’s new initiative to reinvigorate the process. The success of this transition will ultimately be based on the transitional Government’s ability to maintain the power-sharing agreement and strengthen Government institutions.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ireland. I thank Special Representative Perthes for his briefing. I also want to welcome the representative of the Sudan here with us today, and of course I want to thank Ms. Hala Alkarib for her truly powerful testimony. Her work and her voice, alongside those of so many Sudanese women, have played a vital role in the Sudan’s historic political transition. The leadership of Sudanese women in bringing about peaceful change is one of the most emblematic examples of women, peace and security in action in recent years. This is what we mean when we speak about the transformative power of women’s participation. The courage of women in standing up against oppression was powerful in ways that no gun, bullet or bomb could ever be.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“I thank Ms. Alkarib for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2021/766, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Sudan and the activities of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan. I now give the floor to Mr. Perthes.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Sudan to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary- General for the Sudan and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan; and Ms. Hala Alkarib, Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda.”
2021-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8857 (2021) · source
“I would also like to thank the following Member States that have so far submitted written statements on the subject of today’s discussion: Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Fiji, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. We look forward to receiving more statements. Statements that are received by the end of today will form part of the compilation of statements from this meeting. The meeting rose at 12.15 p.m.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“It takes time, planning and forbearance, and it always takes hope. The Council must exercise its unique authority to organize, equip and structure reconfigured United Nations missions in a way that gives that peace the best possible chance of success. We owe this to our peacekeepers and to those they were sent to protect. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I should like to thank once again all of the participants who have joined us in our discussions today, including for their recognition of Ireland’s former President, Mary Robinson, who attended today’s important debate.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“When the Secretary-General was here, he highlighted the need for greater attention to be paid to the protection of civilians during the reconfiguration of United Nations presences. We know that States bear the primary responsibility for the protection of their civilian population. The Council also has a role to play. It has a responsibility to encourage and support Governments in developing and implementing national strategies that reflect the protection needs of all elements of the population. That means the full participation of local communities and stakeholders, including women, youth and civil society. Today’s debate has demonstrated that peace is not a moment. It is not the signature of a deal, nor is it the departure of a United Nations peacekeeping mission. It is a process; it is a commitment.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“The process will not always be linear. We have heard today from our briefers of the enormous challenges that can arise as circumstances on the ground change. However, with early and inclusive planning, incorporating a whole-of- United Nations approach, and with national ownership at its core, we can ensure that the foundations for peace created by peacekeeping are not lost, but rather are built upon. Our discussions today are not merely technical matters. In fact, for thousands of vulnerable people, they are far from abstract. Those people are depending on the Council and the United Nations to work with their Governments to ensure their safety and to protect them from harm.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“The draft resolution that will be voted on tomorrow, and which many members around this table have already co-sponsored, sends a clear and united message. It is the first stand-alone draft resolution on transitions. It will deliver a road map and a framework for how we approach and manage this critical and sensitive juncture in a country’s history. When the time does come for our peacekeepers to leave, it is vital that the United Nations system be ready to step up and to step in. To do that, it is important that the Council has a shared vision of what that means. For Ireland, we understand transition as a strategic process, designed to build towards the reconfiguration of the United Nations presence in the field. We see it as a gradual process, enabling and supporting long-term peacebuilding efforts. Of course, we should not be naïve.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“As an Irish woman, I know from the experience on our island that hard-won peace can be fragile and that sustained commitment is needed for it to prosper. The fact is, the end of violent conflict brings with it an opportunity to deliver sustainable peace, not a guarantee. When that opportunity arrives, it is up to us, collectively around this table, to be ready and prepared to grasp it. Peacekeeping can open the pathway to a peaceful future. A sustainable transition to peacebuilding can ensure that we do not falter along the way. Yes, the challenges are complex; they are interconnected; but they are not insurmountable. That is why Ireland has prioritised this issue, not only today but throughout our Council membership.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“For more than six decades, Irish women and men have served in United Nations peace operations across the globe. Every community on the island has bid farewell to a Blue Beret upon deployment and counted down the days to their return. Some have never made it home. Today, we remember and honour all those who have given their lives in the cause of peace. At its best, United Nations peacekeeping is a remarkable and meaningful expression of multilateralism and international solidarity. These brave women and men work night and day in some of the world’s most fragile contexts across the globe. They work to keep safe those who need protection, to resolve conflict and to create conditions for peace to thrive.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ireland. I want to start by thanking the Secretary-General for his insightful briefing. The Secretary-General’s presence at the Council earlier today is a clear expression of his steadfast support for the thousands of peacekeepers working to build and sustain peace around the world. I also want to thank former President Johnson-Sirleaf. Liberia’s journey from conflict to peace is a testament to her leadership and to the transformative impact of United Nations peacekeeping. Irish troops were proud to serve in her country as part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia. Finally, I want to thank Safaa Adam for her powerful testimony. Her voice, experience and recommendations are what this Council needs to hear.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“I thank Ms. Adam for her briefing. I now warmly welcome among us Her Excellency Ms. Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs of India.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of Liberia; and Ms. Safaa Elagib Adam, President of the Community Development Association of the Sudan. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2021/756, which contains the text of a letter dated 24 August 2021 from the Permanent Representative of Ireland addressed to the Secretary- General, transmitting a concept note on the item under consideration. I wish to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, to whom I now give the floor.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“I thank President Robinson for her clarifications as well as all of the Elders. I thank Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi and Presidents Zedillo and Johnson-Sirleaf for their presence in the Chamber today. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting rose at 12.15 p.m.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“That is a reality for millions of vulnerable people around the world. Those people, many faced with war, famine or sexual violence in conflict, are relying on us here in this Chamber to come together and to act. That is our responsibility, individually and collectively. That was the promise of the Charter in 1945. That is still the promise of the Charter in 2021. We know that The Elders are working tirelessly to help realize that promise, and we will rely on their encouragement today to fortify our efforts at this table. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to Mrs. Robinson to respond to the questions posed and comments made.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“A key measure of the new dispensation in Kabul will be how it treats its women and girls. Afghanistan is but one of the many crises that the Council is grappling with. From Ethiopia to Yemen, to Haiti and Syria, we must work together on collective responses to increasingly complex challenging circumstances. The promotion of respect for human rights, including the protection of civil-society space and of human rights defenders, must lie at the heart of our commitment to those and other countries in crisis. It is a lesson hard learned that we in the Security Council simply cannot afford to be divided on issues that require urgent action. If and when we are divided, the vulnerable in fragile contexts suffer the consequences. Appeals for a united Council may sound idealistic, but that is not merely an ideal.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“For me, as an Irish woman, the words of Ireland’s former President Mary Robinson have particular resonance. Many have mentioned the crisis in Afghanistan today. With the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan foremost in my mind in recent weeks, I am reminded of something that former President Robinson once said: “In a society where the rights and potential of women are constrained, no man can be truly free. He may have power, but he will not have freedom.” The Council will continue its urgent consideration of the situation in Afghanistan in the debate to be held on Thursday and in the negotiation of the mandate for the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan. As we do so, I call on the Council to do everything in its power to promote and protect the human rights of the brave women of Afghanistan.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“We have heard first-hand in the Council how the negative effects of climate change are compounding other drivers of conflict such as poverty and inequality to undermine stability in regions such as the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. If we fail to face up to the realities, the destabilizing effects of climate change will eventually be felt in all countries. We are using our presidency this month to consider the concrete steps that the Council can take in response to climate security risks. We must put the necessary systems in place to allow the Council to take account of the adverse impacts of climate change in the delivery of its mandate. Like many around this table and around the world, I am inspired by the work and wisdom of The Elders.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“It is expressed in our commitment to promoting disarmament in Ireland’s foreign policy, and it is grounded in our lived experience of conflict — an experience that continues to teach us that for peace processes to be sustainable, they must be inclusive, ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable, often women and other marginalized groups, are not only heard but listened to. Our commitment to multilateralism is matched by our courage to defend it. The threats to peace and security have changed since 1945. Today climate change is the defining challenge of our generation. Its impact is global, and our collective security is at risk.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source