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

“I want to say at the beginning how much the Irish delegation appreciates the messages of condolence we have received on the sudden loss of an outstanding Irish diplomat, colleague and friend. May he rest in peace. I would like to thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing. Ireland deeply regrets the decision of the Russian Federation to call for today’s meeting. It has done so yet again for no other reason than to promote its spurious claims against Ukraine and others. It is deeply troubling to hear the Russian Federation spreading unsubstantiated, unfounded allegations. The only so- called proof provided is to point to transparent projects necessary for biosecurity and for human or animal health. That kind of research is carried out by many countries to advance global health, benefiting humankind.”
2022-03-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8999 (2022) · source
“In the light of the Court’s decision, which is binding on the Russian Federation and which it cannot ignore, Ireland once again calls on the Russian Federation to comply with its obligations under international law and immediately end its aggression, unconditionally withdraw its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine and refrain from further threat or use of force of any kind against Ukraine or any other Member State. For three long weeks diplomacy has proved unavailing, for three long weeks the world has watched this war with horror; yet we believe that there is still a chance for peace. We urge the Russian Federation to do the right thing and commit to the diplomatic path in good faith. It is never too late to do the right thing.”
2022-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8998 (2022) · source
“They pose great risk for civilians when deployed in urban areas, including long after the fighting has ceased. Their use is unconscionable. Equally, any use of white phosphorus against civilians or civilian infrastructure is abhorrent and contrary to international law. Russia’s war in Ukraine is not only morally wrong; it is illegal. Yesterday, in granting Ukraine’s request for provisional measures against the Russian Federation, the International Court of Justice was clear and emphatic: Russia must immediately suspend military operations in Ukraine.”
2022-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8998 (2022) · source
“That applies both to those who choose to leave and those who choose to remain. Surely the most basic respect for human life must mean something to the aggressor, even now. Let us be clear: the provision of humanitarian assistance is not dependent on a ceasefire; it is dependent on those bombing cities doing the right thing in accordance with their obligations. Attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects, indiscriminate attacks and disproportionate attacks are all prohibited under international humanitarian law. Ireland remains gravely concerned by the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in Ukraine. There have been reports of the use of cluster munitions and thermobaric weapons by Russian military forces. Those weapons cause mass casualties.”
2022-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8998 (2022) · source
“The city’s supermarkets have been emptied because the basic necessities of life cannot be safely brought into the city. It is chilling to think that the suffering forced on Mariupol may be visited on other Ukrainian cities. There can be no justification for this brutal aggression. It should never have been perpetrated. It must be stopped. Ireland calls on the Russian Federation to comply with its obligations to protect civilian health-care facilities and medical and humanitarian personnel. It must facilitate the safe passage and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, including medical and food supplies. Whatever is agreed or not agreed, on humanitarian corridors or other measures, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected under international humanitarian law.”
2022-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8998 (2022) · source
“It is a damning indictment that we in the Council have not been able to speak with a united voice to save innocent lives in this war. The images from a besieged Mariupol are shocking. We see once again that urban warfare takes the heaviest toll on civilians. We deplore the targeting of health- care facilities, doctors taken hostage, life-saving care interfered with by military forces. Last week’s attack by Russian forces on a maternity hospital in Mariupol plumbed new depths, resulting in the death of a mother and her newborn baby — a baby that never had a chance. We have to ask — how many more? The residents of Mariupol are now melting snow or siphoning water from heating systems in order to quench their thirst. They are cutting down trees for firewood for cooking and to stay warm in the freezing night temperatures.”
2022-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8998 (2022) · source
“Our thoughts are with their families and every grieving and suffering Ukrainian family. Courageous journalists are showing the horrific impact of Russian aggression. I salute the free media putting their lives on the line to show us the truth. The humanitarian impact of this war is being felt around the world. It will affect the food security of countries heavily reliant on Ukrainian agricultural products, including in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It will cause severe harm far beyond the borders of Ukraine. I find it a damning indictment that the Council has to plead with the Russian Federation not to deprive civilian populations of food and water, not to deny them the basic infrastructure they need for daily existence, for survival.”
2022-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8998 (2022) · source
“Families have been torn apart. At least 2 million people are internally displaced, increasingly vulnerable and in need of immediate support. Ordinary people are being traumatized by a cruel and reckless war. Women and girls face heightened risk of being subjected to sexual and gender-based violence, including rape and trafficking. Their right to protection is being ignored. The destruction of the basic services all of us here at this table take for granted — food, water, sanitary systems, health and education — is having a devastating effect in Ukraine. We know that civilian casualties are in the thousands. Irish journalist Pierre Zakrzewski was tragically killed alongside Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova. They were both working to shine a light on Ukraine’s plight.”
2022-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8998 (2022) · source
“I also would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, Assistant High Commissioner Mazou and Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus for their very sobering briefings. Their messages are very grim. We commend all humanitarian organizations working to alleviate the human-made catastrophe being visited upon Ukraine. The cause of that catastrophe is clear. Three short weeks ago, as we sat in this very Chamber, while the Secretary-General pleaded for peace, the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine. Since then, we have witnessed wanton devastation in a sovereign independent nation, with no regard for human life. To date, more than 3 million people have had to flee Ukraine, becoming refugees in neighbouring countries. We heard today that 90 per cent of those forced out of their homes and into uncertainty are women and children.”
2022-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8998 (2022) · source
“Finally, we once again offer our full support for the efforts of the Special Adviser, who has been working tirelessly with the parties on the ground. And we look forward to the timely appointment of a special envoy and the renewal of the Mission’s mandate next month, at what is a critical juncture on the path to peace in Libya.”
2022-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8996 (2022) · source
“We also deeply regret the lack of tangible progress in addressing the conditions faced by detainees, migrants and refugees, including many women and children who are arbitrarily held in State- and non-State-operated facilities. Tragically, detainees continue to face heightened risks of sexual violence, including rape. We call on the Libyan authorities to urgently ramp up efforts to prevent those abuses and to end all practices of arbitrary detention. Furthermore, all allegations of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as other abuses of human rights, should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. It is essential that perpetrators be held accountable for such crimes. We underscore that the vital work that is being undertaken by the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya is a critical step towards justice and accountability.”
2022-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8996 (2022) · source
“A free civic space is the centrepiece of a democracy; its protection is paramount. Just last week, we celebrated International Women’s Day. Regrettably, it coincided with the announcement by the Libyan authorities that they had suspended work on a national action plan on women and peace and security, which was agreed in collaboration with UN-Women only last year. Landmark resolution 1325 (2001) highlights the crucial role played by women in building peaceful and inclusive democracies and calls for special measures to protect women and girls from violence. We sincerely urge the authorities to reconsider the suspension of that work, which we believe remains vital to Libya’s peacebuilding efforts.”
2022-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8996 (2022) · source
“The Libyan people have demonstrated clearly that they are ready to choose their own leaders; they should not be made to wait indefinitely to cast their votes at the ballot box. Libyan women, like Ms. Shuaiter, have every right to participate fully and safely in the elections, both as candidates and as voters. That is intrinsic to the goal of achieving inclusive, sustainable peace. We call on all parties to engage in the joint committee process in good faith, to urgently nominate their representatives and to cooperate fully with the Special Adviser. Full respect for the human rights of Libyans from all backgrounds is a prerequisite for them to shape the future of their own country. Weekly abductions and disappearances of journalists and civil society activists, as documented by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, are deplorable.”
2022-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8996 (2022) · source
“At this critical juncture, all actors have the responsibility to safeguard the progress that the Libyan people, supported by the international community, have worked so hard to achieve in recent years. Outstanding disagreements among Libyan stakeholders can be resolved only through peaceful dialogue. The Libyan people deserve nothing less. We therefore welcome the recent proposal of Special Adviser Williams to convene a joint committee from the House of Representatives and the High State Council. We hope that the consensual constitutional basis envisaged by that committee can forge a pathway out of the current impasse. The destination is clear: the holding of credible, transparent and inclusive elections.”
2022-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8996 (2022) · source
“I want to thank our briefers — Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, Ambassador Tirumurti and Ms. Shuaiter — and to welcome our colleague the Ambassador of Libya to this morning’s meeting. The deterioration of the overall situation on the ground in Libya since the postponement of the December elections is a matter of really serious concern. The fragile, hard-won unity and calm achieved since the signing of the ceasefire agreement in October 2020 is now in danger. For the sake of the Libyan people, it cannot, and should not, be eroded. Reports of the mobilization of forces in and around Tripoli are deeply troubling. The serious political polarization we are witnessing is equally disconcerting. We reiterate calls on all parties to refrain from violence and from any provocative or destabilizing deeds or words.”
2022-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8996 (2022) · source
“Finally, though the comprehensive review is a key part of the Committee’s work this year, it is vital that the regular work of the Committee continue in parallel.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8993 (2022) · source
“While the onus of implementation falls on States, of course, the input of all relevant stakeholders is essential to ensuring that we prevent non-State actors, including terrorists, from acquiring, developing, trafficking in or using nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery. That is important not just for the review but also for the ongoing work of the Committee. We should build on the important work done under resolutions 1977 (2001) and 2325 (2016), extending the work of the Committee and the Group of Experts. Ireland sees the Committee’s monitoring, outreach and assistance work as central to its mandate, helping States to identify and address any gaps and vulnerabilities in regulations and national control frameworks. We hope to see that further strengthened under this review.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8993 (2022) · source
“Its full implementation remains essential, and we encourage States to continue to take seriously their obligations under the resolution. The 1540 Committee and the Group of Experts, in our view, do vital work in that regard. Ireland welcomes the technical rollover of the 1540 mandate agreed last month. It allows us time to complete the comprehensive review. It is important that the comprehensive review and the open consultations planned for the end of May be completed in the best way possible, with the views and experiences of Member States fully reflected in the process. That will ensure strong and broad support for the mandate going forward. A meaningful review must also include the effective participation of international and regional organizations, industry, academia and civil society.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8993 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank Ambassador Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez for his briefing today. This has been a difficult and challenging year for him and for his work and for that of his team. It has been really exemplary in guiding the progress of the Council and the progress by the Committee, so I wanted to thank him for that. Ireland greatly values the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). It is more important than ever to reiterate that any threat or use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) is abhorrent. In seeking to prevent non-State actors from acquiring and using WMDs, resolution 1540 (2004) is a critical part of the global non-proliferation architecture.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8993 (2022) · source
“In conclusion, the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security is as pertinent and relevant as ever. Respect for human rights, the rule of law and economic and environmental progress are all essential elements for sustaining peace and prosperity. We look forward to working closely with the Chairperson-in-Office to ensure strong, complementary partnerships between the United Nations and the OSCE.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source
“We also welcome Poland’s emphasis on responding to new and emerging threats to regional peace and security such as violent extremism and attacks in cyberspace, as well as the challenges we may face in a post-coronavirus disease environment, through effective multilateralism. Ireland recalls that the OSCE plays a unique role in holding all participating States accountable to OSCE principles and commitments. The inclusion of civil society is essential in that regard. We fully support the OSCE’s work on democracy and human rights and reaffirm our steadfast support for the invaluable role played by the OSCE autonomous institutions, in particular the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, whose work on election monitoring we support without reservation.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source
“We believe that the OSCE Minsk Group is the appropriate format through which to achieve that objective; it is essential that both sides meaningfully engage in that effort. Ireland, together with our European Union partners, stands ready to contribute to the intensification of negotiations in that format. Ireland strongly supports the Polish Chair’s intention to keep conflict prevention and resolution at the top of the OSCE’s agenda, including in Georgia and Moldova. Here, too, will the OSCE’s work to advance the women and peace and security agenda be critical, particularly for those women who have been forced to flee Ukraine.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source
“Allow me to express our sincere condolences on the death of Maryna Fenina, the SMM national member killed by shelling. We commend the OSCE on its evacuation of staff, recognize the evacuation as a temporary measure and acknowledge that the mission is working differently right now and is ready to resume its monitoring work. We stress the importance of an OSCE presence on the ground into the future. While the eyes of the world are rightly focused on Ukraine, we are mindful that the institutions and field offices of the OSCE continue to operate throughout the region. Indeed, it is vital that they do so. Ireland continues to support renewed efforts towards a negotiated, comprehensive and sustainable settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, particularly on the long-term status of Nagorno Karabakh.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source
“Its strength lies in its value as an essential forum for free and open engagement. That is why we welcome, in particular, the Renewed European Security Dialogue, initiated by the Chairperson-in- Office and aimed at using the full potential of the OSCE as a platform for dialogue. Since 2014, the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine has made a significant difference to the lives of people living along the contact line in eastern Ukraine, away from public limelight. The mission negotiated local ceasefires, enabling repair works on critical civilian infrastructure and giving millions in eastern Ukraine access to fundamental services. It was an indispensable, impartial voice and the eyes and ears of participating States on the ground.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source
“The Russian Federation must immediately cease hostilities, unconditionally withdraw its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine and refrain from using further threats or the use of force of any kind against Ukraine or any other OSCE participating State. We urge it to turn away from war and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy, not bullets and bombs. Ireland welcomes the priorities for 2022 outlined by the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE. I would like to assure Minister Rau of Ireland’s full support in his important role. As Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo said earlier, the OSCE is a unique organization, extending from Vancouver to Vladivostok. It is the embodiment of a vision for Europe’s security architecture — a vision of creating a different relationship for resolving issues between States.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source
“As a founding member of the OSCE, Ireland regards the organization as a vital instrument for European stability and security. We greatly value the OSCE’s work on conflict prevention and resolution, its activities on human rights and its role in the region, under the Charter of the United Nations. As we now experience another tragic episode in Europe’s long and often violent history, the work of the OSCE takes on a renewed significance. The Russian Federation’s relentless, unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine casts a dark shadow across our continent, as innocent civilians in Ukraine suffer unbearably and we watch a humanitarian catastrophe unfold. Ireland once again strongly condemns the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign and independent country, and calls on it to uphold its international obligations.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source
“I, too, would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing this morning. I would like to wish Minister Rau a very warm welcome to the Council and extend many thanks for his informative briefing earlier. At the outset, I would certainly like to express Ireland’s admiration and appreciation to the Government and the people of Poland for their generosity to and solidarity with those fleeing the war in Ukraine. We, in Ireland, are also fully committed to supporting the humanitarian response. The Helsinki Final Act, signed in 1975, laid the foundation for what is now the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as an inclusive forum where East and West could meet. The OSCE, with its unique concept of comprehensive security, has served the European continent well for almost 50 years.”
2022-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8992 (2022) · source
“One more time, Ireland urges the Russian Federation to immediately cease hostilities, unconditionally withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine and refrain from further threat or use of force of any kind against Ukraine. It is beyond time to choose dialogue and diplomacy as the only pathway to resolve this conflict.”
2022-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8991 (2022) · source
“However, as United Nations briefers confirmed again today, it is clear that the Russian offensive is causing the suffering of millions, resulting in a rapidly rising toll of internally displaced persons and refugees in need of humanitarian assistance. Millions of people in Ukraine are struggling with the humanitarian consequences of this senseless aggression. Whatever is agreed or not agreed on humanitarian safe passage, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. Compliance with international humanitarian law is not optional. It is an obligation. Full, safe and unhindered access to provide humanitarian assistance is urgently needed.”
2022-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8991 (2022) · source
“Those instruments are doing their vital job of ensuring the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and no evidence has been advanced to support such allegations in these forums. Earlier this week, 48 States, including Ireland, challenged those unsubstantiated claims by Russia in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. I urge the Russian Federation to cease its campaign of disinformation and not to use the Council as a platform to spread disinformation. Such harmful actions demean this body and its role in maintaining international peace and security. The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine has created a humanitarian catastrophe. In another effort to mislead and misinform, we have been told by the Russian Federation that the humanitarian crisis we are seeing in Ukraine is not a result of its actions.”
2022-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8991 (2022) · source
“Given the reckless disregard for nuclear safety and security shown by Russian forces since the start of the invasion, there are fears for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear safety arising from the invasion. This in no way, however, supports the claims of the development of weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine. We are familiar with this approach by the Russian Federation. It forms part of a long-standing pattern by the Russian Federation to use disinformation in multiple multilateral forums to distract, deny and cover up its own transgressions and aggressions. Ireland considers it unacceptable to levy such accusations against Ukraine, a State party in good standing to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention.”
2022-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8991 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank High Representative Izumi Nakamitsu and Under- Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for their sober briefings this morning. Ireland deeply regrets the decision of the Russian Federation to call for today’s meeting. It has done so for no other reason than to advance baseless claims against Ukraine and the United States. Ireland has a long-standing and clear policy on biological, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction. It is intolerable that Russia, as part of its attempts to excuse its unjustifiable and unlawful aggression against Ukraine, is making unsubstantiated and unfounded claims against Ukraine regarding the alleged development and possible use of biological and chemical weapons. The prohibitions on biological and chemical weapons must not be undermined.”
2022-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8991 (2022) · source
“Under resolution 2118 (2013) and the CWC, Syria is obliged to provide immediate and unfettered access to OPCW personnel in Syria. We call on Syria to issue the necessary visas for all members of the DAT in order to enable the Organization’s inspection work to continue. Syria’s engagement should take the form of positive, productive action rather than excuses and delays. Ireland will continue to support all efforts to resolve outstanding issues on this file.”
2022-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8990 (2022) · source
“At the same time, Syria should engage in serious and meaningful cooperation with the OPCW. That is the only route to a resolution on this file. We hope that the proposed meeting Director- General Arias and Foreign Minister Mekdad will take place soon and that it will focus on achieving concrete outcomes. Ireland calls on Syria to engage sincerely with the OPCW to finalize arrangements for that meeting. The Technical Secretariat has made clear the concrete actions necessary to resolve outstanding issues with Syria’s declarations. Syria should implement them and provide the necessary clarity on all outstanding matters. We urge Syria to cease blocking the deployment of the Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) to Syria, now outstanding for almost a year.”
2022-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8990 (2022) · source
“Over the same period, the OPCW, with clear and compelling evidence, has shown 17 incidents where chemical weapons were likely or definitely used in Syria, in some cases by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, but in most cases by the Syrian Air Force. Those attacks have led to the deaths of hundreds of people and lasting injury and suffering for many more. Similar conclusions have been reached by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic and the United Nations-OPCW Joint Investigative Mission. There is no justification for those attacks and no one should be allowed to confuse or excuse these facts. The Council must uphold its decisions in resolution 2118 (2013) and stand united behind the OPCW in its work to ensure that Syria’s chemical-weapons programme is verifiably destroyed.”
2022-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8990 (2022) · source
“The ongoing efforts within the Council and externally to politicize the work and findings of the OPCW and to defend Syria’s actions are deeply disturbing. The Council should be united and clear in its full support for the OPCW and Director-General Arias and in its rejection of disinformation efforts aimed at undermining the work of the Organization. The efforts by Syria and others to frustrate the work of the OPCW have serious consequences. For more than eight years, the OPCW has sought to resolve Syria’s issues around Syria’s declarations. Twenty substantive issues are outstanding. These cover production facilities, stockpiles of munitions and agents and research and development activities left undeclared by Syria.”
2022-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8990 (2022) · source
“I want to thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her very important briefing to the Security Council today. I want to begin by stressing the importance of maintaining our collective commitment to upholding the international legal norm against chemical weapons, which are abhorrent. There can be no justification for their use at any time, anywhere. The role of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), as the independent organization mandated by the international community to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), in maintaining the absolute prohibition on chemical weapons remains essential. In carrying out that role, the OPCW has clearly and repeatedly demonstrated its integrity, professionalism and impartiality, including in its work on Syria.”
2022-03-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8990 (2022) · source
“It will affect the food security situation in countries heavily reliant on Ukrainian agricultural products in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, reminding us at this table once again of the inherent links between conflict and hunger. Ireland once again urges the Russian Federation to immediately cease hostilities, unconditionally withdraw its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine and refrain from further threat or use of force of any kind against Ukraine or any other Member State. Andri and his family speak to the human face of this reprehensible conflict. Before any more lives are ruined or lost to this war, before more children die, before more families are separated, before it is too late, we plead one more time with the Russian Federation to choose dialogue and diplomacy over bombs and bullets.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8988 (2022) · source
“All women and girls in Ukraine must be protected from rape and sexual violence, and we will work to ensure that there will be no place to hide from accountability for anyone who perpetrates crimes against them. In the face of the massive exodus of refugees from Ukraine, we once again commend our European partners and Moldova for their continued generosity and solidarity. They are welcoming vulnerable people seeking to leave Ukraine, without discrimination. We appeal to all countries in the region to keep their borders open to all those seeking safety and protection. Ireland is fully committed to supporting the humanitarian response both domestically and in the region. The humanitarian impact of this war will be felt not just on the European continent.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8988 (2022) · source
“Ireland reiterates our call made at last Friday’s meeting (see S/PV.8986) for the immediate cessation of military activities by Russia against and at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, in order to avert nuclear disaster and the subsequent humanitarian consequences. We note that over the weekend the International Atomic Energy Agency expressed grave concern at the situation at the Zaporizhzhya plant. As Ms. Russell so clearly set out for us today, the women and children of Ukraine are in the midst of a desperate protection crisis. The terror of war and the trauma of family separation will have lifelong effects on thousands of Ukrainian children. They will be marked forever by these days. As in all conflicts around the world, women and girls are especially vulnerable to the abhorrent scourge of sexual violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8988 (2022) · source
“As she looked at her nephew, she recalled the children whom she saw killed in that attack. She says simply, “They were so small”. Ireland calls on the Russian Federation to uphold its international obligations. That includes protecting civilian health-care facilities and protecting medical and humanitarian personnel. All parties must also facilitate the safe passage and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, including medical and food supplies, to those in need. A notification system and emergency helpline should be established to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8988 (2022) · source
“The International Committee of the Red Cross has been clear: whatever is agreed, or not agreed, on humanitarian corridors or other measures, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. That applies both to those who choose to leave and those who choose to remain. That is a core obligation under international humanitarian law. Each chilling violation of international law evokes the darkest days of Europe’s past. The humanitarian consequences of damage to civilian infrastructure is not abstract. It means interrupted supplies of electricity, which is critical for the continued functioning of hospitals and essential services. It means heating homes. It means enabling parents to cook to feed their children. The children’s hospital where Valentina worked as a volunteer was hit by artillery at the beginning of the invasion.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8988 (2022) · source
“In densely populated cities, in villages and towns, Ukrainian civilians are forced to shelter for safety in underground carparks and metro stations. Their daily lives are upended. Everything is on hold. They are terrorized. All the while the use of explosive weapons is destroying their homes and the civilian infrastructure that they rely on for survival. We are hearing reports hourly of multiple attacks on medical facilities, including maternity and children’s hospitals, even oncology clinics – all protected under international humanitarian law. We have looked on in horror as attempts to evacuate an estimated 200,000 people from Mariupol have failed.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8988 (2022) · source
“As his aunt, Valentina, comforted Andri and his mother, she told the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, “I never thought I would have to leave my home, that I would have to flee just to save my life”. The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine has now created what is nothing short of a humanitarian catastrophe. As a brutal war is waged, we are seeing little to no regard for the safety of civilians. Andri and Valentina represent just two of the 1.7 million people who have become refugees in less than two weeks. “We gathered some things and fled”, Valentina said. She had reason to: we now know that something on the order of 12 million people are in need of assistance. Thousands have been killed or injured. The human cost is mounting by the day — a humanitarian catastrophe simply of tragic proportions.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8988 (2022) · source
“I would first like to thank UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and welcome her to the Chamber, and to thank her and Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths for their briefings today. Their messages were really, really stark, but we need to hear them. The international community needs to hear the facts. We commend the vital work of all humanitarians in Ukraine. Today, on the eve of International Women’s Day, I salute the courage of all women working on the ground in Ukraine to save lives. The safety and security of all those brave individuals must be ensured. One of the youngest fleeing over the weekend was a 2-month-old boy called Andri, who crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8988 (2022) · source
“We know what that looks like, and it is achieved when basic needs are met, when human rights are protected — as we know, women’s rights are human rights — and when the citizens of South Sudan are free and safe to express themselves without fear of repercussions. I believe that we wish them absolutely nothing less.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8987 (2022) · source
“We hope that both initiatives will help to chart a path forward for the effective implementation of the peace agreement, which we expect will include the establishment of the Compensation and Reparation Authority, the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing and the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, as committed to by President Kiir Mayardit in his New Year message. In conclusion, we want to support a pathway to a brighter future for South Sudan. It is clear that inclusive and democratic elections, hopefully in 2023, can represent a turning point for South Sudan, but that can happen only if South Sudan can work to fully implement the peace agreement. I believe that real peace is within reach.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8987 (2022) · source
“It is crucial to ensuring an inclusive democratic process in which all voices can be heard. The peace workshops of the South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network offer promise for meaningful participation by women, and I want to particularly welcome that. We are heartened by the development of the pilot community violence reduction project, and we look forward to hearing more about that in due course. The importance of engagement by neighbours and regional actors, such as the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, cannot be overstated today. We welcome President Museveni’s intention to convene a retreat in Kampala, as well as the recent visit of the African Union Peace and Security Council to Juba, Jonglei and Pibor.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8987 (2022) · source
“In recognizing the action that is required on that front, Ireland is proud to fund a climate security adviser with UNMISS to help to identify and address climate-related security risks and to support community-led-based peacebuilding measures to mitigate such risks and prevent violence. I want to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNMISS colleagues for their steadfast efforts to bring about peace in the country, not least in relation to the Mission’s protection mandate, including its support for civil society, which is particularly important given the concerning reports of the shrinking civic space, of which we heard Riya Yuyada speak very clearly this morning. An open civil society space is particularly critical in the context of preparations — whatever the time frame — for elections.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8987 (2022) · source
“As the humanitarian crisis deepens, full and unrestricted humanitarian access and the protection of humanitarian workers remains critical, as we have said a thousand times. All sides must respect international humanitarian law and allow aid to reach those vulnerable people who most desperately need it. That is a basic and fundamental concern. In addition to that, we remain highly alert to the undeniable impact of climate change on peace and security in South Sudan. We have seen prolonged and intense flooding increase population displacement, disrupt agriculture and alter cattle migration patterns, all of which risk accentuating or provoking violence. Those are neither new nor unexpected phenomena, but we have been witnessing them as the results of climate impacts for some time. Climate and security are clearly interacting in South Sudan.”
2022-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8987 (2022) · source