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

“We welcome the recent agreement on a framework proposal and look forward to seeing detailed plans, which should pragmatically take into account the realities today on the ground and in the wider context. The Somali Government needs to put in place realistic plans for the generation of forces to allow the eventual drawdown of the AU Transitional Mission to Somalia. Part of that context, of course, is maritime security. We hope that consensus will swiftly be found on the renewal of the resolution on maritime security off the coast of Somalia (resolution 2608 (2021)). Finally, as Mr. Skoog said this morning, the European Union has been and will continue to be a strong supporter of Somalia and its people. We look forward to working together on finding a way forward.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8965 (2022) · source
“We condemn the rising number of attacks by Al-Shabaab over the past year that have targeted those involved in elections. Those attacks continue to disproportionately affect civilians and, tragically, children. We condemn the reported widespread sexual and gender-based violence targeted against women and girls. We need to see the Somali authorities protect civilians, ensure accountability and provide services for all victims and survivors of those heinous crimes. I echo the Secretary-General in calling on the Somali authorities to adopt a new national action plan to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict. That horrific situation for all women and girls in Somalia must be ended. Ireland looks forward to participating actively in discussions on a future African Union (AU) mission in Somalia.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8965 (2022) · source
“The Government can then return to the core business of delivering for the Somali people. We hope that the elections will be concluded swiftly and their results accepted without the threat or use of violence. Since Ireland joined the Council, we have emphasized the need for women to play an equal part in political life and in the public sphere in Somalia. We believe that such participation will lead to a better, fairer and safer country for all Somali people. I echo Special Representative Swan’s call today for the Somali Government to meet its 30 per cent women’s quota. That would be an encouraging step on the road to gender equality that could be built on in the next elections, when we hope the polls will be run on the basis of one person, one vote.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8965 (2022) · source
“We must build on the lessons learned when famine was averted in 2017, while also recalling our collective failure in 2011. Back then, famine took hold in very similar circumstances to today’s. Today’s crisis requires a major humanitarian and political effort, to which Ireland will contribute. We condemn all attacks on humanitarian workers and goods, including diversion by profiteers. Safe and unrestricted humanitarian access must be guaranteed throughout the country so that life-saving support can reach those most in in need. The unfolding humanitarian catastrophe coincides with a moment when we are finally seeing progress towards completing elections. That is welcome. Nevertheless, I once again call on the Somali authorities to make the final push to get the process over the line fairly and with transparency.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8965 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Swan, Special Representative Madeira and, of course, my colleague Ambassador Skoog for their briefings. As we have heard today, we are now witnessing one of the region’s most severe droughts in recent history and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The statistics outlined by Mr. Swan earlier today are shocking. Millions are hungry and many have had to flee their homes. That compounds the many political and security challenges, including climate-related security risks, that confront Somalia. Those harsh realities must surely focus all minds around the table today. As an international community, we have a clear responsibility to step up and support the Somali people. That includes providing the needed additional funding and facilitating financial flows and doing that now.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8965 (2022) · source
“The United Nations-coordinated proposal to shift the oil on-board the vessel to another ship represents a potential first step towards mitigating the grave environmental and humanitarian threat posed by the vessel. We encourage all parties to continue to engage constructively with the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator on concrete action towards a sustainable solution.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“We welcome the timely allocation via the Central Emergency Response Fund to support those who have been displaced and forced to flee their homes in recent months. However, the severe funding shortfalls faced by the aid operation, as described by Under-Secretary- General Griffiths this afternoon, are deeply concerning. It is clear that Yemenis need the strong support of the international donor community to allow aid agencies on the ground to continue their vital life-saving work. The need to strengthen and rebuild the fragile economy is also clear. In that regard, we look forward to further progress towards realizing the proposed United Nations economic framework. To conclude on a vitally more hopeful note, we welcome recent progress on the FSO SAFER oil tanker.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“We call for an immediate de-escalation in violence and on all parties to engage in good faith with Special Envoy Grundberg towards an inclusive politically negotiated solution, including on the framework outlined today. We call on women, youth and civil society to take their rightful places at the tables where those solutions will be shaped. The current escalation seriously undermines peace efforts and worsens an already-dire humanitarian situation. As we heard today, more than two thirds of the population are now in need of urgent humanitarian assistance following seven years of war and economic collapse. The most vulnerable are increasingly unable to cope, and hunger remains alarmingly high.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“Ireland strongly condemns all such attacks, including January’s attack on Abu Dhabi’s international airport and the Musaffah industrial area, which killed three civilians. All parties must fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law in relation to the protection of civilians and civilian objects and adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. The path forward must also include an end to impunity and the pursuit of accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The message that we have relayed time and time again at the Council still stands: there can be no military solution to the conflict.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“We reiterate the Secretary-General’s condemnation and share his deep concern about coalition air strikes across the country in recent weeks, including those in Sa’ada, which struck a detention centre where migrants were held and was among the worst civilian-casualty incidents in Yemen in three years. The victims included women and children. Vital civilian infrastructure was also disabled or destroyed, and essential services were disrupted. As Ms. Radhya Al-Mutawakel briefed the Security Council last month (see S/PV.8953), all aspects of life have been devastated by the ongoing conflict and military escalation. We repeat that cross-border attacks claimed by the Houthis against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are totally unacceptable.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“First, I would like to thank our briefers today — Special Envoy Grundberg, Under-Secretary-General Griffiths and Ambassador Hoxha. I very much look forward to hearing later from Major General Beary. We support their vital work in trying to forge pathways for peace and improve the lives of Yemenis. As we heard in stark and horrifying terms today, January 2022 marks the deadliest month on record for civilians in Yemen in the bloody conflict. It is estimated that more than 650 civilians lost their lives or were injured over the past month alone, which is one every hour. From Ma’rib to Taiz, Shabwah to Al-Hudaydah, the people of Yemen continue to pay a dreadful price, while warring parties wreak havoc and destruction on their country.”
2022-02-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8966 (2022) · source
“The targeted nature of EU sanctions — particularly the use of appropriate derogations and exemptions, and the case-by-case assessment of designations — are a key part of minimizing unintended consequences, in particular for the civilian population. We regularly engage in dialogue at the most senior level with international non-governmental organizations and with the International Committee of the Red Cross to identify how, at the EU level, we can best design new sanctions regimes or modify existing regimes to ensure that humanitarian space is not affected. We all have an interest in ensuring effective, targeted sanctions where the humanitarian space is protected, and due process is respected. Ireland looks forward to continuing dialogue on this important matter with Council members and relevant stakeholders.”
2022-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8962 (2022) · source
“Ireland will continue to support the adoption of appropriate mitigation measures and the development of best practices. In this context, it is important that the Council listen to the voices of civilian populations and humanitarian actors. It is the right thing to do. The Security Council has a crucial role to play by including designation criteria to sanction those that misappropriate or obstruct humanitarian activity and in providing appropriate exemptions that preserve the humanitarian space. Ireland welcomes the reduced time frames introduced for the exemption approval process for coronavirus-disease-related requests introduced by a number of the United Nations sanctions regimes. As a State member of the European Union (EU), Irelandalsoactivelyparticipatesinthedesignandadoption of preventive, targeted and proportionate EU measures.”
2022-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8962 (2022) · source
“We were happy to have supported the recent inclusion of humanitarian language in the context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Mali and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Al-Qaida sanctions regimes. As Chair of the Somalia sanctions committee, I am aware that humanitarian organizations regard its “humanitarian carveout” as a best practice among existing sanctions regimes. The introduction of a humanitarian carveout in the context of Afghanistan was also a significant development. Resolution 2615 (2021), agreed last December (see S/PV.8941), demonstrates that the Council can and does act when its sanctions risk having negative impacts. As a Council member, Ireland will continue to prioritize enhanced humanitarian safeguards within sanctions regimes.”
2022-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8962 (2022) · source
“This is why we believe it is essential that sanctions be carefully targeted to have maximum impact on those whose behaviour we seek to influence, while importantly minimizing adverse humanitarian effects or unintended consequences. For Ireland, ensuring that sanctions are targeted is not only a matter of effectiveness. Carefully targeted sanctions, particularly where due process is respected, can serve to reduce unintended consequences. This ensures compliance with international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law. In this regard, Ireland was pleased last year to join the Group of Like-Minded States on Targeted Sanctions. A priority for Ireland on the Council has been to protect the humanitarian space in sanctioned environments.”
2022-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8962 (2022) · source
“Sanctions do not and should not operate in a vacuum. Each time the Security Council has taken the decision to impose sanctions — some 30 times since 1966 — they have been applied as part of a comprehensive strategy of political dialogue, peacekeeping or peacebuilding. Ireland recognizes that sanctions can inadvertently affect humanitarian action or have unintended consequences. Humanitarian organizations have spoken out clearly about how sanctions can hinder their work, including with respect to bank de-risking, which can curtail the financing of humanitarian operations, burdensome compliance requirements and even the risk of criminalizing humanitarian activity more broadly.”
2022-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8962 (2022) · source
“I want to wish you, Mr. President, all the best for your presidency. I also congratulate Norway on an excellent presidency in January. I would like to thank our briefers this morning for their valuable briefings. In a troubled international environment, we continue to witness serious human rights violations and terrorist acts where consequences for perpetrators are often remarkably absent. We believe that sanctions have a critical role to play in furthering accountability and in deterring unacceptable behaviour, including violent repression and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Sanctions are a vital tool for the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security. Importantly, they can also support peaceful transitions and deter non-constitutional changes.”
2022-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8962 (2022) · source
“Force is never the answer. It is not the answer now. What is needed now above all is a negotiated diplomatic solution that reinforces our collective security in Europe. We have the institutions and the mechanisms within which to pursue such a solution. Let us use them. Absent that, it will be innocent civilians who once again pay the awful price of conflict. That is not a prospect any of us wish to contemplate.”
2022-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8960 (2022) · source
“The Helsinki Final Act, one of the foundational documents of the OSCE, confirms the obligation of States to “respect each other’s sovereign equality … and the right of every State to juridical equality, to territorial integrity and to freedom and political independence.” Subsequent agreements, including the Charter of Paris and the Charter for European Security, agreed in Istanbul in 1999, reaffirm the core principles underpinning collective European security. Earlier this month, Ireland marked 100 years of a hard-won independence. Just as we would not accept another State determining our foreign and security policy, Ukraine similarly has the sovereign right to choose its own policies. We in the Council are too often faced with the terrible humanitarian consequences of violent conflict, usually where diplomacy and dialogue have failed.”
2022-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8960 (2022) · source
“Ireland is fully committed to the core principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Those include the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States. We recall today that those principles were agreed, collectively and freely, by all Members of the United Nations. Moreover, European security is built on a series of essential commitments and obligations. It is the fundamental right of a sovereign and independent State to chart its own path in the world; to choose its own foreign policy; and to make arrangements for the security and defence of its territory.”
2022-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8960 (2022) · source
“I thank Under- Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. Today’s discussion is an important opportunity for the Council to address the developing situation at Ukraine’s borders, which has become a matter of profound international concern. Let me underline at the outset that Ireland, along with our European Union partners, is a strong and unwavering supporter of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. At this moment of rising tension on Ukraine’s frontiers, arising from Russia’s military build-up, Ireland calls for calm, de-escalation and the pursuit of diplomacy. We call also for constructive and determined engagement on all dialogue tracks, including the Normandy format and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).”
2022-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8960 (2022) · source
“Ireland is also concerned about the broader implications for the security situation in north-eastern Syria overall. As with all attacks in Syria, there should be accountability for this attack and for all crimes committed in Syria. We call on all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law and to respect international human rights law, with these events underlying, yet again, the need for substantive and meaningful progress towards an inclusive political solution in Syria.”
2022-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8958 (2022) · source
“I too wish to thank Under-Secretary-General Voronkov for his briefing on this issue. Ireland strongly condemns the recent Da’esh attack on Al-Hasakah city and is appalled at the reports of civilian casualties. The scale of the attack shows that despite their territorial defeat, the Da’esh threat in Syria is severe, The international community must remain committed to ensuring the lasting defeat of Da’esh. Ireland is gravely concerned at the scale of displacement of the civilian population. We are also deeply concerned about the situation of children, as raised by UNICEF and others. We must recall that in conflict children must be treated primarily as victims and require the support appropriate to that status. It is vital that full access is given to humanitarian actors and that donors respond to the needs on the ground.”
2022-01-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8958 (2022) · source
“As we begin a new year, it is essential that the Security Council redouble its efforts to support Mr. Pedersen in his work as Special Envoy. We have a collective responsibility in this regard to work to ensure substantive and meaningful progress towards an inclusive political solution in Syria. We will certainly play our part in the Security Council to help in the delivery of the long-awaited peace that the Syrian people so desperately need.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“We call on the parties to end the abuse of returnees and urge refugee-hosting countries to respect their obligations under refugee law, including the principle of non-refoulement. Syria does not yet offer a safe environment for refugee returns, and I recall in this regard that all returns must be safe, voluntary and dignified. We are gravely concerned about the tens of thousands of people in Syria who have been unlawfully detained and forcibly disappeared. The cruel suffering endured by the families of the missing and forcibly disappeared persons continues. Ireland recalls that arbitrary detention was a key driver of the protests in 2011, and we once more call on all parties, particularly the Syrian Government, to unilaterally release the unlawfully detained and clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“Justice is the right of every victim and every survivor. Ireland welcomes the conclusion of proceedings against a former Syrian intelligence officer in the Koblenz Higher Regional Court, which found him guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced him to life imprisonment. We commend Germany and other States that have taken domestic action to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Syria. Much more remains to be done to help the Syrian people realize the justice to which they are entitled. Ireland strongly supports all efforts to this end, including the work of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria and the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“The international community must remain committed to ensuring Da’esh’s lasting defeat. We are also gravely concerned about the continued uptick in violent incidents in the north-west. The targeting of civilians resulting in high civilian casualties, including innocent children, is utterly reprehensible. Let us be clear in this regard: intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes. In the first four days of January alone, UNICEF reported the killing of two children and the injury of five others near Idlib. We call on all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, to respect international human rights law and to take definitive measures to prevent child casualties. Accountability for these attacks, and for all crimes committed in Syria, is essential for peace.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“We want to make sure that there are substantive and direct opportunities for women’s participation. We want to see women at the table in the room where the political negotiations are happening. Ireland reiterates its call on the Syrian authorities to engage meaningfully with the Constitutional Committee. Such engagement is essential to ensuring political progress in line with resolution 2254 (2015). As Mr. Pedersen heard on Monday in Brussels, Ireland and our European Union partners have taken positive note of his ideas on “steps for steps”, and we are all looking forward to further engagement. However, it is also essential that Damascus engage with his efforts. We strongly condemn the recent Da’esh attack in Al-Hasakah city and are appalled at reports of civilians among the dead.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“I want to thank Mr. Geir Pedersen for his update and for his tireless work, including his extensive engagement with Damascus. We really appreciate that. I also wish to thank Ms. Thuraya Hijazi for her eloquent and moving briefing earlier, which reminded us of the terrible plight of so many, especially women and children, who are caught up in this awful conflict. She also reminded us about the need for women to have a place at the table so that politics works, and justice is achieved. We also commend Mr. Pedersen for his ongoing engagement with the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board. It is essential that the inclusion and meaningful participation of women activists, peacebuilders and human rights defenders, like Thuraya, be prioritized. I want to note, of course, that an advisory role is not really what we need.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8955 (2022) · source
“To quote what Ms. Seraj said earlier, we have a “tremendous responsibility”. It is clear that we have an obligation not to look away.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8954 (2022) · source
“Ireland has consistently emphasized that inclusive dialogue, with the full, equal and meaningful participation of women, is the only mechanism by which Afghanistan can have the truly representative and participative democracy and Government demanded by its people. No path that excludes Afghan women, can lead to the peaceful, stable future that the Afghan people deserve and seek. Any halfway house — any claims otherwise — will not fool the international community. We need to be clear-eyed that the worst fears expressed by many — not least Afghan women — about what would happen under the Taliban is happening. We are judging the Taliban by their actions, not by their words. The international community must stand resolute. There can be no dialogue, no solution, no path forward that does not include women and the realization of their rights.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8954 (2022) · source
“We are deeply troubled by the reports from Mazar airport, where women trying to leave Afghanistan have been detained by the Taliban, who refuse to release them until they are collected by male relatives — the operative word being “collected”. We call on the Taliban to release all those unjustifiably detained. We also call on the Taliban to recognize their human rights. Women’s rights, let us remember, are human rights. Finally, I thank you, Mr. President, for the update on the dialogue that took place earlier this week, convened by your own Government. The centrality of Afghan women in the talks, advocating directly for themselves, is welcome.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8954 (2022) · source
“As their fundamental human rights continue to be systematically denied, women across the country are standing up and speaking out in defiance of the Taliban. The response has been chilling: women torn from their families, deprived of liberty, women disappeared. Is that what the Taliban mean when they say the international community should not worry about women’s rights in Afghanistan? Where are Tamana Paryani and Parawana Ibrahimkhel? They were abducted from their homes just last week. Where are they? And former police officer Alia Azizi has been missing since October. Where is she? And there are countless more forcibly disappeared Afghan women. Where are they?”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8954 (2022) · source
“That cruel prohibition on access to schooling is not solely about education, it is also about silencing an entire generation of young girls. A future without education, without the means to economic and social independence, will mean many more girls — these are children — will face forced early marriage and childbirth. That unnecessary, unacceptable deprivation must be reversed, and the rights of Afghan young girls must be fully respected. Their futures are at stake. A generation is at stake. My third point is the issue so viscerally outlined by Ms. Seraj in her briefing today. The fact is that women of Afghanistan continue to be targeted; Afghan women continue to be cruelly erased from society by the Taliban.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8954 (2022) · source
“The United Nations Development Programme Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan has injected much-needed liquidity into the economy, while the Afghanistan humanitarian response plan — once sufficiently funded — will be a lifeline for millions. But it is clear that a crisis of this magnitude requires a sustained response from the international community. We must continue to stand with the Afghan people in what are clearly going to be challenging months ahead. Secondly, Ireland remains deeply concerned that the Taliban is depriving Afghan secondary school- age girls of their education. For 131 days, girls have been stripped of their right to learn and, as of today, those girls are without a guaranteed path back to the classroom.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8954 (2022) · source
“I would also like to thank my colleague Ambassador Tirumurti, as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011), for his briefing. I will focus on three issues of deep concern. First, I will address the colossal humanitarian crisis facing Afghanistan during this harsh winter. We are horrified by the fact that over half of Afghanistan’s population is now facing acute food insecurity in what the Secretary-General described earlier as a “frozen hell”. We acknowledge and have strongly supported the actions taken by the United Nations in response the extraordinary need in Afghanistan. The exemption, unanimously adopted here by the Council, to the resolution 1988 (2011) sanctions regime provides certainty to the humanitarian response.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8954 (2022) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, and once again warmly welcome you to the Chamber. I also thank the Secretary-General for his presence today, which underlines the enormous effort of the United Nations system to help the people of Afghanistan. I want to renew my thanks, of course, to Special Representative Lyons and her team for the tireless work they are doing, particularly during the past challenging months for the Afghan people. My thanks also go to Ms. Seraj, to whom I am deeply grateful for her presence, as well as the much- needed clarity and uncompromising voice that she brought to the Chamber today. She has brought the rights of Afghan women and girls to the heart of our discussion in the Security Council, which is where they should be. I wish to reassure her that I take her very seriously indeed.”
2022-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8954 (2022) · source
“We know that risks to civilians are heightened during transitions. It is imperative that planning for their protection is a focus of any mission reconfiguration. In conclusion, I would like to reinforce two points that should guide the work of the Security Council. First, international humanitarian law must be respected by parties to all conflicts, including in urban settings. And finally, we know that without accountability we are condemned to repeat our mistakes. It is essential that those responsible for violating international humanitarian law are held accountable. Countering impunity is essential to preventing future violations. The international community — importantly, the Security Council — needs to do better.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“Ireland believes more can and should be done to reverse the pattern of humanitarian harm from the use of weapons in populated areas and to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian law. We are proud to be chairing international efforts in Geneva to agree a political declaration on the use of weapons in populated areas. We are determined to deliver a meaningful political declaration that improves the protection of civilians during armed conflict and leads to change in policy and in practice. The protection of civilians plays a major role in United Nations peacekeeping operations and is a key pillar of many peacekeeping mandates. Ireland was proud to ensure that the protection of civilians was central to resolution 2594 (2021), which the Council adopted unanimously during our September presidency (see S/PV.8852).”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“Those who have fled urban conflicts have shared harrowing testimonies, including being forced to leave behind an older relative or a person with disabilities in the hope of leading others to safety — choices no one should have to make. Those displaced face further challenges, often with no prospects of returning to their homes or their families. Urban conflict also has a disproportionate impact on women and girls, including the risk of gender-based violence in humanitarian settings. Ireland is gravely concerned by the devastating impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. According to the Secretary-General’s report (S/2021/423), almost 90 per cent of those killed and injured by the use of such weapons in populated areas are civilians. Moreover, explosive remnants continue to kill and maim long after the conflict is over.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“Five years after the Council adopted resolution 2286 (2016), the targeted and systematic destruction of health care and services, and the killing and maiming of medical and humanitarian workers, shamefully continues. It continues in Ethiopia. It continues in Myanmar. It continues in Syria — in too many conflicts. Urban conflict exacerbates the specific vulnerabilities of children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. Chilling reports from medical and humanitarian agencies stress the deep psychological trauma that air strikes inflict on children. In restricting access to education, urban conflict also severely stifles children’s development.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“It is important that we heard her voice this morning; it is an important part of our considerations here today. In cities such as Idlib, Gaza and Taiz, millions face the unacceptable humanitarian consequences of deliberate violence through besiegement, starvation, the use of explosive weapons, the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure and the disruption of essential services. Those populations are viscerally aware of the grim realities of war. Civilians face considerable risk in simply navigating their city. They must constantly determine whether a road is safe to cross, a store is safe to access for basic food, a hospital safe to enter with a desperately ill child.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“I want to warmly welcome you to the Chamber, Mr. President, and also to thank you for having convened this dedicated debate, where we really welcome the opportunity to discuss the specific legal, moral and operational challenges faced by parties to conflict, and, of course, by United Nations agencies and civil society, in seeking to protect civilians and to alleviate the devastating humanitarian impacts. I would also like to warmly welcome the Honourable Vice-President of Ghana and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Gabon to the Chamber today, and to thank the Secretary-General and Mr. Maurer for their assessments of the Security Council’s obligations and role in this space and what we can do better. I want to especially thank our civil-society briefer, Ms. Radhya Al-Mutawakel, for her remarks.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“In that regard, we also continue to support the important work of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya. Child migrants and refugees arbitrarily detained in Libya face deplorable conditions and abuse. We urge the Libyan authorities to seek alternatives to detention that prioritize the needs and rights of migrants and refugees, including children. Last week, we marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the children and armed conflict mandate. Surely, the rights of children in Libya should be safeguarded, as a step towards ensuring the hope and prosperity of an entire future generation.”
2022-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8952 (2022) · source
“We commend the 5+5 Joint Military Commission for its close and ongoing cooperation with neighbouring States, the African Union and UNSMIL. The impact of a decade of conflict in Libya has been devastating, including, most tragically, for Libya’s children. We are appalled by reports of killings, maiming and abductions of children, despite the ceasefire. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that more than a quarter of a million children in Libya are in need of humanitarian assistance. We call on all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, pursue accountability for violations and ensure unimpeded humanitarian access across the country.”
2022-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8952 (2022) · source
“The coastal road between Sirte and Misratah has remained open, allowing the Special Adviser on Libya to travel and engage with a diverse group of Libyans. The deployment in October and December 2021 of the first United Nations ceasefire monitors marked an essential step forward, and we hope for further progress on that track. We are concerned, however, about ongoing security threats, including those resulting from competition among armed groups. The unity of Libya must be safeguarded, and that includes unifying the security sector. We reiterate our call for the withdrawal of all foreign fighters, forces and mercenaries. That will require close consultation with Libya’s neighbours and a United Nations-supervised and gender-responsive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process.”
2022-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8952 (2022) · source
“That crucial work now continues. As Ms. Asma Khalifa told the Security Council in September 2021 (see S/PV.8855), and as we heard earlier once again from Ms. Saudi, Libyan women have been repeatedly failed by all actors in Libya. We should not accept the fact that only those who have not been in conflict get a chance to shape the peace. As Libyans continue on the path to peace, the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and the inclusion of youth in all areas of Libya’s political, economic and security sectors must be secured. Libyan women must be included in the political discussions that will determine the future of their country, Libya. The ceasefire agreement of October 2020 cleared the space for a political process. We commend the progress made to date on its implementation.”
2022-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8952 (2022) · source
“Libyans and the international community reaffirmed that solemn commitment in Berlin, Tripoli and once again in Paris, in November 2021. Since then, 2.8 million Libyans have registered to vote, showing their determination to decide their own future and turn the page on a lost decade of conflict and instability. We call on all Libyan stakeholders to address the underlying issues that have held back progress in the electoral process to date and to swiftly commit to holding free, fair and inclusive elections, as soon as possible. The international community and the United Nations stand ready to support the Libyan authorities. I commend the critical work carried out by the High National Election Commission in preparing the country for a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned electoral process against a challenging backdrop.”
2022-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8952 (2022) · source
“I too would like to thank our briefers: Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, Ambassador Tirumurti and, especially, our civil society briefer, Ms. Elham Saudi. She delivered several very important messages to us this morning and we will reflect on her cogent and very courageous remarks. Let me begin by noting that we look forward to the substantive renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) at the end of the month. The Mission continues to do vital work on the ground in Libya. At the first meetings of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in November 2020, participants representing the full spectrum of Libyan society committed to a road map leading to democratic, inclusive and credible national elections.”
2022-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8952 (2022) · source
“The agreement can act as a road map to address many outstanding issues of concern and ensure State presence in historically neglected areas. Above all, it provides much-needed space for continued dialogue, fundamental to ensuring a sustainable and peaceful future for all Colombians. In conclusion, I recall the Secretary-General’s words following his recent visit: the international community has a moral obligation to ensure that this inspirational peace process is successful. As Colombia now moves to the next phase of implementation, Ireland reiterates its continued support as a partner in peace.”
2022-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8951 (2022) · source