YouSaid · the spoken record

Cherith Norman-Chalet

lines on the record: 108
first: 2020-04-07
most recent: 2020-10-21
sittings or episodes: 19
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

“The United Nations can still play an important role in furthering the development of democratic norms and institutions in the region, but it does not require a Chapter VII-mandated mission to advance recognition, integration and normalization. The United States expresses disappointment that the many prior calls from Council members to end the UNMIK mission have gone unheeded and that a plan to do so has not been produced for the Council’s review. We strongly encourage the development of such a plan. We urge Security Council members to think seriously about UNMIK’s transition and to begin taking the steps needed for a responsible drawdown. We are confident that doing so will ensure a more relevant and effective role for the United Nations in helping Kosovo and the rest of the Western Balkans realize its full potential.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“The United States maintains its strong advocacy for justice for all victims of the wars in the Western Balkans and encourages the countries of the region to utilize existing mechanisms to ensure accountability and justice for all victims. As part of this, the United States has complete confidence in the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutors Office. I want to conclude by emphasizing that the important progress mentioned here today underscores that the role of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the region as a peacekeeping mission has long since outlived its original purpose. The Security Council now has the responsibility to redirect limited peacekeeping resources to areas and issues where they are more needed.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“The 4 September agreements present also the greatest opportunity for real progress in many years, and we will continue to encourage the parties to build on this milestone and move further towards a normalization agreement, which remains critical for the region. Seeing the full normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo remains a shared goal as well for the United States and the European Union. The United States-brokered agreements complement the EU-facilitated talks, which we continue to strongly support. For both Kosovo and Serbia to secure their European future, both will need to address painful parts of recent history.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“They will create new opportunities for broader collaboration and enhance trust-building measures that will lay the foundation for continued dialogue. The significant commitments made at the White House are a starting point, and we will be closely monitoring the parties’ progress in implementing the agreements. Skeptical publics in both Kosovo and Serbia are too accustomed to seeing agreements made with much fanfare, but with little or no implementation or tangible impact. It is incumbent on both leaders in both countries to demonstrate to their citizens that reconciliation has concrete benefits.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“As other colleagues have mentioned today, on 4 September the world witnessed a truly historic day at the White House. President Trump hosted Kosovo Prime Minister Hoti and Serbian President Vučić at the White House to sign a historic economic normalization agreement. The United States applauds the leadership of Kosovo Prime Minister Hoti and Serbian President Vučić in advancing relations between their countries. These leaders demonstrated tremendous courage by embarking on the talks. The agreements signed at the White House on 4 September spanned a range of economic normalization issues. They will bring growth, investments and jobs to citizens in both countries and set a new tone of reconciliation in the pursuit of progress for the Western Balkans. The commitments made by Kosovo and Serbia are a significant step forward.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“I want to thank Special Representative Tanin for his briefing this morning, as well as thank the Foreign Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia for their participation. We also believe that the discussion this morning would have been more fulsome if we were also able to hear from the European Union (EU) Special Representative. But I will turn to a few of the substantive issues that we would like to highlight today. The coronavirus disease pandemic has posed serious challenges to security and prosperity in the Western Balkans, especially among its most vulnerable populations, but we have been encouraged by the cooperation between Western Balkan countries to address the crisis and mitigate its effects. Much has happened since the last briefing (S/2020/339).”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“We thank those here today and other United Nations Member States that have similarly contributed resources in support of the most vulnerable populations. We continue to urge donors that have not yet disbursed their 2020 pledges to do so expeditiously, as well as to consider additional financial support to prevent famine before it is irreversible. The Trump Administration will continue to focus on this issue and will continue to lead on this issue. I know that the other members of the Council will join us. We can make the world better by working together towards a common goal and ending hunger and food insecurity for vulnerable populations around the world. And it is indeed a noble goal to work towards.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“These acts may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. Food must never be used as a weapon of war. In Yemen, the United States continues to be deeply concerned that the deteriorating economic outlook, Houthi interference in aid operations and major funding gaps are driving higher levels of food insecurity. We reiterate our call upon the Houthis to cease interference in aid operations, and we call upon all donors to contribute further and disburse funds to this emergency. The United States remains proud to be the largest single humanitarian donor, including to the four countries of concern, which have received over $2 billion in aid in 2020 from the American people. In Yemen alone, the United States has responded with an additional nearly $200 million since the last Yemen pledging conference in June.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“Fear and violence also prevent humanitarian actors from reaching the most vulnerable populations. In South Sudan, despite glimmers of hope there has been little progress for the people since the Security Council last discussed conflict and hunger two years ago. The ongoing violence throughout the country, compounded by flooding, COVID-19 and access impediments, leaves the lives of thousands in the balance. The scale and severity of acute food insecurity are dire and at the highest levels recorded in South Sudan since 2014. We are also deeply concerned by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan reports on the deliberate starvation of civilians, with parties to the conflict obstructing humanitarian aid on the basis of perceived ethnic or political identity.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“We urge more attention to the regional dimension of the conflict in the Great Lakes, where Heads of State could turn the page on a tragic history by boosting regional economic integration. In Nigeria, 1.9 million people in Borno state cannot return home due to ongoing terror by non-State armed groups and terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, which have no regard for international humanitarian law or the neutrality of those risking their lives to help. Case in point — over the past year, 15 humanitarian aid workers in Borno state have been the victims of heinous crimes carried out by terrorist groups. Constant insecurity prevents people from going to their farms or local markets and from accessing health care and social services.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“Moreover, the United States stresses that parties to armed conflict must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by respecting civilian objects and objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ongoing and long-term displacement due to conflict, compounded by multiple public-health emergencies, has left millions of Congolese facing hunger. Persistent conflict and violence in several provinces, including North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika, has caused millions of families to flee their homes, livelihoods and support systems. The continued violence in remote, often inaccessible regions makes it all the more difficult for the local authorities, supported by the international community, to deliver life-saving assistance.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“As David Beasley rightly told us in April (see S/2020/340), and again today, the economic and health challenges from COVID-19 will be made worse if authorities fail to address both the root causes of the conflict and the societal fragilities that have been exposed by the pandemic. The situations in the four countries that we are focused on here today — the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen — underscore just how difficult it is to address food insecurity and hunger when conflict pervades. In all those contexts, we highlight the need to look in earnest at the root causes of conflicts and use peaceful means to end impunity and break the cycles of violence.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“These past two years have underscored that connection. Insecurity and violence, borne of various sources, from terrorism to political violence, have a profound impact on vulnerable populations. Families are torn apart. Livelihoods are upended. The rule of law falls apart. Food production is disrupted. Health clinics and schools close. As a result, food insecurity rises dramatically. We cannot of course discuss hunger without also addressing the profound impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. In a conflict environment it is inherently difficult to make a living, put food on the table, go to school or consult with a medical professional. It is profoundly more challenging for those who face a range of systemic inequalities, including women, children, indigenous people, persons with disabilities and the displaced.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“I want to thank Mark Lowcock, David Beasley and Qu Dongyu for their briefings. Ambassador Craft sends her regards and is sorry that she was not able to stay for the whole briefing, but she very much appreciates the work that they all are doing. The briefings that they gave today very much are, and realized, the stark warnings, not just the updates — the stark warnings today of the disastrous consequences when conflict and hunger collide. The United States welcomes this important discussion on the eve of the General Assembly’s high-level week — a time when we collectively reflect on the state of the world and consider ways to use our voices and actions to better people’s lives. Just over two years ago, the Security Council adopted resolution 2417 (2018), which made clear the linkages between insecurity and hunger.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“Working together, we can ensure that the trust, competence and professionalism we recognize in so many peacekeepers remain the expectation into the future.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“We welcome the framework’s emphasis on whole-of-mission performance, civilian and leadership accountability, the importance of capacity-building and strengthening remedial and accountability actions for formed units. In conclusion, the Trump Administration remains committed to advancing peacekeeping reform, performance and accountability. We remain equally committed to helping the United Nations develop and promulgate sound policy, doctrine, training materials and performance and accountability standards to help TCCs and PCCs perform well. We support the continued development and refinement of the integrated performance policy framework, and we look forward to its full utilization across missions. Blue Helmets represent the best of all of us.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“Additionally, the Comprehensive Performance Assessment System is helping the Secretariat gather, analyse and integrate data on mission performance to drive more efficient and effective planning and decision-making. We fully endorse these data-driven approaches to reforming peacekeeping and improving performance and accountability, and we expect to see them more widely and consistently used. The recent launch of the integrated performance policy framework represents the fulfilment of several performance and accountability requests made to the Secretariat over the past few years, and we appreciate the many months of work and consultation that have gone into creating this process.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“Good performance starts early in the force generation process, from the moment of the pledge, through the training and predeployment verification process, to deployment and operational readiness, to in-mission assessments of ongoing performance. It is a full-time pursuit that requires leadership and dedication. The United Nations Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS) is helping to regularize, register and validate the readiness of peacekeeping units. More than 200 capabilities are now registered in the PCRS. We should consistently leverage the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System so that the most qualified and capable units are deployed.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“Improved performance across the board provides safety and security to peacekeepers everywhere, and is in everyone’s interest.I want to also highlight the role of women in peacekeeping and its particular importance. Women improve peacekeeping performance and effectiveness, and we have long supported increasing the number and meaningful participation of women in United Nations peacekeeping. We were pleased to co-sponsor resolution 2538 (2020), the first stand-alone resolution on women in peacekeeping. We continue to encourage Governments to adopt and promote policies to address the persistent barriers to women’s participation in peacekeeping and to increase women’s participation both in United Nations peacekeeping, as well as in their countries’ own militaries and police.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“We also recognize that missions must have the necessary resources and capabilities to fully carry out their mandated tasks in complex, fragile environments. Robust training and equipment are necessary, but not sufficient alone, to improve performance. They must be backed by a commitment to the mission and sustained by a culture of performance and accountability. Consistent with resolution 2436 (2018), troop- and police-contributing countries (TCCs and PCCs) should meet United Nations performance standards for personnel, while maintaining the highest standards of conduct. Peacekeepers must adhere to the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and those who do not meet such standards should be held accountable, including by the relevant troop and police-contributing countries.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“Since 2005, the United States has invested nearly $1.5 billion through its military and police peacekeeping capacity-building initiatives alone. In addition, the annual budget for our United States Global Peace Operations Initiative increased over the past three years to over $70 million. These investments have yielded positive outcomes for peacekeeping performance and for the populations whom the blue helmets protect and work alongside. We deliver this support through partnerships with politically willing, operationally capable troop and police contributors that want to improve their national peacekeeping training and capacity. We also directly invest in the Secretariat’s capacity to develop and implement performance evaluation frameworks and standards for uniformed forces.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“The United States was pleased to host a high-level event on performance in December 2019 during its Council presidency, where the Secretary-General reaffirmed his commitment to peacekeeping performance and to building “a framework, in cooperation with troop and police-contributing countries, to better systematize performance evaluation and accountability.” The Trump Administration is committed to elevating and maintaining momentum on peacekeeping performance and accountability, which it will emphasize in its preparatory event for the United Nations peacekeeping ministerial conference and which will certainly feature prominently in the ministerial agenda. The United States remains the largest financial contributor to United Nations peacekeeping, as well as the largest capacity-building contributor.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his important briefing today and for the various updates on so many initiatives that he is undertaking, along with the Secretary-General. The United States is deeply committed to United Nations peacekeeping as a critical tool for promoting international peace and stability. To ensure this tool effectively serves its purpose, we seek strong leadership, performance and accountability across missions. Improving peacekeeping performance is an integral part of the Secretary- General’s Action for Peacekeeping agenda, a priority for the Security Council, as outlined in resolution 2436 (2018), and a focus area of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations of the General Assembly, known as the C-34.”
2020-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/911 (2020) · source
“Wherever the evidence leads, we will work with allies and the international community to hold perpetrators accountable, including through restricting funds for malign activities. We call on Russia to be fully transparent and to bring those responsible to justice. We urge Russia to cooperate fully with the international community’s investigation into this latest attack. Those responsible — both those who committed this attack and those who ordered it — must be held accountable. I will say it again: the use of chemical weapons presents an unacceptable security threat to all States, and the members of the Council must not stay silent. We renew our call on the Al-Assad regime to come into compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention without delay, and our call on everyone to stop the use of chemical weapons once and for all.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“We call on our fellow Security Council members to join us in ensuring that Iran does not have access to even more potent weapons to cause even greater destruction. I also want to say that we are deeply troubled by the findings released by the German Government on 2 September. Alexei Navalny’s poisoning by a chemical weapon is completely reprehensible, and we condemn this action in the strongest possible terms. Any use of chemical weapons, anywhere, at any time, by anybody, under any circumstances whatsoever, is unacceptable and contravenes the international norms prohibiting the use of such weapons. Russia has used chemical nerve agents from the Novichok group in the past. The Russian people have a right to express their views without fear of retribution of any kind. They should certainly not be subjected to chemical agents.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“These new sanctions memorialize the victims of Al-Assad’s chemical-weapon attack on Ghouta seven years ago. And we continue to reject any false claim that United States sanctions adversely affect humanitarian efforts. We will not stop pressing for accountability and an enduring political solution to the Syrian conflict, as called for in resolution 2254 (2015). Furthermore, we will not stop pressing for Iran to leave Syria. Iran supports the Al-Assad regime as the regime continues to devastate and destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of its own citizens. Syria is one of many countries, like Lebanon, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, where Iran sows chaos and devastation through its proliferation of weapons. Iran’s destabilizing behaviour is one of the reasons that we have chosen to trigger the reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Iran.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“The attacks took place just days before the attack on nearby Khan Shaykhun in April 2017, which killed dozens of people. The OPCW- United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism found the Al-Assad regime was also responsible for the Khan Shaykhun attack. The United States remains committed to a sustained campaign of economic and political pressure to deny the Al-Assad regime the revenue and support it uses to bypass a United Nations-facilitated political settlement to the conflict by committing mass atrocities against the Syrian people. We reject the Al-Assad regime’s efforts to use such atrocities to silence its people’s calls for reform and change. Last week, we continued our sanctions campaign against Al-Assad’s corrupt and brutal regime.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“Since sarin has no taste or smell, the person may very well have no idea what’s going on. Their chest tightens, vision blurs. If the exposure was great enough, that can progress to convulsions, paralysis, and death within 1 to 10 minutes.” A painful, quick, and undignified death. That is what Al-Assad subjected his own people to in 2013. Since 2013, the Syrian regime has continued to demonstrate blatant disregard for its international obligations by repeatedly carrying out chemical weapons attacks. The OPCW Investigation and Identification Team report issued on 8 April concluded that the Syrian Arab Air Force was responsible for carrying out three chemical-weapon attacks in late March 2017, two sarin attacks and one chlorine attack, affecting over 100 people.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“On 21 August 2013, the Syrian regime launched a horrific chemical attack with the nerve agent sarin on the opposition-controlled suburb of Ghouta in Damascus, leaving more than 1,400 Syrians, many of them children, dead. Last month marked the seventh anniversary of that attack, and on that date the world remembered the many lives lost and the need to continue to stand against such cruel disregard for the international norms against the use of chemicals as weapons. But again, let us remember that these are real people we are talking about — real women, men and children. Do members know what sarin does to a human body? An article in The Atlantic from 2013 laid it out clearly: “The nose runs, the eyes cry, the mouth drools and vomits, and bowels and bladder evacuate themselves ...”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of these weapons of mass destruction. The Council cannot tolerate the use of such weapons, and we must ensure that those responsible face serious consequences. The Al-Assad regime’s failure to comply with its international obligations related to the use of chemical weapons poses a direct threat to the international community. Consistent with the OPCW’s July decision, the Al-Assad regime must cease its use of chemical weapons and fully cooperate with the OPCW, including its Investigation and Identification Team. Let us ensure everyone is reminded of the seriousness of what we are discussing today.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“The Security Council must act to enforce resolution 2118 (2013) — and step up to reinforce the norm against the use of chemical weapons to ensure that those who have used them are held to account. This is the third opportunity for the Council to discuss the tragic and callous use of chemical weapons by the Al-Assad regime since the OPCW adopted its decision to hold the regime accountable based on the damning findings of the Investigation and Identification Team. We will continue to shine a light on these horrible events, as the conflict in Syria has brought immeasurable suffering to the Syrian people. Over the past 10 years, the Syrian people have experienced horrific atrocities, some of which rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the repeated use of chemical weapons.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“The regime’s use of chemical weapons is well documented and confirmed by the former Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism, and most recently by the OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team. The regime’s failure to comply with its international obligations related to the use of chemical weapons — including those obligations it undertook when it voluntarily became a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention and those obligations which are binding on Syria under resolution 2118 (2013) — poses a direct threat to the Syrian people and the prospects for a political resolution to the conflict in line with resolution 2254 (2015). As we have stated previously, the United States expresses its unequivocal condemnation of the use of chemical weapons, in Syria or anywhere else.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, and I thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing. In 2013, the Security Council adopted resolution 2118 (2013), welcoming the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons. That Framework expressed the determination of the United States and Russia to “ensure the destruction of the Syrian chemical weapons programme in the soonest and safest manner”. Furthermore, the Framework set the first half of 2014 as the target date for completing the elimination of all chemical weapons material and equipment. Unfortunately, though, since the adoption of resolution 2118 (2013), the Al-Assad regime has used chemical weapons routinely and indiscriminately to instil fear and force any opposing population to its knees.”
2020-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/902 (2020) · source
“The virus has not only claimed lives, but crippled economies around the world. Vulnerable and marginalized populations, including in the United States, have been hit particularly hard by those secondary effects. When we consider how best to manage future pandemics and limit their impact on international security, we must learn from our experiences of COVID-19 and recognize the vital importance of transparency. It is also crucial to ensure protections are in place for populations in conflict areas and for at-risk groups. We must not let this virus stall long-standing efforts towards peace and security. We must not let it divide us. Together with the United Nations and other international partners, the Trump Administration will continue leading the fight against this virus during this critical time.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“The United States has already announced more than $1.6 billion dollars in additional economic, health and humanitarian aid towards our commitment of nearly $2 billion in United States foreign assistance to combat COVID-19. That assistance is part of more than $12 billion provided by the United States Government to benefit the global response, including through vaccine and therapeutics development, preparedness efforts and humanitarian assistance. That is in addition to more than $170 billion in United States investments in global health and humanitarian assistance over the past 10 years. Indeed, the United States has been the world leader in such assistance by a large margin. The international community must remain equally committed to maintaining its responses to other ongoing humanitarian crises as well.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“We will continue our legitimate and lawful operations and actions against those terrorist groups that threaten peace everywhere. As the world’s largest humanitarian donor, the United States remains unwavering in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic; we continue to support critical programmes in health, water and sanitation, and protection. We take seriously the Secretary-General’s warning of a generational catastrophe due to ongoing school closures that have affected more than 1 billion students. We are working directly with those on the ground combating the virus, including Governments, multilateral organizations, faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, research institutions and other organizations. At the same time, we look to meaningfully address other risks that may be exacerbated by the pandemic.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“What a terrible thing, in the middle of this pandemic, as legitimate Governments focus on containing the virus, that those organizations are working to advance their recruitment efforts and carrying out criminal, unjustifiable acts. For example, we have seen racially and ethnically motivated terrorist groups and actors advancing their interests by spreading disinformation and conspiracies regarding the virus outbreak and spread of the virus. It is inconceivable how anyone can be so evil — that is what we are up against. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) has exploited security gaps in Iraq caused by the pandemic to relaunch a sustained insurgency. Through propaganda, ISIS, Al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups have used the pandemic as a recruiting tool.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“Unfortunately, as we know, many of these ceasefires are beginning to fall apart, including in the Philippines. We also note with deep concern the recent escalation of violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and have called on the sides to resume substantive negotiations to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as soon as possible. We strongly urge Governments and other actors around the world to respect existing ceasefires, or to agree on new ceasefire arrangements so that they may focus on addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and protecting their citizens. We strongly condemn the terrorist organizations that seek to take advantage of this difficult situation.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“Statement by the Political Adviser of the United States to the United Nations, George Ward We adopted resolution 2532 (2020) a little over a month ago, supporting the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire to secure a respite for countries and regions that, weakened by violence and conflict, are especially vulnerable to the virus. We should now reflect on how the pandemic has affected particularly sensitive areas. I will start by saying we were pleased that several armed groups declared ceasefires to heed the Secretary-General’s call even before the Security Council adopted the resolution. As early as April, fighters in 12 countries had put down their weapons, including those involved in some of the world’s most intractable conflicts.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“I thank and we very much appreciate you, Minister Marsudi, for holding the meeting this morning. We also appreciate Indonesia for continuing the Security Council’s discussion on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. I also thank Secretary-General Guterres and former Secretary-General Ban for their briefings today. It is difficult to put into words the deep and profound sorrow we feel over the deaths, illnesses and other terrible consequences that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, including those affecting health-care and humanitarian personnel who put their lives on the line every day. They have given to a cause far greater than themselves, and our hearts and prayers go out to their families and communities during this difficult time.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“We call on all actors to engage in dialogue and restraint and reaffirm the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, including for the purposes of peaceful protest. We support the high-level delegation of the Economic Community of West African States, sent to find a sustainable solution to the unrest, including concerns over National Assembly seats, where the initial outcome was overturned by the Constitutional Court. We continue to oppose any efforts towards an extra-constitutional change of Government in Mali. We further trust that Council members will join us in urging the signatory parties of the Algiers accord to meet the implementation benchmarks in the recently renewed mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“States undermine their own credibility when authorities, especially security forces, violate or abuse human rights. We call on regional Governments to strengthen State institutions and provide good governance to their citizens to improve stability in the Sahel. We also share Special Representative Chambas’ concern about violence spreading further across the region. The United States is taking policy and programmatic steps to address violence emanating from the Sahel into coastal West Africa, especially since the 10 June attack in northern Côte d’Ivoire and the 2019 kidnapping for ransom in northern Benin. In Mali, we are monitoring the recent demonstrations, where protestors are calling for President Keita’s resignation.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“The Trump Administration has allocated more than $12 billion to benefit the global response to COVID-19, including vaccine and therapeutics development, preparedness efforts and humanitarian assistance. This is in addition to more than $170 billion in United States investments in global health and humanitarian assistance throughout the last decade. We are concerned, though, about increasing instability across the Sahel, specifically in parts of Nigeria. We strongly condemn the horrific violence — by terrorists and criminal groups alike — that has taken so many lives. We support the efforts of the countries involved to counter violent extremist groups and continue to stress the need to protect civilians and instil citizen confidence in regional security forces and Governments.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“West Africa will see five presidential elections between October and December, including in Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana and the Niger. We look to the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel to play a constructive role in encouraging those elections to be free, fair and transparent. Countries in West Africa and the Sahel are also grappling with significant threats to peace, security and stability owing to the confluence of internal political tensions, the COVID-19 pandemic, violence by armed groups and a worsening food security and humanitarian situation. The United States has long engaged with countries in the region to strengthen health systems to respond to this type of disease outbreak — and our steadfast support will continue.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“It is good to see you, Mr. President, and it is always good to hear from Special Representative of the Secretary-General Chambas about his work. West Africa, as colleagues have already noted today, faces a number of challenges, but the new threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has brought its own negative political and economic effects. Therefore, we welcome Mr. Chambas’ briefing today on how the impact of the crisis is evolving. We very much thank Ms. Ibrahim for her passionate description of the challenges facing her country and the region as a whole. With growing instability and the COVID-19 crisis, 2020 has proven and is showing to be a critical year for the future of West Africa and the Sahel.”
2020-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/706 (2020) · source
“That will help empower children by creating the safe and protective environments they need and deserve, facilitating their access to essential social services, working with their families and other caregivers and ensuring their participation in peace processes that will positively shape their future for generations to come.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“The United States is committed to ensuring that children affected by conflict have the opportunity to thrive. We place a priority on life-saving child-protection programming, as well as support for longer-term recovery, resilience and healing. As a notable example, the United States has contributed $30 million to the Education Cannot Wait global fund, and we call on other international partners to do their part. The United States will continue to invest in preventive and responsive programming to protect children from violence.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“Those opportunities are the same ones desired by children who spoke to Ambassador Craft and so many of us on trips — but especially on Ambassador Craft’s visit to South Sudan, where they told us they wished for all of this in their own lives. I hope the Council sees that investing in young people is a primary, cost-effective means of achieving sustainable human, social and economic development. In the long run, investing in the future of young people is vital to ensuring international peace and security. Additionally, in the wake of conflict, many children continue to experience trauma, rejection and social isolation from their communities. They require support for their long-term health and well-being, as well as to promote their future contribution to peaceful societies.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“For our part, the United States has launched the Sahel Diplomatic Engagement Framework to focus on State legitimacy. As part of the Girls Leadership and Empowerment Through Education programme in Mali, the United States has contributed $23 million to address gender disparities and help gravely impacted women and girls in Mali. The provision of basic services such as schooling is essential for stabilizing not only Mali, but the entire Sahel region. Effective recovery from conflict also requires ensuring that the children impacted by conflict have the tools they need to succeed later on in the workforce. That includes accounting for their emotional and physical well-being while also providing access to education, age-appropriate vocational training and job opportunities.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source
“Children continue to suffer in numerous places, including in Burma, Mali, Syria and Somalia. An added challenge, as others have highlighted, is the onset of the coronavirus disease, including in countries where violations and abuses against children continue to take place with impunity. I want to thank Mariam for her bravery in speaking with us today. Her testimony inspires us to work towards further support for reintegration and education, as Ms. Fore so passionately pleaded for, for children who have had similar experiences. The United States is horrified by reports of terrorists forcibly closing schools and killing teachers in Mali, depriving children and exposing them to trauma in truly awful ways. An entire generation of Malian children are impacted by these heinous tactics; the psychosocial effects alone will last for years.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/594 (2020) · source