YouSaid · the spoken record

Cristian Espinosa

lines on the record: 41
first: 2021-06-18
most recent: 2021-10-15
sittings or episodes: 7
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 are worried by the spread of misinformation, which threatens international stability and security, has a direct effect on democratic institutions, on values and on justice, and undermines sustainable development and the rule of law. Finally, if Ecuador is elected in June 2022 to take up a vacant seat in the Security Council for the period 2023–2024, we will contribute to the efforts of the Council to build synergies to strengthen efforts to ensure preparedness, prevention and response capacity.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“Third, although diversity is often mentioned as a factor in conflict, I would like to reiterate that, for Ecuador, the root cause of violence is intolerance. We therefore recognize that diversity enriches a people and makes it stronger. Fostering the full participation and contribution of all peoples is vitally important; sustainable development will not succeed if it is not inclusive. Intercultural dialogue, tolerance, education and respect for diversity are essential for the international community and for States. We must intensify our efforts to prevent, counter and eradicate acts of racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance in all their forms everywhere.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“Second, Ecuador backs the preventive approach promoted by the Secretary- General and agrees with several of the objectives set out in the report of the Secretary- General entitled “Our Common Agenda” that are underpinned by the Charter of the United Nations and international law and justice. As mentioned in that report, peace is the central promise of the Charter of the United Nations. Therefore, the first step for all States is to renew their political commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter and to move towards reinforced and renewed multilateralism. Thus, the Security Council must continue to encourage the strengthening of regional and subregional activities and foster support by the United Nations for efforts that are part of the global peace and security architecture.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“In addition, the Security Council must make use of the valuable tools and analysis that States and multiple stakeholders developed in the Peacebuilding Commission as part of the review. Ecuador has acknowledged in that context the role played by women in resolving and preventing conflict. I wish to highlight the contribution made by the Peacebuilding Fund in strengthening institutional capacity in the areas along the border between Ecuador and Colombia, which has in particular benefited women and children. This Organization must step up its efforts in that area.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“I appreciate the statement made today by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the speeches given by Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa, and the other distinguished guest speakers. I would briefly like to make three points that are central to Ecuador. First, this debate must be seen in the light of the outcome of the review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture contained in the identical resolutions 75/201 of the General Assembly and 2558 (2020) of the Security Council. Ecuador contributed to the negotiations that led to those resolutions adopted in December 2020. If only we would intensify our global, regional and national efforts in implementing those and preceding resolutions, we would move towards a safer world.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“I congratulate Kenya for the manner in which it is conducting the work of the Security Council in October and for holding this debate under the agenda item entitled “Peacebuilding and sustaining peace”. I wish to highlight the valuable role that Kenya played in conducting the Seventh Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and in the outcomes achieved. Given that the majority of deaths and most violence result from internal conflicts and from crime, terrorism and violent extremism, it is clear that the efforts made in this area are crucial but nevertheless insufficient for peacebuilding.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“Ecuador will continue to support peacekeeping missions, in order to contribute to peaceful and negotiated solutions leading to sustainable and lasting peace processes. We hope that the resolution proposed by the Irish presidency, of which Ecuador is a co-sponsor, will be adopted and will provide additional and important guidance on the matter.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/783 (2021) · source
“Exhaustive planning and early coordination between the host country and the relevant partners must precede any transition process, in order to ensure an appropriate transition towards lasting peace and sustainable development, while guaranteeing the most efficient and effective distribution of functions, responsibilities and resources. It is appropriate to ensure the primacy of politics in conflict resolution and the supporting role of peacekeeping operations therein; as well as clear, focused, prioritized and achievable mandates by the Security Council, matched by appropriate resources. We recognize the essential role of women in conflict prevention and resolution and emphasize the need to strengthen their full participation in the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/783 (2021) · source
“We reaffirm the obligation of Member States, under Article 17 of the Charter, to contribute to the expenses of the Organization, taking into account the special responsibilities of the permanent members of the Security Council in the maintenance of peace and security. It is important to continually strengthen and improve coordination and coherence among activities for peacekeeping, peacebuilding and maintenance of the three pillars of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates, at all stages of a conflict and, in particular, during the preparations for the transition and drawdown of peacekeeping missions.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/783 (2021) · source
“Changes to the mandate of an active mission should be based on an exhaustive and timely evaluation by the Security Council, in consultation with troop - contributing countries through the mechanisms prescribed in Security Council resolution 1353 (2001) and Presidential Note S/2002/56 of 14 January 2002. We underline the value of the initiative on action for peacekeeping and the resulting commitments on the part of States, and the policy of zero tolerance against sexual abuse and exploitation, and we believe that it is one of the most appropriate mechanisms for institutional strengthening of peacekeeping operations.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/783 (2021) · source
“This requires a sustained commitment by the United Nations system as a whole. We stress that the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations. It is essential that the United Nations system as a whole has the capacity for evaluation of conflict situations and effective planning and management of peacekeeping operations in order to give a timely response to any Security Council mandate. Success of peacekeeping operations should be based on the respect for such basic principles as the consent of the parties, impartiality and non-use of force, except in self-defence and in defence of a mandate authorized by the Security Council.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/783 (2021) · source
“The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated many of the challenges faced by United Nations peacekeeping missions, and therefore we must respond to the major difficulties encountered by the United Nations Blue Helmets by providing better conditions for meeting the objectives inherent in their activities. We take this opportunity to refer to some aspects that define the position of Ecuador with respect to the transition of United Nations peacekeeping operations, bearing in mind the role of the Security Council in this area: Transitions in peacekeeping operations are long-term processes that should consider an overall political strategy that guarantees the security and protection of personnel and applies a gender perspective to peacekeeping activities.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/783 (2021) · source
“I would like to congratulate Ireland for the manner in which it is conducting the work of the Security Council for the month of September, and for organizing this debate under the agenda item on United Nations peacekeeping operations. We appreciate the address by the Secretary-General, as well as the statement by Ms. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, and the distinguished speakers invited to this open debate of the Security Council. The work of peacekeeping personnel is vital to the implementation of the three pillars of the United Nations, taking into account the objectives of protection of the civilian population and lasting peace.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/783 (2021) · source
“Therefore, it is also vital to build capacity in the areas of justice and responsibility, to ensure that crimes against the personnel of those missions do not enjoy impunity. For that reason, Ecuador co-sponsored the draft resolution adopted as resolution 2589 (2021) by the Security Council today.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“For example, we welcome the decision to address technology and medical capacity building, as one of the crosscutting themes to be discussed at the Ministerial Meeting on United Nations peacekeeping operations in Seoul, at the end of 2021. The work of peacekeeping personnel is vital for the implementation of the three pillars of the United Nations, taking into account the objectives of protection of the civilian population and of lasting peace. Lastly, Ecuador recognizes that with modern, well-equipped and protected peacekeeping operations, the objective of international security and protection of the civilian population in conflict zones and fragile zones can be achieved.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Technology can improve capacity for early warning and action; security of camps and convoys, with stable Internet connections and integrated communications networks; improve monitoring and analysis of conflicts; promote energy efficiency and reduce environmental contamination. We also support the presidential statement S/PRST/2021/11 of 24 May 2021. As an organization we must ensure that we are maximizing the benefits of technology, including digital, cyber and materials technologies, for our own operations. We cannot achieve greater efficiency if we are not equipped with the tools that will enable us to overcome new challenges to security. It is our responsibility to promote and make use of technological development to facilitate peace.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Today’s debate also offers us the possibility of formally emphasizing the conclusions expressed during the Arria-formula meeting of 17 May 2021 on the impact of emerging technologies on international peace and security. While in many contexts, health conditions have impacted peace and security, affecting humanitarian access in conflict zones, digital technologies have been beneficial in minimizing the interruption of processes for peacekeeping. Technological solutions can assist United Nations peacekeeping operations in fulfilling their mandates in complex environments with greater effectiveness, among other things, by allowing them to adapt of the changing dynamic of conflicts.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Because of the importance we attach to the security and efficiency of peacekeeping missions, on 30 March 2020, Ecuador co-sponsored Security Council resolution 2518 (2020), in which we referred to the development by the Secretariat of a strategy to better integrate the use of new technologies in order to improve situational awareness of personnel and their capacity. With this resolution, we also expressed our serious concern at the threats posed by landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices. At the Arria-formula meeting “Protecting the Peacekeeper: Suppressing the Deployment of Improvised Explosive Devices against Peace Operations” organized by Kenya on 26 March 2021 and co-sponsored by Ecuador, we stressed the need to provide equipment with adequate technology to peacekeeping personnel.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Allow me once again to congratulate India for its conduct of the work of the Security Council for the month of August, and for organizing this debate under the agenda item on United Nations peacekeeping operations. I appreciate the statement by the Secretary-General, in particular the strategy for the digital transformation of peacekeeping missions. I also welcome the presentation by the Chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. This meeting addresses issues that are central to Ecuador-- on the one hand, the efforts for protection and security of peacekeeping personnel, and on the other, rapid technological development, with the challenges and opportunities it brings with it.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“For this reason, we are deeply concerned by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that continues to be one of the greatest threats to fish populations and marine ecosystems. This has serious implications for the conservation and management of ocean resources, as well as for food security. We reiterate that all States are obligated to implement conservation measures for transboundary and highly migratory fish stocks. Lastly, I would like to confirm Ecuador’s commitment to fully support global efforts for maritime security.”
2021-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/722 (2021) · source
“And third, I would like to draw attention to the existing international framework, which is the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and above all the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Ecuador reaffirms that the Convention is the main legal framework in respect of activities taking place on the oceans and seas and recognizes the importance of the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea and the main mechanism for the peaceful settlement of disputes among States. Ecuador frequently encounters fishing vessels under foreign flags near our Exclusive Economic Zone, in particular near to the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Our Galapagos Islands and their adjacent waters host marine ecosystems of high biodiversity and represent a prime location for the reproduction of many species of fish and whales.”
2021-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/722 (2021) · source
“These crimes are linked with trafficking in human beings, drugs and weapons, and involve transnational organized crime, which we condemn. Ecuador furthermore condemns in the strongest possible terms terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and considers that multilateralism is the best way to combat this scourge; we therefore believe it is essential to adopt an international agreement on that subject. My second point is the need to expand international cooperation as a vital tool to improve capacities for prevention, protection and reaction, to overcome th e problems posed by criminal activity on the high seas, including through the exchange of information and intelligence, as well as through technology transfer.”
2021-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/722 (2021) · source
“We recognize that this is the first debate of the Council with an integrated approach that covers public, private, civilian and military coordination mechanisms, the international normative framework for maritime security, and lastly, the need for awareness of the maritime domain. In that regard, I would like to point out that, just a week ago, Ecuador observed Maritime Awareness Days 2021, from 3 to 5 August, where it disseminated a maritime vision, efforts for detection of illegal fishing and spatial planning of Ecuador’s marine areas, among other key elements. Therefore, I would now like to raise three basic points. The first is Ecuador’s concern at security problems on the world’s high seas, which include terrorism, piracy and armed robbery.”
2021-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/722 (2021) · source
“Allow me first of all to congratulate India for including this central topic on the formal agenda of the Security Council. I also appreciate the briefings by Ms. Maria Luisa Ribeiro Viotti, Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General and Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. We agree with the starting point reflected in the concept note for this debate, that no country in the world can by itself monitor or protect the assets, resources or locations from which transnational dangers threaten global security. We also agree that military capability on the seas is essential but not sufficient to overcome the challenges of maritime security, unless accompanied by an integrated and coordinated effort that encompasses all the dimensions of the problem.”
2021-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/722 (2021) · source
“An example is the valuable work of the Organization of American States in this area, in particular its efforts against cybercrime and terrorism. I conclude by recalling the need to preserve and promote the responsible use of information and communications technologies as a key guarantee of stability and security in cyberspace. Likewise, we believe that the existing norms should be strengthened, taking into account rapid technological development. For its part, the Security Council must consider mechanisms to strengthen the use of technologies as a means to consolidate peace as a complement to regular efforts. Thank you.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“The Charter of the United Nations prohibits the use of force, and therefore all international disputes in cyberspace should be settled by peaceful means. Accordingly, we promote trust and capacity building, for which we believe that an operational platform is required to facilitate the implementation by States of the existing framework. That platform could take the form of a programme of action. We defend and support any mechanism that would promote greater international cooperation to reduce imbalances in the ability to implement the rules for responsible State behaviour. In addition, we recognize the contribution that regional organizations can bring to capacity development and implementation of such norms.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“The threats we are facing today are for the most part transnational, and the only way to counter them, both in the physical and the virtual world, is through international cooperation and dialogue. Thus, if one Member State is not safe, none is safe. Ecuador thus reaffirms its commitment to the norms in force, as reflected in the reports of the Group of Governmental Experts and the results of the Open-ended Working Group, in conformity with international law. My delegation wishes to stress that no sphere can remain outside the spectrum of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, which does not mean that the militarization of cyberspace would be acceptable. On the contrary, Ecuador defends the exclusively peaceful use of cyberspace.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“The biennium 2020–2021 marked a milestone in the area of cyber diplomacy not only because of the mandate and substantive results achieved on 12 March 2021 by the first Open-ended Working Group on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security and by the consensus achieved on 28 May by the Group of Governmental Experts on responsible State behaviour in cyberspace, but also because of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which accelerated digital transformation. The pandemic had an impact on all dimensions of peace and security in different ways. Cybersecurity was no exception. Security of essential services became a major concern, along with the need to preserve critical infrastructure against possible cyberattacks that could cause damage in the physical world.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“Allow me first of all to thank Estonia for including this item on the formal agenda of the Security Council a year after the Arria-formula meeting on the subject. We also note the leadership of Prime Minister Kallas in this area and welcome the presentation of the Under-secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament affairs Izumi Nakamitsu.”
2021-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/621 (2021) · source
“On this twenty-fifth anniversary of the submission of the first report on the impact of armed conflict on children, we must redouble our efforts as an Organization in peacebuilding and in managing humanitarian access to conflict zones for the protection of children.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“I would also like to reiterate that the study of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict on the impact of COVID-19 on violations against children in armed conflict is a valuable tool for better understanding the challenges on the ground and for strengthening the means of protection, including through digital monitoring measures for prevention and to avoid impunity, as I stated at the Arria formula meeting of the Security Council held on 7 May 2021, also organized by Estonia, in which I recalled that the pandemic had left 500 million children without access to a digital education as a result of connectivity gaps.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“Ecuador remains engaged in significant regional efforts against child trafficking and recruitment, which continues to be a global challenge that requires a coordinated response from our Organization. The best way to commemorate the first anniversary of the Declaration signed by 172 countries in support of the call made by the Secretary-General on 22 June 2020 for a global ceasefire, and the subsequent adoption of Security Council resolution 2532 (2020), is by setting up a mechanism to follow up on their implementation, as well as on the implementation of resolution 2565 (2021). Such a mechanism would support efforts to alleviate the suffering of more than 400 million children living in conflict zones.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“Having joined the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict one year ago, Ecuador aligns itself with the statement by Canada on behalf of that Group. We urge the international community to prioritize efforts to promote and protect the rights of children in all contexts. We strongly support the implementation of each of the 13 Security Council resolutions on this matter, especially given our concern that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to exacerbate the situation in conflict areas. The 24,000 grave violations reported in the 21 situations covered by the mandate reflect the precarious situation we are facing. I reiterate the call made by Ecuador in Security Council document S/2021/415 for a halt to attacks on schools and to any form of military use of schools.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“I would like to thank Henrietta Fore, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Forest Whitaker of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and Laban Onisimus of Plan International for their presentations. I also welcome the presentation by the Secretary-General, António Guterres, describing the vulnerable situation of children in armed conflict. That situation is even more clearly exposed in the report of the Secretary- General of 6 May 2021 (A/75/873-S/2021/437), presented pursuant to Security Council resolution 2427 (2018), which covers the period of 2020 and thus reflects the significant impact of the pandemic.”
2021-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/617 (2021) · source
“In conclusion, Ecuador recognizes the work of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Mexico, which now holds a seat on the Council, in coordination with the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) both at the ambassadorial level and as coordinators and experts.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“While acknowledging that certain sensitive elements of some issues can require a certain amount of discretion and prudence, that cannot be a pretext for institutionalizing secret diplomacy. Every decision should have its respective explanatory record that in addition will grant maximum legitimacy to the decisions taken. The Security Council acts on behalf of the Member States of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations, but the other side of that representation is the obligation to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, and this responsibility contained in that same article must be carried out without exception.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“Ecuador supports the implementation of note S/2017/507 and all the existing provisions on the issue. We believe that there is sufficient room to expand transparency regarding the process of drafting and discussion of resolutions. Greater flexibility in drafting a text is also required, in such a way that the views of the 15 members of the Council, and ideally the membership as a whole, are included. Debates and meetings should be able to rely on an existing solid base of information that includes real statistics, projections and proposed solutions; not just the general information in concept notes that is certainly highly useful, but also wide - ranging information that enables operational results and avoids being limited to theoretical discussions.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“This experience requires us to revitalize our working methods in order to make the work of the Council more resilient and above all to ensure its continuity in all circumstances, including the most difficult. The subject of this debate probably encompasses one of the most crucial issues in the Organization. Having effective working methods promotes both the revitalization of the Security Council and of the United Nations as a whole. Therefore, in the calculations for the modernization of working methods, not just the flow of internal procedures and communications among members of the Council and the Council and its subsidiary bodies should be considered, but also among the Council and the rest of the bodies in the System, and of its permanent members and non-permanent members with the rest of the States Members of the Organization.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“The Arria-Formula meetings organized by Estonia in 2020 and 2021 to mark the 75th anniversary since the end of the Second World War in Europe, on cybersecurity, and more recently in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on violations against children in situations of armed conflict, are an example of existing technological solutions. Indeed, we recognize that the system for submitting these written contributions has somewhat improved by allowing their submission in advance. However, in order to enable these written interventions to have some bearing on the briefings by speakers, the latter should also be requested and distributed in advance. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed both the strengths and the weaknesses in the working methods of all the bodies in the system, including the Security Council.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“In our national capacity, we would like to note the efforts of the members of the Security Council to ensure the continuity of its work under extreme circumstances, as was the case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which we are coming out of. While welcoming the opportunity to submit this written intervention, we would like to stress, as did my delegation in May of last year, that ideally, the interested representatives should be able to participate directly in the debates of the Council, in accordance with article 37 of the provisional rules of procedure.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“We welcome the presentation by the Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, and we also commend her leadership on the question. We also commend the briefings by the Executive Director of the Security Council Report, Karin Lundgren, and the co-author of “The Procedure of the UN Security Council, 4th edition”, Lorraine Sievers. Ecuador associates itself with the statement of Switzerland on behalf of the countries of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source