YouSaid · the spoken record

DeLaurentis

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961

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2007-11-28

most recent

2023-10-02

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160

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un-security-council

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1. “The Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts reported increased levels of armed violence and gang encroachment into new territories. The influence of gangs, as we heard, now extends to 80 per cent of Port-au-Prince and increasingly beyond the capital. Criminal gangs continue to commit increasingly flagrant and violent human rights abuses to exert control and intimidate the public. The deliberate use of gender-based violence, especially rape and other forms of sexual violence, is just one horrifying tactic in that regard. The United States strongly condemns the systematic use of sexual violence and recognizes the disproportionate impact this crisis has on women and girls.”

   2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9368 (2023) · source

2. “I would also like to acknowledge with gratitude the participation of the Foreign Minister of Haiti; the Prime Minister of Jamaica, on behalf of the Caribbean Community,; the Permanent Representative of Barbados, on behalf of the Economic and Social Council’s Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti; and the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic. At the outset, let me say the United States would like to express its solidarity with the people of Haiti. As Vice President Harris noted at the United States-Caribbean Leaders Meeting, our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones and all who have been impacted by the flooding and earthquake last month and, of course, the spiralling violence. The security situation in Haiti remains a great concern.”

   2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9368 (2023) · source

3. “I would like to thank Ms. María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for her briefing. I also thank Ambassador Biang for his briefing in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022), concerning Haiti. I would also like to thank Ms. Marie-Yolène Gilles for her important account and perspective on behalf of civil society, as someone who has tirelessly promoted women’s rights, advanced the cause of human rights and supported victims of gang violence.”

   2023-07-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9368 (2023) · source

4. “That stark reality serves as a poignant reminder of the urgency and necessity of strengthening the international community’s child-protection capacities and of the crucial need for all States to respect international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Children are not merely caught in the crossfire. They are often deliberately victimized. Many continue to experience trauma, rejection and social isolation from their communities and require a broad, holistic, survivor-centred and trauma-informed range of interventions to support their long-term health and well- being and enable them to make future contributions to peaceful societies. We must do better. Children around the world deserve to feel safe, receive an education and have a future.”

   2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source

5. “In pursuing Russia’s war of choice, members of Russia’s forces and its officials have committed crimes against humanity, and that includes children. Members of its forces have committed execution-style killings of Ukrainian men, women and children, and alongside other Russian officials have deported hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians to Russia, including children forcibly separated from their families. Those acts are not random or spontaneous but are part of a widespread and systematic attack on Ukraine’s civilian population. Russia’s forces continue to attack areas where children are clearly present, including schools, hospitals and residential buildings.”

   2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source

6. “We encourage the Colombian Government to prioritize ending such abuses in any peace talks with illegal armed groups and to act swiftly to implement protective measures. Perpetrators of crimes against children, including sexual violence, must be held accountable through the justice system. In Afghanistan, the ban on girls’ access to education beyond primary school, patterns of early and forced marriage and the recruitment and use of child soldiers have been detrimental to young people’s physical and emotional welfare. We call on the Taliban to reverse the policies and practices that restrict women and girls’ access to education at every level. Of course we cannot talk about the impact of conflict on children without discussing Russia’s war on Ukraine.”

   2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source

7. “Girls in particular are at high risk of gender- based violence, both during and after conflict, and have unique needs in recovery after conflict. Armed conflict also takes a devastating toll on children with disabilities. There are reports of children in the Sudan who have been forced from their homes and in some cases separated from their families or subjected to sexual violence. Armed groups remain the main perpetrators of abuses against children in Colombia, where the forcible recruitment or use of children remains a prevalent concern, particularly for Afro- Colombian and Indigenous communities in rural areas. We welcome the continued progress made by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace.”

   2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source

8. “This year’s annual report of the Secretary-General on children and armed violence (S/2023/363) provides a sobering snapshot of how conflict has impacted children. As the Special Representative of the Secretary-General underscored, in 2022 the United Nations reported 27,180 instances of the six grave violations against children, including more than 8,600 children killed or maimed. We are deeply saddened by this staggering statistic. We are encouraged by the outcomes of engagement with parties to conflict, which resulted in the release of 12,460 children from armed groups and armed forces, and we hope for more steps that will make children’s lives better. However, too many children have been further subjected to sexual violence, abducted or denied humanitarian aid.”

   2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source

9. “Let me take this opportunity to thank the United Arab Emirates for its effective stewardship of the Security Council in June and to welcome the United Kingdom presidency for the month of July. I am very grateful to Special Representative Gamba de Potgieter and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Abdi, and I especially thank our civil-society briefer, Ms. Violeta, for bringing her voice from the front lines of this important issue to today’s discussion. It is clear that we have not done nearly enough to protect children from the effects of conflict. The United States remains firmly committed to the children and armed conflict agenda item and is keen to see it elevated, enhanced and better integrated into all the work of the Security Council.”

   2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source

10. “I would like to conclude by expressing the profound gratitude of the United States to MINUSMA for its service over the past decade, especially the troop- and police-contributing countries, whose peacekeepers have risked and sacrificed their lives for Mali’s peace and security.”

    2023-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9365 (2023) · source

11. “The United Nations has a responsibility to minimize the risk that its assets fall into the hands of those looking to destabilize Mali or bring harm to its people, including violent extremist organizations and the Wagner Group. Finally, I would like to applaud the resolution’s reaffirmation of Mali’s primary responsibility to protect its civilians, consistent with its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The international community will continue to monitor the human rights situation in Mali and speak out against violations and abuses. While the resolution marks the end of MINUSMA, the United States commitment to the Malian people remains strong and lasting.”

    2023-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9365 (2023) · source

12. “Steps taken by the Malian transition authorities in recent days to block MINUSMA’s imports can impede the drawdown process and undermine the safety and security of peacekeepers and, as such, are unacceptable. We are concerned about statements from some domestic actors calling for the harassment of peacekeepers. Actions that threaten the security of peacekeepers are unacceptable, and we call on the transition Government to ensure the safety of all MINUSMA personnel. We welcome the resolution’s clear directive to MINUSMA to ensure that all assets be handed over in full compliance with United Nations practices and regulations. We urge the Mission to take all necessary steps and precautions to ensure the safe and orderly transfer of United Nations facilities and equipment to designated entities.”

    2023-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9365 (2023) · source

13. “The resolution that we adopted today clearly reinforces the transition Government’s obligation to cooperate fully with the drawdown, withdrawal and liquidation of MINUSMA and ensure that those processes are carried out safely and orderly, with the utmost care for the safety and security of peacekeepers. The transition Government also has an obligation to respect its commitments under the status-of-forces agreement, which remains in force until the final MINUSMA element leaves Malian soil. That means guaranteeing unimpeded access to United Nations facilities and the full freedom of movement of MINUSMA, its personnel and equipment throughout Mali and full cooperation in the redeployment and export processes, including by granting visas, as necessary, to all personnel required for drawdown and liquidation.”

    2023-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9365 (2023) · source

14. “I would like to first thank France, as the penholder, for its work on this resolution (resolution 2690 (2023)). While we deeply regret the transition Govern- ment’s decision to abandon the United Nations Multi- dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the harm that that will bring to the Malian people, we voted in favour of the resolution, as we are ultimately satisfied with the drawdown plan that the Security Council has just adopted. We call on all signatory parties to continue their cooperation and avoid any actions that would jeopardize the ceasefire. We note that, despite the loss of MINUSMA’s assis- tance, the transition Government must continue to ad- here to its agreement with the Economic Community of West African States to transition to a democratically elected civilian-led Government by March 2024.”

    2023-06-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9365 (2023) · source

15. “We urge Russia and the League of Arab States to press the regime to contribute to the necessary conditions for returns by clarifying the status of 135,000 missing persons, waiving conscription requirements and addressing uncertainty around housing, land and property issues. The only way to end the suffering of the Syrian people remains a political solution in line with resolution 2254 (2015). We encourage Syria’s neighbours to push Al-Assad to meaningfully engage in the United Nations-facilitated process and to join us in supporting civil society in its pursuit of justice and accountability for human rights violations and abuses.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

16. “We condemn any attacks targeting civilians and urge all parties to condemn attacks targeting civilians, in violation of international law. The Syrian people do not need more violence; they need more constructive dialogue. We note with frustration that the Constitutional Committee last met 13 months ago. We urge the regime to resume the Constitutional Committee meetings in Geneva and participate in good faith. Given the situation, conditions are still not in place for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugee and will not be until the Al-Assad regime ceases its killings, arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment of the Syrian people, including refugee returnees.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

17. “The best and most cost-effective option to provide certainty and flexibility for humanitarian operations is a 12-month extension, including all three crossings — Bab Al-Hawa, Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai. The Al-Assad regime remains a major obstacle to the humanitarian response, undermining the cross- border mechanism and preventing cross-line deliveries to Rukban. The regime and its Russian backers have also continued to strike hospitals and other civilian sites, including attacks just last week that injured displaced civilians in Idlib. Russia’s role in the recent upswing in violent attacks in Idlib is a grim reminder of its long history of brutality against the Syrian people throughout this 12-year conflict. We are concerned by the recent violence in north- west and north-east Syria.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

18. “The United States announced an additional contribution of $920 million, our largest ever. Last year, the international community pledged nearly $7 billion. The year before, it was nearly $6 billion. Given the needs, we encourage other countries to match their rhetorical support with financial contributions. Those funds have helped sustain the Syrian people, who have experienced more than a decade of insufficient food, inadequate shelter attacks on health and education facilities and diminished services as a direct result of Al-Assad’s war on the Syrian people. But donations alone are not enough. Beyond donor support, it is incumbent upon the Security Council to ensure that aid reaches those in need.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

19. “Even as we encourage further cross-line aid to all parts of Syria, it is obvious that cross-border aid remains essential. To be clear, the Al-Assad regime has chosen to make the Organization’s access unpredictable, and the Syrian people are suffering the consequences. The regime also has not shown any indication that it intends to commit to an indefinite extension of United Nations access. That is why a Security Council resolution that includes a 12-month extension, including for all three crossings — Bab Al-Hawa, Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai — is essential. The humanitarian community needs the predictability such a resolution would provide. Donors, including the United States and other countries here today, have stepped up to meet needs. On 15 June, they pledged nearly $10 billion at the seventh Brussels Conference.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

20. “Recent reporting by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs also highlights the fact that over the past 18 months, more than $750 million has gone to early recovery across 14 governorates in Syria. That includes over $112 million for early recovery in the past two months alone. Non-governmental organizations have also indicated that 90 per cent of the 4.5 million people in north-west Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance to survive. We have supported all aspects of resolution 2672 (2023) and we welcomed last week’s successful cross- line delivery to the north-west, as well as last month’s successful cross-line mission to Tell Abyad, the first since 2019. We applaud the United Nations for its unrelenting advocacy with the parties on the ground.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

21. “Their statement on 8 June “expressed support for including all currently open border crossing points — Bab Al-Hawa, Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai — in a Security Council resolution to be passed this July”. Their words carry weight. The Secretary-General’s standalone report of 9 June (S/2023/419) makes it clear that the humanitarian needs in north-west Syria have never been greater and that any authorization short of 12 months would be inadequate. We heard the Under- Secretary-General reiterate that point just now. As the Secretary-General has stated, it remains a moral and humanitarian imperative. The report also underscores that early-recovery projects require more than six months to plan and implement.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

22. “I thank Deputy Special Envoy Rochdi and Under- Secretary-General Griffiths for their briefings. As the Under-Secretary-General underscored, the authorization for United Nations cross-border deliveries of humanitarian assistance through Bab Al-Hawa expires in just 11 days. Last month in this Chamber (see S/PV.9333), Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield called on the Council to extend and expand that mandate for 12 months and to include the border crossings at Bab Al-Hawa, Bab Al-Salam and Al-Rai. That is the only way to ensure that the Syrian people receive the assistance they need. Since then, several important voices have endorsed the three crossings, notably the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council.”

    2023-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9363 (2023) · source

23. “Despite the significant assistance efforts that are under way, there are still gaps. We must work together and think creatively about how to address those gaps to enable long-term stability, economic growth and good governance in Somalia. Finally, we welcome Somalia’s continued progress on the benchmarks outlined in the Secretary-General’s September 2022 report (S/2022/698) in assessing the country’s request for fully lifting the arms embargo on the Federal Government. We look forward to further progress and working closely with our partners on the Security Council on this issue when the sanctions regime of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) concerning Al-Shabaab, is renewed in November.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

24. “Strengthening public-sector financial management, conducting thorough, credible investigations of corruption allegations and holding perpetrators accountable are imperative for building public trust and confidence in the Government. We also must continue our collective efforts to respond to the ongoing humanitarian emergency that, as we all heard this morning, threatens nearly half of Somalia’s population. We are particularly encouraged by Somalia’s commitment to leading efforts to restore security and stability in the country, and the United States remains committed to partnering with Somalia to achieve those shared goals. We continue working to finalize our contribution to the United Nations trust fund for the Somali security forces, and we encourage other donors to support the Somali National Army’s efforts through that mechanism.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

25. “Overcoming Somalia’s remaining challenges requires sustaining positive momentum on security, political reconciliation and economic development. Liberating the remaining Al-Shabaab-held territory in central Somalia and ensuring that local communities receive the support they need to recover is vital for creating the conditions necessary for successful operations further south. An inclusive discussion of the National Consultative Council proposals on the constitution and elections is critical to ensuring that such changes have broad popular support. Much is needed to achieve a ceasefire to halt the violence in Laascaanood, allow and facilitate unhindered humanitarian access and initiate constructive dialogue to resolve the dispute. We welcome the Federal Government of Somalia’s recent efforts in that regard.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

26. “I thank Mr. Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, and Ms. McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, for their excellent briefings. We extend a warm welcome to Ms. Catriona Laing as she assumes her position as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia. She has arrived at a critical time, and her leadership will be vitally important in the coming months. We also extend a warm welcome to His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and thank him for his contribution to today’s meeting. We commend Somalia for its demonstrated commitment to fighting Al-Shabaab and restoring security and stability in the country. That is a visible demonstration of the Somali people’s desire for peace, stability, prosperity and good governance.”

    2023-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9356 (2023) · source

27. “Such challenges as piracy, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, transnational organized crime, climate change, pollution and environmental degradation all remain serious threats to our livelihoods and shared security. The United States has pledged to increase our collaboration and coordination with nations across the Atlantic so that we can jointly face these most pressing security threats in the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.”

    2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source

28. “The United States is wholly committed to supporting our partners as they address the grave and persistent threats posed by piracy, armed robbery and transnational organized crime in the Gulf. We further highlight the aim to criminalize and prosecute acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea and emphasize the need to support national, regional and international efforts to counter piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea. We concur with the fact that, through the collaborative efforts of many nations, the frequency of piracy has dramatically decreased. We encourage the region to continue its efforts to maintain this progress. The United States will continue to be a close partner to that end.”

    2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source

29. “We reaffirm our commitment to assisting States in the region to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea, to holding perpetrators, facilitators and key figures in criminal networks accountable, and to addressing other related destabilizing and illicit activities in the Gulf of Guinea. The United States also commends the efforts of the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States, the Gulf of Guinea Commission and their partners in their coordination to enhance cooperation on maritime security and to further operationalize the Yaoundé Architecture. I want to underscore the importance of resolution 2634 (2022), on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea.”

    2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source

30. “I thank the briefers for their excellent and informative briefings. We congratulate Member States on progress made towards implementation of the Yaoundé Architecture during the 10 years since its creation. As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, we look to the Yaoundé Architecture as an important example of regional maritime architecture for the world. The United States is committed to the lawful international navigation in and the security and sustainable development of the Gulf of Guinea region, and indeed the entire Atlantic Ocean basin. Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea is essential to maintaining a safe and prosperous Atlantic, both for Atlantic nations and those that depend on its waters for their livelihoods.”

    2023-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9355 (2023) · source

31. “Violations of the arms and oil embargoes, as well as the continued presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters, are an indication that foreign actors are profiting from and supporting the status quo. Foreign interference has prolonged the political impasse and destabilized Libya and must end so that the Libyan people themselves can control their future and chart a path to peace and prosperity.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

32. “Imad Ben Rajab, the focal point for the area of the illicit transport of petroleum, and urge the Libyan authorities to provide the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya with information about the circumstances of his arrest and ensure that he is provided with full due process. Without a focal point able to perform the functions detailed in the relevant resolutions, the Sanctions Committee’s ability to carry out its responsibilities is threatened, and we are concerned about reports of increased fuel smuggling since Mr. Ben Rajab’s arrest. We are pleased that this month the Security Council renewed the authority used by the European Union Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI to inspect vessels suspected of violating the arms embargo and applaud IRINI’s work in deterring such violations.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

33. “The cooperative and practical approach of the 5+5 to solving problems that affect Libyans’ daily lives highlights the benefits of progress by Libya towards unifying its security structure. We are concerned about the military operations in Zawiya involving drone strikes and urge all the parties to take great care to avoid actions that could spiral into wider violence. We are concerned about the possibility of weapons transfers from Libya to the conflict in the Sudan and note that the Libya arms embargo prohibits the export of arms and related material from Libya. The United Nations regional arms embargo on Darfur also prohibits arms and related material from entering the Darfur region. We encourage the Panels of Experts on Libya and the Sudan to monitor the situation carefully. We continue to be deeply concerned about the detention of Mr.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

34. “It is beyond time for those who occupy Libya’s leadership positions to demonstrate leadership and fulfil the Libyan people’s demand for elections that relegitimize their political institutions without further delay. We reiterate our full support for the Special Representative’s efforts to promote a political consensus for holding elections. Anyone with Libya’s best interests in mind should welcome his good offices and impartial facilitation. We continue to credit the work of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission and encourage the speedy implementation of all the terms of the 2020 ceasefire agreement, particularly the removal of foreign forces, fighters and mercenaries and the identification and categorization of armed groups for possible disarmament, demobilization and reintegration.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

35. “I thank Special Representative Bathily and Ambassador Ishikane for their briefings. We also thank Ms. Imneina for her contribution. The United States takes note of the progress reported by the 6+6 joint committee in reaching agreement on a package of electoral laws and thanks Morocco for hosting that round of talks. We welcome the commitment of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to working with all Libyan institutions and actors to ensure that the progress made so far leads to timely elections. We urge all players to engage constructively with Mr. Bathily in securing the necessary political, security and legal environment for elections.”

    2023-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9351 (2023) · source

36. “Only the transitional Government’s fulfilment of the four benchmarks should convince the Council to continue to support MINUSMA’s deployment in its current form.”

    2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source

37. “In a more positive development, the United States applauds the transitional Government’s robust preparation and planning for the 18 June constitutional referendum. We once again reiterate our support for the transition process and for elections in February 2024, in which neither the transitional Government’s President nor its Prime Minister can run for office, as the transitional Government agreed to with ECOWAS. We encourage the transition authorities and the signatory armed groups to demonstrate a similar commitment to the peace agreement by responding to the proposals of the international mediation constructively and in a spirit of compromise. It is clear that MINUSMA cannot achieve its mandate in the current conditions. We therefore reiterate our rejection of business as usual.”

    2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source

38. “On 25 May, the United States imposed visa restrictions on two Malian military officers who commanded units involved in the human rights violations committed in Moura. We are appalled by the disregard for human life by elements of the Malian Armed Forces in cooperation with the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group in Moura. Never has the destabilizing role of Wagner Group forces and the direct threat they pose to the Malian people and the country’s sovereignty been more evident. Council members should also take note of how military operations such as that in Moura, harming civilians in central Mali, are undermining both the efforts to protect civilians and the implementation of a politically focused strategy.”

    2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source

39. “In the same vein, we commend MINUSMA and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for their diligent investigation into and factual reporting on the human rights abuses and violations committed by the Malian Armed Forces and the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group last March in Moura, despite being denied access to the area. The United Nations ability to shine a light on abuses and violations despite such obstructionism reinforces the importance of MINUSMA’s mandate to promote and protect human rights in Mali. Statements accusing MINUSMA of espionage for conducting an independent investigation as part of its mandate are unacceptable, and they present a serious threat to the safety and security of United Nations peacekeepers authorized by the Security Council, who deserve nothing less than our full support.”

    2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source

40. “We are disappointed that the transitional Government displayed obstructionist behaviour during the reporting period. We are especially frustrated by Mali’s ongoing restrictions on MINUSMA’s freedom of movement and access, and by the fact that has it denied 170 MINUSMA flight authorization requests in the past three months alone. The transitional Government also denied four out of five MINUSMA requests to conduct investigations into reports of human rights violations and abuses. Despite those restrictions, which are in contravention of Mali’s status-of-forces agreement, we commend MINUSMA for conducting dozens of other investigations using widely accepted remote forensic tools.”

    2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source

41. “I thank Special Representative Wane for his briefing and welcome the participation of Foreign Minister Diop in today’s meeting. We are pleased to see that the Secretary-General has continued to monitor the Malian transitional Government’s progress towards full compliance with the four benchmarks included in the United Nations internal review of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) (S/2023/36). The benchmarks are clearly defined and fully attainable. They ask the Malian authorities to uphold their existing obligations under the 2015 Algiers Accord, the status-of-forces agreement with the United Nations and the timetable agreed by the Economic Community of the West African States (ECOWAS) for completing the political transition.”

    2023-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9350 (2023) · source

42. “Indeed, nothing in this resolution is intended to construe peaceful opposition to Government policy, advocacy for addressing climate change or the exposure of corruption as “extremism.” As always, the United States expects the Security Council will work assiduously to ensure that acts threatening peace and security are addressed in a manner that upholds human rights and fundamental freedoms. Only through respecting fundamental human rights can we truly promote tolerance — the shared objective of this resolution.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9347 (2023) · source

43. “The United States stands with like-minded members of the Council in committing to ensure this resolution will not be misused to justify the repression of human rights defenders, women and girls and LGBTQI+ persons, or any violations or abuses of human rights. And we welcome the attention of civil society to ensure, as the Council has upheld previously, that “extremism,” when not linked to violence, must never be accepted as a justification to curtail human rights or fundamental freedoms.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9347 (2023) · source

44. “We also ensured that this resolution emphasized that combating extremism must be done in a manner consistent with applicable international law. States must respect and vigorously protect international law and human rights, including the freedoms of expression and religion, even as they promote tolerance and address ideologies that are indeed abhorrent. Stifling human rights is counterproductive to the vision of peace and security that we, as members of the Security Council, seek to advance. To unduly limit the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms under a pretext of combating extremism undermines those universal rights and freedoms.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9347 (2023) · source

45. “In the context of such efforts, the Security Council has also been clear that opinions and beliefs must be protected, even if characterized as “extreme”, and States should seek to address violent acts of extremism that threaten peace and security. The United States does not view this resolution as altering that emphasis. Rather, the text of the resolution, in repeatedly discussing “extremism” in the context of armed conflict and violence, continues to distinguish between “extremism” and “violent extremism.” It was important to us that this resolution reaffirm the vital role of women’s leadership in the prevention and resolution of conflict and their contribution to prevent the spread of intolerance and incitement to hatred.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9347 (2023) · source

46. “We appreciate that this meeting today and the vote on resolution 2686 (2023) is occurring in a broader global context in which fundamental rights and freedoms are under assault as never before, including by Governments seeking to infringe upon those rights under the cover of “combating extremism.” It is an utmost United States priority with this resolution that the Council does not appear to be granting license to States to repress dissenting views under the pretext of “countering extremism” or maintaining peace or societal harmony. For years, the United Nations has appropriately focused on addressing violent extremism, including in the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism and existing commitments Member States have made to prevent and counter violent extremism.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9347 (2023) · source

47. “Standing for the freedoms of expression and religion or belief, it is United States policy to support the protection of human rights as a central tenet of international peace and security, and we view efforts to that end as foundational to the mission of the United Nations and to our work together here in the Security Council. Human fraternity, in the words of President Biden, can build “a better world that upholds universal human rights, lifts every human being and advances peace and security for all”.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9347 (2023) · source

48. “As President Biden said on the International Day of Human Fraternity in 2022, human fraternity can build “a better world that upholds universal human rights, lifts every human being and advances peace and security for all.” Under no circumstances will the United States support misinterpretations of this concept to justify the repression of human rights defenders, women, girls or LGBTIQ+ persons, or any violations or abuses of human rights.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9346 (2023) · source

49. “The persistent criminalization of LGBTIQ+ status or conduct and their enduring violence and discrimination further undermine the ability of LGBTIQ+ persons to participate fully and safely as their authentic selves in societies in every region of the world. If we want to live in a more peaceful world, we must stand up for and protect the essential role of civil society, including activists, journalists and opposition politicians who are critical of our Governments and do not always agree with our policies. Peaceful political dissent is equally vital to averting conflict, and States must not misconstrue citizens exercising their freedom of expression or engaging in civic discourse to justify repression or State-approved acts of violence.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9346 (2023) · source

50. “As the Security Council has long reaffirmed, every individual has the right to have a religion, change one’s religion or have no religion at all and to manifest one’s religion or belief publicly or privately. The Security Council has been equally clear that women’s human rights and fundamental freedoms, including taking part in the conduct of public affairs, must be protected. It is well established that women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace processes as leaders, negotiators, peacekeepers and peacebuilders increases the likelihood of a just and lasting peace. Like members of other marginalized communities, LGBTIQ+ persons also face discrimination, threats to their lives and livelihoods and violence for just being themselves.”

    2023-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9346 (2023) · source