YouSaid · the spoken record

Deputy Secretary-General

lines on the record: 595
first: 1998-06-29
most recent: 2020-11-03
sittings or episodes: 58
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

“Only today, we learned that 19,000 civilians were killed in Iraq between January 2014 and October 2015. We must all work to achieve solid political commitments to refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas, in accordance with international humanitarian law, which is now so often neglected. We have all seen the horrible reality in Madaya, Syria, where thousands ofpeople have been denied food and medical treatment for months, leading to starvation and death. Let us remember that Madaya is just one place where, shamefully, this is happening today, in the twenty-first century. Sieges were a medieval phenomenon, and now we see them happening in the contemporary world.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“In Afghanistan, an air strike destroyed a surgical ward with devastating consequences. In Yemen, hospitals have been attacked, and children who were not killed by bullets and bombs are now dying from the lack of medicine and health care. Today, I echo the words of the Secretary-General and of the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer - and I am glad the ICRC Vice-President is present here today - who last October called for an end to such blatant violations of international law. They said: "Enough is enough. Even war has rules. It is time to enforce them." In 2014, civilians madeup 92 per cent of the people killed or injured by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in situations of armed conflict. That carnage of innocent people must not continue.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: I warmly welcome Uruguay's initiative to hold today's debate. The number of speakers is a clear sign ofthe urgency and importance of today's subject. Over the past 40 years, progress has been made in establishing international norms to enhance the protection of civilians and to make sure that perpetrators of violations are brought to justice. The Security Council has played a central role in that regard, which we deeply appreciate. Despite that, the reality on the ground is grim and bleak. In conflicts around the world, great numbers of civilians are deliberately or recklessly killed, maimed, tortured and abducted. Sexual violence is rampant. Hospitals must be treated as sanctuaries in wartime. But recently we have seen a surge in attacks on hospitals and health centres.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Human traffickers have no place in the world that we are striving to build. Let us make sure that they have no space and no way to operate.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“Indeed, the scars of such violence last a lifetime. Victims fortunate enough to be freed need assistance to regain their rights and dignity and to reintegrate into society. They must be given a chance to take back their lives and build new futures. The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, is there to work on their behalf. I encourage all, Member States and others, to contribute to the Fund. It is also crucially important to fight impunity by bringing traffickers to account and to justice. In closing, human trafficking is often described as unthinkable and unspeakable. But it is our shared, serious and sincere responsibility to think deeply and speak clearly about the abuses to which innumerable and nameless victims are subjected.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“We should also support the important work of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons. Ending human trafficking also means committing to resolve the conflicts in which human trafficking thrives. Horrifying tales have emerged of how women and children are treated in captivity. But even when captivity ends, the suffering continues. Last month, the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, my friend and colleague Adama Dieng, met with several Yazidi victims of trafficking at the Khanke camp for internally displaced persons, near Dohuk, in northern Iraq. He asked me to convey his impressions briefly. He spoke to two girls who had managed to leave Daesh and reunite with their families. They were indeed free from Daesh, but, and he stated this very clearly, they were nor free not from fear and unbearable memories.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“I urge all States to become parties to international treaties against trafficking in persons, the smuggling of migrants and corruption and slavery, as well as treaties that protect human rights, especially the rights of women and children. We also have the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, which includes provisions on addressing this problem in conflict settings. I already mentioned, of course, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where this subject is also brought up. But we need to do more. We should more robustly implement the Plan of Action and the international Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, particularly internationaln conflict settings and post-conflict reconstruction work, a subject on the Security Council's agenda.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“3) I very much appreciate the presence here today of Nadia Murad Basee Taha, of the Yazidi community, as a Witness to the cruel and grim realities. Trafficking in persons is a crime and a violation of human rights and must be treated as such. The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, provides a framework for action. With 169 States parties, the Protocol is close to universal adherence. I urge all countries to ratify and fully implement it. Resolution 2195 (2014) recognizes the linkage between organized crime, including trafficking in persons, and terrorism; I am sure that Mr. Fedotov will touch on this.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“Thousands of men and boys have been forcibly conscripted by the Lord's Resistance Army and other armed groups. The plight of women and girls held by groups such as Daesh and Boko Haram is, tragically, well known. The abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls from Chibok by Boko Haram captured global attention, and the memory of that incident still lingers in our minds. Thousands of Yazidi women in Iraq have been abducted and enslaved by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. As the Secretary-General stated in his remarks to the Security Council on 13 October 2015, "the systematic acts carried out by Daesh against the Yazidi community, which include killings, torture, rape and sexual slavery, may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. We must ensure accountability." (S/PV7533, p.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“I am heartened that in September Member States committed, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/1), to Goals 5, 8 and 16, to take action on human trafficking. There are more people displaced today than at any time since the Second World War. Millions more are caught up in conflict and unable to flee. These human beings are exposed to a wide range of human rights violations, not the least of which is trafficking. They are sold and trafficked for sexual enslavement, prostitution, illegal adoption, slave labour, purposes of criminality or recruitment as child soldiers. The Council has heard reports on almost 20 countries engulfed in conflict, or trying to recover from conflict, where these practices are widespread. The victims are mainly women and girls, but also boys and men.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: I welcome the Security Council's focus on the practice of human trafficking in situations of conflict and displacement. Let us first be clear on what we are discussing today: human trafficking is slavery in the modern age. Slavery is not just a past abomination; millions of people are living as slaves, or in slave-like conditions, even as we speak today, in this year of 2015, here at the United Nations, with the Charter of the United Nations in front of us, here at the horseshoe table. Most of the victims of trafficking are vulnerable women and children, deceived or abducted into a life of suffering, exploitation, torture or servitude. This ruthless practice has become a global industry, and it must be stopped.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“Let us together intensify our work so that we do not have to meet here for yet another briefing next year on the third anniversary of this crisis. Let us ensure that we meet the aspirations of Ukraine's citizens for stability, peace, reform and prosperity.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“They must be implemented in full. All parties must work towards a durable political solution without delay, and greater political will and flexibility must be demonstrated by all concerned. Millions of women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities are directly affected on both Sides of the contact line. Further delays will mean further suffering for far too many people who are hoping for a peaceful holiday season. The United Nations, through the good offices of the Secretary-General, remains fully committed to supporting and promoting peace and stability in a manner that upholds Ukraine's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The vital work of the human rights, humanitarian and development actors on the United Nations country team in Ukraine will remain critical.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“I recall my own good-offices visit to Kyiv in early March 2014 and my subsequent briefing to the Council from there. At the time I appealed to the Council for dialogue, diplomacy and for cool heads to prevail. Today, with no comprehensive political solution in sight, I reiterate that appeal. During those difficult first days and weeks two years ago, we spearheaded the establishment of a United Nations presence through the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and, later, a large country team. That Mission continues to perform critical monitoring, reporting and prevention work, and we will hear more on that from Mr. Simonovie, the Assistant-Secretary-General for Human Rights. In conclusion, I would like to point out that the Minsk agreements remain the best available viable and accepted path to resolving this conflict.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“I also urge all those with influence over the actors to ensure that all bureaucratic and political impediments to humanitarian assistance are removed. I would like to remind all parties of their obligation to guarantee free and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance throughout Ukraine. I am also concerned about how the residents of Crimea have been affected by the cutting off of electricity from mainland Ukraine. On 21 and 22 November, electric pylons in the Kherson region of Ukraine supplying energy to Crimea were destroyed, leaving much of the peninsula without power. I trust that the electric power will be fully restored and that the incident leading to the disruption is being investigated. Last month we passed the two-year mark for the Ukraine crisis.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“There is also an urgent need to address the matter of explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices, which are now the leading cause of death and injuries in eastern Ukraine. The problem requires sustained attention through increased awareness-raising, education and humanitarian mine-action programmes. Such action would alleviate risks, reduce suffering and build confidence. Mr. John Ging, Director of the Coordination and Response Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who is joining us from Kyiv, will provide more detail on the humanitarian situation. I appeal strongly to all sides to provide unrestricted and unconditional access for critical humanitarian assistance and guarantee freedom of movement for civilians throughout the country.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“There are divergent interpretations of the sequence of implementation, and the same is true of some of the provisions in the Minsk package of measures, including those related to the conditions for holding local elections in rebel-controlled areas, control over border areas and the departure of foreign armed groups. Amnesty and special status constitutional changes are also on that list. These problems threaten the whole political process. The conflict zone remains highly militarized, and there is an ever-present danger of serious escalation. The Special Monitoring Mission continues to note the presence of weapons, including heavy weapons, along the contact line.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“As we know from the Minsk meetings of the four Working Groups, failure to find a compromise on the remaining critical issues has prevented the parties from reaching a viable solution. That includes issues related to the local elections in rebel-held areas. We welcome the discussions held in Berlin during and after the 6 November meeting of the Normandy Foreign Ministers. We also welcome the improvements that have occurred in the security sector. But much work lies ahead. The majority of the provisions of the Minsk agreements remain unimplemented.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“It is critical that the Mission be granted full and unfettered access to all areas covered by its mandate. I am deeply concerned about the continuing incidents ofharassment and intimidation ofthe Mission. Such harassment must end immediately. I recognize the sustained efforts of the Trilateral Contact Group and its four Working Groups, the Normandy format leaders and other partners. On the diplomatic front, modest but tangible progress has been made following the 2 October meeting of the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine. The rebels in eastern Ukraine have announced a postponement of the self-declared local elections. The parties have also committed to finding a compromise on the modalities for local elections in rebel-held territory that respects Ukrainian law and is in line with international best practices.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense and volatile. Since the ceasefire began on 1 September, fighting throughout the conflict zone has generally subsided. However, in recent weeks, sporadic fighting has resumed, with varying degrees of intensity, around parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The parties have started to implement the agreement to withdraw so-called lighter weapons from the contact line. But the process remains incomplete. The Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has observed the use of weapons, including mortars, throughout the conflict zone. I commend the Mission, under the leadership of Ambassador Apakan, for carrying out its mandate under challenging circumstances.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“Establishing the beginning of trust between the parties is key to overcoming the painful legacy of this conflict. The United Nations will continue to work at the side of Israelis, Palestinians and international partners to advance this crucial goal towards peace and reconciliation.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“To do so, we must see significant change ofpolicies, consistent with prior agreements, that will strengthen the Palestinian institutions, economy and security. That would help create the conditions for the parties to return to meaningful negotiations. We need to hear Palestinian leaders address sincerely Israelis' legitimate security concerns and see them take steps to end incitement. To this end, the Middle East Quartet envoys must continue their outreach to regional and international partners to examine how they may contribute to a comprehensive resolution of the conflict. The envoys are planning visits to Israel and Palestine in the coming period. In conclusion, Palestinians and Israelis deserve a future free from the fear of repeated new rounds of violence.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“We call on all stakeholders, including the Palestinian leadership, to unequivocally condemn the violence and stand up publicly to extremism and incitement. Failure to do so on the part of both sides leaves the door open for extremists to aggressively promote their destructive agendas. The first priority for all of us must be the de-escalation of violence. Let me emphasize again, as the Secretary-General did yesterday, that the violence is rooted mainly in the absence of a genuine political narrative and horizon. Each month we have conveyed to the Council the reality on the ground that is the setting of this latest outbreak. Efforts from all quarters must be intensified to restore Palestinian and Israeli hope that peace is still possible. We must urgently achieve real progress towards a negotiated two-State solution.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“While leaders on both sides have tempered their rhetoric of late, misleading and inflammatory public statements continue to surface from all sides. The vitriolic nature of the public discourse is alarming. Every incident that takes place evokes impassioned narratives and counter-narratives that feed a Vicious cycle of hatred and division. Contrary to the shameful boasts by militant Palestinian groups, including members of Hamas, there is nothing "heroic" about the killing of an innocent man and the serious injury of his wife and 2-year-old child as they walked through Jerusalem's Old City; or the stabbing of a 65-year-old woman near a bus station in Tel Aviv; or the killing of an Israeli couple while driving with their four children. This is murder, full stop. Crimes like these risk perpetuating the current climate of fear and mistrust.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“A number of incidents, many caught on Video and widely disseminated, call into question the degree of response, including the apparent disproportionate use of lethal force as a first resort. The Secretary-General has reminded Israeli authorities that live fire should be used only as a last resort in situations of imminent threat of death or serious injury. It is their duty to ensure a prompt and independent investigation into incidents where use of force has resulted in death or injury, and to ensure accountability where there is evidence of wrongdoing. The Secretary-General is also concerned that Israeli authorities have resumed punitive demolitions, targeting the homes of perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces. Incitement is another factor significantly fueling the situation.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“The shocking murders of the Dawabsha family in July and the lack of progress in arresting the perpetrators were another critical trigger of the current escalation. This incident reflects an increasing sense of critical exposure among Palestinians in the face of settler Violence and reinforces their feeling of injustice. It is imperative that Israel take action to empower Palestinian institutions to protect vulnerable communities. It must vigorously address the perceived impunity for settler Violence by expediting investigations and prosecutions of the Dawabsha family's killers. The third factor perpetuating the fragile situation is the level of force used by Israeli security forces in countering some of the Violence.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“The Secretary-General welcomes Prime Minister Netanyahu's repeated assurances that Israel has no intention of changing the historic status quo at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. But that message will resonate only if swift action is taken on the ground that demonstrates this public commitment. In this regard, we welcome the Prime Minister's decision to ban ministers and Knesset members from visiting the Holy Sites. The Secretary-General encourages Israel and Jordan, in View of its special role as Custodian of the holy sites, to act jointly and coordinate the necessary steps. This would be in line with their previous understandings to ensure that the historic status quo is preserved.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“Tensions at the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem continue to be a dangerous driver of the current wave of violence. This year, during the holy month of Ramadan - the most quiet in 10 years, by the way - Jerusalem welcomed some 3 million Visits by Muslim worshippers from the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. However, extremists on all sides have sought to disturb the historic status quo. Concerns among Muslims that this is under threat have been exacerbated by irresponsible incendiary statements. These have come from a number of sources and directions, reaching the point that many have become convinced that the Israeli Government plans to Violate the historic status quo.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“Taken together, the failed peace initiatives and the reluctance of leaders on both sides to take the bold steps necessary to make progress will create a highly combustible reality in which Israel's security concerns remain unmet and the Palestinian national struggle risks taking on an ever-more violent dimension - and this, in a region already plagued by violent religious extremism. The Secretary-General condemned the setting ablaze of Joseph's Tomb last week in the West Bank by hundreds of Palestinians. This was a shocking act of violence with the potential to lead to reprisals affecting other holy sites. The sanctity of all holy sites must be respected, especially so as to deny extremist elements any opportunity to transform the current situation into a religious conflict.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“With every passing day, their dream of real statehood is becoming more elusive. Nowhere is the frustration and anger at the current situation more evident than among young people. The current situation also understandably sharpens a sense of fear among the Israeli population. Israeli civilians see the recurrence of Violence as a serious threat to their personal security and that of their country. They are also alarmed about signs that anti-Semitism is on the rise globally. We must understand these Israeli concerns. Israelis see growing attempts in the international community at what they believe is aimed at delegitimizing the State of Israel. When confronted with a climate of terror, Israelis rightly expect their authorities to enforce security.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“That should not stop us from asking why the situation has deteriorated. I suggest that this crisis would not have erupted ifthe Palestinian people had any perception ofhope ofa viable Palestinian State, if they had an economy that provided jobs and opportunities, or if they had more control over their security and the legal and administrative processes that define their daily existence - in short, if they did not still live under a stifling and humiliating occupation that has lasted almost half a century. Instead, they see the growth of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, which undermine the very possibility of a two-State solution and pose growing security risks to all. They see the emergence of a parallel de facto settler community, with better infrastructure, services and security than in Palestinian-populated areas.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“In all his exchanges, he condemned and conveyed alarm about the upsurge in attacks and Violence over the past two weeks and offered his deep condolences to the people of Israel and Palestine. He also had moving meetings with victims and their families on both sides. The Secretary- General's Visit had a clear goal - to support collective efforts to stop the violence, reduce the tensions and incitement and begin to outline a political horizon that can lead to lasting peace and security. President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu assured the Secretary- General that they are working to curb the Violence, particularly through continued security coordination. Yet while they are important, security measures alone will not suffice. Let us be clear. There is never any justification whatsoever for murder.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: The Israeli- Palestinian conflict has once again entered a dangerous phase. The eruption of Violence gripping the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as Israel and Gaza, shows no signs of abating. Between 1 and 21 October, 47 Palestinians and 7 Israelis have been killed, and more than 5,000 Palestinians and about 70 Israelis have been injured. We condemn all attacks against Israelis and Palestinians alike in the strongest terms. The recent wave of knife attacks and shootings is particularly appalling. There can be no justification for such despicable acts. As he reported to the Council yesterday, the Secretary-General travelled to Israel, Palestine and Jordan, where he met with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials and King Abdullah II.”
2015-10-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7540 (2015) · source
“The work of the Security Council affects all Member States and people everywhere in a world where peace, development, and human rights are increasingly interrelated.”
2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source
“In addition, the Secretariat is improving cooperation on sanctions through the Inter-agency Working Group on United Nations Sanctions, which brings together 24 United Nations entities. As the Council, in the spirit of Chapter VIII of the Charter, intensifies its cooperation with regional organizations, the Secretariat is working in parallel to support the Council in those endeavours, not least vis-a-vis the African Union. In closing, there is always room for improving any organization's working methods. The Secretariat looks forward to hearing the views of the other principal organs, Council members and the wider United Nations membership. We appreciate the transparency demonstrated by today's initiative.”
2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source
“It is important that the new Chairs be able to hit the ground running, with solid knowledge of the work of their Committees or Working Groups. Here, the Secretariat assists the outgoing Chairs in preparing documentation for the incoming Chairs. Following the election of five new Security Council members last week, that process will soon start again. I should add that the Secretariat provides support to 16 sanctions Committees and 71 experts serving on 12 sanctions-monitoring panels. Identifying experts continues to be a time-consuming process. In response to calls from Member States to ensure geographical and other diversity, we have gradually expanded our roster of experts.”
2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source
“The Secretariat has also actively supported proposals to arrange briefings via secure video- teleconferences from United Nations offices around the world. The number of such video-teleconferences increased from one in 2009 to 41 in 2013, and to 101 in 2014. I have been part of that trend myself, and I think that it is a great innovation. Furthermore, in response to calls from Council members and the wider membership, the Council website now offers a historical record of Council activities and information, for instance on reporting requirements and mandate renewals. The website also presents vital information on sanctioned individuals and entities in formats that are deemed useful to and by Member States. The Council has also encouraged the early appointment of Chairs of its subsidiary bodies.”
2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source
“Let me mention some decisions of the Council on its working methods and the actions that the Secretariat has taken to implement them. The Council has indicated that members of the Council and the Secretariat can continue to use the "any other business" agenda item to raise issues of concern. The Secretariat considers that to be a valuable practice. We have brought important matters to the Council's attention more than 20 times in the past two years. In addition, the Department of Political Affairs has instituted a monthly practice of briefing Council members on situations that could become threats to international peace and security. Early-warning signals could, and in my view should, play an even more important role in preventing situations from deteriorating or spiralling out of control, as we have so often seen in recent years.”
2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source
“Since the Secretariat facilitates the day-to-day deliberations of the Council, we must have a strong grasp of its working methods and working practice. While the Council, of course, decides on its own procedures, the Secretariat stands ready to provide institutional memory and advice to the rotating Council presidencies and to its other members. An important interface between the Council and the Secretariat remains the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. The Working Group has given more transparency to the Council's work through its crafting of notes, which are subsequently issued by the President, documenting trends of relevance to the wider United Nations membership, including troop- and police-contributing countries.”
2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source
“We translate the mandates of the Security Council into peacekeeping operations, special political missions, sanctions- monitoring groups and bodies such as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism in Syria. The report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (S/2015/446) and the subsequent report of the Secretary-General (S/2015/682) provide recommendations on how such operations could be developed and improved. I want in particular to underline the proposals related to prevention and post- conflict measures, not least in the area ofpeacebuilding and development. Let us also recall that "peaceful societies" is a goal for the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: When people think about the United Nations, they often think of the Security Council. On it rests a heavy responsibility: to maintain international peace and security in a troubled, complex and interconnected world. The expectations of the Council and the United Nations as a whole are high around the world, and that is why a debate about its working methods is evidently of interest to many. Let us recognize that the Council has adapted its working methods considerably over the years, from introducing Council missions to the field to informal interactive dialogues and open thematic debates, to name but a few examples. The Secretariat has always been and will remain a vital partner of the Council. We provide detailed and, hopefully, actionable information on a wide range of issues on the Council's agenda.”
2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source
“The world looks to us at the United Nations and to the Security Council and expects us to uphold that right and to meet those aspirations. That is our shared responsibility today. And it is how we can best pay homage to the victims of Srebrenica.”
2015-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7481 (2015) · source
“The carnage in Syria has undoubtedly taken a toll on the reputation and standing of the Council and the United Nations. Atrocious crimes are today also taking place in Iraq, South Sudan and elsewhere. Extremist groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab are seemingly competing in brutality with the aim of spreading fear and division among populations. As the Charter and as morality direct us, we must unite our strength against such atrocious acts and threats. When we are running out of words in our outrage, we have to take action and live up to basic values and principles. All of us share the same objective - to work towards a world that has finally learned the horrific lessons of the past and where people can live in peace and dignity, as is their right and aspiration.”
2015-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7481 (2015) · source
“The Human Rights Up Front initiative is generating structural changes inside the Organization, which aim to improve our efforts to take early preventive action. The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect have developed a framework of analysis for atrocity crimes, a useful tool to assess risks and develop prevention strategies. The United Nations and its Member States and regional organizations have an obligation to strengthen our collective prevention efforts and to find peaceful solutions in the spirit of Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council has a central role to play. We see today how situations can deteriorate and get out of control when the Council is divided.”
2015-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7481 (2015) · source
“Prevention has become an imperative. A Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide has been appointed. International criminal tribunals have brought perpetrators of heinous crimes to justice. The 2005 General Assembly endorsement of the responsibility to protect made the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity a core State and international responsibility. Peacekeepers are now regularly provided with robust mandates to protect civilians. They are often authorized to use all necessary means in defence of populations. But peacekeepers continue to face many of the same challenges that plagued the United Nations in Srebrenica, not least paralysing divisions among Member States and a lack of political and material support.”
2015-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7481 (2015) · source
“But we also meet to proclaim our determination that the lessons learned from those unspeakable days in July 1995 must help us detect the dangers earlier. We must build an Organization that is better equipped to keep such crimes and atrocities from reoccurring. The United Nations has acknowledged its responsibility for failing to protect the people who sought shelter and relief in Srebrenica. The 15 November 1999 Secretary-General's report to the General Assembly on the fall of Srebrenica (A/54/549) identified the mistakes committed by the Organization and by the wider international community. That same year, the independent inquiry into the actions of the United Nations during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda found similar deficiencies. We have since then worked in many ways to implement the recommendations of the reports.”
2015-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7481 (2015) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: One of the greatest missions of the United Nations is the prevention of genocide. The horrors of the past and the dangers of the present remind us of the importance of that mission. The genocide at Srebrenica was one of the darkest chapters in recent history. In three days, family and community members, faith leaders, dignitaries and representatives from around the world will gather in Srebrenica to honour the victims. I will travel there to represent the United Nations on behalf of the Secretary- General. Today, we meet here in New York to pay our respects to all victims and to share in the grief of the affected families and communities. We gather in humility and regret to recognize the failure ofthe United Nations and the international community to prevent such tragedies.”
2015-07-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7481 (2015) · source
“Occasions such as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists - which falls on 2 November every year - can also be better utilized to draw attention to these problems. The United Nations system will continue to assist the Security Council in all these efforts by bringing to its attention situations of concern in this area in a timely and proactive manner. It is our shared responsibility to protect the voices that alert, warn and inform on situations threatening international peace and security.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Secondly, they can continue to hold regular debates on the protection of journalists. I encourage them to continue to hear the views of journalists, affected family members such as Ms. Pearl here today, civil society representatives and relevant United Nations and regional mandate-holders. Thirdly, they can encourage Security Council-authorized missions to also look into the safety of journalists and media workers as part of protection of civilians mandates, and report back to the Security Council on their findings. Fourthly, they can encourage Security Council-authorized missions to ensure that freedom of expression and the safety of journalists are integral parts of human rights and justice reforms. Fifthly and lastly, they can endorse and support the United Nations Plan of Action.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“As we know, threats and attacks are committed by State and non-State actors alike, often to silence journalists seeking information or opinions on subjects perceived to be off-limits, such as human rights violations, political repression or drug trafficking, to name a few. The United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity aims to help tackle these challenges. The Plan is being piloted and laid out in several countries, including Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan and South Sudan. Members of the Security Council have a critical role in advancing this agenda. Let me briefly and in closing point to five ways in which they can do so. First, they can unequivocally and consistently condemn the killing ofjournalists in conflict situations.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source