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

“Women journalists may face challenges different from their male colleagues. The security situation of foreign correspondents may differ from those of locally based journalists. Furthermore, corruption, intimidation, reprisals and weak judicial systems, all of which contribute to impunity, must be seriously tackled if we are to deal with the roots of the problem. The same goes for the basic need for a culture of respect for human rights and the rule oflaw. Let us also remember that the safety of journalists is of concern in non-conflict zones as well. Ensuring their protection and their work can be of the essence if we are to prevent conflict and human rights violations in threatening situations.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Here, I want to commend Director-General Deloire and Reporters Without Borders for their work. We know that armed conflict not only endangers the life and safety ofjournalists; it also limits the free flow of information, eroding the rule of law and democracy. We should recall that conflict can easily be exacerbated in an environment that stifles freedom of expression. Conflict and insecure environments must never be a pretext for silencing journalists; on the contrary, it is precisely in these situations where the voices of the voiceless and reports from the front lines must be heard loud and clear. Ensuring the safety of journalists requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach. The challenges for journalists reporting from an armed conflict situation may not be the same as for those who are engaged in other forms of reporting.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Recent killings of journalists have been given extensive and welcome attention around the world. We recall, for instance, the brutal murders of Western media representatives in Syria. Yet, we must not forget that around 95 per cent Ofthe killings ofjournalists in armed conflict concern locally basedjournalists, with far less media coverage. The Security Council and the Human Rights Council have been presented with findings that illustrate the extent of the problem from South Sudan to Libya, from Syria to Somalia and beyond. Against the background of this sobering reality, it is not surprising that countries facing armed conflict and a breakdown of the rule of law are ranked at the bottom of the very important annual World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to address the Security Council on the protection of journalists in conflict situations. This issue is fundamentally about the right to information, protection of civilians, respect for human rights and not giving in to threats and intimidation from those who advocate and practice violence and intolerance. In recent years, we have seen a deeply troubling rise in the number ofjournalists killed in conflict situations. Ofthe 593 cases ofkillings ofjournalists between 2006 and 2013, almost half - 273 - occurred in conflicts zones. Journalists are also being increasingly targeted and subjected to threats by criminal or terrorist groups, with the blatant intention of silencing them.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“And then, at the end of the conflict, with ceasefires and so forth, as with a convalescing patient we need to know that there is post-conflict work to be done so that we do not relapse into a vicious circle. We need a solid commitment from all sides to fulfil the original vision for the peacebuilding structures and to improve the United Nations system's support for countries emerging from conflict. This could make the crucial difference between peace or continuing conflict for millions of people around the world. This is an opportunity that the United Nations and its Member States should not miss.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“We owe it to the people we serve to ensure that we are bold, ambitious and, above all, effective in our approach to modern-day peacebuilding. I urge Member States to be open, candid and constructive in their assessment of the peacebuilding challenges and potentials. I would add that, when we look at the life of a conflict, we have a tendency to focus on its middle section * when it is in the CNN stage, the stage of suffering, when urgent decisions are being taken on peacekeeping operations. I think we all need to consider extending that attention to the pre-stage and the post- stage. In the life of a conflict, we should start to act when we discover the first vibrations on the ground.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“These and other ideas are included in the United Nations system's input to the review. I hope Council members will give them their serious consideration. The United Nations system is committed to increasing its support to and engagement with a dynamic, flexible and focused Peacebuilding Commission. The Council's review will coincide with the Secretary-General's review of peace operations and the global study to assess progress in implementing resolution 1325 (2000). The work and outcomes of these three reviews and their follow-up should be complementary and, in my view, mutually reinforcing. These reviews come at a time of complex threats to peace, security and development. They provide us with an important opportunity to sharpen and reshape our thinking and our actions.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“In that regard, I should like to commend the efforts of the Permanent Representative of Brazil, Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, who, as Chair, of the Peacebuilding Commission, has set the direction in a very positive way, as have the new head of the Peacebuilding Support Office, Mr. Oscar Fernandez- Taranco, who is present behind me, and his predecessors. We are on the right track, and I think we need to go into this work with an open mind. We need a forum that can act quickly to mobilize the collective support of Member States for the United Nations mandates and missions. We also need to consider the circumstances in which the Peacebuilding Commission can be particularly useful. A more flexible, dynamic and strategically oriented Commission could be more relevant to a broader range of situations in today's world.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“Our peacekeepers and special political missions are often in these situations called upon to support inclusive political processes and to build effective rule of law and security institutions, together with United Nations agencies, funds and programmes. The Peacebuilding Commission was intended to be a diverse, flexible and dynamic political forum that would focus sustained international attention on the challenges facing countries at risk of relapse into violence. Although the Commission has made some important progress, many now agree that its structure and working methods need review, improvement and adaptation to a rapidly changing environment.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“In the recent past, the Central African Republic and South Sudan have tragically fallen back into conflict. The three Ebola-affected countries - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - are all on the Peacebuilding Commission's agenda. In addition to the large and tragic loss oflife, the epidemic has also had a dramatic impact on social cohesion and State institutions. As the Peacebuilding Commission noted in its early meetings on the epidemic, there is a need for comprehensive support that would ensure the resilience of state institutions and rapid recovery. The United Nations involvement in peacebuilding has evolved considerably since 2005, with broader mandates and more actors working in ever more difficult environments.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“I would like to present the Council with some reflections and thoughts on the important review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture that was launched by the General Assembly and the Security Council last month. As some here may recall - including you, Mr. President, in your capacity as Permanent Representative ofChile at the time - it was my privilege, as President of the General Assembly 10 years ago, to be part of the creation of the peacebuilding structures: the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Support Office. Council members may recall that this work was in response to the troubling phenomenon at the time of frequent relapses into conflict. Since then, we can see that peacebuilding efforts are more necessary than ever.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“The Secretary- General's report details innovative approaches on the part of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan and Liberia, including an initiative in Guinea called the Women's Situation Room, which provided support to a network of local women's organizations, enabling women to play a crucial role as election monitors. It also facilitated inter-party trust and strengthened women's political participation. We need more initiatives like that, and I should like to say that this could be very valuable this year, as we mark the twentieth year since the holding of the important Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“The Peacebuilding Commission can help support such efforts, as it has done recently in the Central African Republic and Guinea-Bissau, by convening meetings with regional organizations, neighbouring States and international partners. This underlines how conflicts in today's world are increasingly taking on a regional dimension, which I am sure Council membes have noted in their deliberations on many issues. That regional dimension, in my view, should be better reflected in how we in the future deal generally with both conflict-resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding. Fifthly, promoting inclusion means that we must ensure women's equal participation in post-conflict political and development processes.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“The Peacebuilding Fund can partially address the financial gaps in the short term, but it remains problematic to ensure the necessary larger- scale and longer-term assistance and support. I encourage the Peacebuilding Commission to continue its efforts to mobilize the support of Member States for the United Nations missions and mandates. Groups of friends and contact groups can play an important role. Also, compacts between post-conflict States and key international partners can align international support with national priorities, as they did in Sierra Leone and Somalia. Fourthly, regional actors and neighbouring countries, working together with the United Nations, can play a critical role in creating an environment conducive to sustainable peace.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“Such agreements provide legitimacy and support for instititional development and reform. Without inclusive agreements, political divisions may persist and control of the State may remain contested. Under such circumstances, let us admit that nationally led peacebuilding strategies have a limited potential. We have seen that in South Sudan, where extensive investments in institution-building were lost when weak and unstable political agreements between different factions resulted in a tragic relapse into conflict. Thirdly, peacebuildingrequires sustainedinternational political, technical and financial support. Regretfully, we are seeing such gaps in several places, particularly where the establishment of basic Government functions and the provision of social services are required to sustain peace.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“In Guinea, the United Nations country team supported an interparty agreement on parliamentary elections that was facilitated by the then Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, Said Djinnit. The team held public meetings with local political leaders and helped train election monitors. In Burundi, the Peacebuilding Commission and the country team supported the efforts of the United Nations Office in pursuit of a more inclusive political environment. They did this by facilitating broad consultations with political parties and civil society. That led to the adoption of a new electoral code and a code of conduct for the upcoming elections. Secondly, strong and well-functioning institutions that are central to peacebuilding must based on effective and inclusive political agreements.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: I thank you, Mr. President, for giving me this opportunity to brief the Council on the Secretary-General's report on peacebuilding in the aftermath of conflict (8/2014/694). The report reminds us that peacebuilding is at the core of United Nations aims and ambitions. The challenges and responses described in the report will directly affect the future of individuals, communities and societies and their chances of living in peace. I would like to highlight five key features of the report. First, peacebuilding is most effective when political, security and development actors support a common, comprehensive and clear strategy for consolidating peace. We have seen examples of this in Guinea and Burundi.”
2015-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7359 (2015) · source
“Today, on World Humanitarian Day, let us honour the victims, let us protect the heroes on the front lines of disaster and war, and let us do everything we can to help them and to help us all to alleviate human suffering in a difficult time of turmoil and violence in the world.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“Let us remember that those who commit such crimes take the civilian population hostage and consciously spread fear and use intimidation to reach their goals. They must never be allowed to succeed. I would like to conclude by stressing that attacks against humanitarian workers and facilities are part of a deeply disturbing trend, as I mentioned earlier. I am thinking here of the increase in unacceptable and cowardly attacks against civilians in armed conflict and the sadly growing lack of respect for international humanitarian law. Let us not accept the growing deficit of humanity; rather, let us stop it.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“Humanitarian efforts, essential as they are, are no substitute for political action to resolve the causes of conflicts. Thirdly, the Council can impose targeted measures against parties to conflict who violate their obligations to respect and protect humanitarian workers and the civilian population. Fourthly, the Council can use all the tools at its disposal to seek accountability for those who perpetrate attacks against humanitarian workers and assets. That means supporting investigations and prosecutions at the national level, creating special criminal tribunals or mixed arrangements, making use of commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions and referring relevant situations to the International Criminal Court.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“I want to stress that it does not confer legal status or political legitimacy to non-State groups. In that area, where humanitarian action is urgently needed in conflict situations, the Security Council has a clear role to play. That is why we particularly appreciate the fact that you have organized this briefing, Mr. President. I would suggest that four actions are especially important. First, the Council can routinely call on parties to conflict to uphold their legal obligations and condemn parties when they do not. Secondly, the Council can ensure that measures to safeguard peace and security, such as the negotiation of peace agreements or the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping operations, do not blur the lines between political, military and humanitarian objectives.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“For that reason, political and military actors must respect the need for humanitarian actors to carry out their work in an impartial, neutral and independent manner. Dialogue on how best to maintain that distinction or strike that balance is an ongoing endeavour. To misuse humanitarian action for political, military and security ends is dangerous. That compromises the integrity of humanitarian operations and can place the lives of humanitarian workers and the people they assist in grave danger. Respect for the humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence is crucial for building acceptance by parties to conflict and affected communities. That must include preserving the ability of humanitarian workers to engage with all parties to conflict. Such engagement serves humanitarian purposes.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“As we mourn those losses and recall the plight of the many wounded or kidnapped, we must not accept such outcomes as the necessary cost of operating in risky environments. Our shared responsibility is to do everything we can to provide humanitarians with the safety and the space they need to do their life-saving work. It is essential not to politicize humanitarian action and to make a clear distinction between humanitarian actors and political or military actors. That distinction is important, even when the military objective is the protection of civilians. If those lines are blurred, perceptions of humanitarian organizations can change quickly and radically and further expose them to violence.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“In recent weeks, several humanitarian workers have been killed in South Sudan and Gaza. The consequences of those crimes are felt not only by humanitarian workers and their families, but also by the millions of people who cannot be reached when assistance is sabotaged by violence. They are felt by the children who do not get vaccinated. They are felt by the sick and wounded who go untreated. And they are felt by those forced from their homes and left without shelter. In recent years, the majority of incidents have taken place in six countries, namely, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, the Sudan, South Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic. The overwhelming majority of victims are national humanitarian staff working to save the lives of their own people.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“They have used collective punishment. They have incited ethnic violence. They have impeded the delivery of humanitarian assistance. And they have attacked humanitarian actors. What that represents is nothing less than a deficit of humanity. Regretfully, that trend is getting worse, rather than better. Last year more humanitarian workers were kidnapped, seriously injured or killed than ever before: 155 were reportedly killed, 171 were wounded and 134 kidnapped. That represents a 66 per cent per cent increase in relation to 2012. Thus far in 2014, 79 humanitarian workers have been killed, 33 wounded and 50 kidnapped, according to the preliminary figures available at this stage. In Somalia alone, over a dozen humanitarian staff were kidnapped or detained during the first quarter of 2014.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“Humanitarian workers from the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, international organizations and non-governmental organizations dedicate their lives to assisting millions of women, children and men affected by conflicts and natural disasters around the world. Working in some of the most dangerous places, they take great risks to help people in desperate need. Yet all too frequently their safety is compromised in the most despicable ways: by threats, by attacks and by the use of illegal methods of warfare that endanger lives or damage the infrastructure needed for the delivery of assistance. Such acts are part of the picture of brutalization that we see in the world today. Parties to conflict very often ignore international humanitarian law and target civilians for the sake of political and military gains.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: I would like to thank the President of the Security Council for this initiative to mark World Humanitarian Day with a briefing on the protection of humanitarian workers. The subject is critical to mobilizing awareness and action and to improving our response to people caught in conflicts and disaster. World Humanitarian Day commemorates the bombing of the United Nations premises at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad on 19 August 2003. It is dedicated to the memory of all staff members and partners who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty for the humanitarian imperative. Since then, we have seen shocking tragedies and terrorist acts against United Nations personnel and premises in places such as Algeria, Nigeria, Somalia and Afghanistan. Those appalling incidents remain fresh in our minds.”
2014-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7244 (2014) · source
“"I call again on the Council and plead with the members to set aside their differences and to finally work together on a joint approach that can bring an end to this long nightmare for the Syrian people. They desperately need an end to the violence, and a political solution. We all have a responsibility to help the Syrian people finally see a future of peace."”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“"For more than three years, the Security Council has been unable to agree on measures that could bring an end to this extraordinarily brutal war, which has deeply affected and damaged not only millions of Syrian civilians but also the entire region. If members of the Council continue to be unable to agree even on a measure that could provide some accountability for the ongoing crimes, the credibility of this body and of the entire Organization will continue to suffer. "When we talk of accountability we should be thinking not only of the parties to the conflict, we should also think of those outside who are fuelling the conflict and exacerbating the suffering by their continued supply of weapons to those who are committing the atrocities.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“"In February 2013, the Commission of Inquiry concluded that the International Criminal Court was the appropriate venue to pursue the fight against impunity in Syria. The High Commissioner for Human Rights has repeatedly called on the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the Court, most recently in April. The Syrian people have a fundamental right to justice. The United Nations and its Member States have a fundamental duty to defend that right. I support mechanisms that can genuinely hold perpetrators to account. It is clear in this case that no side to the tragedy is innocent. Let us also recall that accountability will help prevent further atrocities.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: I deliver this statement on behalf of the Secretary-General. "Since the outbreak of the war in Syria, I have persistently called for accountability for perpetrators of grave human rights violations, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The recent attacks against humanitarian convoys and personnel, which may constitute war crimes, add to the urgent need to see action now on accountability in Syria. "The Security Council has an inescapable responsibility in that regard. States that are members of both the Security Council and the Human Rights Council have a particular duty to end the bloodshed and to ensure justice for the victims of unspeakable crimes.”
2014-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7180 (2014) · source
“Let us join together in the work against their proliferation with renewed resolve to ensure a world of greater peace and security in the years to come.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“Supporting the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) is a high priority for the United Nations and a key task for the Office for Disarmament Affairs. We all share an interest and a duty to prevent individuals and non-State groups from acquiring and using these abhorrent weapons. The effective implementation of this resolution requires a wide scope of measures ranging from legislation to law enforcement. It requires action on the part not only of Governments but also of industry and other relevant actors. In this year of its tenth anniversary, I appeal to all States and other stakeholders to continue their e fforts to implement this resolution. In closing, as the Secretary-General has said several times, there are no right hands for wrong weapons.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“One promising trend is the preparation of voluntary national implementation action plans. At the recent Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, 32 countries released ajoint statement reaffirming their commitment to submitting such action plans to the 1540 Committee. That was an important step forward. Looking ahead, we hope to see expanded regional cooperation in implementing the resolution, especially since States sharing borders often face similar challenges. Civil society also has a major role to play in moving the world closer to meeting the goals of resolution 1540 (2004), and through such joint efforts we can come closer to an even more ambitious vision - a world free of all weapons of mass destruction.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“However, through vigorous diplomatic and administrative action, and by agreement, over 90 per cent of Syria's chemical weapons have been removed even as the conflict has continued and intensified. We note that some 20 countries have not submitted a report on their implementation efforts to the 1540 Committee. In most cases, these are countries facing serious economic or social difficulties. I encourage all Member States that have not yet done so to submit a first report in this anniversary year. If resolution 1540 (2004) is to work even more effectively, it must be a global commitment and a global enterprise. It is critical for every country to implement the resolution. Terrorists and traffickers tend to target countries whose customs, borders, trade, ports and airports are less well or poorly monitored or controlled.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: I want first to commend the Republic of Korea for convening this open debate on resolution 1540 (2004). Let us recognize that in its first 10 years, this landmark resolution has accomplished a great deal. Resolution 1540 (2004) has helped us make important inroads against the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The resolution has set in motion a great number of steps by Member States. Over 30,000 measures and actions taken by States to implement the resolution have been reported to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004). This, of course, only tells part of the story. There have also been setbacks and disappointments, including the recent use of chemical weapons in Syria.”
2014-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7169 (2014) · source
“It means managing diversity, supporting a strong civil society and allowing all peoples' voices to be heard. In conclusion, we must do more as a community of nations and as global citizens if we are to live up to the promise of "never again" and act upon our collective responsibility to protect. Let us, in these days of so many acts of blind and brutalizing violence - and I look at the President as I say this and think of the recent atrocities committed in Nigeria - be guided and inspired by the preamble of the Charter of the United Nations, which reaffirms "the dignity and worth of the human person" and by the Charter, which urges us to "live together as good neighbours" in this world.”
2014-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7155 (2014) · source
“We see the rise of separatism, extreme nationalism and demonization of "the others": us versus them, our way or no way. No part of the world is immune to that threat, and all of humankind is diminished by it. That means that all societies should assess their vulnerability and work at every level to build resilience, tolerance and vigilance in detecting early warning signals of crises to come. Let us reaffirm that the primary responsibility lies with States themselves. Preventing atrocities also means establishing legitimate and accountable national institutions that are inclusive and credible in the eyes of the population. It means ensuring that the rule oflaw is respected and that all human rights are protected, without discrimination.”
2014-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7155 (2014) · source
“As we mark the passage of 20 years since the genocide, we also pay special tribute to the impressive work of the Rwandan people for their own recovery and reconciliation. Rwanda has come a long way since 1994, and is one of the few countries that have established a national institution dedicated to the prevention of genocide. We encourage others to follow its lead and institutionalize prevention mechanisms. Conflicts today, from Syria to South Sudan to the Central African Republic and beyond, sadly, show that the protection of populations from atrocities remains lagging and elusive. Those and other crises have different roots, yet there is a commonality. Across the landscape of conflict we see similar fault lines, divisions based on religion, ethnicity and even language.”
2014-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7155 (2014) · source
“We must be committed to doing our utmost to protect human lives in a very violent world. The Rwanda genocide had a serious impact on the Great Lakes region. Twenty years later, the region is still seeing and dealing with the consequences. The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) established a Protocol for the Prevention and the Punishment of Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and all Forms of Discrimination. Rwanda now chairs the Regional Committee to implement the Protocol. We count on Rwanda's leadership in the prevention of atrocities. Almost half of the States members of the ICGLR have established national committees on genocide prevention. I commend Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda for doing so.”
2014-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7155 (2014) · source
“Along with the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, he and other United Nations officials work on prevention and on helping countries build inclusive institutions and tolerant societies, with a focus on the resolution of grievances and disputes through peaceful means. More broadly, the United Nations has progressively placed the promotion and protection of human rights at the core of our prevention work. The recently launched Rights Up Front initiative aims to improve our ability to respond to serious violations of human rights, which often are early warning signs of mass atrocities and of conflicts to come. The initiative is meant to generate early action and more active engagement by Member States and by the different entities of the United Nations system.”
2014-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7155 (2014) · source
“We must continue to build on the lessons learned to improve our ability to protect populations from the most serious international crimes. Positive steps have been taken. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, alongside national trials, has held perpetrators to account. Tribunals and special courts for the former Yugoslavia, Cambodia and Sierra Leone have made similar inroads against impunity. The International Criminal Court has been central in the advance of international criminal law. The Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide now gathers information and sounds the alarm where there is a risk of genocide or other atrocities.”
2014-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7155 (2014) · source
“The Deputy Secretary-General: "The genocide in Rwanda is one of the darkest chapters in human history". Those are the words of the Secretary-General - deeply moved * spoken in Kigali last week. Today we remember the victims and the survivors as we continue to work to achieve justice for them and to prevent genocide and other mass atrocities anywhere in the world. We remember with heavy hearts the collective failure of the international community to recognize and act on the warning signs of genocide. Twenty years ago, we saw yet again, after the Holocaust, how genocide was not a single event but a process that evolves over time, a process that requires planning and resources. That means that genocide can be prevented, with information and mobilization as well as with courage and political will.”
2014-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7155 (2014) · source
“I am confident that the Governments and the people of those countries could gain considerably from an efficient and broadly anchored United Nations peacebuilding architecture.”
2014-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7143 (2014) · source
“I would like to appeal to the Council to take advantage of the review of the peacebuilding architecture in 2015 to shape the kind of Peacebuilding Commission that will be relevant, catalytic and effective, not least from the perspective of the Security Council and, naturally, in the interests of those States that are affected. The realities in the world certainly remind us that there is a need for such a function and such a role for the United Nations. I look forward to hearing the new Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission speak on that challenge. The challenges are many, serious and urgent in countries like Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Mali and Somalia.”
2014-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7143 (2014) · source
“But questions remain as to where and how the Commission can be most helpful and relevant. The Commission and its country configurations are working hard to play a useful advisory role to the Security Council and to bring to bear the collective weight of Member States in support of peacebuilding priorities. We should recall, however, that the Peacebuilding Commission is a subsidiary organ of this body and, I stress, can be ofoptimal use only ifthe Council empowers it and utilizes its potential. When the Peacebuilding Commission was established - I happened to be President of the General Assembly at the time - we believed that the Council could benefit from an advisory body that could take a longer, post-conflict perspective.”
2014-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7143 (2014) · source
“That demonstrated the welcome joint commitment to supporting transformative work and engagement for peace and development. Similar partnerships have been developed in the Great Lakes region, where the United Nations and the European Union are working with Governments and civil society to improve natural-resource management. Member States created a new peacebuilding architecture at the Summit in 2005 in response to the frequent relapse into violence of countries emerging from armed conflict. Given its diverse composition, the Peacebuilding Commission is well placed to help ensure the coherence of efforts and sustained attention in support of peace. I would also assert that the Peacebuilding Fund is now widely recognized for its usefulness and flexibility.”
2014-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7143 (2014) · source
“Building a regional environment conducive to peace should be a critical priority for countries emerging from conflict. That will help them to strengthen fragile transitions and reduce illicit arms or financial flows. The Special Representatives of the Secretary- General in Burundi, the Central African Republic and Guinea-Bissau have worked actively with the Peacebuilding Commission to ensure the cooperation of neighbouring countries and regional organizations. Last year, in May, the Secretary-General and the World Bank President visited the Great Lakes region of Africa and, together with the Chairperson of the African Union, the President of the African Development Bank and the Commissioner for Development of the European Union, visited the Sahel in November.”
2014-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7143 (2014) · source
“As the Council noted during its recent mission to Mali, cantonment is a key confidence-building measure in the peace process. Early and reliable funding by the Peacebuilding Fund is essential for the ability of the United Nations to support cantonment. In Somalia, the New Deal Compact has aligned donors with the priorities articulated by the Government and Somali counterparts. That has strengthened mutual accountability. In Liberia, a publicly accessible so-called "dashboard" showing the details of donor funding has promoted transparency. I would also like to add that the African Union engagement in the Central African Republic, Somalia and elsewhere in Africa underlines the importance of working in close partnership with regional organizations in the spirit of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter.”
2014-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7143 (2014) · source
“The expansion ofjudicial services and legal reforms are central parts of Liberia's statement of mutual commitments with the Peacebuilding Commission. Ssupport to the Land Commission and so-called "peace huts" has promoted the peaceful resolution of disputes. I know that the representative of Jordan is very familiar with that point. The examples of successful peacebuilding I have mentioned depend upon sustained and predictable financial and political international support, which brings me to my third point. Where a United Nations mission is making the transition to a United Nations country team, such as in Burundi or Sierra Leone, we need to ensure continued funding for central activities. We also need to provide the necessary political support and act decisively at critical moments.”
2014-03-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7143 (2014) · source