YouSaid · the spoken record

DeShong

lines on the record: 88
first: 2020-01-08
most recent: 2021-11-22
sittings or episodes: 15
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

“No State is exempt and collective action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and at all levels is urgently required to ensure international peace and security.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909 (2021) · source
“Post-conflict settings in particular require State institutions to bolster confidence and stability through ownership of security, development and security sector reform. Further, we emphasize the importance of the full and effective participation of civil society, women and youth in all efforts to build national capacity and institutional and policy frameworks to effectively support disarmament, demobilization, security sector reform and reintegration programmes. Illicit arms flows create cross-cutting multidimensional challenges that hinder our achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, the disproportionate threat posed to women and children is alarming.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909 (2021) · source
“We therefore remain fully supportive of important arrangements such as the African Union’s Silencing the Guns by 2020 initiative, the regional road map for the Western Balkans and CARICOM’s Roadmap for Implementing the Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030, which we have accelerated. It is imperative that the international community fully support collaborative mechanisms and institutions for the tracing, management and secure storage of weapons and ammunition, as well as efforts aimed at sensitization and the collection and destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909 (2021) · source
“As such, to effectively combat the destructive impact of small arms and light weapons globally, there ought to be greater national responsibility assumed by manufacturing States, as well as coordinated and strengthened partnerships between organs and agencies of the United Nations, and regional, subregional and interregional organizations, in line with resolution 2457 (2019). There exist numerous treaties, legislative frameworks and instruments aimed at managing and mitigating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. However, these mechanisms must be mobilized by States and organizations to concretize efforts to protect societies and promote sustainable development, especially in countries that continue to experience fluctuating periods of insecurity and instability.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909 (2021) · source
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as a State party to the Arms Trade Treaty, appreciates the fact that Member States have the sovereign right to determine their internal affairs, including in the area of arms control. However, that right is not absolute when the negative implications of domestic policies, such as permissive gun laws, transcend national borders. In the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), we continue to be severely impacted by irresponsible and illicit weapons flows, despite the fact that we do not manufacture small arms and light weapons and we do not import them on a large scale.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909 (2021) · source
“On the African continent, in the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin, the Central African region, the Horn of Africa, the Sudan, South Sudan and Libya, illicit weapons flows have enabled terrorism and violent extremism and intensified intercommunal tensions. Unfortunately, we see a further example in Haiti, in our own Caribbean and Latin American Zone of Peace. Undoubtedly, illicit weapons flows have also contributed to humanitarian and refugee crises and internal displacement and have undermined the rule of law and fragile democratic institutions. We therefore underscore the necessity of strengthening the mandates of the Security Council, recognizing the destabilizing role of the illicit transfer, accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons as drivers of conflict and instability.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909 (2021) · source
“I wish to join in extending a special welcome to you, Mr. President, and Minister Bhattacharya to the Security Council. I also wish to thank the briefers for their timely interventions and commend you, Sir, for Mexico’s efforts to further the discussion on this important issue. Twenty years after the adoption of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, and six years following resolution 2220 (2015), the most vulnerable among us continue to suffer the grave consequences of inaction to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The illicit trade and misuse of small arms and light weapons continue to contribute to instability and fuel conflicts across the globe.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909 (2021) · source
“We encourage the leaders to put aside their differences and work together with the members of the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council to fully implement the Dayton Peace Agreement and the objectives and conditions of the 5+2 agenda. We also encourage all parties to continue engaging with the international community, particularly the Security Council, for the stability and long-term security of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“It is concerning that the most recent report on the implementation of the Peace Agreement includes an escalation of divisive rhetoric, the glorification of war criminals and actions targeted at the country’s Constitution. Those actions serve only to erode the otherwise significant steps that have been made in nation-building. Above all, we encourage the parties to improve the rule of law, tackle corruption and improve the overall political environment in the country so that the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina can enjoy peace and be treated with respect and dignity. In conclusion, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines reaffirms its support for the stability, political independence and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“We are concerned about the recent political developments that threaten the stability of the country and undermine the progress achieved over the past 26 years. All political leaders must actively endeavour to leverage common opportunities and engage in constructive dialogue to implement much-needed reforms, including the political, socioeconomic and electoral reforms, for the benefit of its citizens. Our delegation therefore encourages the leaders to uphold their commitments pursuant to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is a fundamental pillar for building lasting peace and stability in the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leaders must also strive to act hand in hand with each other to help mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus disease pandemic.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“Let me also join others in wishing you, Mr. President, every success as Mexico steers us this month in the work of the Security Council. I also take the opportunity to congratulate Ambassador Kimani and his very dynamic team on a wonderful and successful presidency in the month of October. We begin by expressing thanks to the Office of the High Representative for its commitment to help promote the political process and the full implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also take this opportunity to recognize the continued work of the European Union Military Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it plays a key role in supporting the efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2021-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8896 (2021) · source
“Further, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines encourages the Government of Serbia and the authorities in Kosovo to maintain the principles of the rule of law and good governance, uphold fundamental freedoms and promote protection and respect for human rights. At the same time, we take this opportunity to reiterate the significance of women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the political and peace processes and the COVID-19 response. We encourage greater participation by women and youth in those processes. We conclude by reaffirming our support for the critical work that UNMIK continues to do to fully implement its mandate in Kosovo to promote security, stability and respect for human rights.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8880 (2021) · source
“Josep Borrell, the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajčák, the Prime Minister of Kosovo and the Serbian President. My delegation welcomes the resumption of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina after a prolonged suspension. The normalization of relations between the parties is crucial to the stability of the region, and we encourage the sides to continue their engagement constructively in good faith and build on the progress towards a peaceful solution achieved so far. We regret recent tensions stemming from issues surrounding license plates, and we condemn the incidents of vandalization of religious and cultural sites, as mentioned in the report of the Secretary General (S/2021/861). We call for unified actions to address the issues.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8880 (2021) · source
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines thanks Special Representative Tanin for his detailed briefing. We commend him and the entire United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) team for the support provided to the people of Kosovo in stabilizing the situation in the region, mitigating the challenges related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and addressing the socioeconomic needs within the country for communities made most vulnerable. We also express appreciation for UNMIK and the United Nations team in their constructive engagement with women and youth in Kosovo, particularly through trust-building initiatives and those aimed at promoting the fight against gender-based violence. We take note of the meetings held in Brussels between the European Union (EU) High Representative, Mr.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8880 (2021) · source
“Furthermore, conflict-prevention and post- conflict peacebuilding must always be conducted in line with the principles of international law and with special consideration for the demographic diversity, cultural sensitivities and the material circumstances of development in each country.”
2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source
“Certainly, those emergent issues have already become battlegrounds of disinformation, misinformation and hate speech, serving to erode State-building processes along the way. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes the complementary role of the Peacebuilding Commission through its bridging, advisory and convening platforms to foster comprehensive multistakeholder approaches to peacebuilding. It is crucial that those efforts be intensified to foment social cohesion and strengthen national peacebuilding processes. Robust measures to ensure adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding remain an urgent priority. As we continue this struggle for global peace, those challenges related to diversity must form part of both the analysis and the prescription in all contexts.”
2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source
“Practical, people-centred, gender-responsive and climate-sensitive solutions must be delivered across the peace and security-development-humanitarian nexus and implemented in line with the particular needs, cultural perspectives and national priorities of all the countries concerned. Committed stakeholders, particularly the international financial institutions and partners from the global North, should scale up their capacity- building and overseas development assistance initiatives. Focused and coordinated multilateral action on contemporary security risks, such as terrorism, cybercrime, the coronavirus disease and climate change, should be pragmatically and extensively pursued.”
2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source
“Against the backdrop of the current pandemic, in which those afflictions have been greatly amplified, we must move swiftly — taking bold steps and innovative measures — to promote a common agenda that systematically addresses all those concerns to prevent conflicts and to build and sustain peace. Greater efforts must be made to advance a whole-of- system approach in which all organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations work in tandem to enhance sovereignty, reinforce social contracts and hasten the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. To that end, there can be no one-size-fits-all approach.”
2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source
“Those stratagems must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of conflict and insecurity, including poverty and unemployment; socioeconomic and political marginalization; pervasive hunger and acute food insecurity; a changing climate, widespread environmental degradation and the security risks they produce; and the lasting legacies of underdevelopment and intergenerational trauma felt in the wake of egregious human rights abuses, including the historical crimes of chattel slavery, native genocide and violent colonization, which brought with them a systemic racism that persists to this day. Those stressors, most evident in vulnerable settings, serve to heighten social and economic inequalities and deepen political divides, both within and between countries.”
2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source
“All stakeholders, including women and youth, religious leaders, ethnic and indigenous minorities, elected officials, and representatives from the private sector, academia and across civil society, must therefore be mobilized to build public trust and cultivate social cohesion. That multi-stakeholder approach, centred around diversity and inclusiveness, provides the surest pathway to building stable and resilient societies. It is axiomatic that peaceful communities founded on the ideals of unity and social solidarity and sustained by a sound socioeconomic basis can be achieved only through comprehensive developmental and reparatory solutions.”
2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines commends the Republic of Kenya for convening today’s discussion, and we thank our esteemed briefers — Secretary- General Guterres, President Kagame, President Mbeki and Ms. Koofi — for their salient contributions. At this moment in history, when many intractable conflicts seem to stem from clashes of identity along ethnic, communal and political lines, today’s debate is as timely as it is pertinent. Peace and security, at both the community and national levels, are corollary to the social relations through which stable identities of responsible citizenship are moulded.”
2021-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8877 (2021) · source
“Unless women are sitting at the decision-making table at all levels and unless women are crafters of policies and architects of actions, the possibility of equitable and just development will remain elusive. That is true of every society. In 2016/2017, Somalia achieved what a majority of countries in our United Nations, including developed countries, have failed to do: 24 per cent of parliamentary seats were secured by women, as we heard. The current election should set another milestone, thus achieving the aspirations that Somali women have set for themselves.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“The commitment of the African Union to the budgetary request made by the Federal Government of Somalia to supply equipment for the elections and its efforts, alongside the Somali security forces, to thwart Al-Shabaab’s attempts to disrupt the elections must also be commended. In conclusion, let us not lose sight of the purpose for which the elections are being held and why it is imperative that they be inclusive. As signalled in both the 17 September 2020 and the 27 May 2021 agreements, the election is critical to normalizing the security situation, addressing the urgent humanitarian needs and accelerating socioeconomic development. In short, the election is key to advancing the State-building process.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“Recent visits to federal member states, including the visit to Puntland by the Heads of AMISOM, UNSOM and the European Union and Swedish missions in Somalia, have been critical in underscoring the regional and international commitment to the cooperation of the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states regarding the election, as well as Somali women’s right to political participation and in broader State-building processes. We also welcome the visit by the delegation of international partners to Baidoa, in South-West State, to reiterate the same. We commend the National Election Security Committee in its efforts to coordinate security for the elections, and we welcome the role of AMISOM, working alongside the federal and state police commissioners, in those efforts.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“We must also not lose sight of the climate and security risks to which women and girls are made most vulnerable and how transforming such arrangements requires women’s political participation and leadership. The support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) to the country has been significant. We applaud UNSOM’s provision of technical and logistical support, as well as the coordination of international financial commitments for the election in Somalia.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“We reiterate calls for cooperation among members of the Federal Government of Somalia and between the Federal Government and the federal member states not only to ensure the successful completion of the various phases of the election, but also to guarantee that the target regarding the election of women to Parliament is either met or surpassed. With organizations such as the Somali Women’s Studies Centre, represented here by Ms. Dini, working at the intersections of gender and youth to focus on women’s political participation, ending gender-based violence and women’s economic empowerment, Somali women are at the front lines of changing their society.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“Batula Axmed Gaballe, Chairperson of both the Somali National Organization of Women and the recently established advocacy committee, as she briefed the Security Council last month (see S/PV.8833). Even as she welcomed the commitment and actions undertaken by the Government to achieve the quota, she reiterated the importance of cooperation between the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states, the need to engage the federal member state and clan leaders on reserving parliamentary seats for women only and the overall establishment of a concrete mechanism for the implementation of the quota.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“We express our condolences to the family of Hibaq Abukar and to the families of all the victims of the attack in Mogadishu last weekend. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes the commitment demonstrated by the Federal Government of Somalia to achieving the quota. The appointment of the advocacy committee, goodwill ambassadors and champions by Prime Minister Roble and the National Consultative Council (NCC) to advocate for women’s inclusion in the elections is evidence of that commitment. The reduction of the candidates’ registration fee by 50 per cent, as was done in the 2016/2017 election, is yet another significant decision taken by the Federal Government of Somalia and the NCC. However, we acknowledge the concerns expressed by Ms.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“We welcome Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed’s timely visit to Somalia and the meetings held with the President, the Prime Minister, women civil society members, the electoral management bodies, goodwill ambassadors and the elders, and the importance of that in underscoring the full and meaningful participation and leadership of women in the country. I thank Ms. Mohammed for sharing her analysis of the situation. Her expression of solidarity for securing the 30 per cent quota is both timely and necessary. We also thank Ms. Dini for sharing her expertise and experience as a researcher and civil society leader with us today. Somali women’s participation in politics and in the economy must be guaranteed and supported, and they must be able to do so free from violence and intimidation.”
2021-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8867 (2021) · source
“The onus is on all Libyans to build on the positive momentum, forge a path forward, exhibit compromise and settle differences. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines reaffirms its solidarity with the Government and the people of Libya and will continue to work with the international community to assist with its restoration, stability and sustainable development.”
2021-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8855 (2021) · source
“Furthermore, the need to prioritize the unification of Libya’s institutions cannot be overstated. We are satisfied with the completion of the international financial audit of the Central Bank of Libya. We believe that effort will serve to unite Libya’s Central Bank and restore its integrity, which remains crucial to addressing socioeconomic difficulties and humanitarian challenges, now exacerbated by the coronavirus disease pandemic. Of equal importance is the need to resolve the impasse on the budget in order to enable the Government to execute its duties, especially the delivery of basic services to the Libyan people. Libya’s existing realities demand the consolidated efforts of all Libyans. Standing together at this critical juncture will only redound to their benefit.”
2021-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8855 (2021) · source
“Libya’s socioeconomic, security, humanitarian and human rights situations are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing and must be simultaneously addressed to achieve stability and development. My delegation remains concerned about the human rights situation, especially the challenges facing the groups made most vulnerable, specifically refugees and migrants, internally displaced persons, youth, women and girls. We reiterate our call for their full protection and safety, especially for those in detention centres, and repeat our persistent message that Libya remains an unsafe port of disembarkation for migrants and refugees. We also echo calls for the swift adoption of the draft law on combating violence against women and for the completion of the national action plan on women and peace and security.”
2021-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8855 (2021) · source
“The withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries must be conducted in a supervised and orderly manner so as to avoid grave ramifications for the Sahel and the wider region. It must also be accompanied by proper planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security-sector reform. We look forward to a properly coordinated and supervised approach, with neighbouring and influential States to assist in that regard. Confidence-building measures, including the release of former officials, are positive and will augur well for the political process, national reconciliation, unity, peace and stability. The African Union’s supportive role in assisting with the comprehensive national reconciliation process would also be instrumental.”
2021-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8855 (2021) · source
“We also stress the urgency of clarifying the constitutional basis. We emphasize that elections are key components of representative democracies and essential to Libya’s democratic transition. Advances on the security front such as the creation of a new joint force, from both sides of the demarcation lines, comprising the 116 Battalion for Protection and Security and the Tarik ibn Ziyad Brigade, as well as the opening of the Misrata-Sirte coastal road, are indeed timely and welcomed. We are pleased that the ceasefire agreement continues to hold but note the reported limited tangible progress in its implementation. We repeat our call for strict compliance, including the overdue and unconditional withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya, as well as full adherence to the Security Council’s arms embargo.”
2021-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8855 (2021) · source
“We maintain our unwavering support for the United Nations multitrack process in Libya, particularly the vital role of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in facilitating the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process. Likewise, we laud the very important work of the African Union, the League of Arab States, the European Union and the other international partners in advancing the political process and underscore the importance of respecting Libya’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. In approximately three months, Libya is expected, as we have heard, to hold critical national parliamentary and presidential elections, as set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum road map. We note the lingering impediments and welcome the efforts to finalize arrangements in the electoral legal framework.”
2021-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8855 (2021) · source
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines thanks Special Envoy Ján Kubiš and Ms. Asma Khalifa for their thoughtful briefings. We also express appreciation to Ambassador Tirumurti, Chair of the Security Council Committee, established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, for his forty-first periodic report and welcome the representative of Libya, Ambassador Taher Elsonni, to today’s meeting. Since our most recent meeting (see S/PV.8820) and the adoption of presidential statement S/PRST/2021/12, our sister nation, amid its many challenges, has made meaningful headway towards restoring peace and stability.”
2021-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8855 (2021) · source
“Their contributions are crucial when devising, implementing and evaluating the rule of law, security sector reform and transitional justice initiatives, which prove vital to sustainable exits and reconfigurations. Cultural and religious leaders, academia and civil society representatives, particularly women, are indispensable stakeholders for successful transitions. To conclude, my delegation emphasizes the need for focused, realistic and actionable mandates for both peacekeeping and peacebuilding, backed by adequate resource allocations to achieve the desired political impact. During drawdowns and mission transitions, when the risks of relapse into conflict are elevated, peacekeeping gains should always be supplemented and safeguarded by comprehensive development and peacebuilding solutions.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines encourages all Member States and international financial institutions to scale up their financial support to all peacebuilding initiatives and mechanisms, including the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund. We also underscore the invaluable commitments of regional and subregional organizations, especially the African Union, to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In all settings, and at all stages of the conflict cycle, and we must strive to draw on the immeasurable expertise of local and regional actors whose political and community-level engagements are better suited than externally imposed one-size-fits-all approaches.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“In all theatres of operation, there is an urgent need for comprehensive and inclusive development solutions to reinforce ceasefire agreements, buttress peace processes and provide conflict-affected countries, in particular their disenfranchised youth, with viable opportunities for life, living and production. Peace dividends provided through sustainable, gender- responsive and climate-friendly development initiatives pave the way for successful transitions and sustainable exits. Through the institutional nexus involving the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, with the Peacebuilding Commission playing a bridging, convening and advisory role, greater coordination, coherence and complementarity across all peace and security, development, human rights and humanitarian activities must be pursued.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“Regular triangular cooperation among the Security Council, the Secretariat and troop- and police-contributing countries is essential to ensure that all drawdowns and transitions are strategically sound. Exit strategies should never be driven by budgetary considerations, but rather determined through a comprehensive review of the situation on the ground. In all circumstances, the needs and priorities of host countries must take precedence over any decisions to withdraw or reconfigure peacekeeping missions. It is an oft-repeated mantra — but one that bears reiterating — that the peace and security and development challenges facing our world today cannot be solved in isolation of each other, and neither can they be sufficiently addressed by military means alone.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“Despite their indispensable role, peace operations face a range of impediments that hinder their effectiveness and performance, including the changing character of conflict where asymmetric threats, including acts of terror, improvised explosive devices and other unorthodox but increasingly sophisticated tactics are used by combatants; the shifting priorities and competing political objectives of powerful actors, both local and foreign, that wield influence over peace processes; and the prevalence of risk multipliers, such as climate change, which exacerbate human suffering and breed new patterns of conflict. Against that precarious and uncertain backdrop, mission transitions and exit strategies must always be conducted with the full consent and consensus of all stakeholders, particularly that of the host country.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“At the outset, I thank His Excellency Secretary-General Guterres, Her Excellency Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf and the President of the Community Development Association of the Sudan, Ms. Safaa Elagib Adam, for their insightful remarks. I also commend the Republic of Ireland for convening this timely discussion. We also welcome the presence of Her Excellency Minister Lekhi of India. Peacekeeping engagements are important political tools that shape and reconfigure the social, economic and civic landscapes of conflict-affected States.”
2021-09-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8851 (2021) · source
“Through the unity of purpose of the Security Council and the collective action of the wider international community — and further buttressed by the continued advocacy of The Elders and other committed stakeholders — a better future for all of humankind remains within our grasp. Let us work together with a renewed sense of hope, devotion and solidarity to provide peace, security and development to all who yearn for it.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“Reparatory justice for past abuses — including historical injustices that left dreadful legacies of inequity and underdevelopment in their wake — must also form part of any serious agenda for lasting peace and security. As we have borne witness throughout this pandemic, we can protect ourselves only by protecting each other. The question of global equitable access to safe and effective coronavirus disease vaccines remains one of paramount concern. So too is the need for all States to abandon unilateral practices, including economic sanctions and other extortionate measures, that impede efforts to recover sustainably from this pandemic.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“The Security Council should collaborate more closely with the other main organs of the United Nations system — the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council — to fashion practical, gender-responsive, people-centred and climate-sensitive development strategies and deliver them to conflict- affected countries in line with their national needs and priorities. Capacity-building initiatives should be accelerated as developed countries honour their overseas development assistance commitments; and ambitious targets for curbing emissions ought to be set and met by major polluters who in turn should provide increased support for climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives. As the climate crisis deepens, the attendant security risks must be taken fully into account by the Council.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“The bedrock principles of international law outlined in the Charter of the United Nations compel all countries to work together to address global challenges with full respect for — and complete adherence to — the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all States. Those tenets are non-negotiable and must continue to serve as the centrepiece of all efforts to maintain international peace and security. National ownership over peace and political processes must be bolstered, social contracts rebuilt and earnest attempts at reconciliation pursued. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines reiterates its calls for a comprehensive whole-of-system approach to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding activities.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“In far too many contexts, a lack of access to basic public goods, including food and water, shelter and sanitation, education and health, and stable employment, leads to growing levels of inequality and disenfranchisement. A general reduction in public trust and protracted divisions along ethnic, communal and political lines subsequently ensue. In fragile settings, such as conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable States, poverty and underdevelopment remain prevalent features etched across the social terrain. Those development challenges often manifest themselves as painful cycles of hostility and violence and spur devastating humanitarian crises. We can and we must do better to protect those made most vulnerable among us and to provide peace and justice to all, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“Saint Vincent and the Grenadines commends the Republic of Ireland for convening today’s discussion, and we thank our esteemed Elders for sharing such keen insights, which are crucial to the maintenance of international peace and security. Their continued dedication to all humankind reinforces the work of the Security Council, and we pay them a great deal of gratitude for their unyielding commitment. The complex web of interwoven peace and security challenges facing States today necessitate a reformed and effective multilateralism that prioritizes the collective good, protects our global commons and privileges the rights and perspectives of all nations and peoples.”
2021-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8850 (2021) · source
“The development, stockpiling, transfer or use of chemical weapons must be prevented, and the norm against this reprehensible form of warfare must be preserved.”
2020-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8764 (2020) · source
“We welcome the agreement on a six-month extension of the tripartite agreement between the OPCW, the United Nations Office for Project Services and Syria. The agreement remains relevant and demonstrates the spirit of cooperation that is needed in every aspect of this file. As previously stated, we have taken note of the 9 July Executive Council decision regarding Syria. We will continue to follow this matter closely, and we await the impending reports. We further look forward to a substantive discussion on the issue at the Conference of the States Parties in November. Our commitment to ensuring that applied science is used only for peace, progress and the prosperity of all humankind must never waver.”
2020-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8764 (2020) · source