YouSaid · the spoken record

Ferreira Silva Aranda

lines on the record: 36
first: 2021-11-16
most recent: 2023-12-15
sittings or episodes: 7
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In conclusion, the Security Council should continue to address the role of the diversion, illicit use and misuse of small arms and light weapons in generating and amplifying threats to international peace and security, including in conflict zones, and to use the work of its subsidiary bodies to better understand and combat those phenomena, namely as they relate to the violation of sanctions regimes and embargoes. The Security Council can thus contribute to a synergistic approach with other existing mechanisms related to small arms and light weapons, without prejudice to their respective compositions and mandates.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Sharing information on firearms and ammunition on a permanent basis is essential so that investigations can be carried out more effectively and efficiently, and with a greater chance of success. Through a technical network for sharing information on firearms and ammunition and the use of compatible ballistic tracing and comparison systems, Member States can cooperate more effectively. An exchange of best practices regarding national legislation could also be beneficial.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“And it is also clear, on the other hand, that for any arms control measure to work, women must be involved at every stage of policy design and implementation. The gender dimension of this debate is widely recognized in the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the Arms Trade Treaty. Portugal is fully committed to the implementation of those provisions, including through the mainstreaming of gender considerations in its national initiatives for small arms and light weapons control. Lastly, we believe that the effective and permanent control of firearms and their ammunition will make a strong contribution to reducing generalized illicit use, including against women, thus promoting greater peace and security.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Such implementation efforts may include setting national and regional targets to measure progress and should be part of a whole-of- Government approach. Portugal strongly supports the universalization, implementation and reinforcement of such mechanisms. We are also regular contributors to the Arms Trade Treaty voluntary trust fund, thus contributing further to the implementation of the ATT. The control of small arms and light weapons can play an important role in advancing the women and peace and security agenda. It is clear, on the one hand, that women and girls are acutely affected by the misuse of such weapons, namely in the context of conflict- related gender-based violence, as a majority of those crimes involve small arms and light weapons.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that context, the Security Council could seek synergies with legally binding and political instruments that address those challenges, including in the context of peace operations and in the implementation and enforcement of arms embargoes. The Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), ratified by 113 Member States, are essential instruments in that regard. The Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace is clear: we need to strengthen and, perhaps most importantly, we need to implement existing instruments and road maps related to the diversion, proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The majority of firearms used for illicit purposes stem from illicit origins, be it illicit manufacturing, modification, transformation, theft or robbery, among other sources. The promotion of effective methods to prevent the diversion of legal firearms and the transformation/creation of illegal firearms is thus imperative, and the ability to trace weapons and ammunition is a critical success factor. Current trends, such as the transformation of alarm and signal weapons, or the construction of hybrid and ghost firearms through 3D printing methods, are particularly concerning, as they can greatly increase the volume of small arms and light weapons available for illicit purposes and are by nature much more difficult for States to trace.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“At the outset, allow me to commend Ecuador for convening this timely debate, following up on last week’s discussion on transnational organized crime (see S/PV.9497). Small arms and light weapons are by far the main vectors to spread violence at the global level. Their diversion and illicit trafficking fuel the actions of armed groups, terrorist groups, perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence and transnational organized crime networks. They are therefore a significant threat to international peace, security and stability, which the Security Council has long identified, and they consequently stunt development, hindering the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“For that reason, too, I will conclude as I started — commending Ecuador in advance for further pursuing another dimension of this dialogue, notably with the upcoming open debate on the diversion, illicit trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Fourthly and lastly, it is crucial that the United Nations system, as the platform best placed to promote a cooperative and coordinated response, works coherently to better prevent and address transnational organized crime. In that context, the Security Council should continue to address the role of transnational organized crime in generating and amplifying threats to international peace and security. It is crucial that the Council continue to track and seek to respond to the detrimental role that organized crime, illicit flows and markets and criminal actors play in conflict zones, and that it use the work of its subsidiary bodies to better understand and combat the impact of organized crime on violations of sanctions regimes and embargoes.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that regard, and as a concrete example, allow me to highlight the value of initiatives such the Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors, to which both Ecuador and Portugal belong, and of its five-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening criminal investigations and prosecution on gender issues, including in organized crime. Thirdly, because information is a prerequisite for successfully combating transnational crime, we must further develop tools to better understand the nature and scale of the threat, as well as to be more agile and effective in our actions. In that regard, new technologies can support our efforts and ensure that we put in practice gender mainstreaming in our data- gathering and policy responses.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that regard, we also look forward to a balanced and consensual outcome in the forthcoming concluding session of the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes. Secondly, we need to strengthen inter-State cooperation for successfully combating organized crime. We should prioritize legal and technical assistance to countries in need of institutional capacity- building. We must also foster international coordination among law enforcement, judicial practitioners and other relevant actors through regional and interregional networks, joint investigation arrangements and the development of software tools and databases to share information.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Transnational threats cannot be fought through national responses alone — we need coordinated approaches at the multilateral and regional levels on land, at sea and in cyberspace. The ocean poses a particular challenge in that context, and we should strengthen our efforts to reinforce maritime security, from fighting against piracy to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Furthermore, building on the work of UNODC and on the progress achieved under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols, we must consider how to make our global instruments and institutions more effective, agile and adaptive to the evolving nature of the challenges.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Criminal networks are not only expanding but are also diversifying their activities, with destabilizing effects, including in the linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime. The interlinkage between international peace and security and transnational organized crime is evident. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit notes that phenomena such as governance vacuums and breakdowns in formal governance systems, situations of State fragility and conflict and the impacts of climate change and of financial crises all offer opportunities for increased activity by organized criminal groups, just as they often are the root causes of conflict. Against that backdrop, allow me to share the following points. First, we must strengthen global governance.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“At the outset, allow me to commend Ecuador for convening this timely debate and to wish it a successful presidency of the Security Council this month. Portugal aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union and would like to add the following in its national capacity. Transnational organized crime has dire implications for public safety and social cohesion, as well as economic stability across the globe. It exacerbates inequalities, erodes trust in institutions and undermines the rule of law. It fuels violence and acts as multiplier of existing conflicts. It inhibits progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
2023-12-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9497Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In conclusion, at a time when conflicts abound, when we are lagging behind in implementing the SDGs, when humanitarian needs are skyrocketing and when violations of human rights are mounting, none of us, developed and developing countries alike, can rightly claim to be doing enough. Peace, development and human rights are interconnected, and we need the United Nations to make sure we that uphold them.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Aware of the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of developing countries, Portugal has provided direct budgetary support to several of our development partners. In order to address the root causes of fragility, Portugal contributes to programmes such as the EU project +Emprego, “more jobs” in English, in the region of Cabo Delgado in Mozambique, which is aimed at young persons 25 years old and younger, helping companies to create sustainable jobs without neglecting gender equality. Portugalisalsocommittedtofurtheringinternational cooperation in the digital field and to enabling expertise and experience-sharing through multilateral forums such as the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development, as well as through regional networks such as the Portugal-based Atlantic International Research Centre.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We fully concur with his recommendations to further strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission, and we echo the calls of many others throughout this debate to advance on that important first step of ensuring sustainable and predictable resources for the Peacebuilding Fund also through assessed contributions. Now, in a spirit of sharing good practices, I would like to highlight some steps that Portugal has recently undertaken, also in the scope of our new 2030 Strategy for Development Cooperation. Aware of the asphyxiation of external debts, Portugal and Cape Verde have recently celebrated an agreement to convert debt into climate investment. It is an innovative financial solution, a new way of looking at financing for development.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Early warning mechanisms for more efficient efforts in conflict prevention should be combined with data for identifying the opportunities for development and with data on climate-related security risks. We also need to keep in mind who we are connecting. A strong commitment towards social protection, universal health care, education and professional training, without leaving anyone behind, will be essential. In particular, the economic empowerment of women and youth will be indispensable for a growing middle class in developing countries. As we have heard from the Secretary-General this morning, building peace should be at the core of the United Nations.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As stated by the Secretary-General in the New Agenda for Peace policy brief, the asymmetries and inequities that exist among and within States are as much a barrier to peace as they are to development and human rights. Therefore, human-centred approaches to development can successfully address some of the triggers of violence and war and provide answers to root causes of ongoing conflicts. We need to keep connecting the dots between peace and development and human rights, literally too, as connectivity unlocks development potential through transportation infrastructure, energy and digital networks. For that, we need to map the many dots early on.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Portugal aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union (EU) and would like to add the following in its national capacity. We thank China for convening this debate. Sustaining peace through development is a priority and should be regularly contemplated by the Security Council. Looking at the five critical dimensions of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — people, prosperity, the planet, peace and partnerships — the interlinkage becomes clear. The socioeconomic impact of the coronavirus disease, the numerous conflicts around the world and the consequences of the climate crisis are jointly increasing the vulnerabilities of societies and exacerbating the potential for further conflicts.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Steps such as the supply of affordable agricultural inputs and products, investments in small-scale infrastructure, short-term credit and better access to markets and commercial information may play an important role in that regard. In conclusion, let me reiterate that hunger can never be used as a weapon or a tactic in a conflict. Nor can humanitarian access be instrumentalized or attacks against humanitarian workers tolerated. The weaponization of food security targets, first and foremost, the most vulnerable populations — precisely those whom we should try the hardest to protect.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“A new approach to peace and security, one more focused on conflict prevention and fully embedded in respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, would contribute to accelerated progress towards zero hunger by precluding the effects conflicts have on food security. In that context, we encourage the United Nations to embrace the recommendations put forward by the Secretary-General in Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) and, more recently, in the New Agenda for Peace policy brief. We also need to do more to scale up the emergency response and, simultaneously, to improve the resilience of countries’ food systems, in particular those of developing countries, which face several challenges, such as climate change.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“One of the most recent and clear examples of the first phenomenon is the impact that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is having on global food security. The Black Sea Grain Initiative was of paramount importance to mitigate disruptions in the global trade of grains. It is crucial to resume the Initiative as a matter of urgency, and we join others in condemning attacks on civilian infrastructure. In order to ensure the availability and accessibility of food, fertilizers and energy, which are essential for the realization of individuals’ right to food, it is necessary that we all redouble efforts to achieve a fair and lasting peace worldwide.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We would like to congratulate the United States for assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August and to commend you, Mr. President, for convening this timely debate. Today’s discussion is a welcome follow-up to the meeting on conflict-driven food insecurity held in March 2021 (see S/2021/250) and to the ministerial-level meeting on food security that took place in May last year (see S/PV.9036). Portugal aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. Allow me now to add the following remarks in our national capacity. The relation between conflicts and food insecurity is unmistakable and reciprocal, as unanimously recognized by the Security Council five years ago, in resolution 2417 (2018). Conflicts impair food security, and food insecurity leads to conflicts.”
2023-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9392Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We condemn all attacks on education and the military use of schools, as well as all threats to students and teachers, including military action to prevent girls from attending classes. We call for the full implementation of resolution 2601 (2021). The international community must ensure that violations of international humanitarian law and grave violations against children do not go unpunished. Full accountability is required. We must all work together to ensure the protection, promotion and realization of the human rights of all children.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“If the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict had greater capacity in human resources, the number of verified grave violations would exceed those that were reported. Situations such as those in Ukraine and Afghanistan are cause for great concern. To date, Portugal has received 351 children fleeing Afghanistan and 12,846 children fleeing Ukraine. Portugal will continue to pay special attention to the provision of education in emergencies. That remains one of the top priorities of our humanitarian agenda. Education is critical for children in conflict settings. It is the very foundation of tolerance and peace — the cornerstone of sustainable development. Confronted with the fact that 872 schools and hospitals were attacked last year, we all must do more.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Other tools, such as the Paris Principles, the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers and the Safe Schools Declaration, build on the work done under the mandate and the tenets of the Optional Protocol. Portugal calls on all States to ratify and fully implement those instruments. Nonetheless, in spite of those developments, we need to look at the shortcomings and consider how we can overcome them. The Secretary-General’s most recent report provides us with a sombre picture of what happened last year, and UNICEF shows beyond a doubt that, over the past 16 years, grave violations against children have increased year over year. That is only the tip of the iceberg.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“This year, we celebrate both the twenty-fifth anniversary of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Under the purview of that mandate, we have created a number of robust initiatives, such as the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and the Secretary-General’s annual reports. Under the Optional Protocol, we have prohibited the military conscription of children and the military recruitment of children under 16.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank Brazil for convening today’s important debate. We welcome the reports of the Secretary-General (S/2022/493) and UNICEF on children and armed conflict. We would also like to express our particular appreciation for the tireless efforts of Mrs. Virginia Gamba de Potgieter and her team. We also acknowledge the intervention by Patrick Kumi and encourage the Security Council to ensure the regular, safe and meaningful participation of children in these briefings. Portugal aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of the European Union, in its capacity of observer, as well as with the statement made on behalf of the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict, and would now like to make the following remarks in its national capacity.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“While focusing on the impact of the diversion and trafficking of arms on peace and security, we should not lose sight of the importance of the respective impact on sustainable development and human rights, in particular those of women, children and youth.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Instruments such as the Arms Trade Treaty and the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects play an essential role. Portugal will continue to work towards the implementation and universalization of those important instruments. Cooperation is also needed, not just among but also within States and organizations. That means working across both external borders and internal silos. We therefore commend regional processes such as the African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative and the Caribbean Community’s Firearms Roadmap.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Attention should therefore be given to cases where arms are illegally owned as a result of historic legacies, such as recent armed conflicts or a change in national legislation. The second issue l would like to address is theft. Although the impact is larger if theft occurs from Government stockpiles, commercial actors, production facilities and destruction sites, private individuals are also often the victim of targeted thefts of legally held arms. Regular exchanges of good practices on this topic as well could be useful. Finally, I would like to recall the importance of data collection. We need the standardization of data in all aspects, supported by well-functioning databases that are accessible by competent authorized users. Let me conclude by reiterating the importance of cooperation among States and organizations.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Allow me, first of all, to commend Mexico for maintaining high on the agenda the impact of the diversion and trafficking of arms for peace and security. This issue is as important as it is difficult, as shown by the guiding questions (S/2021/892) and the latest report by the Secretary-General (S/2021/839) on this issue. In that context, let me also commend the work undertaken by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research with a view to addressing those questions. In addition to the European Union (EU) statement, I would like to offer three very brief remarks in my national capacity. First, let me highlight the problem of non-regulation. Although many countries are affected by non-regulation, they often deal with different root causes that trigger the illegal diversion of weapons.”
2021-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8909Resumption1 (2021) · source
“The Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation is also contributing to preventive diplomacy while increasing the effectiveness of the Organization’s work with regional organizations, non-governmental groups and others involved in mediation around the world. Despite those important steps, more and can be done. The United Nations system should better anticipate, identify and adapt to new peace and security risks. We also support an expanded role for the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to ensure that it can address the multiple threats to peace and security in a coherent, cross-cutting and preventive manner. The Council and the PBC should increase their cooperation in conflict prevention. Finally, we must ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and youth in preventive efforts.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Shifting the Organization’s focus from conflict management to conflict prevention is more necessary than ever and it has been one of the main tenets of the Secretary-General’s reforms. We need to break down silos at the heart of the United Nations system in order to foster greater coordination and efficiency in the Organization’s intervention. We acknowledge the role of the Standing Principals’ Group in enabling more efficient communication between departments and between the Headquarters and the operations in the field. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and, in particular, the Peacebuilding Support Office, are crucial to ensuring this cross-cutting approach, as they were designed to serve as a hinge between the pillars of peace and security, human rights and development.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906Resumption1 (2021) · source
“Allow me to join others in congratulating Mexico for convening today’s timely debate. The use of preventive diplomacy to maintain international peace and security is increasingly crucial to facing emerging risks and dangerous trends, as the report by the Secretary-General entitled Our Common Agenda underscores. We echo the call for the international community to act as one in addressing the root causes of conflicts. That will only be possible if, as the concept note (S/2021/888, annex) rightly sets out, all the principal United Nations organs work together to strengthen the rule of law, eradicate poverty, promote sustainable development and solve disputes, all of which pave the way to more effective conflict prevention.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906Resumption1 (2021) · source