YouSaid · the spoken record

Gracia Aldaz

lines on the record: 21
first: 2015-07-30
most recent: 2016-01-19
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“I would like to conclude by thanking the President for having convened this most important debate, which adds new impetus to the fight against barbarism, which affects the most vulnerable populations. Spain remains resolutely committed to protecting civilians in particular, as well as to strengthening international humanitarian law in general.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Moreover, the violence committed against children in armed conflicts takes on many forms, such as abductions, forced recruitment, sexual abuse, illegal trafficking, slavery, mutilation and murder. We will also not tire of repeating the absolute importance of respecting the most fundamental rules of humanitarian law. Likewise, it is important that peace agreements clearly include the needs of children who are victims of conflicts - in the areas of protection, rehabilitation and reintegration. With regard to accountability, we will continue to advocate for the strengthening of national judicial systems and cooperation between the International Criminal Court and the Secretary Council. The fight against impunity will not only restore dignity to the victims, but it will also serve as deterrence.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“The fact that, last June, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court stated that her office had received the largest number of allegations of sexual abuse in Darfur in connection with armed groups is but one example. Violence against women can also constitute a clear early indicator of an impending crisis. The protection of women depends on the prevention of conflicts, in addition to being necessary in stabilizing a country in armed conflict. The global study on the review of resolution 1325 (2000) that was published last October also calls attention to the importance of women's participation in conflict resolution, particularly if a stable and lasting peace is the ultimate goal.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Spain stands ready to fulfil its part in thatjoint effort at improving the efficiency of peacekeeping operations. With regard to the summit that took place in New York last September on peacekeeping operations, Spain was among the countries to assume new commitments to give peacekeeping operations means, including training aspects. Furthermore, women and children suffer a disproportionate impact in conflicts. Spain will never tire of pointing out that all forms of violence against women and children increase during times of conflict. We are also weeing an alarming increase in efforts to systemize the use of sexual and gender violence in times of conflict. That is sometimes used not just as weapon of war, but also one of terror.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Nevertheless, when a State lacks the ability or will to do so, that responsibility is also shared by the international community, and specifically to the Security Council acting on its behalf. Recognizing the importance of political solutions in preventing conflicts does not mean that urgent attention should not be provided to operational aspects of protecting civilians, as was highlighted in the report (see S/2015/446) of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. In that regard, my country highly values the fact that the Secretary-General has stated in his report on the review of peacekeeping operations that a senior adviser on the protection of civilians should be established in all missions, with a specific mandate in that regard and located within the office of the Special Representative.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“If the States involved do not want or are not able to bring to justice those responsible, we have a very important tool at our disposal - the International Criminal Court, which can ensure that those crimes do not go unpunished. The Council has an important role to fulfil in referring cases to the Court, but today we are not filling that role. The failure to refer to the Court the situation in Syria, as well as to follow-up the two situations referred to it to date, namely, those in Darfur and in Libya, serve to cast doubt as to the real scope of our commitment to combat impunity. With regard to the responsibility to protect, we agree that protecting civilians falls mainly on the State.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Over the past several years, we have also seen an increasing trend in the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, such as the use ofbarrel bombs in Syria, which has resulted in over 30,000 deaths this past year. Spain categorically condemns those actions. It is important that States express their support for an international commitment in order to put an end to the use of those explosive weapons in populated areas and better protect civilian populations in the future. Such attacks against civilians are being carried out in an atmosphere of impunity, highlighting the absence of respect for international humanitarian law. Spain has actively supported the initiative of Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross with regard to strengthening compliance with the international humanitarian law.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Spain, along with Egypt, New Zealand and Uruguay, is working on a specific initiative to provide medical assistance during armed conflicts, which we will submit to the Security Council as our contribution to ending such attacks, to ensuring that medical personnel, facilities and vehicles are protected and to ensuring access to medical services in situations of conflict. Spain also welcomes the adoption, last May, of resolution 2222 (2015), which took note of the threats and attacks against journalists. We recognize the very important role that journalists play in protecting civilians in times of conflict. During our presidency ofthe Security Council in December we will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of resolution 1728 (2006), giving us an excellent opportunity to continue to promote our efforts in this area.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Banning attacks on civilian populations and the use of starvation as a weapon of war, protecting medical and humanitarian personnel and ensuring unimpeded access for humanitarian aid constitute the very essence of international humanitarian law. All parties to an armed conflict, whether States or non-State actors, whether it is an inter- State or intra-State conflict, must respect that law. However, today's conflicts, almost without exception, have exacted a very high toll among civilians. We are concerned about the increasing number of attacks on hospitals and doctors in conflict areas. Such attacks contravene the basic norms of international humanitarian law. We are all aware of the very important work being carried out by organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“Mr. Gracia Aldaz (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): Spain associates itself with the statement that will be delivered subsequently by the observer of the European Union. We thank Uruguay for having convened today's very important debate. We believe that it is extremely important to promote conflict prevention and strengthen the United Nations response in addressing emerging conflicts, as the Organization plays a key role in settling disputes by peaceful means. The use of weapons to settle disputes has its most adverse impact on the weakest in conflict situations. We believe that mediation is key to maintaining international peace, and it is a hallmark of our foreign policy.”
2016-01-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7606 (2016) · source
“To implement those principles we have made transparency and accountability our standards, and they have guided our actions within the Council since becoming an elected member. In order to live up to both of those principles we held numerous meetings with SIDS throughout our election campaign, in which we were able to hear clearly what their priorities and concerns were. And we are very aware today, more than ever, that it is vital that the international community robustly support these States in order to help them to effectively overcome the aforementioned vulnerabilities. For that reason, I want to conclude my statement by reiterating Spain's implacable commitment to standing with the SIDS in their fight to achieve sustainable development in all three of its dimensions: peace, security and development.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Spain has an unwavering commitment to the sustainability of fisheries resources, which is reflected in the way we manage our own national fishing fleet, which is held to the highest standards of monitoring and compliance in the world. In a similar vein, 1 am delighted to announce that next October Spain will host a meeting in the city of Vigo celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, an event whose goal is to foster a debate on the need to adopt a future strategy that would guarantee the sustainability of fisheries. Our election campaign for the Security Council was based on dialogue, partnership and commitment.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“In a similar vein, we participated in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and have participated in the group of donors for security issues. Spain, with its thousands of kilometres of coastline and a geographical position that often makes us a gateway to Europe for illicit traffickers, is more than willing to make available its experience in the area of monitoring its national waters and airspace to the SIDS. We are aware that the oceans and the seas, as well as their marine and coastal resources, are a core element of the identity and of the economy of SIDS, and we are therefore aware of the importance of preserving that heritage. For Spain the fight against illegal, unreported and undocumented fishing is a priority, whose adverse impact on the conservation and management of fishery resources is, in our view, unacceptable.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Insecurity, piracy, drug trafficking, violence and transnational organized crime also pose a serious threat to SIDS, putting at risk their security, hampering the normal day-to-day functioning of their public institutions, undermining respect for human rights, damaging economic sectors that are crucial to growth, and negatively impacting their development perspectives. It is essential therefore to dovetail the efforts of the international community and the United Nations - particularly the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna - to help those countries to reduce their levels of criminality and their exposure to illicit trafficking. Aware of that need, Spain has been supporting cooperation projects in the Caribbean to prevent violence and youth marginalization.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Through that support Spain addresses the specific needs and priorities of each country in areas such as combating climate change, strengthening response-capacity to natural disasters, strengthening capacities in the health sector and ensuring adequate water supply. Commensurate with all of this, Spain has contributed â‚¬1 million in conncection with the memorandum sponsored by Italy, together with other countries, which was set up to finance priority actions for SIDS in the area of boosting their resilience to the impacts of climate change.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“The challenges faced by SIDS are a priority for Spain's cooperation policy, as evidenced by the active participation of our Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, which took place last year in Samoa. For that reason, Spain has signed memorandums of understanding with 13 SIDS countries to support cooperation projects funded by Spain and the United Nations Development Programme Fund, aimed at attaining the sustainable development goals and by the Fund for Humanitarian Aid of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, six ministers, a large number of Permanent Representatives and a robust showing of civil society representatives participated in that meeting. That gave us the space to take stock of the extent to which the international community acknowledges that the growing consequences of climate change have clear implications on international security and especially on the SIDS. During the meeting, there were multiple calls for an updated version of the 2009 Secretary-General's report entitled "Climate change and its possible security implications" (A/64/350) to be made prepared. That is something that we support once again today.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“We hope that at the coming Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to take place in Paris in December of this year, we will be able to reach a comprehensive, global and legally binding agreement that is ambitious in terms of emissions-reduction, duly takes into account the adaptation needs of the most vulnerable countries, and upholds the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities commensurate with the respective capacities of nations, bearing in mind the different national circumstances. The result of Spain's commitment in that regard was the convening on 30 June, together with the Permanent Mission of Malaysia, of an Arria Formula informal meeting ofthe Security Council to analyze the role of climate change as a threat multiplier affecting international peace and security.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Similarly, and as recently revealed by the dramatic impact of Cyclone Pam on Vanuatu and other countries in the region, the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events has had serious consequences for safety. It is quite legitimate for small countries, whose responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions has been minimal, to call upon the international community to take responsibility for tackling climate change.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“The lengthy process of debates that are leading to the definition of the post-2015 agenda as a universal and transformative agenda has led the international community to focus its consideration on aspects that go beyond the traditional sectors of development. At the heart of this reflection is the importance of understanding how, in today's world, the threats to development and peace are interconnected. The consequences of climate change, particularly sea-level rise, represent a significant obstacle to SIDS in their efforts to achieve sustainable development. But also they pose a serious threat to their own survival and viability and the security of their populations.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Mr. Gracia Aldaz (Spain) (spoke in Spanish): I congratulate the New Zealand presidency for bringing before the Security Council the topic of the security challenges facing of small island developing States (SIDS). As stated in the final document of the United Nations Conference On Small Island Developing States, the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway, SIDS represent a special case with respect to sustainable development because of their unique and particular vulnerabilities. Spain is well aware of this, which is why I wanted to participate personally in this debate. In my own contribution, I shall try to address the security challenges that these countries face and to provide a Spanish view on the matter. The year 2015 is key for international development agenda.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source