YouSaid · the spoken record

Graham

lines on the record: 54
first: 2006-11-28
most recent: 2010-05-11
sittings or episodes: 8
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

“New Zealand is committed to helping implement the outcomes of the Summit through targeted bilateral and regional engagement in the Asia- Pacific region and through broader international initiatives.”
2010-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6310 (2010) · source
“New Zealand was pleased to participate in the comprehensive review of the 1540 Committee, and we look forward to working with the Committee on helping to implement the recommendations in our region. I am pleased to announce that New Zealand will be co-sponsoring a workshop in July for South- East Asian countries on the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) obligations. Finally, New Zealand applauds the United States initiative in hosting the Nuclear Security Summit last month. The Summit focused political attention at the highest levels of Government and industry on the threat of nuclear and radiological materials getting into terrorist hands.”
2010-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6310 (2010) · source
“In this regard, we would also stress the importance of the Committee's ongoing efforts to complete its review of the names on its consolidated list. While considerable progress has been made on this task, the Committee requires the full cooperation and support of Member States if the review is to be completed by 30 June as mandated in resolution 1822 (2008). Full and timely responses to the Committee's requests for information will help ensure that this ambitious deadline can be met. The work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) remains as important as ever, as proliferators of weapons of mass destruction-related materials continue their illicit activities around the world.”
2010-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6310 (2010) · source
“New Zealand strongly supports the Council's efforts to ensure that the measures it employs to combat terrorism are effective, transparent and fair, and that the lists of entities and individuals subject to such measures remain accurate, relevant and actionable. We therefore commend the refinements to the sanctions regime of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) agreed in resolution 1904 (2009) last December. Once fully implemented, the increased rigour and transparency these measures will bring to the work of the Committee promise to both enhance the Committee's deliberations and to ensure that its work enjoys the broad support necessary to enable effective implementation.”
2010-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6310 (2010) · source
“We remain committed to supporting these activities, including through the provision of funding to the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its programme of assistance to the Pacific. We also look forward to welcoming the United Nations counter-terrorism committees to the next Pacific Forum Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in early June. In South-East Asia, New Zealand is closely engaged with key partners, both bilaterally and regionally, on a range of counter-terrorism interventions. Our police are helping to build capacity amongst law enforcement counterparts in the region through training and the provision of equipment. New Zealand also supports a range of regional and multilateral initiatives aimed at countering extremist messages and recruitment into terrorism.”
2010-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6310 (2010) · source
“We have legislation before our Parliament to ratify the 2005 maritime terrorism instruments, and legislation is being drafted to implement fully the 2005 nuclear terrorism instruments. Within its region, New Zealand continues to support its Pacific island neighbours in meeting the challenges that they, like many other small developing States, face in meeting their international counter- terrorism obligations. New Zealand values the continued efforts of United Nations counter-terrorism agencies to engage with Pacific island States to encourage and support compliance and to ensure that United Nations initiatives and requests are carefully coordinated to avoid duplication.”
2010-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6310 (2010) · source
“New legislation was enacted last October and is now being implemented across the pubic and private sectors. Our Government is moving forward with designations of terrorist entities not listed by the United Nations pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999). While the threat of terrorist activity in New Zealand remains low, we wish to support the building of a global bulwark that shuts down terrorist activities wherever they might occur. In February, our Prime Minister announced four such national designations, and work is under way on further cases. We are also working to achieve full compliance with the international counter-terrorism legal framework by ratifying the four instruments to which New Zealand is not yet party.”
2010-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6310 (2010) · source
“Despite some significant successes in degrading the capabilities of and defeating terrorist groups around the world, the threat of terrorism unfortunately persists. We have seen ongoing attacks both in countries on the front line of the struggle against terrorism and elsewhere. The recent trend line in South Asia has been particularly worrying. No region or country can be complacent in confronting the threat of terrorism. In New Zealand, our efforts remain guided by the need to take a comprehensive, multifaceted and long-term approach. Domestically, we are continuing work to strengthen our national counter-terrorism framework in three main areas. We have overhauled our anti-money laundering/counter-terrorist financing regime to bring it into compliance with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force.”
2010-05-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6310 (2010) · source
“New Zealand has welcomed the recent steps to implement more integrated planning and operational management processes at United Nations Headquarters, and we encourage the Secretariat to keep this work under continuous review. New Zealand is proud of its contribution to peacebuilding operations to date, but we are also very aware of the complex challenges such missions pose and of how much we and the international community have yet to learn about how best to tackle these in practice. I hope that today's open debate can take us another step closer towards such an understanding.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“These efforts must be intensified. Finally, effective coordination and synergies among the broad range of actors on the ground are essential to preventing gaps or duplication of effort and to providing an environment with the agility to respond effectively to crises and to rapidly changing circumstances. New Zealand welcomes improvements made to the coordination of humanitarian response in recent years as a result of the introduction of the cluster approach. Likewise, the strengthening of United Nations efforts to deliver as one is also important throughout the life of a peacebuilding mission to enable the most efficient and effective application of peacebuilding resources across the United Nations system. Providing missions with coordinated and coherent support is also important.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“We also hope that the review will consider the full range of other possible options for sourcing civilian expertise, including better use of United Nations Volunteers, standby arrangements, regional pools of expertise and, potentially, partnerships with the private sector. We will also look to the Secretary- General's proposed staff mobility policy to provide options for better leveraging existing peacebuilding expertise from within the United Nations system when it is presented to the Fifth Committee later this year. Fourthly, effective leadership is a potentially decisive factor in the success of peacebuilding operations. We welcome the steps taken by the Secretariat to enhance the selection and preparation of appropriately skilled, experienced and balanced leadership teams and to provide these teams with sufficient in-country support.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“We hope the review will also include suggestions on how to achieve appropriate balance between the technical knowledge and development expertise required for effective peacebuilders. Given the central importance of rule of law capacities in many post-conflict situations, New Zealand supports in principle the Secretary-General's call for enhanced police standing capacity and the establishment of a limited standing capacity for justice and corrections expertise, provided they are based on a clear needs assessment and undertaken in the context of a broader framework for generating civilian capacities.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“The availability of effective analytical tools has the potential to assist with this. We welcome in this regard the Secretariat's current efforts to develop a more strategic approach to identifying, prioritizing and sequencing critical early peacebuilding tasks. Thirdly, national capacity-building requires specialized skills and experiences beyond those required for traditional peacekeeping operations. But it is clear that our current ability to identify, recruit and deploy sufficient numbers of personnel who possess these skills is inadequate. The completion of the review currently under way of civilian personnel required for peacebuilding operations is therefore a priority of the utmost importance.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Moreover, it is also a living document that can be adjusted to meet changing circumstances. Secondly, national capacity-development lies at the heart of peacebuilding and must be a central consideration in the formulation and implementation of peacebuilding mandates from day one. To be effective, capacity-building programmes must be based on coherent strategies developed in cooperation with local partners. These strategies should be drawn from robust needs assessments to ensure that they are guided both by realities and by requirements on the ground and that they can effectively identify and further develop existing national capacities, rather than automatically substitute international personnel. These issues must be fully addressed before significant investments are made in capacity-building activities with long-term implications.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“First, while the crucial importance of meaningful national leadership, ownership and engagement, and of the need for this to inform every stage of planning and implementation are widely acknowledged, all too often this awareness is not adequately reflected in practice. Early attention to mechanisms for building and sustaining national ownership is essential. The partnership framework agreed last year between the Solomon Islands Government and the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is one example of how this can be achieved in practice. In addition to facilitating national ownership and aligning national and mission priorities and expectations, it has provided a mechanism for establishing agreed benchmarks for monitoring progress.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“New Zealand has been a key contributor to numerous peacebuilding operations, including United Nations missions in Timor-Leste and United Nations- mandated operations in Bougainville, Afghanistan and Solomon Islands. We have also provided significant bilateral peacebuilding assistance within our region and beyond. Our experiences have taught us much about both the very real impact such programmes can make on the ground and the practical challenges in their effective implementation. Our views on this topic are set out more fully in the written statement we have distributed, and I will focus my comments on a number of key messages we would like to convey to the Council, based on our peacekeeping experiences.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Peacebuilding is one of the most complex and important challenges we collectively face. Its effectiveness helps to determine whether post-conflict societies achieve sustainable peace and development or descend once again into bloody conflict. It also strongly influences prospects for preserving and building upon the gains achieved through the considerable investments made in post- conflict countries by the international community. With peacebuilding tasks increasingly forming an important and sometimes central element of Council-mandated missions, it is important that there be a shared understanding of what is required for their effective implementation and that lessons learned be applied system-wide.”
2010-04-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6299Resumption1 (2010) · source
“New Zealand stands ready to work with other Member States, the Council and the Secretariat to ensure that progress in protection of civilians becomes a reality for those on the ground.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“New Zealand supports the International Criminal Court, which has an important role to play in bringing the perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide to justice. We have worked closely with others to encourage widespread ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute. It is in the interests of all States that there be accountability. We urge all countries that have not yet done so to become party to the Rome Statute and to take steps within their own jurisdictions to combat impunity. In conclusion, New Zealand recognizes the critical importance of the protection of civilians agenda, and we welcome the Secretary-General's recommendations in his latest report.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“New Zealand urges parties to armed conflict to respect international humanitarian law, in particular the duty to respect and protect humanitarian assistance personnel. A related concern for New Zealand is the rising frequency of attacks on journalists and members of the media in conflict areas. Journalists have an important role to play in the monitoring of conflicts and in ending impunity for serious crimes. Thirdly, it is imperative for the protection of civilians that impunity be ended for those who attack civilians and humanitarian workers. Impunity allows those responsible not to be held to account for their actions, denies justice to the victims of these actions and their families, and sends the message that the international community is not prepared to take action even when serious crimes occur.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“Like others who have spoken, we encourage the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) to address this as a matter of priority and we look forward to the findings of the independent study commissioned by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and DPKO. Secondly, with regard to the deliberate targeting of humanitarian workers, the increasing incidence of intentional attacks on humanitarian workers in conflict zones is deeply disturbing. In addition to threatening the safety of these unarmed civilian workers, the attacks constrain the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance, including that offered by the United Nations. New Zealand welcomes the Secretary- General's strong recommendations in this regard, and we look to the Security Council to assist in their implementation.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“Paragraph 16 of resolution 1674 (2006) was an important step in this regard, as were paragraphs 125 through 128 of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, the latter of which reflected important agreement by Member States relating to the protection of civilians. However, improvements need to be made in the clarity and specificity of these mandates, in order that all parties - the Council, peacekeepers and civilians - may have a common understanding and shared expectations. Little progress has been made towards developing the necessary capacities and doctrines that need to accompany protection of civilians mandates in order for them to be effectively implemented.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“We join other countries in urging the Government of Sri Lanka to improve access to the IDP camps for humanitarian agencies in order to ensure that all those affected by the conflict receive the assistance that they so urgently need. The Secretary-General's report illustrates that there is still much work to be done to ensure the effective protection of civilians in armed conflict. In this regard, there are three thematic areas which New Zealand would like to cover. First, with respect to peacekeeping mandates, New Zealand strongly supports the inclusion of civilian protection activities in the mandates of United Nations peacekeeping operations. This approach is an important and evolving practice of recent years and one means for the United Nations to help address the serious problem of civilian casualties in armed conflict.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“The 26-year conflict in Sri Lanka has cost the lives of many of its people and led to a serious humanitarian crisis. New Zealand joined with others in condemning Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam attacks on the civilian population, its forced recruitment of soldiers, including, reportedly, children, and its use of civilians as human shields. At the same time, New Zealand was very concerned by reports of Sri Lankan Government forces using heavy artillery in areas with a dense civilian population. While the fighting is now over, we remain deeply concerned about the plight and safety of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled that conflict.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“I thank you for convening this debate, Mr. President. We welcome the Secretary-General's latest report (S/2009/277), which provides a thorough assessment of the first 10 years of Council involvement in the protection of civilians and highlights the challenges that Member States must still address to ensure better protection for them. We commend the Council for its ongoing consideration of this issue and we especially thank Under-Secretary- General Holmes for his comprehensive briefing this morning. The immediacy of the need to protect civilians is evident from the new and ongoing conflicts around the world. Sadly, we continue to see civilians suffering seriously and disproportionately, even in the short time since the last debate on this subject in January.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151 (2009) · source
“In conclusion, New Zealand strongly supports practical and concrete action to enhance the protection of civilians in armed conflict. We urge the Council to keep those issues at the forefront of its work.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Many of those attacks involve humanitarian workers in United Nations-mandated assistance missions. We must do more to ensure the safety and security of those unarmed civilian workers. New Zealand urges all parties to armed conflict to respect international humanitarian law, and recalls in particular the duty to respect and protect humanitarian assistance personnel. We welcome the inclusion in the aide-memoire of the section on humanitarian access and the safety and security of humanitarian workers. Finally, New Zealand is proud to be among the first countries to have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Convention places at its centre the people who are most affected by cluster munitions - the victims and communities trying to rebuild after armed conflict has disrupted their lives.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Those are practical and immediately possible actions that simply require political will on the part of both protagonists. The security situation in Afghanistan remains of concern, with ongoing insurgent attacks against the Government of Afghanistan and the forces of NATO and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). NATO and ISAF have stated clearly the importance of avoiding civilian casualties to the maximum extent possible. New Zealand is playing an active role in the protection of civilians through its Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan province. The Team provides daily security to the people of Bamyan and facilitates development assistance programmes. New Zealand is also deeply concerned at the increasing trend of attacks deliberately targeted at humanitarian workers in conflict zones.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We fully support United Nations peacekeeping and other relevant missions and actors in their efforts to protect civilians in zones of armed conflict in Africa. The ongoing crisis in Gaza throws into sharp relief the plight of civilian populations caught in fighting by protagonists who show little regard for their safety. The indiscriminate firing of rockets into towns and the full-scale military campaigns being conducted in heavily populated cities inevitably mean that the civilian population pays the heaviest price. The protection of civilians begins with the need for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire, as called for by the Council in resolution 1860 (2009). Full access must be allowed to relief agencies to assist the people of Gaza, who have borne the brunt of the suffering.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Even more deplorable is the fact that civilians are not simply being caught in the crossfire but that, in many cases, are actually the targets of attacks. New Zealand continues to be appalled at human rights violations and abuses directed against civilian populations. The crises in Darfur, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe are of particular concern, with human rights abuses occurring widely and often with apparent impunity. In many cases, targeted attacks against civilian populations, sexual violence, the recruitment of child soldiers, summary executions and the forced removal of civilian populations are causing extreme humanitarian distress. New Zealand stands with the international community in expressing its deep concern at those situations.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for calling this open debate. We welcome the latest revised aide-memoire on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. We also thank Under-Secretary-General Holmes for his compelling briefing earlier today. The plight of civilians caught in current conflicts underscores the importance and immediacy of this subject for the Council and the international community. As the issue of the protection of civilians is wide-ranging, in the interests of time I will focus my comments on areas of importance to New Zealand. First and foremost, as the aide-memoire affirms, it is the responsibility of parties to armed conflict to ensure the protection of civilians in conflict areas. It is a distressing reality that steps necessary to protect civilian populations are not being taken by parties to conflicts.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The Council could hold a follow-up meeting, making sure to include the views of the wider membership and potentially adopting a follow-up presidential note that reflects the progress made and outlines areas where further specific improvements have been proposed. New Zealand welcomes the ongoing commitment of the Security Council to enhancing the efficiency and transparency of its work and to implementing the measures contained in the presidential note. We now look forward to the Council's delivering on that commitment and to actively engaging with the wider United Nations community on this issue in the coming months. Finally, may I reiterate our thanks to you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“Finally, there is a need for more effective input to the Council from parts of the Secretariat, such as the Department for Political Affairs, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. In terms of next steps, we agree with the statement made by the representative of Switzerland on behalf of the group of five small nations that the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions could be charged with reviewing the implementation of the 2006 presidential note and looking at the proposals made in today's debate. The Working Group could then present its findings and recommendations to the Security Council before the end of this year.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“Although there have been many improvements in that regard, New Zealand would like to see draft statements, draft resolutions and other documents shared systematically with non-members of the Council, perhaps by e-mail to all Missions, sooner and with more frequency. We would also like a format for greater participation by interested parties in the preparation of those documents. There is also considerable scope to develop the interaction with other interested parties, such as troop- contributing countries, regional organizations, the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“While progress has been made, there are still areas in which New Zealand would like to see improvement. Specifically, while we note that private consultations are a useful and sometimes necessary mechanism for Council members, public meetings allow the greatest participation and should be used whenever possible. Furthermore, it is vital that essential information be shared at public meetings, not just in closed consultations. A clear rationale for the Council's choice of a particular format for its meetings should be included in the President's opening remarks. In conjunction with important closed consultations of the Council, we would like to see a systematic process to allow Member States to have input and an exchange of views with Security Council members on issues before the Council that affect them.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“Improving the Security Council's working methods is therefore one of the most important areas for reform, and one on which there is a broad measure of agreement. We note that considerable progress has been made in the implementation of provisions to increase the Council's transparency, efficiency and interaction with non-members of the Council in line with the recommendations of the note by the President contained in document S/2006/507. New Zealand is grateful to Japan and Slovakia for the work they have done and the leadership they have provided in the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions in implementing measures such as a higher rate of public rather than private Council meetings, greater notification of those meetings and regular briefings on the programme of work at the beginning of each presidency.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“We thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important open debate, the first on Security Council working methods since 1994. We especially thank you for preparing an excellent concept paper (S/2008/528, annex), which clearly sets out areas where progress has been achieved and other areas where more needs to be done. The working methods of the Security Council - a vital organ in the United Nations system - are of the utmost importance to New Zealand. For many Member States, especially those that rarely have an opportunity to serve on the Security Council, the working methods have a very considerable impact on our ability to contribute and to understand issues before the Council.”
2008-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5968 (2008) · source
“That will assist all stakeholders to better assess UNMIT's performance and will inform decisions about future changes in its mandate. In conclusion, we continue to offer our support and encouragement to the leaders and people of Timor- Leste, as well as to Mr. Khare and the UNMIT team. We look forward to the visit to New Zealand later this month by Prime Minister Gusmao, Minister Da Costa and other ministers. We also thank the Security Council for its ongoing support for Timor-Leste and are grateful in particular for the leadership of South Africa in that respect.”
2008-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5958 (2008) · source
“We emphasize to the military and police leadership and the Timor-Leste Government the importance of promoting and protecting human rights, and of ensuring that violations are dealt with appropriately. Every effort needs to be made to counter perceptions of impunity. I particularly welcome Minister Da Costa's comments in that regard. We also hope to see progress on the security sector review and continue to believe that it is essential to ensuring long-term stability in Timor-Leste. We encourage the Government and UNMIT to continue to intensify their efforts in that regard. The Secretary-General has outlined plans to provide in his next report a medium-term strategy to be agreed with the Government of Timor-Leste, containing benchmarks and indicators for UNMIT's mandate.”
2008-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5958 (2008) · source
“Those issues will warrant the special attention of the new Police Commissioner when he or she is appointed. Another area of concern relates to the national army's involvement in maintaining public security. We see risks associated with that, especially while the security institutions are still developing. Furthermore, potentially positive contributions by the army can be seriously undermined by allegations of human rights violations and a perceived lack of accountability. We are particularly concerned about references in the Secretary-General's report to threatening behaviour by army personnel directed at United Nations personnel, as well as reports of excessive force and intimidation during arrests by members of the Joint Command.”
2008-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5958 (2008) · source
“First, in the area of policing, we acknowledge the importance of the process of progressively handing over responsibilities from United Nations police back to the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL). The criteria used to assess the PNTL's state of readiness should help ensure that it is ready. The criteria should also help to identify areas where further support from UNMIT and others may be needed to strengthen PNTL capabilities. Given the critical importance of that process, it should not be rushed. Very careful attention is needed in setting criteria that are appropriate and measurable. We also believe that the area of police training needs similar attention in order to be sure that United Nations and bilateral assistance is coordinated and coherent. As a starting point, a single policing model needs to be agreed.”
2008-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5958 (2008) · source
“There are long- term challenges to Timor-Leste, and the United Nations is uniquely placed to assist it to stand on its own and to ensure that precious gains are not lost. A great deal of work remains to be done, but we are encouraged by the progress being achieved in Timor-Leste following the elections last year. As outlined in the Secretary-General's report, there have been a number of positive developments over the past six months. We congratulate the Government and people on their effective response to the crisis created by the assassination attempt on the leadership in February. The Secretary-General's report does, however, touch on areas of immediate concern to New Zealand.”
2008-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5958 (2008) · source
“First, I join others in paying tribute to the memory of Sergio Vieira de Mello and other United Nations staff members who so tragically lost their lives in Baghdad five years ago. New Zealand welcomes this debate on the situation in Timor-Leste. May I thank Foreign Minister Da Costa and Special Representative Khare for their presentations. I also thank the Secretary-General for his report on the situation in Timor-Leste. New Zealand is a regional partner and friend of Timor-Leste. We are committed to assisting its Government and people through multilateral and bilateral mechanisms. We strongly support the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor- Leste (UNMIT) and the need for a sustained United Nations presence to help Timor-Leste.”
2008-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5958 (2008) · source
“President, for the opportunity for this debate on resolution 1325 (2000), but we agree that progress towards achieving its major goals has been slow and uneven. There remains an urgent need to increase political commitment and resources to ensure its systematic implementation.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916Resumption1 (2008) · source
“NZAID supports a number of initiatives in the Pacific region aimed at empowering women and mitigating their exposure to violence. For example, New Zealand is currently involved in the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Programme, a joint initiative of NZAID, the New Zealand Police and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police organization. It seeks to tackle domestic Violence and influence social change. Fourthly, the NZAID conflict and peacebuilding policy identifies women and girls in conflict and post- conflict areas as a priority group for attention and specifically includes the need to provide support for the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). It highlights the gender impact of conflict and the role of women in peacebuilding. In conclusion, New Zealand commends you, Mr.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916Resumption1 (2008) · source
“This includes women working in high-risk areas, such as Afghanistan, and on operational missions, such as in Timor-Leste. Furthermore, up to 30 per cent of all of our police peacekeeping deployments are female - among the highest rate in the world. Secondly, the New Zealand Defence Force has worked hard to integrate women at all levels and in all trades of the Force, including combat. Its diversity strategy recognizes the full value of integrating women into the Defence Force and the benefits of having women at more senior levels. Thirdly, New Zealand attaches priority to promoting women's rights through the delivery of official development assistance. Gender-based violence is a core focus area for New Zealand's International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID).”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916Resumption1 (2008) · source
“New Zealand has actively supported General Assembly resolutions on the intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and on eliminating rape and other forms of sexual violence in all their manifestations, including in conflict and related situations. New Zealand's response to resolution 1325 (2000) is proactive and includes a number of specific steps to encourage implementation both domestically and internationally. Here are four examples of that. First, New Zealand is committed to encouraging women to undertake assignments on peacekeeping missions. Women from the New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police and our wider society are an integral part of New Zealand's regional, United Nations and other international peacekeeping efforts.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Sadly, sexual violence continues unabated in conflict and post- conflict situations around the world. It is a gross violation of women's human rights, which further exacerbates the vulnerability of women and girls in times of conflict. Sexual violence is an attack not only on the dignity of women but also on the peace process: it raises significant barriers to reconciliation and peace. New Zealand attaches great importance to the need to eliminate such violence. We welcome the advances that have been made in these areas by the United Nations and Member States. We strongly endorse the Secretary-General's forthcoming report on all forms of violence against women.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916Resumption1 (2008) · source
“New Zealand welcomes this opportunity to focus on women and peace and security, and once again reaffirms its strong support for resolution 1325 (2000). New Zealand is committed to seeking ways to enhance and strengthen the implementation of the resolution through our development cooperation programmes, peacekeeping efforts and domestic policies. Resolution 1325 (2000) remains the internationally accepted blueprint for a multifaceted response to the issues facing women in conflict and post-conflict reconstruction. It has played an invaluable part in highlighting the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts. New Zealand welcomes increased Security Council attention to the reality of sexual violence during conflict and to the need to end impunity for crimes, including sexual violence.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916Resumption1 (2008) · source
“In connection with this effort, we strongly support the ongoing work of the International Criminal Court to bring to justice those individuals responsible for the gravest breaches. Parties that commit grave violations against children should expect that the international community will take measures against them. 06-63153 Finally, Mr. President, we call on all Members to show real commitment by signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.”
2006-11-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5573Resumption1 (2006) · source