YouSaid · the spoken record

Grant

lines on the record: 140
first: 2013-10-18
most recent: 2018-07-09
sittings or episodes: 20
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

“Canada is particularly appalled by accounts that Rohingya children in Myanmar and Bangladesh have been victims of killings, rape and sexual assault, and have been used as human shields and mine-sweepers. This has to stop and those responsible must be held accountable. In conclusion, I strongly call upon all Member States, including the members of the Security Council, to join the growing number of countries acting to safeguard the rights of children and to protect them from violence in situations of armed conflict. It is only by working together that we will overcome these challenges.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“In order to pursue collective action against the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers, Canada is developing guidelines for States having endorsed them to implement the Vancouver Principles. (spoke in English) Canada encourages those States that have not yet endorsed the Vancouver Principles or the complementary Paris Principles to consider doing so without delay. Despite those important steps, as noted in the report of the Secretary-General, children continue to be used for combat and denied humanitarian access in such places as South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Together with Security Council members and other States Members, we worked tirelessly to ensure the children and armed conflict item was placed at the core of the Council's agenda. Canada's long-standing chairmanship of the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict also has its origin in our commitment to bringing parties concerned together to achieve shared goals. We continue to take concrete steps today to strengthen international protection frameworks. Canada recently launched the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. To date, the voluntary and non-binding Principles have now been endorsed by 65 States.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“To make progress towards achieving that goal, we must address the cross-border nature of violations by supporting the development of regional, subregional and national prevention plans and strategies. We must also ensure greater awareness and understanding of the unique challenges associated with children in armed conflict though training and advocacy. (spoke in French) Let me make several additional remarks in my capacity as the representative of Canada. As a firm advocate for respect for international humanitarian law and international protection frameworks, Canada has been actively engaged in issues involving children and armed conflict for more than 20 years, including when Canada previously served as a non-permanent member of the Security Council from 1999 to 2000.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“When they are successfully reintegrated into their families and communities, they can be an important source of resilience. To that end, we pledge to elevate and echo the voices of child victims, especially the voice of the girl child. We also support strengthened accountability for all perpetrators of child rights violations and commend organizations, such as Justice Rapid Response, that offer surge capacities for that purpose. Fourthly, the Special Representative pointed out in a recent statement that we must work together to leave no child affected by conflict behind so as to fully realize the potential of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“We call upon Member States to further strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict, including through ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, as well as consideration of the endorsement of those commitments. Secondly, Ms. Londofio's briefing shows us the importance of integrating the protection, rights and well-being of children in peace processes. Accordingly, we welcome the launch ofa process to compile practical guidance on child protection issues for peace processes. We urge the drafters to specifically consider the needs of the girl child, whose particular challenges are too often forgotten or overlooked. Thirdly, we recognize that children affected by armed conflict are not defined by their victimhood alone.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Additionally, there are several practical protection tools that Member States have the option of using, notably the Safe Schools Declaration; the Lucens Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict; the Principles and Guidelines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed Groups, known as the Paris Principles; the Paris Commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups; and the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“We are encouraged by those armed forces and groups that have signed action plans in the past year to help make violations against children a problem of the past. Notwithstanding those important steps, it is our collective responsibility to do better. On behalf of the Group of Friends, I would like to highlight four areas that merit attention by the United Nations and all Member States. First and foremost, in order to strengthen the links between child protection and conflict prevention, we must strengthen our resolve to better protect children in armed conflict. All parties to armed conflict must fully comply with their obligations under the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“The Group of Friends wishes to reiterate its strong support for the Special Representative and the continued independence and impartiality of the United Nations- led monitoring and reporting mechanism, established in accordance with resolution 1612 (2005). We commend Ms. Londofio's courage in sharing her story with us today. We also thank United Nations bodies, such as UNICEF, which work to protect and promote the rights of children in armed conflict worldwide. The report of the Secretary-General illustrates in stark detail how armed conflict often strips away - in practice, if not in principle - the protections that children are afforded by families and society. It shows us how children are victimized and how their victimization helps perpetuate conflict and poverty.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Let me begin by thanking Sweden for convening this much-needed open debate and congratulating, you, Sir, on your very capable presidency of the Security Council for the month of July. I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict - a network of42 Member States representing all five regional groups of the United Nations. We welcome the latest report of the Secretary- General (S/2018/465), and we thank him for his ongoing efforts to shine a light on the terrible situations affecting children in armed conflict around the world. Effective monitoring and reporting are key to the prevention of and the response to grave violations of child rights.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“We also believe that, as with the women and peace and security agenda, the Council should mandate regular reporting from the Secretary-General on youth, peace and security, and ensure that young people's participation is included in Security Council mandates. Canada will continue to support this important agenda through our own domestic and international policies, and we stand ready to support the work of the United Nations in implementing the progress study.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“In the coming years, Canada will convene the endorsing States, the United Nations and members of the child- protection community to develop practical implementation guidance for these principles. Finally, responsibility for taking this agenda forward ultimately rests with Member States, but the United Nations has an important role to play. We believe that the United Nations and Member States can do more to facilitate young people's meaningful participation in peace negotiations and peacebuilding processes, ensure the collection of sex- and age-disaggregated data related to youth, peace and security, and put in place mechanisms for meaningful consultation and the engagement of young people.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“Youth, predominantly affected by violent extremism, can play an important role in identifying solutions, supporting communities and building resilience to this threat. Fourthly, when we talk about youth, peace and security, we must not forget about child protection, including preventing the recruitment of children in the peacekeeping context. As many here know, Canada developed the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers last fall. This initiative seeks to identify early-warning signs, take action to end recruitment and promote the reporting of abuses and grave violations against children. Since then, the Vancouver Principles have been endorsed by 63 Member States.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“Too often the work of such organizations is unrecognized, while our interventions target processes led by capital-based actors. Through our new Women's Voice and Leadership Programme, Canada will allocate $150 million over five years to respond to the needs of local women's organizations in developing countries that are working to advance the rights of women and girls and promote gender equality. We hope that there are lessons here for how we can support youth leadership and participation as well. Thirdly, as outlined in the Secretary-General's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, which Canada strongly supports, engaging youth and making them part of the response to violent extremism is crucial.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“First, there is genuine synergy between the youth, peace and security agenda and the women and peace and security agenda. Canada is implementing a feminist foreign policy with a strong focus on women and peace and security. Canada's second national action plan on women and peace and security provides a framework for a cohesive whole-of-Government approach to ensure that gender perspectives are integrated into all peace and security efforts. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are also driving our feminist international assistance policy, which includes the need to engage men and boys. Secondly, we recognize that some of the most important work is being done by civil society at the grass-roots and local levels.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“To that end, Canada welcomes the progress study and is proud to have supported its innovative and participatory research process. We were also pleased that Canadian youth were able to discuss and validate its emerging recommendations last fall on the margins of the Vancouver Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial. We believe that the progress study will make an important contribution to the discussions we will be having this week on building and sustaining peace. As the recently launched United Nations-World Bank "Pathways for Peace" report recommends, managing youth's unmet aspirations and their inclusion in society is a critical component of any measures to prevent violent conflicts. (spoke in English) As we collectively consider the recommendations of the progress study, Canada would like to highlight a number of key points.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“Mr. Grant (Canada) (spoke in French): The youth, peace and security agenda is about transforming systems that lead to the exclusion of young people and engaging youth in all aspects of social, economic and political life. It requires targeted funding and targeted programming and, above all, giving young people the opportunity, capacity and access to be leaders in their communities, as well as at the national and international levels. How to do that is a challenge that every country faces. This agenda is universal. As the independent progress study on youth, peace and security so well illustrates, it lies at the heart of all of our prevention efforts, whether we are talking about preventing violent conflicts, violent extremism or violent crime.”
2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source
“We wish to thank civil society and national indigenous organizations, which provided invaluable input into this action plan, which will be launched shortly. We look forward to collaborating with our domestic and international partners in its implementation.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“We are also providing funding to the Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and to the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and we strongly encourage all Member States to do the same. The question of accountability resonates strongly for Canada. Under our first national action plan, Canada submitted five annual progress reports on the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda in Parliament, which helped to take stock of the progress achieved and record lessons learned. The progress reports also allowed us to identify shortfalls and highlight emerging good practices, all ofwhich have been useful in the development of the second action plan.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“We are challenging the panellists and participants to suggest and present innovative solutions to integrating gender perspectives in peacekeeping. Canada continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting women's participation in peace operations. We are working to increase the proportion of Canadian women peacekeepers, including police officers deployed to peace operations, and have been at the forefront of a United Nations training initiative aimed at increasing the number of women police officers deployed. Canada is also a strong advocate for the full implementation of the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. Our Prime Minister recentlyjoined the Secretary-General's Circle of Leadership and signed the voluntary compact on eliminating sexual exploitation and abuse.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“In support of this policy, Canada will dedicate $150 million over five years to support local organizations that advance women's rights in developing and fragile States. Last year, Canada also provided $1.5 million to the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund, which supports women's organizations working on the front lines of conflict prevention and resolution. We strongly urge others to support this Fund to ensure that women's and girls' voices are heard. We know that by failing to mainstream gender perspectives in peace operations, we will fail to effectively respond to the needs and interests of local women and girls. At the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial Conference, which Canada will be pleased to host in Vancouver om November, mainstreaming gender into our discussions and reflections is of the utmost importance.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“Finally, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to transparent and regular reporting on the progress made in the implementation of our national action plan on women and peace and security, which is currently being finalized, to ensure that we are making progress. In the context of our feminist foreign policy, Canada is taking concrete actions to advance the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. (spoke in English) We recognize that women are key actors in conflict prevention and resolution and peacebuilding. Peace and security is one of the cornerstones of Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy, which puts gender equality at the centre of international assistance programming.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“There is no doubt that progress has been made in implementing the women and peace and security agenda, however, it has been slow and many challenges remain. We must consider doing things differently and we must challenge ourselves to move beyond incrementalism. Canada is committed to finding opportunities to create and support transformative solutions for gender equality in conflict situations. We will defend women's voices and human rights. We will challenge narratives that undermine women's ability to contribute, lead and shape solutions. We will collaborate with civil society, Member States and the United Nations to reinvigorate the implementation of this important agenda.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“Such an approach recognizes the role of women in developing resilience, the impact of violent extremism on women and the reality of women joining violent extremist groups. We also welcome the establishment of the Group of Friends of Preventing Violent Extremism, co-chaired by Jordan and Norway, which stresses the need for full participation of women and youth in efforts to prevent violent extremism. To conclude the Group of Friends statement, we believe in the transformational potential of the women and peace and security agenda. We remain committed to working with the United Nations and all Member States for its full realization. (spoke in French) Allow me to make a few additional remarks in my national capacity.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“We highlight the importance of including specific expertise on gender and sexual violence to ensure the documentation of sexual violence as part of these efforts, as well as a focus on reducing stigma associated with survivors of sexual violence in conflict. Indeed, a gendered approach is critical to facing new and emerging challenges, such as violent extremism. We support the engagement of women's leadership and the incorporation of a gender lens into the development of strategies to prevent and address violent extremism, and recognize Women's Alliance for Security Leadership as a dynamic network of independent women-led organizations that are locally rooted and globally connected.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“To end impunity, perpetrators must be brought to justice, and victims and survivors must be assisted in a comprehensive manner in order to fully recover from these violations and be able to reintegrate in their societies. We are also appalled by acts of sexual violence, including rape, child, early and forced marriage and enslavement, including those committed by terrorist groups, such as Da'esh. In this regard, we welcome the recent adoption of resolution 2379 (2017), on accountability for the acts committed by Da'esh in Iraq. It is our hope that this is the first step in a process to ensure more comprehensive accountability.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“We welcome recent initiatives by the Secretary- General, including the conclusion of the sexual exploitation and abuse voluntary compact with Member States, the establishment of a Circle of Leadership and the appointment of a sexual exploitation and abuse victims' rights advocate. Still much more needs to be done to tackle this scourge, ensure accountability and fundamentally reconfigure our collective approach to make it victim centred. Unfortunately, sexual violence also remains prevalent in situations of armed conflict worldwide. The Group condemns in the strongest terms such acts, which constitute a grave violation and abuse of human rights and international humanitarian law, and raise barriers to the full achievement of gender equality, peace and development.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“We must therefore redouble efforts and engage in new and creative thinking to resolve persistent gaps and structural barriers to female participation and leadership. Separately, peacekeeping operations need to be equipped with appropriate gender-responsive conflict analysis and expertise. We are deeply concerned that cutting, downgrading and underresourcing gender advisors and women protection advisors positions may cripple the ability of peace operations to fulfil these critical tasks. We must also ensure that United Nations peacekeepers themselves are not part of the problem and condemn cases of sexual exploitation and abuse.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“In this regard, we welcome the ongoing work undertaken by the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security to facilitate a more systematic approach to the Council's agenda, including in resolutions, statements, reporting and visits to the field, as well as regular input from civil society. Indeed, we recognize the importance of engaging with and supporting civil society in delivering real impact on this agenda. The Group highlights the need to further the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda in United Nations peacekeeping, both in terms of women's participation and gender expertise and mainstreaming into doctrine and all planning documents. Women play an indispensable role in peacekeeping and their participation at all levels is key to the operational effectiveness of missions.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“Indeed, we know that gender-based violence and the repression of women's human rights is correlated with the outbreak of conflict We also know that women's participation has a positive impact on the credibility and durability of peace agreements. Therefore, it is all the more essential to include gender considerations and the meaningful participation of women in early warning, mediation and conflict resolution efforts, as well as the mainstreaming of gender-specific language and the human rights of women in peace agreements. A greater role for women also needs to be ensured in post-conflict peacebuilding and economic recovery. This approach should also apply to the Security Council's work in preventing and addressing conflict.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“Such implementation will also directly contribute to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, agreed to by all Member States. We wish to thank Spain for its initiative to establish the Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network and for organizing the first substantive meeting in Alicante and its follow-up in New York. We look forward to Germany and Namibia chairing the Focal Points Network in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Furthermore, we wish to highlight regional initiatives which can multiply efforts towards more effective implementation. The Group welcomes the Secretary-General's leadership on conflict prevention and sustaining peace and notes that the effective implementation of the women and peace and security agenda directly contributes to these objectives.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“I am pleased to speak first on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, an informal network of 51 interested Member States chaired by Canada, representing all five regional groups of the United Nations. I will then make brief remarks in my national capacity. On the seventeenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the Group reaffirms its unwavering support for the Council's work on this important agenda. Despite an increasingly robust normative framework on women, peace, and security, we emphasize that real, tangible progress lies in implementation. In that regard, much remains to be done. We applaud the countries that have established or renewed national action plans in the past year. We reiterate that such plans must be coupled with sufficient resources to deliver results.”
2017-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8079 (2017) · source
“By collaborating on advancing the women and peace and security agenda, more robust partnerships, and enhancing the financial viability of AU operations, we can help our African partners realize their vision of a more peaceful and prosperous Africa. We look forward to continue working with our African and international partners in this endeavour.”
2017-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8006Reprise1 (2017) · source
“We also commend the new Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security to further our coordination efforts. Finally, we must focus more on enhancing the financial viability of African Union (AU) peace operations as a cornerstone of African leadership. In that regard, Canada calls on all States to support the efforts of the AU to increase African resource mobilization to fund the operations and programmes of the AU Commission, including in the area of peace and security. For our part, Canada will keep an open mind and looks forward to dialogue on the modalities available to ensure successful AU peace operations.”
2017-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8006Reprise1 (2017) · source
“(spoke in English) It is also critical that we do more to strengthen partnerships between the United Nations system, individual Member States, and African regional organizations and their member States. For example, supporting new or expanded innovative training initiatives for African countries, which provide significant numbers oftroops and police to peacekeeping missions, would serve to enhance the effectiveness of both African-led and United Nations efforts to promote peace and security on the continent, as could greater sharing of analysis and lessons learned. Recognizing this, as host of the 2017 United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial, which will take place in November in Vancouver, Canada will be convening countries to discuss ways to strengthen partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of United Nations peace operations.”
2017-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8006Reprise1 (2017) · source
“Canada's new feminist international assistance policy emphasizes the importance of working with African Governments to ensure that women are active participants in shaping political solutions to violent conflict; promoting the increased and meaningful participation of women in peace operations; protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls; and to preventing and responding to sexual violence - including sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by peacekeeping personnel. When women and girls play integral and meaningful roles in society, States are more peaceful and resilient. We should support our African partners, who are endeavouring to advance holistic approaches to address drivers of conflict, with a particular focus on empowering women and girls.”
2017-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8006Reprise1 (2017) · source
“Mr. Grant (Canada) (spoke in French): At the outset, allow me to thank China for organizing this open debate on enhancing African capacities in the area of peace and security. Despite much progress, armed conflict and insecurity continue to undermine progress toward sustainable development in many parts of Africa. We have committed to partnering with Africans with a view to supporting African-led efforts to address peace and security challenges on the continent and, in this regard, there is much work to be done.”
2017-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8006Reprise1 (2017) · source
“The Council has important tools for ensuring accountability and must use them more consistently. We encourage all Member States to consider the Secretary-General's positive recommendations. Canada will continue to lead efforts to enhance the protection of civilians.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“Fourthly, Canada's obligations under international humanitarian law are embedded in Canadian Armed Forces doctrine and predeployment training, which we believe is a crucial step that States must undertake. We urge countries to examine their national legislative frameworks and consider signing the relevant international treaties and guidelines for enhancing the protection of civilians. Those include the Arms Trade Treaty, to which Canada is currently in the process of acceding. Canada has also recently endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, reaffirming our commitment to protect children affected by armed conflict. Member States and the Council must address persistent violations of international humanitarian law and end the pervasive climate of impunity.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“Canada worked in the General Assembly last year to focus attention on the critical situation in Syria, including by taking the lead on General Assembly resolution 71/130, adopted on 9 December, which condemned attacks on civilians and humanitarian and medical personnel. We urge the Council to clearly condemn direct and indiscriminate attacks and to continue to demand that parties to conflicts comply with their obligations. Thirdly, Canada is fully committed to ensuring that the perpetrators of such crimes, and those who do not respect international law, are held accountable. For instance, in the context of Syria, Canada is supporting and funding evidence collection and documentation efforts.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“We run the risk that people will lose hope; indeed, we have already seen the consequences ofthat in the global refugee crisis. Reinforcing our well-established norms requires determined leadership, and Canada is taking the following steps in that regard. First, together with Switzerland, we are proud to be the co-Chair of an informal group of States, based in Geneva, to promote the implementation of resolution 2286 (2016), thereby providing States with an opportunity to collaborate on advocacy and promote best practices. Secondly, we have continued to condemn attacks targeting civilians, medical personnel and health-care facilities.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“More than 80 States, including Canada, sponsored the resolution, demonstrating that this is an issue that resonates deeply. Today, we are dealing with the grim fact that attacks on medical facilities in some conflict areas have become so commonplace that hospitals have to be fortified to protect them from bombs and artillery shells, while some have actually had to be moved underground, even into caves, in order to protect them from constant bombardments. Moreover, when civilians are violently and even purposely deprived of the health care that is crucial to their survival and that of their communities, it undermines all of our efforts to protect those under threat. (spoke in English) We also acknowledge that this constant violence poses an additional global threat - that of complacency.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“Mr. Grant (Canada) (spoke in French): Since today we are considering the suffering of civilians who have been harmed or displaced by conflict, we take this opportunity to emphasize the urgency need to help the more than 20 million people who are currently facing famine, in large part thanks to conflicts that have been permitted to continue without consequences and to restrictions imposed on humanitarian access. Canada commends the Council for its adoption last year of resolution 2286 (2016), which requires all parties to armed conflicts to comply fully with their obligation to ensure that all medical personnel are respected and protected, and to facilitate safe and unimpeded passage for them and their supplies. That sense of initiative is vital, and the Council has received broad support from the international community.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“It is therefore imperative that the States Members of the United Nations ensure that any gender analysis considers the impact of sexual violence in conflict on men and boys as well as women and girls. Finally, it is incumbent upon all States Members of the United Nations to be part of the solution, not the problem, of sexual violence in conflict. Canada remains deeply concerned by all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff, peacekeepers and non-United Nations forces. Member States, including all members of the Security Council, must back their pledges for zero tolerance with concrete and effective action for their own personnel. Importantly, they must not stand in the way of key initiatives proposed by the Secretary-General to help rid the United Nations of this cancer.”
2017-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7938 (2017) · source
“It is also why we have committed to hosting approximately 1,200 survivors of Da'esh this year, in particular vulnerable Yazidi women and children and their families. We welcome the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and of the United Kingdom to address the stigma that befalls the survivors. Thirdly, we will also continue to work to prevent such acts from occurring in the first place. In that regard, it is essential to recall the importance of engaging men and boys in prevention. Fourthly, while men constitute the large majority of perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict, we should be mindful that men and boys are also victims.”
2017-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7938 (2017) · source
“Let me now make five short additional points in my capacity as the representative of Canada. First and foremost, Canada is outraged by the scale and scope of sexual violence in conflict situations. While we have witnessed some progress in other areas of the women and peace and security agenda, it appears that the scourge of sexual violence in conflict is worsening and becoming ever more cruel and widespread. Secondly, the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war demands an effective and timely response. Member States cannot simply denounce the situation without taking actions within their power to assist survivors. That is why Canada contributes to Justice Rapid Response in order to help respond to and investigate sexual violence.”
2017-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7938 (2017) · source
“Such Stigma only exacerbates the marginalization of survivors and is a barrier to their full recovery and reintegration in their societies. Societies, including traditional and religious leaders, must rally to support survivors. We must declare once and for all that shame rests on the perpetrators, not on their victims. Let me conclude by noting that inequalities give rise to and exacerbate conflict-related sexual violence, which will continue to occur so long as the inequalities that give rise to such acts persist. For that, and so many other reasons, it is incumbent upon Member States to redouble their efforts to achieve gender equality, realize women's and girls' full enjoyment of human rights and empower all women and girls to become full and active participants in their societies.”
2017-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7938 (2017) · source
“Accountability must be accompanied by effective and multi-sectoral support to survivors, whose deep trauma can persist long after the conflict has ended. Greater efforts are needed at all levels to ensure that survivors have access to the full range of livelihood, legal, psychosocial and non-discriminatory medical services. We must stand in solidarity with survivors not just in words but also in actions. Additionally, humanitarian assistance has to address sexual and gender-based violence by preventive as well as responsive measures, and should be based on a gender- sensitive programmatic approach. Furthermore, we must not allow the crime of sexual violence to be compounded by the shame of stigma, the consequences of which are all too real and often deadly.”
2017-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7938 (2017) · source
“But we must also remember that the military defeat of perpetrators is not a substitute for prosecuting crimes and recognizing the suffering of victims. Accountability and the prevention of sexual violence should be included in peace agreements, including, where appropriate, in transitional justice mechanisms promoting justice, truth, reparations, and measures to prevent their reoccurrence. Amnesties should not be granted to perpetrators of sexual violence, and sexual violence should be explicitly prohibited by the terms of ceasefires and peace agreements. Within the United Nations, Force Commanders should meet more often with civil society, and troop- and police-contributing countries should deploy more women as channels for vital early warning information.”
2017-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7938 (2017) · source
“We have several important accountability mechanisms in place. However, accountability also depends on adequate legal and evidentiary frameworks to prosecute such crimes. In that regard, we highlight the international protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict, as well as the work of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict. Furthermore, we recommend that international accountability mechanisms and the Security Council's own sanctions regimes be mandated and resourced to investigate sexual violence in conflict specifically. We welcome efforts to bring Da'esh and other terrorist groups tojustice for crimes its members have committed in conflict, including sexual violence.”
2017-05-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7938 (2017) · source