YouSaid · the spoken record

Hermann

lines on the record: 117
first: 2021-11-09
most recent: 2023-08-03
sittings or episodes: 17
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

“The unjustified and unprovoked attack by a permanent member of the Security Council is in blatant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we have witnessed systematic and widespread violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The war is of grave concern to us all. Its consequences are similarly felt far and wide, first and foremost, of course, by the Ukrainian people and Europe, but also in all corners of the world. In places far away from the European continent, people have suffered at the hands of Russia.”
2023-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9254 (2023) · source
“Let me first congratulate Malta on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. We also extend our appreciation to Under- Secretary-General Griffiths for his briefing. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries — Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Denmark. At the outset, I want to say that we join other speakers in expressing our sincere condolences to the people of Türkiye and Syria affected by the recent devastating earthquakes. Today marks 347 days of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine — 347 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine and 347 days of destruction and suffering for Ukraine’s population as Russia continues its relentless attack.”
2023-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9254 (2023) · source
“A comprehensive whole-of-system response by the United Nations, in cooperation with regional actors, should work preventively to address the factors that cause and exacerbate conflict, including poverty, inequality and climate change, inter alia, and doing so by promoting the rule of law, strong democratic institutions and the protection of human rights. This entails, as I mentioned, working across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to promote greater cooperation, coherence, coordination and complementarity among efforts in development, disaster-risk reduction, humanitarian access and sustaining peace. We hope that by further strengthening the cooperation between the United Nations and regional partners, we can build a true culture of prevention while placing an emphasis on bolstering regional peacebuilding capacities.”
2022-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We fully support the implementation of the youth, peace and security agenda. Engaging youth in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding is essential to building inclusive and lasting peace. We recognize that conflict prevention and enduring peace cannot be sustained without addressing the root causes of insecurity and conflict. To ensure long-term sustainable peace, we must support economic and social development, and address poverty, inequality and climate change in line with the 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”
2022-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Ensuring access for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence to comprehensive services, including sexual and reproductive-health services — and fighting impunity for perpetrators — should be fundamental to any peace effort. In line with the women and peace and security agenda, we all need to further step up our interaction with civil society and support for local women’s organizations and women peacebuilders. We must establish partnerships with women-led organizations that involve capacity-building, and we must ensure women’s inclusion in the decision-making processes. Their contextual and local expertise is crucial for the full implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. At the same time, we must not forget the critical importance of including youth.”
2022-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Regional organizations can also play a critical role in supporting political transitions and upholding democratic principles, as seen with the commendable efforts of the Economic Community of West African States in the Sahel, which have played a crucial role for not only national but also regional security and stabilization. An integral part of capacity-building for sustaining peace is strengthening the capacity of judicial actors and law-enforcement officials to ensure accountability for conflict-related crimes, in particular conflict-related sexual violence. Conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence remain cruel tactics of war, terror, political repression and torture. The fight against sexual and gender-based violence must be at the centre of our work to secure international peace and security.”
2022-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The Nordic countries will continue to strengthen our cooperation with regional organizations, particularly the African Union. Our cooperation focuses on adequate training, capacity-building and equipment, and strengthening African-led peace operations. In this vein, we are working to ensure funding for African- led peace operations in support of African solutions for crises on the African continent. We commend the progress on the African Union Peace Fund, including the efforts made by States members of the African Union to ensure predictable and sustainable financing.”
2022-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In that context, we also recognize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and underline the importance that its implementation contribute to peacebuilding and sustaining peace in countries in conflict and post- conflict situations. In the context of conflict prevention and peacebuilding, regional and subregional organizations are instrumental in developing context-specific and tailor-made approaches. They are often the first to react in crisis response and to engage with the parties concerned to ensure the protection of civilians. They are uniquely placed to build trust and promote dialogue among the parties concerned and offer support in mediation and reconciliation; and they can be influential in advocating for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and young people in all aspects of peace and security.”
2022-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106Resumption1 (2022) · source
“On behalf of the Nordic countries — Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Denmark — let me begin by thanking China for convening this timely meeting and for allowing us to speak in the Security Council without worrying about time. I also want to put on record our gratitude to the briefers for their insightful interventions. The need to explore ways to further strengthen conflict-prevention measures and peacebuilding capacities across Africa has become ever more pertinent. The Nordic countries are, and will continue, working to strengthen the United Nations capacity to create cohesion, efficiency and accountability across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus, particularly through the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, its Peacebuilding Fund and, importantly, regional and subregional organizations.”
2022-08-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9106Resumption1 (2022) · source
“That entails dedicated and gender-responsive and child-specific expertise in international investigations and continued support for the International Criminal Court and other judicial mechanisms. The accountability and reintegration mechanisms must have a survivor-centred approach. True justice involves reparations and access to gender- and age-responsive specialized services. That includes sexual and reproductive health and rights services, medical, mental health and psychosocial support services, and legal and livelihood support for survivors of the six grave violations as well as for their families, whose trauma may endure for years. The Nordic countries remain committed to doing our part.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“To effectively reintegrate children and build lasting peace, it is crucial to fight impunity and use all the mechanisms at our disposal. All Member States working on counter-terrorism, peace and security must develop immediate and effective mitigation strategies to prevent and respond to the six grave violations against children. To address the needs of children in conflict and post-conflict settings, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund and their strategic cooperation with UNICEF are critical. Finally, we must establish credible systems of accountability and support existing international mechanisms to prosecute perpetrators of the six grave violations against children.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We must prioritize and invest in preventive actions to combat the underlying reasons for gender inequality. Conflict- related sexual violence continues with complete impunity in many places and is used to punish, terrorize and destroy populations. Therefore, we must increase our funding for the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, especially in conflict-affected settings. The Security Council must also consider incorporating conflict- related sexual violence as a designation criterion for targeted sanctions. We must redouble our efforts to eliminate abductions of children, not least boys, for recruitment and use by armed groups, and we must support children who are affected. Failure to do so has immediate and long-term consequences for stability and security.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In the Sahel, for example, where 60 per cent of the population is under the age of 18, an entire generation risks being left behind. Across the region, close to 8,000 schools are closed due to violence. As a consequence, we have seen an increase in child recruitment, child marriages and early pregnancies among school-age girls. As in other contexts, education is crucial for breaking the cycle of conflict. We call on all States to endorse and implement the Safe Schools Declaration and resolution 2601 (2021) and to realize all children’s right to education. Crises exacerbate already existing gender inequalities. While boys are also impacted, girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, forced marriage and exploitation. As we know, the figures represent only the tip of the iceberg.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Governments must strengthen the protection of, and access to services for, refugee, migrant and displaced children. The denial of humanitarian access and life-saving assistance heavily affects children, which is quite simply unacceptable. We once again call on all parties to conflict to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian actors, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and to guarantee respect for humanitarian principles. The impact of armed conflict on education presents urgent humanitarian, development and social challenges. Access to safe, quality and conflict-sensitive education can help protect children and young people from death and exploitation. For girls in particular, education also reduces the risk of child marriages and early pregnancies.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Nearly 37 million children are displaced worldwide — the highest number ever recorded — and that shocking figure does not include the children displaced in 2022, including as a result of Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which has placed Ukrainian children at increased risk of separation from their families, forced deportations, trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence. We call on Russia to end its violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Ukraine, including grave violations against children. Refugee, internally displaced and stateless children are particularly vulnerable to grave violations. The Security Council must play a more effective role in preventing displacement around the world.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Specifically, the dramatic increase in sexual violence, particularly against girls, is deeply concerning, as is the increase in abductions and attacks on schools. Those are all likely to lead to other forms of grave violations. We call upon all parties to armed conflict to fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international refugee law, in order to prevent and end grave violations against children. We must prioritize the protection of the rights and well-being of all children in armed conflict.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I deliver this statement on behalf of Norway, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country, Denmark. Allow me, at the outset, to thank Brazil for organizing today’s open debate as well as to express our particular appreciation, admiration and sincere gratitude to the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Children and Armed Conflict, Mrs. Gamba de Potgieter, and her Office for their important work and tireless commitment to ending the six grave violations against children in armed conflict. We are deeply alarmed by the scale and scope of grave violations against children, as outlined in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2022/493). The Nordic countries strongly condemn all the incidents of the grave violations described in the report.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In conclusion, the importance of strategic communications in United Nations peacekeeping is indisputable. It is a critical whole-of-mission responsibility. New technologies and communication platforms offer new capabilities for sharing information with the public and gathering public input to enhance the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping. The Nordic countries remain steadfast in providing support for exploring the possibilities offered by new technologies, and we will continue to work to promote the key role of strategic communications in United Nations peace operations with all relevant stakeholders. In that regard, the Nordic countries welcome the initiative by the Secretariat to develop a new communications strategy that will provide the basis for much-needed training materials for civilian and uniformed peacekeepers.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“It is therefore vital for United Nations peace operations to proactively monitor and combat instances of hate speech and incitement to violence. That requires an active engagement with local communities, whose voices also often have more resonance than those coming from United Nations officials. Thirdly and finally, United Nations peacekeeping operations need to ensure the systematic use of gender-sensitive communications in order to advance the women and peace and security agenda as a tool for changing gender norms, addressing issues related to gender-based violence and promoting women’s participation in political or public life. Similarly, proactive and transparent communications with local actors to create a protective environment for civilians are critical for preventing conflict-related sexual violence in mission areas.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“To that end, the Security Council, together with the United Nations and troop- and police-contributing countries, should ensure that United Nations peacekeeping operations are able to act as trusted sources of information. Strategic communications can contribute to the protection of civilians objectives in several ways, such as by building trust; ensuring that mission strategies are informed by the priorities and concerns of local communities under threat; managing expectations by informing local communities about the mission’s strategy and measures; clarifying and correcting misinformation; discouraging local populations from joining armed groups; and countering narratives that encourage and exacerbate violence.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“We, the Nordic countries, welcome the work on detecting, analysing and addressing misinformation and disinformation that has been initiated under the Strategy for the Digital Transformation of United Nations Peacekeeping. It is absolutely key that emerging technologies be accompanied by adequate staffing with trained and equipped personnel so as to proactively address misinformation and disinformation, as well as by sound policy and guidance that treat strategic communications as central to mission planning and decision-making. Secondly, United Nations peacekeeping operations should scale up the use of a whole-of-mission approach to strategic communications, which fosters local dialogue and engagement and creates a more protective environment for civilians.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“A survey conducted by the Department of Peace Operations in March shows that 44 per cent of peacekeeping mission personnel indicate that misinformation and disinformation have a severe or critical impact on the work of missions. Therefore, as mission theatres become increasingly dangerous, effective communications become critical in securing the political and public support that United Nations peacekeeping needs in order to create a safe operational environment. As Member States, we have a shared responsibility to ensure that robust mandates and complex tasks are matched by the specialized skills and capabilities that they require. The use of emerging technologies is paramount in that regard.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“Strategic communications are strong tools for countering emerging threats by addressing misinformation and disinformation, which if left unchallenged hold the potential to inflict long- term damage on the credibility of United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions. Despite considerable progress, more needs to be done, not just by the Secretariat and mission leadership but also by Member States, including troop- and police-contributing countries, as well as by host nations. Let me outline a few actions. First, we need to acknowledge that effective strategic communications can help improve the safety and security of our peacekeepers. When troops and police are unable to adequately protect themselves, they are unable to protect those they serve.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“In Mali, influential militia and foreign mercenaries are leading disinformation campaigns against United Nations peacekeepers, falsely claiming that the United Nations creates terrorist organizations. That undermines the ability of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali to support the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, protect civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. And it puts the lives of civilians and peacekeepers at increased risk. The Action for Peacekeeping Plus initiative recognizes the enabler and multiplier effect of strategic communications through its focus on increasing confidence in peace processes, responding to public sentiment and building support for missions’ mandate among local populations and other relevant stakeholders.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“In recent years, United Nations peacekeeping operations have become more frequent targets of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, posing new operational and reputational risks for United Nations missions. Many examples could be cited. Let me mention just a few. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, false information is circulated on social media with the malicious intention of discrediting the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Simultaneously, there has been an escalation in hate speech and incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence that exacerbates mistrust among communities and fuels violent conflict.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“On behalf of the Nordic countries — Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Denmark — I want to thank Brazil for convening this timely meeting. I also wanted to thank today’s briefers — Secretary-General António Guterres, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Lieutenant General Marcos De Sá Affonso Da Costa and Ms. Jenna Russo — for their insightful remarks and above all, their important work on addressing the key role of strategic communications in United Nations peacekeeping. The distribution of accurate content and the countering of misinformation and disinformation have taken on added importance in recent years. Malicious actors are exploiting the rapid advances in technology and the evolution of social media.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090 (2022) · source
“We all have an interest in ensuring that United Nations targeted sanctions respect international due process standards. We must continue to improve the mechanisms in order to safeguard the integrity of the Security Council decisions and ensure that the effective and universal implementation of United Nations sanctions regimes is not disrupted. The Group stands ready to support such efforts, and we welcome this opportunity of the open debate to discuss with so many distinguished and influential participants the various ways in which the Security Council’s working methods and due process can be improved.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“We also encourage incoming members to adopt a favourable approach to due process reforms. The Group would also like to warmly welcome the appointment of Mr. Richard Malanjum, who assumed his official functions as Ombudsperson on 14 February. The Group reiterates that the Office of the Ombudsperson should be able to carry out its mandate in an independent, impartial and effective manner, as set out in resolution 2368 (2017). However, the Group remains concerned that the independence of the Office is being undermined by the current contractual status and institutional arrangement of the Office of the Ombudsperson within the Secretariat. The Group urges the Security Council and the Secretary-General to continue their efforts to improve the Council’s working methods in that area.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“The event brought together Security Council members, other States Members of the United Nations, United Nations senior officials, members of United Nations panels of experts and leading international scholars in order to review ongoing challenges and explore new approaches. We are aware of, and, as the Group, have reflected on, various options, such as extending the mandate of the Ombudsperson to all sanctions regimes, creating context-sensitive review mechanisms or the enhancement of the Focal Point for Delisting into an actual independent review mechanism. The time has now come for the Security Council to address such concerns in an agile and innovative manner, and we urge the Council to be open-minded when presented with possible suggestions for improvements.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“As we are all aware, national and regional courts are increasingly considering cases in relation to the United Nations sanctions regimes without access to an Ombudsperson mechanism. Avoiding any gap in Member States’ abilities to implement United Nations sanctions is a critical element to ensure the legitimacy of the sanctions. The issue of improving due process for missions formed the basis of rich discussions at a workshop convened at Greentree on 27 and 28 April this year, involving the Group of Like-Minded States on Targeted Sanctions and co-hosted by Switzerland, Norway, Ireland and the Graduate Institute in Geneva.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“Security Council targeted sanctions are an important tool to address threats to international peace and security. However, the Group of Like-Minded States on Targeted Sanctions considers that due process standards must be improved. The issue of due process is twofold. Not only is it about safeguarding the human rights of the targeted individuals, but it is also fundamental to Member States’ ability to implement the sanctions, and is therefore a key component to ensure their effectiveness. The Office of the Ombudsperson is mandated to review only cases on the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Da’esh and Al-Qaida sanctions list. Yet there are 13 other sanctions committees, for which there is no independent system to review delisting requests.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“Let me begin by thanking Albania, both as current President of the Security Council and as Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, for convening this open debate. Let me also extend our thanks and appreciation to the briefers for their very insightful remarks. I deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Like-Minded States on Targeted Sanctions — Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and my own country, Denmark. Ensuring transparency, efficiency and effectiveness in the work of the Security Council includes the strengthening of fair and clear procedures and due process for United Nations sanctions regimes.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“As enshrined in the responsibility to protect, the primary responsibility to protect populations from atrocity crimes lies with States. When atrocities do occur, accountability must be ensured to help prevent them from happening again and to deliver justice to their victims. I want to assure the Council that the Nordic countries are steadfast supporters in the global fight against impunity.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We fully support and urge other Member States to join initiatives to limit the use of the veto in that context, including the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group code of conduct and the Franco-Mexican initiative. The Security Council also has the power to advance accountability by referring situations to the International Criminal Court (ICC). We urge the Council to look into further ways it can support the work of the ICC, in particular in relation to the situations it has referred to the Court. Our ultimate goal must be to prevent atrocity crimes from happening in the first place, and rigorous compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law and human rights law, is the only way to achieve that.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“As Nordic countries, we are unwavering in our support for the International Criminal Court. We are also committed to the elaboration of a convention on crimes against humanity, which would give States the necessary additional tools to prevent and punish such crimes at the national level. The Security Council is entrusted with the primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security. In fulfilling its mandate, it must respond decisively to atrocity crimes wherever they occur. The use of the veto in the Council is unacceptable in the context of atrocity crimes. We welcome the resolution on the veto initiative adopted by the General Assembly in April, which is a step in the right direction (General Assembly resolution 76/262).”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We welcome accountability initiatives such as the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the activation of the Moscow mechanism of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In both New York and Geneva, the Group of Friends of Accountability following the aggression against Ukraine will continue to support those efforts. Atrocities are not limited to the war in Ukraine. It is equally important to continue the fight for accountability in the Sudan, Syria, Myanmar, Ethiopia and elsewhere. Victims of atrocities deserve justice, no matter who they are or where they are. Criminal responsibility for the most serious international crimes must be achieved through the domestic and international prosecution of the individuals responsible.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“It is not an inevitable by-product of war; it is a crime that can be prevented and must be punished. We strongly urge Russia to comply with the legally binding order of the International Court of Justice of 16 March and immediately suspend its military operations in Ukraine. We fully support the investigation by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court into the situation in Ukraine, as well as national investigations. All perpetrators must be held accountable. Important work is also carried out on the ground by several actors, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and civil society to collect and preserve evidence.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Denmark. It is appalling to hear reports of atrocity crimes continuously being committed around the world. Let us be clear: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other gross violations of international law can never be excused. Russia’s unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine has once again reminded us of the importance of an international response to atrocities. We have witnessed indiscriminate killings of civilians, as well as sexual and gender-based violence and attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. Conflict-related sexual violence and rape are a blatant violation of human rights and may constitute war crimes.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We must prioritize preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence, providing life-saving sexual and reproductive health services and further integrating mental health and psychosocial support into preparedness, response and recovery, through meaningful and equal partnerships, including with women-led organizations. Ultimately, ending civilian suffering during conflict is a question of political will, and parties to conflict must actively pursue peace and protect civilians. We must hold them accountable when they fail to honour those responsibilities.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“And a core priority should be reaching internally displaced persons, who are often in particularly vulnerable positions. We emphasize the need to align and mainstream the protection of IDPs as an integrated part of the protection of civilians, including in United Nations peacekeeping missions. Thirdly, we must be better at reaching persons belonging to the most marginalized groups, such as children and women, and do so by focusing on their special protection needs, as well as on addressing the gendered impacts of war.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We must work actively and on multiple fronts to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access. I would like to make three points. First, we must counter the deeply worrisome trends of misinformation and disinformation eroding trust in the humanitarian mandate, putting humanitarians at risk and denying civilians the protection they need and require. To improve and maintain access, we must all do our part to ensure that the neutral, impartial and independent nature of humanitarian action is understood and respected. Secondly, the report of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Internal Displacement and Action Agenda have created new momentum to design better solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs). We must build on it.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We are appalled by the number of humanitarian workers who are kidnapped, wounded or killed around the globe. Local humanitarians suffer by far the greatest proportion of casualties, and the percentage is increasing. We must take concrete measures to protect humanitarian actors working to save lives, including by investing in the safety and security of local staff. It is vital that life-saving assistance and protection reach the people most in need and people in hard-to- reach areas. We once again call on parties to conflict to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian actors, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and to guarantee respect for humanitarian principles. That is the responsibility of all parties to conflict, and the importance of it cannot be understated and the responsibility cannot be ignored.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The updated Guidelines of the International Committee of the Red Cross on the Protection of the Natural Environment in Armed Conflict and the work done by the International Law Commission should and must guide our endeavours. We are extremely concerned about the rising conflict-driven food insecurity in many parts of the world, such as the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and Yemen, which is further aggravated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Nordic countries support international efforts to counter the crisis, including the Secretary-General’s Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, in which the Prime Minister of Denmark is one of six Global Champions. More efforts are needed to alleviate hunger in armed conflict, and caused by armed conflict, in line with resolution 2417 (2018).”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The war in Ukraine is another tragic example of the civilian consequences of war in urban and densely populated areas, where civilians are at higher risk and where civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, is too often hit or even targeted. We call on all States to engage constructively in the ongoing consultations on a political declaration to address the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Armed conflicts also have devastating effects on the natural environment, which further compounds the long-term consequences of conflict for civilians. International humanitarian law provides rules for protecting the environment in armed conflict, and those rules need to be put into action.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We would like to thank the Secretary-General for his efforts to push for an end to the aggression. Devastating Russian attacks on cities such as Mariupol have yet again shown the urgent need for full compliance with international humanitarian law and the tragic consequences for civilians when international humanitarian law is so blatantly ignored. We must never accept impunity for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Let me repeat, we must never do that, and the Nordic countries will never accept impunity for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I deliver these remarks on behalf of the Nordic countries, namely, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Denmark. We are extremely concerned about the devastating impacts of compounding conflicts and crises on civilians around the world. As always, people in the most vulnerable and marginalized situations are impacted the most. In order to save lives and alleviate human suffering, there is an urgent need to end conflicts and ensure full respect for international humanitarian law. With the Russian aggression against Ukraine, we are seeing an unprecedented scale of destruction of critical civilian infrastructure and historically rapid displacement. We call on Russia to immediately end its unjustified war and spare civilian lives.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We need to promote participation, protection and prevention simultaneously. Intervention must take a survivor-centred approach and include survivors’ access to basic health services and rights, including sexual and reproductive-health and reproductive-rights services, mental-health and psychosocial support, efforts to prevent child marriages and access to justice. Intervention must build on and further strengthen partnerships with women- led and women-focused organizations, as well as LGBTQI+ organizations, including through capacity- strengthening and sufficient rapid and flexible funding and core funding. The Nordic countries will continue to work to end impunity and ensure accountability for all acts of conflict-related sexual violence in collaboration with all partners, including civil society and women-led organizations.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We also call for further deployment of women protection advisers and child protection advisers to both United Nations peace operations and the offices of United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinators in relevant contexts. We note that they play a key role in reporting on and addressing conflict-related sexual violence in the field. We already have the required normative and legal framework to address conflict-related sexual violence and other forms of violence committed against civilians in armed conflicts, including women and children. What is urgently needed now is accelerated implementation of the existing legal and normative framework, which requires substantial political will as well as funding. An increased focus on protection cannot come at the expense of the promotion of women’s full, equal and meaningful participation.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We would like to encourage the United Nations to contribute to shedding the light on the role of State parties and private military and security actors with regard to conflict-related sexual violence and the possibility of adding them to the Secretary-General’s list. Fourthly, we call on the United Nations and its States Members to support investigations and prosecutions of conflict-related sexual violence and to ensure the safe participation of survivors and witnesses in judicial processes. Accountability, compliance and reparations can only be ensured through the adoption of strong national, legal and policy frameworks on sexual and gender-based violence and remedies for survivors. Fifthly, the Security Council must reflect prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence in mandates for the renewal of peace operations.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The low levels of compliance with the framework on conflict- related sexual violence put in place by the Security Council starting in 2008 is simply not acceptable. An alarming 70 per cent of the parties listed in the report of the Secretary-General are persistent perpetrators and have appeared on the Secretary-General’s list for five or more years now. Thirdly, to ensure better accountability for conflict- related sexual violence, we must focus on both State and non-State actors. State parties are often not scrutinized enough, and, similarly, among non-State actors, we see a lack of focus on the role of private military and security actors, including the Wagner Group.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source