YouSaid · the spoken record

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lines on the record: 867
first: 2017-10-31
most recent: 2020-11-12
sittings or episodes: 144
sources: un-security-council

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“While the United Nations has been requesting access for months, still no agreement has been reached on a third desperately needed convoy to the Rukban camp. That is unacceptable. The United Nations and its partners must be able to provide assistance to those remaining in the camp. Inhabitants should be able to make an informed choice as to whether or not to leave the camp in a voluntary, safe and dignified manner. For those who are willing to leave the camp, key protection standards must be in place. That includes regular and continued access throughout the transition from the camp to their final destinations. The situation in the Al-Hol camp also remains deeply concerning. It is overcrowded and the humanitarian agencies and partners working there face challenging conditions.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source
“While we strongly condemn the attacks perpetrated by Security Council-designated terrorist groups, notably Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, we remind all parties that counter-terrorism efforts cannot absolve the obligations of all parties under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and respect for the principles of distinction and proportionality. We reiterate our call for the sustained implementation of the ceasefire arrangements of the Russia-Turkey memorandum of understanding of September 2018. We also reiterate our call for a nation-wide cessation of hostilities in accordance with resolution 2401 (2018). We call for a surge in diplomacy among the key players to urgently stabilize and de-escalate the situation.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source
“Those people are among the most vulnerable, many of them having been displaced several times or facing family separation in fleeing the violence. The attacks on civilian infrastructure, including schools and health-care facilities, over the past few weeks are deeply alarming, especially those on health-care facilities whose coordinates were communicated under the deconfliction mechanism. We recall resolutions 2286 (2016) and 2427 (2018), which condemn attacks on hospitals and schools, respectively.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source
“We have heard repeatedly the clear assessment of the United Nations that any large-scale military offensive would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe for Syria and the region. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs again today drew the Council's attention to the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in north- western Syria as a result of the continued air strikes and shelling and the reported use of barrels bombs. We call for the protection of the 3 million civilians living in the region and we condemn the loss ofinnocent civilian lives. The 350,000 internally displaced persons who were left with no other choice than fleeing the violence face a particularly dire situation.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source
“If you, Mr. President, were to put out the hourglass again, we would see more clearly that we are speaking within the five minutes. I will deliver this statement on behalf of the three co-penholders: Kuwait, Germany and Belgium. I would like to thank the briefers for the information that they provided today on the humanitarian situation in Syria. We extend our gratitude and deep respect to all humanitarian and medical workers throughout Syria, especially those in the very challenging environment in and around Idlib. As the Secretary-General said last week, the situation in Idlib is especially dangerous and, yet again, civilians are paying a horrific price. The Council has met on numerous occasions, most recently last week (see S/PV.8553), to address that situation.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source
“Kuwait, Belgium and Germany, the co-penholders of the humanitarian dossier, are in favour of a balanced approach to the choice of briefers. We expect every briefer to respect today's humanitarian, non-political agenda, and we trust that the Head of the Russian Reconciliation Centre will support that agenda in his briefing as well. Since the de-confliction mechanism is on our agenda today, and we would like to understand why it has failed utterly and led to the death of innocent civilians, the Centre may be able to shed some light on that question. We note the presence today in the Chamber of the Executive Director of the Syrian American Medical Society, which should complement the rest of the picture.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8561 (2019) · source
“Ifit helps, it will be very good to continue to do that and make some progress on reconciliation. Lastly, coming back to human rights, I would like to underline the importance of guaranteeing fundamental freedoms in South Sudan. The two vital aspects are that human rights defenders must be able to do their job and freedom of expression must be guaranteed. We are appalled by the conviction of Peter Biar Ajak, a journalist who criticized the Government. This is about life in the international community. If all the journalists who criticized Governments were put in jail, there would not be enough jails. Freedom of expression is fundamental, including in South Sudan.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8560 (2019) · source
“Shearer said, and based on our own analysis, there is no task that the pre-transitional Government authorities can accomplish that cannot be fulfilled by a transitional one. I appreciate what Mr. Shearer said about his activities relating to local reconciliation, but while it is very important that the communities get along, we have to go to the national level. It is absolutely essential that Mr. Kiir and Mr. Machar meet and do theirjob. That is what the people on the ground ask and expect of their leaders. With regard to the political process, we are watching the important close cooperation between the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union and the United Nations. I would also like to highlight IGAD's outreach activities with non-signatories and the Holy See's plan for a spiritual retreat.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8560 (2019) · source
“Shearer for his engagement and that of all the peacekeepers. They are doing a fantastic job. He mentioned how much they have done to protect refugees. He provided figures with regard to their return to their places of origin. It is very important that he continue to support that. As he himself highlighted, those returns must be safe, informed, voluntary and dignified. Unfortunately, the fact remains that the work of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is still obstructed. It still does not have full freedom of movement. In that regard, I also urge the Government and all actors to guarantee that UNMISS can do its work. I agree that the postponement to November of the deadline with regard to the establishment of the transitional Government must be the final postponement. As Mr.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8560 (2019) · source
“We also fully support what many have said about the need to have women participate in the political pre-transitional and transitional processes. The quota must be reached and it must be an inclusive process. Also, impunity must end. We still have not made progress on the hybrid court. We need to see that those who have committed the atrocities are actually brought before the court. With regard to the sanctions that we have imposed on South Sudan, those who are committing these crimes have also been inscribed on that list. Therefore, I also request that David Shearer, among his many tasks, continue to work very hard with civil society and look in particular at what is happening and not happening with regard to sexual violence, women's participation and impunity. I would also like to thank Mr.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8560 (2019) · source
“I would first like to thank all the briefers. I hope that David Shearer and Andrew Gilmour will forgive me ifI single out Lydia Minagano first in my remarks. This is the second time since March that we have had a very impressive woman from civil society in South Sudan briefing the Council. While we heard from Mr. Shearer and Mr. Gilmour about the improvements with regard to the security situation and the overall human rights situation, there is still a lot of sexual and gender-based violence, which remains at a worrisome level and is unacceptable. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by the conflict. We heard the heartbreaking story about women and children who are displaced in camps. We have to continue to focus on that.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8560 (2019) · source
“Disregarding it and assessing the country situation selectively jeopardizes the effectiveness of the Council's work. In that regard, I would like to note that the hearing last week in Washington of the proposed new United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations sent some encouraging signals, in that she specifically recognized the importance of climate change.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8559 (2019) · source
“In that regard, I would point to the 2011 presidential statement on the subject (S/PRST/2011/15). Haiti is one of the countries ofthe world that is most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The effects of climate change there constitute a threat multiplier, bringing the risk of further destabilizing the country, creating new conflict over increasingly diminishing resources and derailing efforts aimed at peacebuilding and stabilization. The Security Council should therefore examine the situation more closely with a View to including the effects of climate change in its overall assessments and decision-making, and to do that we need a proper information basis, including a substantial risk assessment. Turning a blind eye to the problem will not make a threat multiplier like climate change disappear.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8559 (2019) · source
“We want to make this transition work, and we want the new special political mission to be able to work jointly with the country team, effectively and efficiently, from the outset. One point I particularly want to highlight is that while we were pleased to see the reference in the resolution to the adverse effects of natural disasters on Haiti's stability, we were surprised and disappointed that there was no reference to the security implications of the effects of climate change. At least since 2011 the Security Council has repeatedly expressed its concern about the possibility that the effects of climate change may aggravate existing threats to international peace and security, and has underlined the importance of conflict analysis and contextual information, including on the security implications of climate change in relevant situations.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8559 (2019) · source
“Germany welcomes today's adoption of resolution 2476 (2019), although we are disappointed that it did not receive the Security Council's full support. We welcome the mandate for a strategic political United Nations presence that will support the Haitian Government in tackling the many challenges presented by the extremely fragile political situation, including ensuring the necessary structural reforms, starting a constructive and inclusive national dialogue, protecting human rights, meeting the people's humanitarian needs and strengthening the police and justice institutions. Of course, ownership belongs to the Haitians themselves when it comes to shaping the future of their country. Together with the international community, Germany stands ready to support Haiti in that endeavour.”
2019-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8559 (2019) · source
“The United Nations and its partners must be in a position to assess needs properly and to deliver humanitarian assistance without obstacles, including through the cross-border mechanism in accordance with resolution 2449 (2018), which remains the crucial lifeline to millions in north-western Syria. We sincerely thank the whole humanitarian community for its efforts to continue to bring life-saving assistance to people in need. Last but not least, we reiterate our full support to Special Envoy Pederson in his efforts to reach an inclusive and credible political solution in Syria on the basis of resolution 2254 (2015) and the Geneva communique of 2012 (S/2021/522, annex).”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8553 (2019) · source
“We echo the clear and repeated assessment of the United Nations that any wide-scale military offensive would lead to a humanitarian catastrophe for Syria and the region. The co-penholders are unified in their condemnation of any attack by members of United Nations-designated terrorist groups, such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. However, the fight against terrorism can neverjustify indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Counter-terrorism operations do not override the responsibility and obligations of parties to protect civilians. Nor should they impede impartial humanitarian action. On the contrary, all parties to conflict must allow and facilitate principled humanitarian action. Humanitarian access must be provided in an unconditional, safe, timely, unhindered and sustained manner.”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8553 (2019) · source
“We, the co-penholders, remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law, based on the Geneva Conventions and its Protocols, including the humanitarian principles to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. We once again recall the obligations under resolutions 2286 (2016) and 2427 (2018). Those who have committed violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law must be held accountable. We stand firm in our commitment to fight impunity. We welcome all sustained efforts and ongoing dialogue to reinstate the ceasefire arrangements of the Russian-Turkish memorandum of understanding signed in September 2018. We call on all parties to fully implement it in order to de-escalate the situation and protect the lives of 3 million people, including 1 million children.”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8553 (2019) · source
“We are highly alarmed by the persistent attacks on civilian infrastructure, including 26 health-care facilities and 37 schools. This is appalling. It seems as if we are losing the very essence of humanity. The indiscriminate use of weapons, especially in densely populated areas, is unacceptable. Such attacks show complete disregard for human life and follow a strategy of collective punishment. In addition, the reported intentional use of incendiary weapons to destroy farmland and agricultural equipment adds a new horrific dimension to the conflict and runs counter to resolution 2417 (2018). Farmers are already struggling to access their land and harvest their crops.”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8553 (2019) · source
“I deliver this statement on behalf of the three humanitarian co-penholders - Belgium, Kuwait and Germany. We would like to thank Mr. Mark Lowcock, Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, for their briefings and updates. The situation in north-western Syria remains deeply unsettling. We reiterate our deep concern about the continuing violence in recent weeks in north-western Syria, including indiscriminate aerial bombardments and heavy shelling. As a result, we have witnessed more civilian casualties and displaced people. The number of internally displaced persons since April has surpassed 300,000. We see people, including many children, living without any shelter. We also condemn the loss of innocent lives as a result of this escalation.”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8553 (2019) · source
“They have decided that the Rapid Support Forces should take over the sites where UNAMID is stationed. I believe that we cannot accept that. We fully support what the Force Commander is planning with regard to the team sites being taken over by universities, hospitals or civil society. But to have them as outposts of the Rapid Support Forces, which were responsible for what is now being called the "Khartoum massacre" on 3 June, is unacceptable. We cannot accept that the UNAMID team sites will in future be the sites ofthe RSF, which is the follow-up organization to the Janjaweed, who were co-responsible for the outbreak of the Darfur conflict from the very beginning. The meeting rose at 12.35 pm.”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8552 (2019) · source
“First, I wish very briefly to thank both Commanders for their responses to the questions, their level of detail and their commitment to their tasks, as reflected in their answers. I want briefly to come back to the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). I am somewhat afraid that we are too much on autopilot with respect to the drawdown of UNAMID. From what I heard about the challenges that the Force Commander faces, we are aware that he and his troops are able to handle most ofthose, but they are still challenges. From my perspective, the most important of these was perhaps not sufficiently highlighted, and that is the fact that we now have a new environment in Khartoum. The Transitional Military Council is now in control, and the strongman General Hamdan is the head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8552 (2019) · source
“Lastly, I would like to add on to what my colleague from Peru said with regard to sexual violence. Two weeks ago, we again witnessed sexual violence being used in Khartoum. Khartoum is no longer UNAMID's area of operation, but what can the Lieutenant General tell us about sexual violence in the area where UNAMID is operational? What can be done? What has Lieutenant General Ngondi been doing to fight sexual violence in conflict?”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8552 (2019) · source
“Sexual violence was once again used. What happens in such cases, or when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is violated by the authorities? I would like to ask the Lieutenant General what military consequences he expects if we continue with the drawdown of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), a decision that was made when the weather was fair. What consequences are expected when the Rapid Support Forces, as the Transitional Military Council decrees, takes over the team sites? What can he tell us about his experience on the ground? How is the RSF accepted by the local African population? Does he expect renewed clashes in Darfur? Perhaps he can tell us something about the situation in Darfur over the past week.”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8552 (2019) · source
“We all know that the Rapid Support Forces were previously known as the Janjaweed, who were responsible for the mass atrocities in Darfur. The Lieutenant General mentioned looting at team sites and said that the Government is not fulfilling its obligation to allow access. Furthermore, he said that land ownership was the major issue at the root of much of the conflict, which had not been addressed. In that context, I have of course listened to all of those who said how important it is for peacekeeping operations to have good relations with the authorities and that host authorities have the main obligation to protect civilians. The challenge, then, is what happens if the authorities do not fulfil their obligations? Two weeks ago, in Khartoum, the authorities were responsible for the death of over 100 people.”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8552 (2019) · source
“Given that, what more can be done to re-establish or strengthen the authority of the mission? What can be done internally, perhaps with the Secretary-General or with Mr. Lacroix? Perhaps she could tell us a bit about the "internal cuisine". Also, what action can the Security Council take? Turning now to the situation in the Sudan, I do not think anyone perceives the situation there to be quiet. I would like to commend Lieutenant General Leonard Muriuki Ngondi for his briefing, which was very precise and very much to the point. I understood from his statement that he finds the situation worrisome. I also understood that the handover of team sites to civilians, as foreseen by the mandate, is not taking place, but that there is an order by the Transitional Military Council to give the team sites to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8552 (2019) · source
“At the outset, I wish to commend you, Mr. President, for organizing this debate. You have been very successful in terms of holding the shortest and most interactive briefings ever. Germany wishes to pay tribute to the peacekeepers, soldiers and police deployed worldwide and recognizes their actions, achievements and the sacrifices they must often make. Turning to Major General Cheryl Pearce, those who do not follow the developments in Cyprus on a daily basis might have the impression that the situation there is rather quiet. She helpfully pointed out that there has been an increase in violations and a hardening of positions, which certainly has an impact on the overall situation in Cyprus. She mentioned in particular that the authority of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus in the buffer zone is questioned.”
2019-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8552 (2019) · source
“Military engagement has not changed anything on the ground, which is yet another reason to stop the military escalation. With regard to the coalition, we are concerned about reports regarding air attacks on Sana'a and beyond, with several civilian casualties. As in most humanitarian situations, women and children are the victims. We make an appeal to allow access to all humanitarian actors so that they can do their job. All actors on the ground must respect international humanitarian law, in particular with regard to children and women. I would like to highlight one aspect, which was mentioned by my Russian colleague, who spoke about accountability for the attacks perpetrated in the Gulf of Oman. We condemn those attacks. With respect to developments in Yemen, we must highlight the issue of accountability.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“Concerning the faction of Ansar Allah impeding his work, how brutal, cynical and selfish can you be to do what he has described, to the extent that he is even forced to consider stopping his work? I do not want to talk about the wider region; I will focus on Yemen. I can only repeat what has been said before and appeal to all those with influence on the parties to do everything they can to stop the conflict. As Mr. Cohen, along with several others, said in his intervention, there is no military solution to the problem. Instead of realizing that, resuming negotiations and allowing humanitarian aid, we hear that there is military escalation. Therefore, we must be united in condemning such escalation. That also holds true with regard to attacks on the airport in Saudi Arabia.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“Griffiths. It is always very depressing to listen to Mr. Lowcock's briefings - approximately 15 times now - as the situation continues to worsen. I do not wish to repeat what I said the last time around. Germany fully supports Mr. Lowcock and will honour the pledges we made at the pledging conference. We have met our pledge of â‚¬100 million - equivalent to approximately $115 million - and we have more in the pipeline. I would appeal to everyone who participated in that conference to honour the pledges made. That also goes for the members of the coalition. It is good to see David Beasley here in the Chamber. Germany fully supports his work. Germany has also been a very reliable partner of the World Food Programme. We are increasingly worried about what he told us with regard to the situation on the ground.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“I will be brief. Germany supports what was said, in particular by my colleague of the United Kingdom at the beginning of the meeting. Having listened to the earlier statements, I must say that there is unity in the Council with regard to Yemen. I believe that we must our utmost to gain traction on the subject and try to ensure that we make progress on the ground. First, I would like to tell Martin Griffiths that Germany fully supports his efforts. We have full confidence and trust in his work. I recall what Mark Lowcock said at the end of his intervention when he mentioned the film Groundhog Day and said that everything had to change in order to achieve a result. Therefore, we also support his ideas and initiatives so long as he stays within the mandate and the rules-based international order. Germany fully supports the work of Mr.”
2019-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8551 (2019) · source
“We want it to go in the right direction, and for that it needs elections, socioeconomic development, respect for human rights and plurality.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8550 (2019) · source
“We further appeal for independent media - not just the BBC but others as well - to be allowed to report freely. With regard to human rights, I listened to our briefers who talked about the worrying human rights situation, where they say there are threats to civil society and civil freedoms. I therefore appeal to the Ambassador to do everything to allow the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights back into Bujumbura. On the socioeconomic front, I also want to support what Ambassador Lauber said about the importance of supporting the national development plan. The Peacebuilding Fund is ready to do that. Again, I think the international community wants to support Burundi. We are not its enemy but rather its supporter.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8550 (2019) · source
“At the same time, I also encourage those in the neighbouring region, including the East African Community and the guarantors of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, to continue their engagement and see to it that progress is made. The fact that former President Kafando was not received during his last visit to Burundi is very sad. I listened to my colleague from South Africa who clearly said that President Kafando is doing critical work there. I therefore once again urge Burundi to continue to prepare for the elections. It is very good that initial steps have been taken in that regard, but we are also hearing reports that opposition politicians are being arrested. And according to Burundian law, political actors living in exile are not allowed to run for election.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8550 (2019) · source
“We also heard very clearly how everyone in the region and from the United Nations is ready to help. It was very encouraging to hear what the East African Community, the African Union, the United Nations, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund are doing. That international engagement is absolutely essential to achieving what the country needs, which is free, fair and transparent elections and the promotion of the reconciliation process and socioeconomic development. We heard the figures on the number of refugees, as well as the implications of climate change. The refugees must be reintegrated and the participation of women and young people promoted. In that regard, I appeal to the Ambassador of Burundi to accept that support.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8550 (2019) · source
“With regard to what you said at the beginning about everyone speaking for no more than five minutes, Mr. President, I would not mind if you brought back the hourglass to help us with that. Unlike my Russian colleague, I believe that it is very timely that this issue is back on the agenda, because we believe that it still represents a threat to peace and security. Burundi's domestic political crisis is unresolved, its security situation is volatile and there are tensions in neighbouring areas. I know that our friend the Ambassador of Burundi, who believes that the issue should not be discussed here, also shares that reluctance to include it on our agenda. But first of all, as we have heard today, a number of crises, both domestic and regional, continue.”
2019-06-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8550 (2019) · source
“Ultimately, resolving the issue of missing persons is very important for reconciliation and having a policy of preventing disappearance in place is very important for conflict prevention. That is why Germany has ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. We also believe that the work of the International Commission on Missing Persons is important. Lastly, I would like to refer to what my colleague from Equatorial Guinea said with regard to how important is that the Security Council deal with questions of international humanitarian law and that international humanitarian law be respected because that relates directly to the preservation of peace and security and to the prevention of conflicts.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“That was underlined in the remarks by the President of the ICRC. In the end, we have to make sure that all parties uphold the right of families to receive information on the fate of missing relatives. Governments, armed forces and armed groups have an obligation to provide information and to help reunite families. We call on all parties to work with the ICRC to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place that deal with missing persons, and that has to be done early on. The President of the Council mentioned how important it is for this to be already done when a conflict breaks out. At the same time, in conflicts, as is the casein Syria and other places, we need Governments and parties to allow and facilitate the access of humanitarian personnel, and we need to safeguard humanitarian space.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“There are still missing persons from that conflict today. We encourage all efforts to resolve those issues, which is very important not only for the families, but also for reconciliation. With regard to resolution 2474 (2019), we co-sponsored it and we are very happy with it, but we would have liked the point with regard to accountability to be stronger. There is no reference to international criminal mechanisms because some members of the Council were against that. The Rome Statute clearly refers to enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity. We would have liked to have that reference in the resolution. We also want to take this occasion to underline our full support for the work of the International Criminal Court. I want to come back to the main issue, which is that this is a humanitarian issue.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“We therefore encourage the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria to work with the parties to secure the release of detainees and the location of missing persons, and we call for full cooperation. It is clear that the Syrian regime has engaged in a systematic and widespread pattern of forcibly disappearing persons for political reasons, retaliation and gathering-intelligence. That is unacceptable and needs to be to be addressed. Unfortunately, Syria is not the only case. Others have been mentioned already, including that of Nigeria. We all know the heartbreaking cases of the girls who have been abducted by Boko Haram. There have been other cases in South Sudan, Myanmar and, during an earlier war, in the Balkans. My British colleague mentioned the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“Most of the requests that we have been able to meet came from Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia and Eritrea. Syria is, for us, the toughest case. The Secretary- General, in his report (S/2019/373), expresses particular concern about Syria. There are more than 10,000 cases of missing persons, but the total number of people arbitrarily detained and missing persons is believed to be more than tenfold that amount. I think our colleague from the United Kingdom mentioned 60,000. I think, if one takes into consideration everything, it would be even more. The problem and challenge in Syria is that this continues and there is no end to the missing persons; their numbers continue to grow.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“I was dismayed by what Peter Maurer told us at the beginning ofthe meeting that there has actually been an alarming increase in the number of missing persons, despite the fact that we have clear international laws on that issue. That should really concern us. I would also like to express on this occasion my gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which has 150 years of experience, for what it does and what its work means and, when there are successes, what that means for individual families. Germany is participating, of course. The German Red Cross is also working very hard on the issue. It has a long history, but at the same time we are focusing right now on current issues. We are working hard to locate the relatives of refugees and migrants who have arrived in Germany in the past years.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“I thank you very much, Mr. President, for personally attending the meeting today. I think that underlines the importance that Kuwait, based on its history and experience, attaches to this issue. While I am praising you, I would also like to extend my congratulations to your Permanent Representative, Mr. Mansour Alotaibi, who worked very hard to get this done today. It is also his personal success. What Kuwait did is very much in line with what Germany and France did during their joint presidencies when we placed humanitarian issues very high on the Security Council's agenda. I think it is very important that this body deal with those issues. I would like to thank both of the briefers for their very impressive reports.”
2019-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8543 (2019) · source
“Lastly, let me turn briefly to the situation in Cameroon. Our United Kingdom colleague mentioned the Arria Formula meeting that we held a couple of weeks ago, where the most important issues were discussed. I think that it was a very significant meeting that highlighted the conflicts and at which there was very good civil society representation. There is a need for a peaceful resolution and dialogue. The humanitarian situation, the effects of climate change and the terrorist activities all have an impact. There are reports of human rights violations. Political dialogue is needed. We appreciate that fact that the Prime Minister has offered to enter into a dialogue with the Anglophone communities. I welcome that offer but it is extremely important that those words be translated into actions and deeds.”
2019-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8538 (2019) · source
“I would add - I think my South African colleague did not mention it - the cooperation with the European Union, which I believe to be very important. With regard to the situation in the Central African Republic, I can only echo what my French colleague said earlier, namely, that we all hope that the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation remains in place. However, we are very alarmed about the attacks against civilians, which we condemn. The humanitarian situation is dire in countries across the region - in the Central African Republic, the Lake Chad region, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi. Germany has pledged $100 million this year. It is important that humanitarian workers have access, and perhaps there is something that the Special Representative can do to that end.”
2019-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8538 (2019) · source
“We see the Special Representative as a catalyst for all the efforts with regard to disarmament and security sector reform in the region and in enabling the Peacebuilding Fund to become more engaged there. The Peacebuilding Fund is ready for that. We highlight the role of the Special Representative in furthering the participation of women in the various processes, which our Polish colleague mentioned. IfI may suggest, in the next report of the Secretary-General there could perhaps be a section on the role that women play in the various organizations that UNOCA works with and the different processes that it follows. I would also like to reiterate what my South African colleague said with regard to the cooperation between UNOCA and the African Union (AU) and the role that the AU plays.”
2019-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8538 (2019) · source
“I also see Special Representative Fall as a catalyst for bringing together the various United Nations actors in a coherent way. I therefore welcome what he said about cooperation with Mr. Chambas. I also see him as a catalyst for the transformation of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) into a more effective organization and praise what he has been doing in that regard. There are plans for ECCAS to be more effective. We really hope that that will become a reality because ECCAS is needed as a regional organization that can look at the conflict between herders and farmers that has been described and has been exacerbated by climate change, which has a significant impact on the region. I can only subscribe to what our colleague from the Dominican Republic just said on the issue.”
2019-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8538 (2019) · source
“I would like first to congratulate you, Mr. President, on Kuwait's assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of June. I would also like to wish you, Sir, an Eid Mubarak. We also wish to extend our thanks to Indonesia for its presidency during the month of May. I would like to start where my South Africa left off, namely, by praising the work of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) and of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Fall. We see him very much as a catalyst, in particular for regional cooperation. Many ofmy colleagues - notably, the representatives of France and Cote d'Ivoire - have emphasized the importance of regional cooperation because the problems that we face can be resolved only through such cooperation.”
2019-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8538 (2019) · source
“That notwithstanding, in our view the human rights situation remains very dire. The issue of sexual and gender-based violence remains. I would very much appreciate it if, during the next debate on this item, we could have a briefing on the human rights situation. Germany is of the view that the money saved on weapons would be much better spent on improving the justice system so that the perpetrators of sexual crimes there could be brought to justice. The Ambassador of South Africa also mentioned the dire humanitarian situation. Why not have those who want to buy arms spend the money on humanitarian resources instead?”
2019-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8536 (2019) · source
“In the face of such improvement, what effect would the lifting of the sanctions and the shipment of weapons have? As our South African friend remarked, there is a volatile political process. In that context, what effect would the shipment of additional arms have? We know that the parties have failed to adhere to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. One month ago (S/PV.8519), I expressed my doubts that the deadline in mid-May would be met, and it was not met. Why then should additional arms be sent? I think the one thing the country does not need is additional arms. We have also seen a reduction in human rights violations. Our Polish colleague linked that to the fact that there are fewer arms available there.”
2019-05-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8536 (2019) · source