YouSaid · the spoken record

Hoxha

lines on the record: 1,795
first: 2014-02-19
most recent: 2023-12-29
sittings or episodes: 264
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

“While reaffirming our unwavering commitment to giving unhindered access to civil society briefers in the work of the Council, we reiterate our position that the Russian Federation’s attitude is a deviation from that principle. To allow the participation of an illegal entity in a Council meeting would set a dangerous precedent. We therefore do not consider the briefer proposed by the Russian Federation to be competent to the purpose at hand, as stipulated in rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. Albania therefore opposes extending an invitation by the Council to the additional briefer proposed by the Russian Federation, and we kindly ask the other Member States of the Council to do the same — vote “no”.”
2023-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9286 (2023) · source
“It is clear once again that with its attitude today, the Russian Federation is trying to do what it does best — divert the focus away from the issues at hand and refrain from taking responsibility by creating a smokescreen. That is yet another deplorable attempt to misuse the Council for narrow interests other than the raison d’être of this organ. Furthermore, in extending such an invitation Russia is rubbing salt into the wound by inviting a representative of the so-called Donetsk people’s republic in a desperate attempt to legitimize what can never be legitimized — the invasion and annexation by force of a territory of another sovereign country.”
2023-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9286 (2023) · source
“The purpose of today’s meeting is to draw the attention of the Security Council to the dire humanitarian situation in Ukraine caused by Russia’s aggression and flagrant transgression of international law. Three General Assembly resolutions (resolutions ES-11/1, ES-11/2 and ES-11/4), adopted by an overwhelming majority of Member States, have made it clear that the Russian Federation is in blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law and is responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and beyond, and that Russia should withdraw from Ukraine and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The arrest warrant issued today by the International Criminal Court against Russia’s Commander-in-Chief only affirms that responsibility.”
2023-03-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9286 (2023) · source
“An effective and fair justice system means better respect for human rights, and it also means greater accountability. Let me conclude by highlighting that experience has proven beyond any doubt that societies rooted in freedoms give people more power, choices and rights. That in turn leads to better governance and progress, thereby allowing societies to become more prosperous, educated, healthy and happy,”
2023-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9285 (2023) · source
“We also commend the important efforts that regional and subregional organizations make to support and guide country-led efforts in that respect. We believe that promoting the full, equal and effective participation of women in the security sector contributes to the establishment of inclusive, accountable and legitimate institutions. We encourage States to develop security sector reforms, strategies and programmes that systematically take gender issues into account. Mainstreaming a gender perspective into the justice and security sectors is the right and smart thing to do. We have done so in Albania and have seen clear benefits. Another key element of delivering effective security to citizens is the strengthening of the rule of law at all levels. Justice and accountability are fundamental elements of security sector governance and reform.”
2023-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9285 (2023) · source
“Peacekeeping operations can play an important role in helping country authorities to develop inclusive national strategies and priorities for security sector reform. Peacekeeping operations operate in very complex environments, and it is undeniable that their role is often misunderstood, as they are expected to perform beyond their mandates. To be able to fulfil their mandate and contribute to security sector reform, those missions need to be provided with sufficient, predictable and sustainable funding and to improve their communication and public outreach. Indeed, the United Nations has a key role to play in supporting Member States to develop robust, credible and effective security sectors, including through its peacekeeping operations and political missions.”
2023-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9285 (2023) · source
“We have seen many times that effective security sector reform strengthens institutions and leads to increased transparency and accountability, just as we have witnessed how corruption and insufficient political will undermine efforts for reform. External assistance, including from the United Nations, has proven to play an important role in promoting security sector governance and reform. However, it is ownership at the national and local levels that remains key. Local government, civil society and non-governmental organizations provide critical contributions to both initial reforms and successful long-term governance. Regional organizations and bilateral frameworks can be successful only by providing added value to dedicated and genuine efforts at the national level.”
2023-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9285 (2023) · source
“I would like to thank you, Sir, and the Mozambican presidency for including this item in our discussions, and I also thank Assistant Secretary- General Zouev and Mr. Adeoye for their briefings. In our view, the reform of the security sector represents a comprehensive process for enhancing the provision of security by making it more effective, transparent, accountable, inclusive and consistent with the principles of human rights, the rule of law and good governance. In various countries, effective security reform has often played a vital role in political processes, national reconciliation. transitional justice, stabilization and reconstruction. It has also been key to the consolidation of peace and stability in post-conflict settings.”
2023-03-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9285 (2023) · source
“Finally, we once again call on the Taliban to honour their obligations, keep their promises and recognize that a stable Afghanistan can be built only with rights and freedoms and the participation and contribution of all, including women. In our view, sustainable peace and security and the development and prosperity of the country can be achieved only through inclusivity, not exclusion and segregation, and through genuine national dialogue by establishing a constitutional order, with a representative and inclusive political system. Any other course will generate the worst scenario, lead to conflict and keep Afghanistan in the past and away from the future its people so desperately deserve.”
2023-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9277 (2023) · source
“The renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan is due in a few days. We strongly support its role and efforts to provide vital support to the people of Afghanistan despite the very challenging conditions. We encourage the United Nations team on the ground to continue to work constructively for the full implementation of the mandate, keeping a strong focus on the respect of human rights for all Afghans and continuing to prioritize the protection and advancement of women’s human rights. The Council and the international community must be united and coherent in asking the de facto authorities to comply fully with the relevant Security Council resolutions as the only way to bring security, peace and stability to the country and to normalize relations with the international community.”
2023-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9277 (2023) · source
“That includes lifting the absurd ban on female aid workers, which is severely affecting the delivery of vital aid to two thirds of the population in dire need, who are also victims of economic hardship and humanitarian disasters. The obliteration of women’s rights by the de facto authorities is part of a general deleterious policy of alarming reactionary measures that are driving the country backwards. Since the takeover, the Taliban have shown that they hate women, education, rights and freedoms, social progress and individual fulfilment. They are now tolerating extrajudicial killings and inciting corporal punishment, both strictly prohibited under international law. They are suppressing peaceful protests and progressively reducing the space for media workers and civil society, thus outlawing any form of democratic dissent.”
2023-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9277 (2023) · source
“Stubborn in their pursuit of undoing every achievement of the past two decades, the de facto authorities have decided to invest in ignorance, causing devastating psychological harm to women and girls and irreparable damage to the society. By doing so, they are also undermining the much-needed overall social and economic development of the country, which will suffer greatly if half of the population is excluded from participating meaningfully. The Taliban are and will be responsible, because this is a catastrophe of choice. It is a predictable drive over a precipice. We strongly condemn such policies and express our sincere and full solidarity with all Afghans, women and girls in particular, and support all action at the regional and global levels to lift all arbitrary restrictions.”
2023-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9277 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Otunbayeva for her briefing, and I thank Ms. Akbar for her important information. We hear her call. As the world comes together to celebrate International Women’s Day while the Commission on the Status of Women is meeting to advance women’s rights globally, today, sadly, Afghan women have little to celebrate. Their hard-won rights have been obliterated since the Taliban takeover. They are being denied the most fundamental rights that every human being is endowed with by virtue of their humanity. The de facto authorities are not only denying women’s and girls’ right to education, but they are also normalizing honour killings, forced marriages, child marriage and beatings, while severely restricting other basic rights, including freedom of movement.”
2023-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9277 (2023) · source
“A fair and transparent management of the country’s wealth is rightfully a main concern for the people, and it is an imperative to have everyone benefit equally from it. Albania supports the ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring financial transparency and managing the country’s resources in an equitable manner. It is crucial to overcome the current critical issues concerning the distribution of oil resources in the country. In conclusion, allow me to reiterate Albania’s full support for the proposal of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and our full commitment in support of this renewed momentum for the future Libya and its people.”
2023-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9270 (2023) · source
“We echo its call on the Libyan authorities to take decisive steps to provide justice and redress to the vast number of victims suffering from long-standing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Addressing impunity and strengthening accounta- bility remain crucial to the future of the country. Every step backwards or evidence of unwillingness to achieve justice and put an end to impunity is a step backwards in the national reconciliation process and premonitory to serious future challenges. A new Libya needs the contribution of everyone, including women and young people. Libyans sit on an immense national wealth. If properly and responsibly managed, they can put the country on the path to rapid development and welfare. It is therefore up to the Libyans to make it a blessing, not a curse.”
2023-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9270 (2023) · source
“We welcome the recent meeting of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission and the liaison committees from neighbouring countries with the participation of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. While we fully reiterate our full support for the implementation of the October 2020 ceasefire, we believe that the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries remains crucial to peace and security in Libya. Albania remains deeply worried about the systematic human rights violations in Libya and the continued reduction of civic space. We deeply regret that, during its most recent visit, the United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya did not have full access in the country.”
2023-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9270 (2023) · source
“Libyans want change, and change starts with elections, through the expression of free will to put an end to a decade-long crisis and bring back legitimacy to the Libyan institutions. It is our duty to support Libyans in their aspirations and expectations for a future in security, with national reconciliation and respect for human rights, prosperity and democracy. It is therefore essential for the Security Council and the international community to show unity and speak to the Libyan people and all stakeholders there with one voice. On the security front, we hope that the United Nations can soon fully deploy the operational ceasefire monitoring team in Sirte to underpin better security prospects.”
2023-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9270 (2023) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bathily for his briefing, mediation efforts and especially his inclusive approach towards lasting peace in Libya. We are encouraged by the vision he shared today, welcome it and believe that a sustainable Libyan-owned political process, under United Nations auspices, is the right path for the Libyan people, the country and the entire region. That initiative is a very timely and long-awaited opportunity to help the country break the current deadlock, abandon hopeless power rivalry and put an end to zero-sum political games. The status quo, otherwise a protracted political stalemate, is not an option nor is it sustainable.”
2023-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9270 (2023) · source
“It also does a great disservice to North Korea and its people because it keeps them isolated and harbouring false illusions.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9264 (2023) · source
“The regime continues to reject talks and negotiations on the full, transparent and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. But we must not stop our efforts and continue to call on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to engage into an unconditional and meaningful dialogue, for their benefit and their future. One day they will understand how wrong they have been in their paranoia, how much time they have unnecessarily lost and how backwards they will find themselves when the open-air prison comes to an end. Because, like every other of its kind, it will end. Meanwhile, it is time for the Council to do its job, come together, be united and speak with one voice. Any other attitude does a disservice to the Council, its role and peace and security on the Korean peninsula and beyond.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9264 (2023) · source
“Because the silence of the Council is counterproductive, as it only emboldens the regime in its attitude. And because remaining silent means shielding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and encouraging similar rogue behaviours elsewhere in the world. It is high time, past due time, that we came out clear on this issue. We also deplore the fact that the regime continues to starve its people by devoting its meagre resources to armaments, not to help millions of citizens in need, not to help the economy and support development. We also deplore the illegal cyberactivities the regime has continuously deployed, stealing money from anywhere they can to support its weapons of mass destruction programme. Today such illegal and unacceptable activities would have been under sanctions, had there not been a veto to save them.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9264 (2023) · source
“It is clear the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has chosen its attitude; it is now up to the Council to demonstrate if it has chosen its own. We are left with the choice of acting, as we should, or continuing to tolerate a regime stubborn in its open defiance of agreed rules and in blatant disregard of Security Council resolutions. The dictator in North Korea must be laughing and proudly parading before his generals given that, even after more than 70 launches — all provocations — the Security Council has been muted and has not been able to utter a single word to condemn its reckless and dangerous policies. We have said it before, and we reiterate it: the silence of the Council to the growing illicit activities is wrong, dead wrong. Because the Council has the responsibility act; not doing so erodes its credibility.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9264 (2023) · source
“By doing so, the regime is telling the world that it has decided to continue the same policies and actions of last year, to continue with provocations and escalatory measures and to develop an even more capable tactical weapons of mass destruction system and a more sophisticated ballistic missile programme. What else would we need to agree and conclude that Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a clear, present and growing threat to the Korean peninsula and beyond? That its policies are a serious concern for the international community? That they must stop and be met with the right proportional response? The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has resolved to remain on the totally opposite path the Security Council has called for and is rushing on in its reckless behaviour.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9264 (2023) · source
“I thank Assistant Secretary- General Khiari for his updated information. Here we are again at square one, a few days after our last meeting on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. At that meeting, some of our colleagues maintained that there was no reason to meet. The regime in North Korea, faithful to its notorious reputation, proved them wrong. We strongly condemn the recent intercontinental ballistic missile launches. They seriously threaten regional and global peace and security. The fact that they flew into Japan’s exclusive economic zone shows the lack of respect the regime has for anything, be it international law, rules, civilian aviation or its neighbours.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9264 (2023) · source
“That is what is needed to keep violence away, bring about change and ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians live as neighbours in safety and security while enjoying freedom, dignity, justice and the benefits of democracy.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9263 (2023) · source
“Peaceful religious coexistence is a core contributing factor to the potential for comprehensive peace in the Middle East. In that regard, Albania would like to emphasize the particular significance of respect for the status quo of the holy sites and express its support for the special role of the custodianship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in that regard. Let me conclude by reaffirming Albania’s full support for a just, negotiated two-State solution that can make it possible for a secure and safe Israel to live side by side in peace and security with a viable and democratic Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as their future shared capital. Let us not forget that nothing can be built without hope; nothing is possible without continued and genuine efforts; and nothing is sustainable without trust.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9263 (2023) · source
“They only trigger animosity between the sides, not only creating more insecurity and instability for those concerned but making the entire region more volatile. That is why we welcome this morning’s adoption of presidential statement S/PRST/2023/1 and the active efforts deployed in the past few days. We hope they will serve as reflections on the need to find other and better ways to address concerns by common consent. Next month, believers from the three monotheistic religions will observe their yearly rituals based on the values of family, charity and respect for others. It is a moment of profound reflection and spiritual fulfilment, and everything must be in place for people to exercise their freedom of religion and belief in the most peaceful and harmonious manner possible.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9263 (2023) · source
“Both parties must engage without delay to de-escalate and resume security cooperation, because if we do not break the spiral of violence, more innocent people will be harmed and the already huge divide between the parties will only grow. There should not be another deadly year for the civilians, the children and the innocent women and young people of Israel and Palestine. The death toll from past events is already dreadful. We will not tire of repeating that the parties must refrain from unilateral steps and actions that erode trust, fuel tensions and breed violence, with the familiar consequences, over and over again. If there is one aspect that this, the longest crisis in modern history, has continued to confirm, it is that one-sided measures have never been helpful and have never contributed to peace efforts.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9263 (2023) · source
“The use of acts of terror, the glorification of terror, and incitements to violence and hate speech of any kind, including antisemitism, are deplorable and unacceptable, and must stop. We are also deeply worried about the worsening situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We reiterate our position that the expansion of settlements is wrong and must stop. Equally, violence against the Palestinian people in breach of international humanitarian law, in addition to evictions and the demolition of their private properties, cannot become standard practice. In that context of alarming, heightened tensions, the key word is de-escalation.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9263 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland and Deputy Commissioner-General Stenseth for their briefings. It is unfortunate to note that since our most recent meeting on this topic (see S/PV.9246), the situation on the ground has not improved. In fact, the overall climate has worsened. The absence of a political horizon looms large and continues to directly affect the safety and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians on a daily basis by dimming hopes for a peaceful, comprehensive solution to the conflict. We are appalled by the terrorist attacks on Israel and deplore the loss of innocent life in Jerusalem. We condemn those attacks strongly and unequivocally.”
2023-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9263 (2023) · source
“On each occasion we have deplored the aggression, calling on Russia to put an end to its war, stop committing crimes and terrorizing civilians, withdraw its troops from Ukraine, respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity and come to the negotiating table in good faith with a genuine will, not a hidden agenda. Let me conclude by saying loudly and clearly that there is not and has never been any shred of Russophobia anywhere in our statements or positions here or anywhere else. There is only a clear and principled position against the war, against aggression, against crimes and against breaches of international law. As we all know, in that position, the world is united and Russia is alone in this Chamber and in the General Assembly Hall next door.”
2023-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9262 (2023) · source
“Did the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership concluded in 1997 between the two countries mean anything? Does Article II of the Charter of the United Nations mean anything? Do the resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 2202 (2015), mean anything? The truth is that to Russia, they mean nothing. Why, then, would the Minsk agreements mean or matter more? It should therefore come as no surprise to anyone that the full- scale aggression in February last year was just another chapter in the same playbook. There has hardly been a week since February last year that we have not met to discuss the terrible situation in Ukraine.”
2023-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9262 (2023) · source
“That never happened, and the agreement was never respected. While Ukraine can be credited with efforts to implement as much as of the Minsk agreements as could reasonably be done, Russia did not cooperate. It hid behind its role as co-facilitator, assuming that it was not part of the agreement and not bound by its terms, although the document was signed by Russia’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov. That has been a major blockage in its implementation. The truth is that Russia played a part in everything — the military aggression at the time, the agreement itself and its non-implementation. It was in full control of the separatist groups on the ground. In fact, the bigger problem was and is that when Russia wants something, agreements mean nothing. Did the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 mean anything to Russia?”
2023-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9262 (2023) · source
“When it could no longer do that, it used it as a smokescreen for what was going to unfold later — and we know what that was. Many at the time feared the worst, and Russia proved them right. Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine did not start last year; it began in 2014, with the annexation of Crimea, followed by open support of the Russian proxies in the eastern part of the country. That took more than 14,000 lives and brought immense damage to the economy and infrastructure — the kind of horrors we have seen for almost a year now throughout Ukraine. The 13-point agreement known as the Minsk agreements included key provisions on issues such as the restoration of Ukraine’s control of its State borders and the withdrawal of foreign armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries.”
2023-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9262 (2023) · source
“I thank Assistant Secretary- General Jenča for his briefing. I am also grateful to Ambassador Sajdik for his briefing, as well as for his efforts to bring peace to Ukraine during his time as Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the Minsk negotiations. Minsk was meant to be the blueprint for a breakthrough in the crisis in Ukraine, or, as many saw it, the only path via which peace could be built. But instead of an agreement in good faith to put an end to the war at the time, it turned out to be a conundrum, as it was never fully implemented. In truth, the agreement ended up being used by Russia as leverage to limit the sovereignty of Ukraine, impose foreign policy choices and render the country dysfunctional.”
2023-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9262 (2023) · source
“Climate change, environmental degradation and sea level rise disproportionally affect women and girls. Climate and environmental action and disaster risk reduction therefore need to be gender responsive, value and promote all women and girls as agents of change and directly address the specific risks that they face.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Without access to appropriate financing, efforts to mitigate and address the climate-related risks to peace and security will fall short. Mitigating the effects of climate change is a global collective effort, but it starts at home, and we all must do our part. In 2019, Albania became the first country in the region to adopt a strategy on climate change and related action plans on mitigation and adaptation. We are working and are on a very good track to achieve the United Nations global goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent in the next decade and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in accordance with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. In conclusion, while we work to mitigate and address the climate-related risks to peace and security, we must not forget that climate change has a strong gender dimension.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“The Secretary-General should report regularly to the Security Council — as he did today — on the security implications of climate change. Secondly, the United Nations needs to increase cross-agency cooperation and coordination in sharing information, knowledge and best practices among States and United Nations missions. We support the appointment of a special representative for climate and security in order to improve the Organization’s ability to address climate-related security risks. Thirdly, we must prioritize early warning systems, which have proven to be effective, and feasible climate adaptation measures that save lives. Fourthly, ambitious climate plans will remain as wishful thoughts — right, but toothless.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“We will have no part in it and deplore that the Council has so far failed to put this existential threat where it should be, where it belongs — front and centre in its work — not at the exclusion of other specialized forums and bodies, but as a sign of joining forces and canvassing our collective strength for our own sake and that of our children and future generations, who will be there when the Earth will be more inhospitable, more in danger. That is why we think we should work with the existing tools and create new ones in order to move in the right direction. I would like to briefly mention some such tools: First, we need to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on security in order to properly assess and respond to climate-related security risks.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“It is not only a development issue. It is not only an environmental issue. It is, undeniably, and will continue to be, an acute security issue. Denying it means sleepwalking into a disaster written in front of our eyes in capital letters. Preventing the Council from doing its part only adds to attitudes that steal the future from our children, punishing them to live with the consequences of our inaction.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“As alarming as that is, the reality may even be worse and its multifaceted implications — as mentioned today — far more complex. We already see climate change exacerbating poverty, aggravating underdevelopment and causing massive displacement, which, as we know, are among the root causes of conflict. It was rightly mentioned — hundreds of millions will be displaced, forced from their homes by extreme weather events, exacerbated by rising global temperatures. Let us not forget that more than 30 million people were displaced in Pakistan by the extraordinary floods last year. In many developing countries, the accumulation of climate-related catastrophes chips away at resources and makes each successive disaster more damaging. That is why climate change should be a core topic on the agenda of the Security Council.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“It is a clear sign of a catastrophe in the making, and it is already a reality for tens of millions of people and not only island States, but also many other developing countries, as listed by the Secretary-General today. Science has been very clear and vocal, and we have been warned: sea level rise will create a profound shift in coastal flooding over the next decades, threatening entire livelihoods and the ability to subsist in many parts of the world. Undisputed scientific reports find that by the end of this century, regardless of our actions, global sea levels will most likely rise up to 1.1 metres or more, one of the direst sea level rise projections ever made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“I would like to thank Malta for organizing this meeting on this important topic and you, Mr. Minister, for presiding over it. I thank you for bringing the inherent link between climate and security back to the Security Council. I also thank the Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, Minister Aurescu and Ms. Pasisi for their important information. It has been said many times, but it needs to be recalled, that there is no greater danger to our bare existence than climate change because, as a threat multiplier for instability at a scale that we can hardly imagine, it risks altering everything on Earth to the point of no return, threatening our very ability to survive. Sea level rise is one of the most significant effects of climate change.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“In the same spirit, the guidelines of the Ministry of Education provide for the registration and support of children in situations of migration, refugee children, unaccompanied refugee children, children returned from migration, children from conflict zones and children who are victims of trafficking at public pre-university education institutions. In conclusion, let us remind ourselves that the circumstances in which children are born, raised and educated will determine their behaviour later in society. It is our individual and collective duty and responsibility to make sure that their rights are ensured, that they are protected from harm and that are provided with everything possible to become healthy adults and responsible citizens.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“But, for commitments to become actions, we need to ensure full implementation and accurate periodical reporting in order to serve as guardians of children’s basic rights. It is in that spirit that my country, Albania, repatriated children of Albanian origin from the hellish refugee camps in Syria and Iraq in order to give them a second chance at life. In accordance with pledges made at the high-level segment on statelessness, the new Albanian law on citizenship provides for an unrestricted safeguard to grant Albanian citizenship to all children born in Albania.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“Secondly, we need to make better use of the monitoring and reporting mechanism, the Secretary- General’s annual report on children and armed conflict and the tools available to the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. But, to ensure both credibility and effectiveness in common efforts, we must incorporate measures against grave violations against children in mandate authorizations and the renewals of peace operations. Thirdly, we must address obstacles to reingratiating and rehabilitating children, who today make up half of the refugees worldwide. Children everywhere need a safe home and a safe environment to grow into healthy adults. Finally, signing, ratifying and endorsing the relevant international treaties and normative acts are crucial to better protecting children in armed conflict.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“Allow me to highlight some key areas for further action in that regard. First, we need to invest more in prevention by intensifying our collective efforts to develop and implement concrete and time-bound action plans between parties in conflict and the United Nations. Prevention is also served by building on the existing mechanism and tools to enhance accountability. Effective accountability serves as a powerful deterrent against further breaches of basic rights. In that spirit, Albania supports the incorporation of the six grave violations against children in armed conflict as a stand- alone designation criterion for targeted sanctions.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“We are appalled by the increase in extreme violence against children in conflict areas around the world, including Burkina Faso, Mali, the Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, Afghanistan and many other places. Reports from Ukraine also remain deeply concerning, with grave violations of the fundamental principles of child protection in wartime. A total of 438 children have been killed and hundreds more injured, and millions of children have been forced out of their homes, including thousands of Ukrainian children having reportedly been forcibly deported and put up for adoption. That is a major concern raised, which was also raised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Grandi, only a few weeks ago. We must do more to protect children and ensure their rights in all circumstances.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict was ratified by 171 States. It should become universal. Nevertheless, as we heard, there is not much reason to rejoice, as the reality that millions of children face is still grim. The basic rights of children continue to be massively and systematically violated, especially in conflict situations. In every situation of hardship, it is always the most vulnerable who suffer the most and are the first to see their basic rights denied. Armed conflicts only exacerbate such violations, especially for children. They are often deprived of their childhood, denied schooling and terrorized by weapons and fighting around them. Many of them will carry those scars for their entire lives.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source
“Let me also thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Gamba de Potgieter and Special Representative of the Secretary- General Maalla M’jid, as well as the civil society organization briefer, for their insightful information. Major progress has been made in the course of the past 25 years, since the General Assembly created a mandate to strengthen the protection of children in armed conflict (see resolution 51/77). That once again shows that the measures that we take collectively matter and that they help to make a difference in the real world. The figures exist. More than 170.000 children were released from armed groups and armed forces. Thirty-seven action plans were signed, 20 of which are under implementation.”
2023-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9258 (2023) · source