YouSaid · the spoken record

José Singer Weisinger

lines on the record: 252
first: 2020-03-31
most recent: 2020-12-22
sittings or episodes: 47
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

“As this is the last meeting of the year and of our membership in the Security Council, we wish to take this opportunity to extend a few sincere words of gratitude to the members of the Council for the support and cooperation they extended to me and to the Dominican delegation during the two years of our first term as a member of this important body of multilateralism. At the same time, we thank all the Secretariat staff for their hard work, assistance and availability. We also warmly welcome the newly elected members and wish them every success in the important and arduous task on which they are embarking. We underscore that the Dominican Republic will continue its steadfast support for the international peace and security agenda from the General Assembly.”
2020-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1324 (2020) · source
“It is therefore imperative that Iran refrain from any action inconsistent with the established provisions, as well as from engaging in hostile activities that exacerbate existing tensions in the region.In conclusion, upholding the JCPOA requires the parties to show restraint, foster dialogue with a view to reducing tensions, universally implement their obligations and, in turn, guarantee Iran’s reintegration into the commercial and banking world as agreed. Preventing nuclear proliferation is not the sole responsibility of the participants in the Plan, but of us all; which means we must work together and strengthen cooperation to that end.”
2020-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1324 (2020) · source
“A viable solution to this matter must be sought through dialogue without delay. The international community must make greater efforts to ensure not only the validity of the Plan but also its full and effective implementation. To that end, we commend the commitment of the participants to safeguarding the Plan and upholding full compliance with the agreed obligations. At the same time, we urge Iran to take into account the concerns expressed by a number of States in the region regarding non-compliance with the provisions on conventional weapons, as well as its alleged participation in destabilizing activities. The concerns of those States must not fall on deaf ears.”
2020-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1324 (2020) · source
“We also urge the parties to resolve existing differences under the auspices of the dispute settlement mechanism, especially in the light of the significant challenges currently facing the JCPOA. In that regard, we welcome the efforts by Germany, the United Kingdom and France to resolve relevant issues through the mechanism. We also encourage Member States to support and continue making use of the procurement channel as a crucial mechanism for building trust and transparency. Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons has been the central objective of the Plan, and that has to date been achieved, among other significant outcomes. However, Iran’s decreasing compliance with its nuclear commitments is a matter that demands particular attention, representing a serious threat in terms of nuclear proliferation.”
2020-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1324 (2020) · source
“The JCPOA is therefore an integral component of regional and international security. In that regard, we commend the impartial and objective verification work the IAEA continues to carry out, guaranteeing the exclusively peaceful uses of nuclear energy, despite the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus disease pandemic. Regarding the information reflected in the tenth report of the Secretary General (S/2020/1177), we regret that, since mid-2019, Iran has pursued a policy of reducing its nuclear commitments, including by exceeding the uranium-enrichment and -storage levels established in the JCPOA. We therefore reiterate our call on Iran to resume full compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA as well as with resolution 2231 (2015).”
2020-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1324 (2020) · source
“We thank the speakers for their briefings and commend the performance of their respective duties. We thank the Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015) for the excellent work achieved by him and his predecessor during their two-year tenure. We also express our appreciation for the professionalism, dedication and support of their teams. At the outset, we underscore the importance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as a major achievement of multilateralism and the international nuclear non-proliferation architecture. In our view, it is the only option for guaranteeing the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme through a rigorous system of monitoring and verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol thereto.”
2020-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1324 (2020) · source
“Another important challenge is the impact of last August’s coup d’état in Mali, an event that is undermining the constitutional order and, taking place during a process of transition towards the restoration of democracy, risks delaying the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali and eroding the achievements made so far. Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the Committee, as well as the relevant United Nations bodies, including the leadership of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, for their exceptional work and support during my term of office, as a faithful demonstration of the commitment of each one of us to contributing to the peace, security and lasting stability of the country.”
2020-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1258 (2020) · source
“In addition, the Chair of the Committee’s visits to Mali and the region — in my case from 16 to 18 October 2019 — provide a great opportunity — and one that should be prioritized in the work programme — to hold meetings with the main actors and obtain relevant information from primary sources, thereby promoting a better understanding of the sanctions, including the processes of listing and delisting. Unfortunately, the coronavirus disease pandemic has affected the modalities of work in all areas, including that of the Committee, limiting face-to-face meetings to a virtual format and requiring postponement of visits to the region until conditions S/2020/1258 permit, although the possibility of coordinating a visit in the short to medium term under this modality should be studied.”
2020-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1258 (2020) · source
“With regard to improvements in transparency, the participation of interested Member States, in particular the countries of the region, in certain informal meetings of the Committee would contribute to confidence-building and a better understanding of and support for the sanctions regime, allowing for greater clarity and encouraging compliance with its obligations, while providing the Committee with additional information that would guarantee the highest level of objectivity and justice.”
2020-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1258 (2020) · source
“In directing the work of the Committee, the Dominican Republic focused on the full and effective implementation of its basic mandate, emphasizing transparency, the promotion of dialogue and relevant and inclusive participation, independent and objective analysis, and the appropriate handling of sensitive information. Undoubtedly, the Committee’s work in these and other areas can and should be further improved.”
2020-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1258 (2020) · source
“Furthermore, we duly recognize the essential role played by the Panel of Experts in supporting the Committee in carrying out the mandate specified in resolution 2374 (2017), primarily in providing the Committee with information relevant to the possible appointment of individuals in accordance with the established criteria, implementation of the agreed measures, and the updating of the persons on the sanctions list. In this regard, I would like to emphasize the importance of supporting the work of the Panel of Experts in assisting the Committee to fulfil its mandate, and by this we mean granting them the independence necessary for an objective analysis of the information collected, so that the Committee has a broad critical background that allows it to better undertake the tasks assigned to it.”
2020-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1258 (2020) · source
“First of all, I would like to duly acknowledge the important work carried out by the Security Council Affairs Division in support of the Chair and the members of the 2374 (2017) Committee so that it could be efficient in the conduct of its work, in the implementation of resolution 2374 (2017), both in procedural and substantive terms, including logistical matters, and in the transition processes that entail the induction of new members and experts.”
2020-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1258 (2020) · source
“I am grateful to South Africa, President of the Security Council and Vice- Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017) concerning Mali, for allowing me to share some reflections on my experience in the course of my mandate as Chair of the 2374 (2017) Committee, in the hope that it will provide the incoming Chair and others with relevant information and guidance.”
2020-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1258 (2020) · source
“Finally, the Dominican Republic reiterates its support for the work of Prosecutor Bensouda and her team, as well as that of the other offices of the International Criminal Court, whose work is essential if the Security Council is to fulfil its mandate to maintain international peace and security, as provided by the Charter of the United Nations.”
2020-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1192 (2020) · source
“Al-Bashir and urge the Government of the Sudan to cooperate so that the remaining outstanding arrest warrants can be successfully executed. Furthermore, we regret the Prosecutor’s reports on the deterioration of the security situation in Darfur. Intercommunal clashes, attacks against civilians by unidentified armed men, attacks on displaced persons camps, violence and rape of women and girls are exacerbating the chaos and blocking Sudanese society from living in peace under the rule of law. We urge the parties to the conflict to continue working for peace. Death, displacement, hunger and sexual abuse have no place in a Sudan that is on the road to progress, whose resilient people carry the weight of war on their shoulders but look forward to a tomorrow free of guns and fighting.”
2020-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1192 (2020) · source
“We therefore welcome the openness that the Agreement proposes in the relations between the Sudanese authorities and the International Criminal Court. That new phase of collaboration will undoubtedly be essential to bring justice to the victims of the terrible acts committed in the Sudan as a result of the protracted conflict. We acknowledge the efforts made by the authorities in the Sudan to receive Prosecutor Bensouda in Khartoum and urge the Sudanese Government to follow up the interesting results of that visit, especially by responding to the requests made by the Prosecutor to clarify decisive aspects of the case against the accused Mr. Abd-Al-Rahman. We are pleased to see progress in the cases against Mr. Abd-Al-Rahman and Mr.”
2020-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1192 (2020) · source
“We are grateful for Prosecutor Bensouda’s briefing this morning. As always, it is a pleasure to receive her reports and to discuss the progress made by her Office, which is crucial in the fight against impunity. The Dominican Republic applauds the Juba Peace Agreement signed in October. To be able to hold our last meeting as non-permanent members of the Security Council on this subject with such welcome news for the Sudanese people fills us with satisfaction. We urge the signatory parties to the Agreement to implement it efficiently and without delay. The Agreement must become the basis for a hopeful future leading to the progress of a people who have already suffered enough. There can be no peace without justice.”
2020-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1192 (2020) · source
“The Dominican Republic reiterates its firm commitment to the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). In the process ahead of the 2021 comprehensive review of the status of implementation, we submitted to the Committee our updated national report and national action plan, as well as substantive information on updating our matrix to reflect the significant progress made in implementing resolution 1540 (2004) since our 2015 report. In this regard, we take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of the Group of Experts, in particular in the process of reviewing the matrices. We sincerely thank the Group for its assistance, close collaboration and availability, despite the complex circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
2020-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1143 (2020) · source
“The resurgence in the use of chemical weapons and the development and ongoing efforts to enhance nuclear and ballistic programmes and their means of delivery again underscores the importance of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) and the need to achieve the resolution’s universal adoption and full and effective implementation. We welcome the progress made by the States Members of the United Nations in this regard and recognize their commitment, as well as the tireless efforts of the Committee in support of these goals. Notwithstanding the progress made, the full and effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) is a long-term task that requires greater coordination among States, organizations and civil society at the national, regional and international levels.”
2020-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1143 (2020) · source
“We also applaud efforts made by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate to ensure the prompt continuity of its work, despite the interruption caused by COVID-19, and provide us with materials and reports on the most recent trends in the activities of these terrorist groups. We trust that it will soon be able to resume its visits to States and the monitoring of the implementation of Security Council resolutions, as a mechanism for prevention and action against these dangerous groups.”
2020-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1143 (2020) · source
“We see an increase in the number of incidents in conflict zones and further evidence of their ability to mutate and adapt to new modalities in response to external events. We commend the achievements of the offensive against ISIL — in particular the leaders of the organization — as a result of various strategic operations, which must continue to be strengthened. However, we again stress the importance of addressing in a holistic manner the key factors that incite violence and exacerbate the conditions that lead terrorism, in particular socioeconomic, political and humanitarian issues, which have been worsened by the pandemic.”
2020-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1143 (2020) · source
“We thank Ambassador Ladeb and Ambassador Djani for their briefings on cooperation efforts among the three Committees they chair. We welcome the details on the increasingly close collaboration among the Committees, in particular given the major constraints and challenges caused by restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Indeed, unyielding cooperation efforts and renewed energy are needed to continue to address the ongoing threat to global peace and security caused by terrorist acts, as we grapple with the devastating impact of the pandemic. The cruelty demonstrated by terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) knows no bounds. We are concerned that such groups will take advantage of the global disruption caused by the pandemic to incite and perpetrate new attacks.”
2020-11-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1143 (2020) · source
“As members of the Security Council, we are called upon to honour and implement the mandate of the Charter of the United Nations to strive for lasting peace and sustainable development. We are therefore compelled to work hard together so that these peoples experience and live peace as the rule, and conflict as the exception. As members of the international community, we are called upon to be mediators, advisers and builders of mechanisms that help prevent escalating tensions and promote dialogue. We must neither halt nor reduce our cooperation efforts to resolve a conflict that has undermined the progress of a strong and resilient people and of a region that deserves and expects our active participation in promoting peace.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“That, along with widespread insecurity in the country, the electricity crisis, insufficient access to safe drinking water and the lack of opportunities for young people, results in a dire situation that threatens progress for communities, in particular the country’s youth. The current openness and momentum fostered by agreements to normalize relations between Israel and Arab countries should be used to promote and strengthen direct dialogue between the parties — genuine dialogue that addresses the aspirations and concerns of both sides — with a view to building viable peace for the entire Middle East region. To that end, we welcome news coverage yesterday signalling the readiness of the Palestinian authorities and Israel to resume relations based on previous agreements.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“We commend UNRWA for its ongoing role in providing humanitarian assistance and for its efforts to promote the development of the Palestinian people. This vital work must continue. We urge donor countries to strengthen their contributions, which are now more crucial than ever. As for many, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains of great concern to the Dominican Republic. Everyone is aware of the grave state of the health-care system in Gaza. It has been further crippled by the coronavirus disease pandemic, and its collapse is imminent. It appears that the pandemic continues to have an adverse effect on the provision of medical assistance and on the country’s economy.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“We thank Mr. Mladenov for his comprehensive briefing. We take this opportunity to extend our deepest condolences to the Palestinian people following the death of Mr. Saeb Erekat, who was instrumental in bringing Israel and Palestine closer in their quest for lasting two-State peace. Although that peace eluded him, we recall how, with pragmatism, determination and diplomatic skill, he was able to advance the aspirations of his people at crucial moments in the peace process. On another note, we are deeply concerned about the most recent details announced by Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), with regard to the Agency’s funding shortfalls and inability to pay the salaries of its staff.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“Saif Al-Islam Al-Qadhafi, we call upon both the relevant parties to the conflict in Libya and the international community to intensify cooperation efforts aimed at ensuring that these individuals are arrested and that their alleged crimes are prosecuted in accordance with international law. Finally, we commend the cooperation that has developed among the ICC, the European Police Office, the European Union and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and we support the Court’s call on all parties to the conflict in the country to refrain from conduct that results in serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.”
2020-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1108 (2020) · source
“We are pleased to note the significant progress made in cooperation between the ICC and the Government of National Accord. This will undoubtedly allow the Court to better fulfil its mandate and serve a people who see justice as a light on the dark journey they have travelled as victims of conflict. Unfortunately, crimes against demonstrators and migrants, poor conditions in detention centres, attacks on civilian infrastructure and the increase in the laying of anti-personnel mines do not seem to have stopped. The people of the Dominican Republic extend their sympathy for and lament the lives lost as a result of a conflict that has lasted for far too long. With regard to the cases of Mr. Al-Werfalli, Mr. Al-Tuhamy and Mr.”
2020-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1108 (2020) · source
“The Libyan people have been courageous and resilient, and they deserve to enjoy a lasting and inclusive peace — one that is not marred by impunity. Indeed, as the international community, we are called upon to make maximum efforts to fight against impunity for the sake of the victims of the thousands of atrocious acts that have been committed in Libya, so that they may have the hope of seeing perpetrators brought to justice in an impartial and effective manner. In this regard, we are compelled to support, strengthen and promote the work of the ICC, in particular Prosecutor Bensouda and her Office, which has the delicate task of investigating, gathering evidence, prosecuting and capturing dangerous individuals in very difficult situations.”
2020-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1108 (2020) · source
“We are pleased to congratulate Prosecutor Bensouda’s Office and the other members of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who, despite the challenges of their duties and the coronavirus disease pandemic, have demonstrated through each report they submit the difficult and unstinting work they are doing. Throughout our membership of the Security Council, we have been able to study the work of the ICC in great detail. In addition, we have had the honour of hearing today, for the fourth and final time for us, Prosecutor Bensouda share her progress, challenges and achievements. With respect to the issue at hand today, the Dominican Republic applauds the ceasefire signed on 23 October and maintains the hope that it will be observed and upheld in favour of peace and stability in Libya.”
2020-11-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1108 (2020) · source
“The United Nations, each one of us and regional organizations have a shared responsibility to respond to those threats and to walk shoulder to shoulder in defending the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. It is only with a sense of prevention, multilateralism, early attention and concerted action among the pillars of peace, human rights, development and humanitarian action that we can deliver as one to the most vulnerable and avoid the recurrence of conflict and insecurity.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“We must work with humanitarian organizations with access to these populations to help them survive the crisis, including providing them with the vaccine. No one is safe until everyone is safe.All these factors, individually or in combination, have serious consequences for civilian populations and become breeding grounds for the proliferation of armed groups that incite and increase violence. Local actors, such as women and young people, must be involved to help develop and lead efforts to raise awareness and respond to all these threats, mitigate conflict, prevent violence, achieve peace and reduce the impact of insecurity on sustainable development.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“To this end, it is crucial that the Council acknowledge intercommunal violence, for example, as one of the main causes of human suffering and the current proliferation of human rights violations, including sexual violence in conflict. Sustaining peace begins and ends with protecting people from human rights violations. The violation of these rights, in any context, is the antithesis of peace and a denial of our shared humanity. There is no peace in a society where human rights are not protected. Pandemics, such as COVID-19, bring to the surface the underlying factors that result in violence, such as systemic inequality, discrimination and marginalization. In many conflict zones, contracting COVID-19 is a death sentence. More than 60 million people live in areas outside of Government control. Who will come to their rescue?”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“That said, we recognize that the root causes of conflict are multiple and interconnected. Political, social and economic factors can affect stability. Equitable access to water has emerged as a destabilizing element, contributing to the outbreak of violent conflict and instability within and between societies. Organized crime and arms trafficking, while not contemporary threats, are executed with such sophistication that they are beyond the capacity of States to address. People are at the heart of the issues highlighted today. These threats must be depoliticized for them to be viewed as opportunities that improve the quality of life of people and strengthen humankind.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“An unconventional threat to international peace and security, with profound implications for everyone without exception, including future generations, is climate change. It has been described as the most important challenge facing humankind. Rising sea levels, natural disasters and disrupted livelihoods are just a few of the effects that many of our countries must face daily. The relationship between climate and security is undeniable and so too are the links among climate, development and security. That is why the Council, and the United Nations as a whole, must seek ambitious, innovative and joint solutions to prevent climate change from becoming the primary and most complex risk factor for conflict. It requires greater ambition, greater action and greater results.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“We thank the briefers and congratulate Prime Minister Gonsalves on his country’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. Today’s debate is timely, as threats to international peace and security are more complex, involving cross-border elements and global in nature. The Charter of the United Nations underscores the central role of prevention as a responsibility of the entire United Nations system. The Dominican Republic interprets Chapter VIII in that sense. We therefore endorse multilateralism as an effective method of addressing conflicts. This principle is particularly effective today, as the only way to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its effects is through joint efforts.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed highlighted the undeniable need to build local capacities in order to create resilience and break the dependency on humanitarian assistance, and we must do more to support those efforts. It has also shown that even humanitarian assistance can be subject to unexpected shocks and uncertainty. The evidence demands action now, in the midst of this crisis. It is time for enhanced solidarity and a strong and renewed sense of common humanity. Finally, in that spirit, I would like to encourage donor countries to increase their official development assistance and promote innovative financial and debt relief programmes for the countries most affected by food insecurity in the current global crisis.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“We can do all of those things here in the Council. The Council has a decisive role to play in ensuring that the parties to armed conflicts comply with international humanitarian law and the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence so that humanitarian organizations can reach affected people — wherever and whoever they are. We also call for humanitarian operations to be scaled up and for the further development and implementation of coordinated, joint efforts between the humanitarian, development and peace pillars so that we can effectively ensure strong, resilient livelihoods for people, enhance development and reduce humanitarian needs. That must all be done in the context of a strong and sustainable environment for building and sustaining peace.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“We need to make this a point of no return, from where we take concrete steps together here at the Council on a range of issues in the countries on our agenda in order to collectively avert the risk of millions of people facing the tragedy of hunger and the risk of famine forever. It is because we believe in the power of multilateralism and solidarity and in the Council’s unique role in building bridges for peace that we are here today to help build a global, coordinated response that meets those challenges and makes up for our failures. We call for the Council and the States Members of the United Nations to take all the necessary steps, including supporting the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire, through supporting and encouraging peace processes and, where necessary, holding to account those who prevent humanitarian access.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“There are also multiple other drivers, such as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its related economic impact, as well as extreme weather and other factors, but it is conflict and armed violence that we in the Security Council are mandated to address, and address it we must. Innocent civilians are paying the price for us collectively not doing enough here in the Council to protect them from conflict and for failing to protect them from economic hardship, hunger and sudden external shocks. We are not pointing fingers at anyone. We are simply reflecting on the fact that hunger seems to be a recurrent, persistent threat for conflict-affected countries, and yet — like in 2018 and many times before that — we continue to try to solve a problem that could have been avoided in the first place. We must do better.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank the presidency for convening this meeting, and our briefers for their presentations. Their presence here is truly a privilege and a testament to the severity of the situation at hand for far too many civilians in far too many countries. We face a critical challenge. In our view, the first step to address it is to find out why we have failed to prevent this preventable dire situation. As our briefers outlined, the evidence shows that armed conflict is the primary driver of hunger and risk of famine in the countries under discussion today.”
2020-09-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/930 (2020) · source
“Let us do our best to get all stakeholders to adhere to a national ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian access, release the detainees, abductees and information on missing persons to their families and work with determination to achieve the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. Children and teachers need to go back to school safely. Hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure need to be respected, Civilians need to be protected from harm, food insecurity, diseases and violence, and humanitarian access needs to be guaranteed. Above all, in the midst of a deadly pandemic, we need to be able to see the reality and prevent a catastrophic outcome.”
2020-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/866 (2020) · source
“To conclude, it is only with a renewed sense of humanity and solidarity that we, the Security Council and the entire international community, will be able to support the Syrian people in these circumstances. Political will is necessary now more than ever to end the suffering that Syrians are enduring. The political solution to this conflict therefore needs to be the top priority of all stakeholders. Humanitarian assistance is not, and should not, replace our shared responsibility to that end. We are living in unprecedented times of fear, suffering, indifference and uncertainty.”
2020-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/866 (2020) · source
“In that same vein, we wanted to highlight something that Mr. Rajasingham has already touched upon, namely, that, due to the closure of the Bab Al-Salam crossing point, humanitarian assistance in the north-west has become more costly, more risky and less timely. That is truly both concerning and shameful. But in the north-east, while cross-line access has been possible to a limited extent, we continue to pay attention to the existing gap created by the closure of Al- Yarubiyah. The numbers speak for themselves, and we are seeing more COVID-19 cases in the north-east than in the north-west. In that regard, we emphasize the humanitarian imperative to utilize the most efficient and effective means for impartial needs-based assistance to the people in the north-east.”
2020-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/866 (2020) · source
“We commend the efforts, led by the World Health Organization in support of the national health authorities, to increase Syria’s overall capacity to address and respond to the pandemic. We continue to be extremely concerned over the levels of food insecurity in the country. We are thankful that the explosion in the port of Beirut will not have an impact on the delivery of food assistance led by the World Food Programme. However, we are concerned that the situation in the north-west, for example, where 2 million people could become food insecure, could deteriorate even further given the difficult economic situation and the ever-present possibility of increased hostilities. We therefore reiterate that humanitarian access must be sustained and facilitated in order to provide emergency food assistance and prevent more damage.”
2020-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/866 (2020) · source
“I thank Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham for his briefing. Through him, we once again thank all humanitarian workers, volunteers and local organizations. In the most unthinkable circumstances, they still go out every day to serve the needs of the Syrian people. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has a different dimension in conflict-affected countries. We are all shaken and disrupted by the effects of such an unprecedented situation. But we must recognize that in contexts such as the Syrian Arab Republic there are deep, protracted layers that contribute to a much complicated environment. The country’s limited testing capacity, its collapsed health-care system and an increase in burials and death certificates could be telling a very different story from the one the numbers tell.”
2020-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/866 (2020) · source
“Likewise, of concern is the threat posed by the numerous foreign terrorist fighters and the return of many of them to their countries of origin, as they continue to pose substantial political, legal, operational and security challenges to Member States.Let me conclude by recognizing the essential work, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, of specialized United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, and UNICEF.”
2020-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/836 (2020) · source
“Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen initiatives and programmes designed to counter the risk of exploitation and radicalization in camps and detention centres, with assistance from specialized United Nations agencies in the development of internal strategies and protocols aimed at better addressing the humanitarian, human rights and security situation, also counting on the important support of the international community. Given the mobility and confinement restrictions imposed by COVID-19, which have considerably increased the time spent online, we urge the relevant monitoring bodies to maintain the alert levels necessary to act against the increase in cybercrime for financing and ISIL propaganda in the media aimed at inspiring attacks by its affiliates and supporters.”
2020-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/836 (2020) · source
“We also wish to stress our concern about the serious humanitarian situation that people with alleged links to ISIL continue to face in camps and detention centres in conflict zones, as they are exposed to deplorable conditions, particularly women and children — many of whom are the victims of sexual violence — who, in the case of Al-Hol camp, in Syria, make up the vast majority of its population. COVID-19 has added an additional element of destabilization to the already serious situation in those centres, exposing those admitted to a high risk of contagion, to the detriment of efforts in the area of protection, repatriation, processing, rehabilitation and reintegration, given the need to reallocate resources to combat the pandemic.”
2020-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/836 (2020) · source
“Despite the achievements made in the fight against ISIL, in particular at the top of its core organization — and here we commend the various counter-terrorism- strategy operations taking place — its ability to mutate and adapt to new modalities in the face of external events, as in the case of the pandemic, requires that we remain on the offensive. We also consider it important to pay due attention to the socioeconomic impact of the crisis resulting from the pandemic as an element that could exacerbate conditions conducive to terrorism in the medium to long term.”
2020-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/836 (2020) · source