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

“We thank Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov and Executive Director Michèle Coninsx for briefing us today on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh). Of particular concern to us, having anticipated the latest report of the Secretary-General on the subject (S/2020/774), is precisely the status of that threat as a result of the devastating reality facing the world owing to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We have witnessed and condemn the increase in the number of attacks and actions by ISIL in places such as Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, where it is consolidating its presence at this crucial moment when Governments are focusing their actions and limited resources on saving lives and fighting to contain the spread of the virus.”
2020-08-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/836 (2020) · source
“In conclusion, we remain extremely concerned about the current compounding crises present in Syria. The impacts of the economic crisis as well as its potentially devastating inability to cope with a coronavirus disease outbreak threatens to throw the country into unforeseen and unprecedented despair. The Security Council has a long-standing moral responsibility to alleviate the suffering of the people, starting with joining with efforts aimed at preventing increased suffering and at ensuring that mounting humanitarian needs are met in a principled, unhindered and sustained way. Let us join our forces together to achieve that end through solidarity, using our common humanity as a starting point.”
2020-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/823 (2020) · source
“Reconciliation will be possible only if durable solutions are implemented for the entire civilian population, including the internally displaced persons and refugees spread across the region and beyond. These people need to be able to return to their homes or to wherever they choose to live in a safe, voluntary and dignified manner. The families of detainees, abductees and missing persons need to know the fate of their loved ones. It is their right. We therefore request that Special Envoy Pedersen redouble his efforts and achieve greater results in this regard, including by listening to the families themselves and working with them to design ways for them to move forward. Mr. Pedersen has our full support in this endeavour, and we respectfully request that he provide more information on this matter at his next briefing.”
2020-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/823 (2020) · source
“Women’s voices must resonate louder than ever in all aspects of the broader political process, but especially in the Constitutional Committee, as a fundamental part of creating a new national configuration based on the rule of law, respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms of all citizens. We reiterate our call for the full, meaningful and equality-based participation of women at all stages of the constitutional talks. Allow me to highlight a few points on reconciliation. For the Dominican Republic, reconciliation in Syria will be possible only if it is based on a credible political response to the legitimate aspirations of Syrians and if it is in line with resolution 2254 (2015).”
2020-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/823 (2020) · source
“We are pleased with the arrangements for the holding of new and hopefully revitalized talks among the parties in Geneva next week, within the framework of the Constitutional Committee. To achieve a successful outcome on these talks — an outcome that is conducive to a renewed commitment to the political process — all parties need to engage constructively, in good faith and with mutual respect. We therefore encourage the members of the Constitutional Committee to direct all their efforts towards alleviating the precarious living conditions of the Syrian population and restoring their prospects for a life of peace and dignity in which their rights are protected and fully met. Again, the resurgence of hope and trust in the political process is at the core of the country’s future reconciliation.”
2020-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/823 (2020) · source
“Like others, we also would like to wish a speedy recovery for Deputy Special Envoy Matar. We thank Special Envoy Pedersen for his briefing and, as always, we express the full support of the Dominican Republic for the political process in the Syrian Arab Republic with a view to helping Syrians to start building once and for all the hope, trust and confidence they need to emerge from this horrible conflict. There is no military solution to the Syrian conflict. The only sustainable solution is one that will be based on the broad political process outlined in resolution 2254 (2015) and on the will to achieve its full implementation. We hope the Syrian Government understands this.”
2020-08-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/823 (2020) · source
“Let us remember that, while we are here, hearing each other’s statements and blaming one another for the failure of humanity that we have let ourselves fall into, there are millions of people going hungry and hundreds of thousands of children receiving no education, protection or health services. Many more are arbitrarily S/2020/758 S/2020/758 detained or in overcrowded camps. All of them are subject to a pandemic that could ultimately take their lives. And since this is the last public meeting under your presidency, Mr. President, I would like to congratulate you and your team on delivering such successful and fruitful results this month. It has been a pleasure.”
2020-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/758 (2020) · source
“They are already seeing the impacts of decreased access, which could worsen even further in coming weeks and months. They are the ones responsible for the transportation and delivery of assistance. It is their staff, mostly Syrians, who are exposed to security risks and increased costs while trying to scale up and fill the gap for the closure of the crossing I just mentioned — not to mention the mobility constraints due to the pandemic or even the potential increase in hostilities in the area. The Dominican Republic believes that this is not the time to discuss anything other than how to meet the dire humanitarian needs of the Syrian people. This includes a complete ceasefire and an impulse to the political process through the full implementation of resolution 2254 (2015).”
2020-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/758 (2020) · source
“The effects of the conflict, which is at the core of all this suffering, are increasingly harsh on the civilian population: from the humanitarian needs to the economic hardships, it is they who are paying the highest price. And yet, a credible, negotiated, political solution facilitated by the United Nations is not on the horizon in the short term. The only way to assist civilians in coping with the different crises they are dealing with is through increased and sustained humanitarian assistance using all feasible modalities. We have heard the call from non-governmental organizations working in Syria for this Council to urgently reauthorize access through the United Nations border points they were previously authorized to use.”
2020-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/758 (2020) · source
“The closure of the Bab Al-Salam border crossing pushes the difficulties of delivering humanitarian assistance to the north-west of the country to very extreme limits. The closure decision was inappropriate in the light of the immense challenges and enormous suffering that persists in the area. Indeed, the current situation on the ground, with its compounding, coexisting crises, paints a sombre picture for the Syrian people. An alarming 9.3 million — and soon many more — are food insecure. In practical terms, that means that families are skipping meals, parents are not eating well enough, and children are not getting the nutrition and regular meals they need to grow up healthy. These people simply cannot afford to be food secure. It is not a matter of food scarcity, but a matter of food prices.”
2020-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/758 (2020) · source
“I thank Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock for his briefing. I would also like to welcome Ms. Qaddour to the Security Council and acknowledge, through her, the critical work humanitarian organizations are doing on the ground despite the many challenges and the growing dire humanitarian needs. As the coronavirus disease pandemic slowly makes itself present in Syria, we remain concerned about the poor capacity of the country’s health-care system to respond to it. Doctors and health-care workers have had to flee their country as a result of 10 years of conflict. The conflict in Syria is one that has not only destroyed critical infrastructure, but also emotionally devastated millions of people. At the same time, the options to effectively assist the Syrian people in the most effective and direct ways have been critically undermined.”
2020-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/758 (2020) · source
“Incorporating that information requires strengthening the analytical capacities of all the relevant entities of the United Nations system, and therefore increasing the capacity and training of actors in the field to enable the identification and evaluation of risks related to climate change, as how the latter interacts with other risk factors is crucial. Finally, we need to continue working towards the creation of the necessary mandate to ensure that the topic of the effects of climate change on international peace and security figures regularly on the Council’s agenda. The Council, in its unique role, must be up to the challenges we have already identified. It is time to unite forces and for the Council to show its political will to take firm action enabling us to give appropriate and coherent responses.”
2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source
“Their contributions to the design of a conceptual framework for the assessment of risks related to climate change, as well as tools for the development of early-warning strategies and risk prevention and management, are fundamental. We are at a juncture that forces us to continue our reflection on conflict prevention in the face of unconventional threats and to build on the progress already made. We must move from a conjunctural to a comprehensive approach, incorporating climate security risks in our deliberations and by way of a greater flow of systematic, contextualized reporting by the Secretary-General.”
2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source
“Therefore, that increases the potential for its negative effects to be translated into fundamental causes of conflict. This organ, responsible for ensuring international peace and security, must increase its analytical capacity and integrate the necessary tools to identify, and eventually prevent, drivers of destabilization. How can we ignore the aftermath of natural disasters, droughts and floods, land degradation and rising sea levels and their link with potential and current conflicts, such as poverty and competition for scarce natural and food resources, displacement and social tensions? We appreciate the efforts already made by the Climate Security Mechanism hosted by the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme.”
2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source
“This year, the topic has received attention from the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel and in Council products relating to the African Union missions in Somalia and the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. Furthermore, we have made progress in recognizing the interconnections between the security risks posed by the effects of climate change and the Council’s other concerns, such as addressing the conflict from a gender perspective. It is crucial to continue integrating a climate perspective into our analysis of the impacts of conflict on youth, children and other vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, displaced persons and refugees. The available evidence suggests that the effects of climate change will intensify in the coming years.”
2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source
“For many small island developing States, like the Dominican Republic, climate change poses an existential risk. Its impact on the development and well-being of our peoples is widely recognized. In the Caribbean, the increase in frequency and intensity of extreme natural phenomena leave no doubt as to the vulnerability of our territories and of the people who build their futures in them. But climate change is a multidimensional challenge, and it is becoming increasingly clear that the dangers it unleashes threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions. Thanks to joint efforts, we have seen progress in considering the effects of climate change as one of the risk factors in contexts like the Lake Chad region, Mali, Somalia, West Africa and the Sahel, the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source
“We thank Germany for convening this debate, of which we are pleased to be co-sponsors. The Dominican Republic associates itself with the statement to be submitted by the delegation of Nauru on behalf of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security (see annex 21). It is no coincidence that the Security Council has held debates on this issue for three consecutive years, coordinated under the presidencies of Sweden in 2018 (see S/PV.8307), the Dominican Republic in 2019 (see S/PV.8451) and, now, that of Germany. Our meeting in Arria Formula format last April was the fifth on this topic since 2013. This has shown that there is greater awareness of the risks to peace and security that result from climate change or that are aggravated by its effects.”
2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source
“Are we not supposed to facilitate the humanitarian assistance and the protection they are entitled to? To whom will they turn now that so many services they were receiving thanks to the cross-border mechanism have been shut? The flagrant politicization of the decision that we just took is not one of which we should be proud. We still hope that the Council will be able to overcome the many differences, divisions and fears that prevent it from taking principled, people- centred humanitarian decisions.”
2020-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/702 (2020) · source
“Ten years of conflict have had devastating impacts on the civilian population, including women, children and particularly the displaced. From its creation up to now, the cross-border mechanism has been a lifeline for them. Now, amid a global pandemic, coupled with the looming possibility of yet another offensive and a devastating economic situation, Syrians could be facing yet another chapter in their nightmare, maybe the worst. Yet the Council has turned its back on that reality. Although we renewed the mechanism, we were not up to the immense challenge that was put in our hands. Our failure to reopen the border crossing of Al-Yarubiyah and our decision to close the Bab Al-Salam crossing will have terrible consequences for the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. Who are we to determine their future?”
2020-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/702 (2020) · source
“The Dominican Republic decided to abstain in the consideration of resolution 2533 (2020), submitted by the co-penholders of the humanitarian file, regarding the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. At the outset, I would like to reiterate in the strongest terms the full support of the Dominican Republic to Germany and Belgium. To Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Christoph Heusgen and their teams, I say that in no way has this decision anything to do with the role that they tenaciously and patiently performed as co-penholders. This is a decision based uniquely on the following points. We are disappointed that the Security Council has once again been unable to collectively and constructively address one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies of our time. The humanitarian needs of the people in Syria are dire.”
2020-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/702 (2020) · source
“Accordingly, we firmly believe that appropriate funding should be allocated for training, predeployment preparations and the equipment needed to meet the constant threats that peacekeepers face. Against the backdrop of the coronavirus disease pandemic, human rights principles, including those touching upon economic and social rights and civil and political rights, must prevail and be respected across the spectrum, for they will be fundamental to the success of the public-health response. International cooperation is now more relevant than ever. We must come together despite all challenges to ensure the continuity of the good and necessary work of the human rights components of United Nations peace operations and to build a lasting peace.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“We commend the more than 150 States Members of the United Nations that have now joined us in endorsing it and shown their strong dedication to a set of key priorities that build on both new commitments and existing workstreams. The Dominican Republic would like to underscore the importance of appropriate training as a central element of the human rights components in peacekeeping operations. We believe that training is a stepping stone towards greater efficiency in peace operations, and an aspect that must not be sidelined. We need to tailor training to specific missions and integrate practical training needs that have previously been identified on the ground. Absent this basic principle, we are concerned that the deployment of peace operations could be hampered by inexperience and a lack of preparedness.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“In this regard, it is important that each peace mission rely on child protection advisers, women protection advisers and gender protection advisers, both civilian and military, and that those advisers be well equipped, adequately funded and accorded the level of seniority needed to carry out their work. Not only is their work essential to the maintenance of international peace and security but it also personally and individually touches the lives of victims who find in these components a light in the dark. We would like to especially highlight the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, launched in 2018. As a direct result of the A4P initiative, the Declaration of Shared Commitments on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations was put forward.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“Furthermore, as tools to effectively protect human rights have been developed, particularly in places where there is armed conflict, the undeniable link between human rights protection, accountability and reconciliation has been key to eradicating conflict and attaining sustainable peace. Those are not easy tasks. Great challenges persist in the absence of our full commitment and cooperation. We recognize the commendable work done by the human rights components of peace operations in monitoring human rights violations, investigating perpetrators, assisting victims and providing for conflict management and reconciliation. We would like to highlight the paramount role United Nations peacekeeping plays in protecting civilians in armed conflict.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“We would like to welcome today’s briefers, who this morning enlightened the Security Council on such an important topic. The Dominican Republic strongly supports any action, policy or strategy designed to protect human rights, as protecting people from human rights violations is directly linked to preserving human dignity. Accordingly, as a nation, we will always promote the recognition and safeguarding of human rights. It is undeniable that human rights are key to the maintenance of international peace and security. Where human rights are not protected, there is no peace and no progress in a society.”
2020-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/674 (2020) · source
“This objective is based on the increasing needs of the population, including those who continue to be displaced. In this context, we would also mention the fragility of the security situation. Let us join our efforts and take people-centred decisions. It is in our hands. Let us do the right thing.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“We need assurances that cross-line access leads to independent and impartial needs assessments followed by principled humanitarian assistance. Only then will we be able, as stated before, to shift to an all-modalities mutually complementary approach, which is, of course, the best-case scenario given the dire and massive needs present in Syria. A single modality is simply not enough. We reiterate our position that, given the potential impact of the coronavirus in the north-east, a temporary reauthorization of the Al-Yarubiyah crossing is needed. We are also determined to continue to work towards the renewal for 12 months of the cross-border assistance mechanism for the north-west in order to support the programming and procurement procedures that precede such a massive operation.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“The cross-border mechanism in Syria is therefore not only about warehouses, boxes, trucks and delivery of assistance. It supports the lives and futures of hundreds of thousands of people in rural areas. It allows women and children to have access to health, education and protection services that otherwise would not be available to them. Indeed, Ms. Sirkin just talked about the devastating impact of the conflict on health care. In short, the cross-border mechanism allows people to cope with the devastating impacts of conflict and our collective inability to solve the conflict through peaceful means. There is no alternative to the cross-border mechanism — not now, and at least for the Dominican Republic, not until we can see assurances that cross-line access into both the north-west and the north-east is timely and sustained.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“Within the framework of the cross-border mechanism, in 2020 alone, the United Nations has reached 56,974 households in the north-west of the country, providing support so as to improve food security and livelihoods and to protect and build productive farming and livestock assets, including those of internally displaced persons. Ensuring the continuity of food production and sufficient local availability and affordability of agricultural produce and animal-source foods is also an important contribution towards preventing malnutrition in the urban and rural human populations in north-west Syria, particularly in women and children. This crucial support includes capacity-building for farmers and local partners and provision of animal-health services.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“But let us nevertheless take a moment to think about what we can do about the situation, having no other concern in mind than the needs of the people — no political considerations, no transactional approaches, no bargaining — just the needs of the people. Is that so hard to do? If we were to take only that approach it would be easy to protect the services that Syrians are receiving through the cross-border mechanism. Let us take one example: food insecurity. The World Food Programme has indicated that there are currently 9.3 million food-insecure people across Syria.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“We thank Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock for his briefing and welcome Ms. Susannah Sirkin once again to the Security Council. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the many humanitarian workers who are addressing the needs of the people of Syria and express our admiration for their work. It is clear for the Dominican Republic that, at this juncture, the most important role the Security Council can play is to facilitate the work of those real heroes, so that they can do their jobs in saving the lives of those who have endured the consequences of this conflict, who have been subject to neglect, hunger, displacement, fear and now, once again, profound uncertainty. The Dominican Republic will not now repeat what we all already know about the humanitarian situation of millions of Syrians.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/635 (2020) · source
“Finally, we would like to reiterate the need to continue the discussions based on common understanding, good faith, mutual benefit and trust until an agreement is reached. The diplomatic path should always prevail.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/636 (2020) · source
“Resolving outstanding key issues like water sharing, drought mitigation and setting up a dispute-resolution mechanism would set an excellent regional and international precedent for future disputes on such issues. It is important to avoid any potentially negative effects on the populations’ households, incomes and ways of life. We humbly recommend that the parties take into account each other’s legitimate concerns and interests to avoid mutual mistrust so that the necessary compromises can be made, and a timely agreement reached. Let us preserve this renewed spirit of conciliation and take advantage of the window of opportunity that has opened up to steer clear of any possible confrontation, with a view to creating a joint instrument through which the three countries could build trust and formalize cooperation.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/636 (2020) · source
“The decision taken by the three parties to refrain from making statements or taking any action that may threaten or further complicate the AU-led process shows their good faith and willingness to compromise in striving to reach an amicable agreement. It is encouraging that the parties involved are displaying a constructive and positive approach in the negotiations, which may lead them to reach a mutually acceptable solution on the outstanding technical and legal issues. All three parties will need to make compromises in good faith in order to reach a deal in the coming weeks. We highly encourage them to keep building trust, and we stand ready to closely follow the developments of the AU-led negotiation process and collaborate with the parties.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/636 (2020) · source
“We would like to begin by thanking the presidency for organizing today’s meeting, and we thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. It is our belief that the best way for the three countries to resolve their differences over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is through direct talks. It is encouraging to hear that the parties have decided to continue a negotiation process led by the African Union (AU). In this regard, we welcome the announcement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission that more than 90 per cent of the disputed issues have been resolved and that a legal and technical committee to discuss outstanding issues has been formed.”
2020-06-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/636 (2020) · source
“Before concluding, I call on the international community to remain engaged and continue to support Afghanistan, in accordance with the commitment to the ongoing transformation decade, 2015 to 2024. Finally, we wish to acknowledge the important role played by UNAMA in promoting peace in the country through outstanding contributions in areas such as human rights, particularly for women. That progress must be maintained.S/2020/597”
2020-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/597 (2020) · source
“The country is facing harsh economic conditions during the pandemic. If Afghanistan does not have a solid foundation, it cannot have lasting and sustained prosperity. Resolution 2513 (2020) calls for the promotion of regional cooperation and connectivity. Afghanistan carries the terrible burden of being the world’s deadliest conflict for children. And now, with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), women are at greater risk from a surge in gender-based violence. The humanitarian situation must improve. Before COVID-19, 9.4 million Afghans required humanitarian assistance. We call on all parties to fully exercise their role to ensure the delivery of humanitarian support, more so now during the pandemic.”
2020-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/597 (2020) · source
“It is essential that women participate directly and meaningfully in the peace talks at all decision-making levels. We remain deeply concerned about the volatile security situation, especially the number of casualties attributed to the Taliban in the southern region. Furthermore, we condemn any sort of attack perpetrated against health-care facilities. Medical services must not be hampered by conflict. In this regard, it is of the utmost importance to reduce violence and establish a ceasefire to protect the civilian population, in particular women and children. The Dominican Republic reiterates that the parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and take immediate measures to prevent civilian casualties. The economy and social development remain challenging.”
2020-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/597 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Deborah Lyons, Ms. Fathi Waly and Ms. Akbar for their briefings. The Dominican Republic commends, and reiterates its support for, the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), especially during this challenging time. The peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan is at a critical juncture. We congratulate the efforts of the parties concerned in promoting the political dialogue and peace process and welcome the political agreement between the United States and the Taliban. As expressed on different occasions by the Council, Afghanistan has no alternative but a political solution. The Dominican Republic calls for inclusive representation of all sides in the negotiations.”
2020-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/597 (2020) · source
“It is imperative that efforts be directed towards an agreement that directly involves the Sudanese leadership, finds common ground and pushes towards a reasonable and sustainable compromise. We owe it to the people of South Sudan.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/582 (2020) · source
“While facing the COVID-19 pandemic and other conflict inducers, it has never been as urgent to stop the political stalemate and to de-escalate the intercommunal violence in order to end the legacy of disease, hunger, abuses and displacement. In that regard, it is necessary that the United Nations continue to support the people of South Sudan, in cooperation with the Government. Consequently, the United Nations S/2020/582 S/2020/582 Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) must be able to have timely and unhindered access for operations and humanitarian activities. We urge the South Sudanese Government to end violations of the status-of-forces agreement and the widespread restrictions on the movement of UNMISS personnel.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/582 (2020) · source
“On the other hand, we are hopeful that the 35 per cent quota for women will be fulfilled. The appointment of nine women in the Transitional Government of National Unity falls short at 25 per cent. We understand that, due to the COVID-19 emergency, the focus has shifted to confronting this pandemic. However, dealing with this challenge should not, in any way, come at the expense of the peace agreement. In that regard, we urge the parties to prioritize advancing the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan and to continue their negotiations in good faith to avoid a major crisis, with devastating consequences for the population.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/582 (2020) · source
“This situation is highly concerning when 56 per cent of the population has no access to basic health- care services. Another source of concern is the persistent levels of sexual violence. Women and girls in South Sudan face some of the highest levels of violence in the world, and 80 per cent were at risk even before the pandemic. Now they are forced to quarantine with their abusers and cut off from their support systems. In that regard, we strongly encourage the Government of South Sudan to ensure accountability for these serious violations, including compliance with the provisions prohibiting sexual violence by all parties. Likewise, we urge the Government to establish a specialized court for sexual and gender-based crimes to advance the work of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan and to provide support to survivors.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/582 (2020) · source
“This political deadlock is preventing the formation of critical institutions, including the appointment of the State leadership required to lead a COVID-19 response at the local level. Amid this power vacuum, community violence is escalating, which has led to casualties and displacement and has hindered the work of aid agencies. In addressing this challenge, we must pay the utmost attention to the human element in this crisis. The humanitarian crisis in South Sudan is deepening as the dire emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic adds more perils to an already critical situation. More than 9 million people are in need of food assistance and a sharp spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases is making South Sudan one of the countries in the world where there is a faster growth of the virus.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/582 (2020) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Shearer and Mr. Yakani for their briefings. First of all, we would like to commend the decision of President Kiir to establish a high-level task force to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as well as the appointment of First Vice-Presidents Machar and Abdelbagi to head this task force, which shows what can be achieved if the peace process advances. While this action and the holding of the ceasefire among the parties are encouraging developments, we remain concerned that the implementation of the peace agreement has been inconsistent, which is having very serious consequences for the population.”
2020-06-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/582 (2020) · source
“To conclude, we would like to acknowledge the role of MINUSCA and the guarantors of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic for the efforts made in the quest for a lasting and sustainable peace in the Central African Republic.”
2020-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/572 (2020) · source
“To create the right environment, one that is conducive to free, transparent, fair and inclusive elections, the security situation in the Central African Republic, where armed groups signatories to the agreement continue to perpetrate violent acts against civilians, humanitarian workers and peacekeepers, needs to be addressed. Before concluding, we would like to draw attention to the humanitarian situation. It is necessary to redouble our efforts to support the country in these very difficult times and to contribute to the humanitarian response plan to assist the most vulnerable.”
2020-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/572 (2020) · source
“With regard to accountability, we welcome the approval of the various laws required by the provisions of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic and the creation of the Commission on Truth, Justice, Reparation and Reconciliation. We commend the progress made by the strategic committee on elections, and we are pleased with the presentation of a revised electoral calendar that complies with the constitutional deadlines set by the National Electoral Authority. Nevertheless, preparations for the next elections constitute a real challenge for the Central African Republic as a result of the increased political tensions and, certainly, the impact of COVID-19.”
2020-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/572 (2020) · source
“We would like to thank the briefers for the information provided today and for their efforts in the maintenance of peace and security in the Central African Republic. The fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a global endeavour. Its impact is overarching in the Central African Republic owing to the multiple challenges that the country faces. We express our solidarity with the people of the Central African Republic and welcome the measures adopted by President Touadera to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. We acknowledge the Government’s efforts to continue maintaining, with the support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the Economic Community of the Central African States, high-level contact with the leaders of armed groups.”
2020-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/572 (2020) · source
“We concur with the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti of the Economic and Social Council in urging the United Nations system, the international community and international financial institutions to take joint action to prevent the spread of COVID-19, mitigate its humanitarian and socioeconomic effects and promote sustainable development and resilience to future shocks in Haiti.”
2020-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/568 (2020) · source