YouSaid · the spoken record

Karen Van Vlierberge

lines on the record: 115
first: 2020-04-24
most recent: 2020-12-21
sittings or episodes: 21
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

“A recent joint analysis by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNICEF and the World Food Programme revealed that in some areas of Yemen, more than one in five children suffer from acute malnutrition. It is no coincidence that one of the highest figures was found in the Al-Hudaydah lowlands: 27 per cent of children there have an acute need for basic food. Children suffer from acute malnutrition, as do mothers — a quarter of a million pregnant and lactating women in Yemen need treatment for malnutrition. According to Lise Grande, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Yemen, we are approaching an irreversible situation and risk losing an entire generation of young children. Additional funds are needed to address this humanitarian disaster.”
2020-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1109 (2020) · source
“We once again commend the International Committee of the Red Cross for the crucial role it played in negotiating and implementing the agreement. This prisoner exchange is one tool for building confidence between the parties. We clearly need more of these tools. We hope that other similar agreements will be made possible in the near future. In my third and final point, I would like to address, once again, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. While the conflict continues, the humanitarian situation is worsening. Years of conflict, economic decline and the coronavirus disease have made Yemen one of the worst places to live on this planet. This is especially true for children.”
2020-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1109 (2020) · source
“During his briefing in October, Special Envoy Griffiths seemed to show some optimism about a possible meeting of the parties to finally agree on the joint declaration. However, for this to happen, all parties must show a genuine willingness to sit around the table and talk. Today, this still does not seem to be the case. I must repeat myself: only dialogue can end the war and resolve the deep differences in Yemen. We urge all actors to re-engage in peace talks under the auspices of the United Nations. It goes without saying that Special Envoy Griffiths continues to have our full support. Belgium is pleased to note that the agreement on the exchange of a large group of prisoners has been fully implemented.”
2020-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1109 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank Special Envoy Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General Lowcock for their interesting briefings. I will focus on three issues today: the joint declaration and the need for political progress, the follow-up to the recent prisoner exchange, and the catastrophic impact of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen on children. Nearly a month has passed since our last meeting on Yemen (see S/PV.8770) and yet virtually no progress has been made. Unlike last month, there has been no further escalation of violence, but fighting continues, in Ma’rib, Al-Hudaydah and other places. The Yemeni people continue to suffer every day. Last week was the first anniversary of the signing of the Riyadh agreement. Its implementation remains far too limited.”
2020-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1109 (2020) · source
“Genuine reconciliation is possible only if concrete measures are taken to fight impunity by ensuring the effective prosecution of war criminals and shedding light on the fate of victims. Victims and survivors must be at the centre of those efforts. Their rights and their meaningful participation in reconciliation efforts must be guaranteed. Survivors deserve truth, justice and reparations for crimes committed against their family members. While the path to reconciliation is long, it is the only way to achieve lasting peace.”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1103 (2020) · source
“The International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals and the International Court of Justice have ruled that the atrocities committed in Srebrenica 25 years ago constitute a crime of genocide. Continued denial only undermines reconciliation efforts and needlessly increases the pain of the survivors. That is unacceptable and must stop, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere. We welcome the adoption of the Revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy. It is important that it be effectively and promptly implemented. We also encourage the adoption of an international law criminalizing the denial of genocide and war crimes.”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1103 (2020) · source
“We stress that any electoral reform must be inclusive and in line with European standards. In that respect, we also call for ensuring the equality and non-discrimination of citizens and the full implementation of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, including Sejdić and Finci and related judgments. It is also essential to implement the recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Twenty-five years after the genocide in Srebrenica, the denial of genocide and war crimes and the glorification of war criminals continues. Let me be clear: there can be no room for the denial of genocide and war crimes.”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1103 (2020) · source
“However, only by carrying out all the necessary reforms will it be able to realize its aspiration of one day becoming a member of the European Union. Strengthening the rule of law and the fight against corruption must be at the heart of those efforts. We call on Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt the necessary reforms to strengthen the judiciary and ensure its independence, including in the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council. In view of the local elections scheduled for 15 November, we call on all political actors to refrain from provocative rhetoric during the election period. After 12 years without elections, we welcome the agreement to hold local elections in Mostar on 20 December, thus enabling its inhabitants to finally exercise their right to vote.”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1103 (2020) · source
“Belgium aligns itself with the declaration submitted on behalf of the European Union (annex XVIII). I thank Mr. Valentin Inzko, High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, for his briefing. We particularly appreciate his work on the ground in a complex environment. We welcome the unanimity within the Council that led to the renewal of the European Union-led Operation Althea for another year. This mission contributes to the viability of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a single, united, sovereign and multi- community country, and to the stabilization of the region. As a member of the European Union, Belgium will continue to give the country its full support. Twenty-five years after the signing of the Dayton Accords, Bosnia and Herzegovina has emerged as an independent State on the road to Euro-Atlantic integration.”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1103 (2020) · source
“As Belgium believes that greater meaningful participation of uniformed women in United Nations peacekeeping operations contributes to the enhancement of the performance of such operations, can he give some concrete examples of the essential role of uniformed women?”
2020-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1092 (2020) · source
“Finally, we welcome UNPOL’s efforts towards gender mainstreaming, as well as those to increase the participation of uniformed women in peacekeeping. Greater meaningful participation of uniformed women in UNPOL will enhance community engagement, particularly in contexts where cultural norms make it difficult for women to talk to men. Moreover, it can generate more opportunities for empowering women, as well as for gathering information to enhance situational awareness. In addition, gender-sensitive training and conflict analysis should be intensified. Fully fledged gender mainstreaming is and should remain our overall goal. I also have a question for Police Commissioner Pascal Champion, of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.”
2020-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1092 (2020) · source
“Moreover, as the successful implementation of peacekeeping mandates has become contingent on reformed and strengthened police institutions, the role of UNPOL has become increasingly mission critical. More generally, security sector reform should not be handled exclusively by the military component. UNPOL also has an essential role to play in that regard. In that connection, I have two questions for Police Commissioner Issoufou Yacouba, of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. Could he elaborate more on UNPOL’s security sector reform efforts in Mali? And how does coordination with other stakeholders like the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Mali evolve?”
2020-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1092 (2020) · source
“And does she have the ability to fully execute the mandated protection-of-civilian tasks? Secondly, UNPOL has an essential role to play with regard to the administration of justice and the rendering of transitional justice. A breakdown in the rule of law is often a major factor in the decision to deploy a United Nations peace operation. Accordingly, the rehabilitation of the justice architecture — including the potential set-up of transitional justice projects — has become a prerequisite for mission transitions and a cornerstone for their exit strategies. In that regard, allow me to stress that UNPOL always has an essential role to play in terms of accountability; evidence has to be gathered and culprits have to be brought to justice.”
2020-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1092 (2020) · source
“Secondly, while partnerships between UNPOL, host States and other mission components should be enhanced to enable more comprehensive approaches to the protection of civilians, partnerships with other international stakeholders that are active in this field should also be taken into account. Thirdly, more appropriate and flexible capabilities, capacities and tools should be provided to address existing critical capabilities gaps. I have two questions regarding the protection of civilians for Police Commissioner Unaisi Vuniwaqa, of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Taking into account that United Nations protection-of-civilian sites are beginning to transition into conventional displacement camps, how does she see the role of UNPOL in future, as it relates to the protection of civilians?”
2020-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1092 (2020) · source
“Although we have come a long way since UNPOL was first deployed in the Republic of the Congo in the 1960s, today’s briefings clearly demonstrate the potential for further improving UNPOL’s protection of civilians. On the other hand, it is also critical to preserve UNPOL’s gains, especially in the context of the current pandemic, which serves as an additional obstacle to the fulfilment of our objectives. With regard to the future, we would like to plead for a threefold approach. First, all UNPOL should be fully involved in the protection of civilians and be given a voice in decision-making and planning in whole-of-mission efforts to protect civilians. That is especially so in transition contexts, in which military components gradually withdraw.”
2020-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1092 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank today’s speakers for their insightful briefings. The sixtieth anniversary of United Nations police (UNPOL) and the growing importance of the role of United Nations police within United Nations peacekeeping operations underscore the usefulness of these regular briefings. Allow me to seize this opportunity to make three points. First, Belgium would like to stress UNPOL’s essential role in the context of the protection of civilians. In the past, UNPOL’s protective role was generally undervalued and regularly overlooked. Missions have indeed tended to overly rely on militarized approaches to the protection of civilians.”
2020-11-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1092 (2020) · source
“We are deeply concerned about the non-renewal of visas for the Office’s international staff. We very much hope that this situation will soon be resolved, given the indispensable role that the Office plays on the ground. Finally, I wish to support the appeal made by the Special Rapporteur on the administrative detention of Mr. Al-Akhras. Administrative detention must remain an exceptional measure that is applied for a limited period of time and must take into consideration various guarantees, such as the right to mount a defence and the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time frame.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“We encourage all international and multilateral efforts to resume dialogue provided they are fully consistent with international law and the agreed parameters and take into account the legitimate aspirations of both parties. In that regard, we underline the role of the Middle East Quartet and the Secretary-General. We welcome the announcements — by the Governments of the United States, Israel and the Sudan — of the normalization of relations between Israel and the Sudan. We hope that those developments will create a new regional dynamic that will contribute to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the two-State solution. I would like to express Belgium’s support for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“In the context of a resumption of dialogue, it is all the more important that all Palestinian factions invest, with a sense of compromise, in the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single legitimate and democratic authority. We strongly S/2020/1055 encourage the holding of democratic elections in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem and Gaza. My third point is that Belgium, like its European partners, remains committed to a negotiated and viable two-State solution based on agreed parameters and international law. That means an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State living in peace alongside Israel.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“That undermines the confidence that the parties need more than ever to resume a credible dialogue. My second point, therefore, concerns the need to restore that confidence. That implies, first of all, that all parties put an end to unilateral acts. But that also implies restoring cooperation, in line with existing agreements and in full respect of international law. We share the concern expressed by the Special Coordinator regarding the budgetary situation of the Palestinian Authority, as well as the impact on the Palestinian population of the suspension of civil and security coordination with Israel. We therefore call on the Palestinian Authority to resume fiscal, civil and security coordination with Israel.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“We are deeply concerned about the increased tension and violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinians resulting from that settlement policy. We condemn any use of violence. We call for combating impunity for the perpetrators of such violence, including through effective prosecution. At this time of the year, the annual olive picking campaign is taking place — a key economic activity for Palestinians. We call on Israel to assume its responsibilities and ensure that the harvest takes place without incident and that workers have safe and unhindered access to the olive groves. These developments demonstrate that, despite the suspension of plans to formalize the annexation of parts of the occupied Palestinian territory, the de facto annexation continues unabated.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“We urge the Israeli Government to reverse those decisions and put an end to its settlement policy, including in East Jerusalem and sensitive areas such as Har Homa, Givat Hamatos and Area E-1. Despite the current coronavirus disease pandemic and its significant humanitarian impact on already fragile communities, we note a worrisome increase in demolitions and confiscations, including of humanitarian structures financed by Belgium and the European Union. We are very closely following the situation of the school in Ras Al-Tin and the villages of Umm Al-Kheir and Khirbet Al-Majaz, whose populations are threatened with eviction and the demolition of their property. The forced displacement of those populations would constitute a clear violation of Israel’s humanitarian obligations as an occupying Power.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“I thank Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov for his detailed briefing. Belgium aligns itself with the statement submitted on behalf of the European Union and its member States (annex 29). My first point concerns the Israeli settlement policy, which is illegal under international law. This month, the Higher Planning Council of the Israeli Civil Administration met for the first time since February. The Council announced a significant expansion of more than 5,000 housing units in settlements in the West Bank, including more than 1,600 units in areas in and around Jerusalem. We are particularly concerned about those developments, which compromise the viability and territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both Israel and Palestine.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“We welcome the commitment of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and the United Nations Kosovo team in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in cooperation with the local authorities. The European Union and its member States have also proved to be an important partner in this fight. Substantive regional cooperation is essential to combat the virus and its consequences, and we encourage the parties to work towards that end. We reiterate the Special Representative’s call on all Kosovo institutions and stakeholders to respect human rights and leave no one behind in the fight against COVID-19.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“This transitional justice mechanism, by providing victims with the truth and establishing responsibility for very serious crimes, is essential in order to restore people’s trust, and therefore achieve lasting peace. We reiterate our full support for the efforts of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, which plays an important role in the further development of strong, effective and accountable rule of law institutions. We welcome the recent adoption by the Assembly of Kosovo of a constitutional amendment that makes the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence directly applicable.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“These issues are essential to any lasting reconciliation and healing. We call for further efforts in this regard. Women and youth play a key role in peacebuilding, and their meaningful participation must be ensured. This includes significant representation of women in delegations as well as in working groups created to foster dialogue. The new Kosovar Government has reaffirmed its strategic commitment to the European path. Kosovo must now do its utmost to relaunch the reform process. We call on all Kosovar political parties to come together to that end. Belgium remains extremely attentive to the situation of the rule of law. In particular, we strongly condemn the extremely worrisome attempts to weaken the Specialist Chambers in Kosovo or to obstruct their work.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“Belgium calls on both parties to work in good faith with a view to reaching a comprehensive and legally binding agreement on the normalization of their relations. Such an agreement will not only contribute to regional stability, but is also indispensable if the two parties are to continue to make progress on the European path. We call for the implementation of the agreements already reached in the framework of the dialogue. This would make it possible to significantly improve the lives of many Serbian and Kosovar citizens. The recent developments regarding the Merdarë common crossing point, financed and built with EU assistance, are an important step in this regard. We welcome the renewed commitment by the parties to make progress on the humanitarian issues of refugees, displaced persons and missing persons.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“I thank Special Representative Zahir Tanin for his detailed briefing. I also regret that it was not possible for the Special Representative of the European Union, Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, to give a complementary briefing. However, it is in particular thanks to his resolute effort that we have been able to make further progress in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. The European Union (EU) is therefore demonstrating once again its firm determination to fully carry out its role as facilitator. Belgium welcomes the resumption of the dialogue on 12 July and the commitment of both parties. We encourage both parties to continue along that path in a spirit of openness and compromise.”
2020-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1040 (2020) · source
“In all scenarios, close coordination between UNMISS and all relevant actors, including humanitarian organizations, will remain crucial. This is even more important in light of the increasing humanitarian risks signalled in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs white note of 4 September. It is clear now that the positive developments of the start of this year have not lead to a sustainable improvement of the situation in South Sudan. It is high time for all parties to return to the spirit of compromise and to reaffirm their commitment to the peace agreement. The people of South Sudan deserve peace and stability.”
2020-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/914 (2020) · source
“It needs urgent implementation, including through the establishment of the African Union Hybrid Court for South Sudan. We urge the Government to finally make justice a priority. As a final point, Belgium takes note of the announcement by UNMISS of the gradual redesignation of the protection of civilians sites in Wau and Bor. It is imperative that any return or relocation of internally displaced persons happen on a safe, voluntary and dignified basis. The protection of civilians remains at the core of the UNMISS mandate, so mitigating measures should be put in place. Pending meaningful progress on security sector reform, there is reason to act very prudently when handing over United Nations control of the protection of civilian sites to sovereign actors.”
2020-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/914 (2020) · source
“In July, at least two individuals allegedly involved in serious human rights violations, including sexual slavery, were appointed to state governorship positions. With regard to sexual violence, we have not forgotten Special Representative Patten’s words of last July (S/2020/727): “We must keep these crimes and their perpetrators in the spotlight of international scrutiny. As the well-known legal maxim reminds us, justice must be done, and be seen to be done. Survivors must be seen by their societies as the holders of rights that will, ultimately, be respected and enforced.” (S/2020/727, p. 4) In South Sudan, as in other places, transitional justice is indispensable to achieve sustainable peace, national reconciliation and healing, and the rule of law. an entire chapter of the 2018 peace agreement is dedicated to transitional justice.”
2020-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/914 (2020) · source
“Yet the persistent failure to address violations and abuses — past and ongoing — and a profound lack of political will to hold individuals and groups accountable, perpetuate the violence. Some positive steps have been taken. Most recently, there were convictions by the district court martial in Yei of a number of soldiers, including on rape charges. This is commendable. Still, the lack of accountability often remains, quite frankly, shocking. The Secretary-General’s report (S/2020/890) illustrates this in a particularly painful way. In June, senior military commanders of the South Sudanese army were promoted, despite having been identified by UNMISS as involved in serious human rights violations. Two of them are even on the United Nations sanctions list.”
2020-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/914 (2020) · source
“Belgium is deeply concerned about this violence, and we are alarmed by the political and ethnic dimensions it has taken on. We urge the Government to step up its efforts for dialogue and we ask the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to support initiatives that could lower the tensions. We encourage the Mission to continue protecting civilians, including through the establishment of temporary operating bases. All too often, we receive reports about unspeakable human rights violations, widespread sexual violence, grave violations against children and other atrocities in South Sudan. Our first, collective concern should be to create the conditions to prevent such crimes.”
2020-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/914 (2020) · source
“Let me start by thanking Special Representative of the Secretary-General Shearer, Under-Secretary-General Lowcock and Ms. Tai for their insightful briefings. I will address three issues: first, the deteriorating security situation; secondly, the problem of impunity and the need for transitional justice; and, thirdly, the protection of civilians sites. At our last meeting in June, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Shearer expressed alarm about the overall increase in violence. He added that the violence could “no longer be pigeonholed as intercommunal” (S/2020/582, p. 3). As we just heard from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, this trend has clearly continued in large parts of the country.”
2020-09-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/914 (2020) · source
“That is anticipated to lead to a 33 per cent reduction in the progress made on ending gender-based violence, ending child marriages and ending female genital mutilation. Post-COVID education needs to rely on sustainable and holistic measures that go beyond accessing education. Such measures should also address the obstacles encountered by girls specifically in accessing quality education and completing the school cycle.To fight these multiple crises, a coordinated global response is the only way forward, supported by multilateral efforts, based on shared respect for principles and values, fuelled by innovative approaches. In short, we need to be more strategic, focused and unified in tackling the pandemic and the challenges that it presents.”
2020-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/897 (2020) · source
“Thirdly, today is the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack. While we mark this day, the education of refugee and internally displaced children continues to be under attack, literally and metaphorically, as COVID-19 continues to compound their vulnerability. Half of refugee children have no access to school. The negative effect is gendered. While girls still face gender-based violence in schools and universities, others lose their safe haven when schools are forced to close. As young Farhan Roshan shared this morning at the event to mark this International Day: “When education is under attack, women and children suffer the most.” Lastly, lockdown measures increase women’s and children’s exposure to violent partners and have far-reaching social and economic impacts on families.”
2020-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/897 (2020) · source
“We are especially concerned by the fact that the United Nations is currently lacking the means to react to COVID-19 because Member States do not pay their mandatory contributions on time. We call those Member States to take action, and we call on all Member States to continue to uphold our shared respect for, and belief in, multilateralism. Secondly, we commend the work done by the United Nations in matters such as hate speech, misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation exploits fears and can fuel more extreme reactions, violence and violations of human rights, which could exacerbate existing fault lines in society. The initiatives taken to counter the infodemic, such as the Verified campaign, were innovative, and we encourage the Secretariat to pursue such partnerships with the media, businesses and civil society.”
2020-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/897 (2020) · source
“The resolution also calls for all the relevant parts of the United Nations system to support and accelerate the response to the pandemic. We welcome the overview of such actions that we received today. Everywhere on the ground, the United Nations country teams and peacekeeping operations have followed up on that call. The duration and spread of this pandemic will probably allow us to draw lessons and implement adaptive measures, while still fighting it. We are therefore interested to learn which lessons can be drawn and how the United Nations builds on them. Let me add four remarks on the way forward. First, it is our duty as Member States to provide the United Nations with the support that it needs to implement the actions we mandate.”
2020-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/897 (2020) · source
“The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has only magnified the challenges and human costs of conflict. Over the past couple of months, we have witnessed unprecedented needs and repeated calls for an urgent and coordinated response. On 1 July, we unanimously adopted resolution 2532 (2020), which calls for a 90-day ceasefire. Today, 70 days later, we must admit that the outlook does not look promising. The call for a global ceasefire did not have the effect we hoped for, while the COVID-pandemic is still spreading and weakening the health systems in conflict areas. Libya, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan are just a few of the worrisome examples in that respect. We need to continue, in each relevant situation on our agenda, to pursue the implementation of resolution 2532 (2020).”
2020-09-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/897 (2020) · source
“The promotion of women’s rights in Afghanistan falls squarely within the mandate of the Council, which will soon renew the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. We expect the promotion of women’s participation and women’s rights to remain at the centre of its work.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“We urge all parties to swiftly implement the recommendations agreed by the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. From our side, we are supporting the implementation of the National Action Plan on resolution 1325 (2000), together with UN-Women. We are also a proud member of the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan. The European Union (EU) is working to prevent and end violence against women in Afghanistan through the joint Spotlight Initiative with the United Nations. As outlined in the latest EU Council Conclusions on Afghanistan, any expected future support from Belgium or its EU partners will be conditional upon their continued commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“Sometimes women are specifically targeted, such as in the recent atrocious attack on a maternity ward in Kabul, which the Council condemned in the strongest terms. We also condemn violence against women-led non-governmental organizations and women educators, health workers, journalists and human rights defenders, including the killing of Fatima Khalil. Furthermore, we are concerned about reports of an increase in domestic and gender-based violence as a result of the coronavirus disease pandemic, and urge for the response and policies to be inclusive and gender-sensitive. The conflict in Afghanistan is the world’s deadliest for children. We are deeply concerned about the scale and severity of grave violations of children’s rights in Afghanistan. Protecting girls and boys should be at the centre of our work.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“Women leaders are demonstrating today, across all sectors of society, why a country should never exclude half of its talent. All eyes are currently focused on the intra-Afghan peace talks to be launched in Doha. I reiterate the importance of the full and meaningful participation of women of diverse and representative backgrounds in peace talks. The current female participation should be scaled up and any future agreement must guarantee the human rights of women and girls. We join the call of the vast majority of Afghans, both men and women, who will not accept turning back the clock to darker times. The level of violence in Afghanistan remains alarmingly high. We call on all sides to immediately end this unacceptable suffering and stress the importance of accountability.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“We thank Her Excellency Rula Ghani, First Lady of Afghanistan, Her Excellency Ms. Hasina Safi, Minister of Women’s Affairs of Afghanistan, Dr. Habiba Sarābi, member of the negotiations team, Ms. Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, and Her Excellency Ms. Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar, for their statements. We have listened closely to their recommendations and experiences, and I want to emphasize that they can count on us to support their efforts. In the past 20 years, Afghan society has made progress in realizing the rights of women, as guaranteed by Afghanistan’s Constitution. I want to commend the Afghan Government for its dedication and efforts.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“Together with our European and United Nations partners, we will remain committed to efficiently addressing the linkages between terrorism and organized crime, as well as to cutting off the sources of terrorism financing in all its forms.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“Strengthening the capacity of States is of key importance, and we wish to underline the central role played in this endeavour by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, as well as all other United Nations entities involved. Our efforts to fight terrorism and organized crime should increasingly benefit from the expertise of civil society organizations, the innovations of the private sector and the involvement of local communities, including the youth, women and girls. Belgium, like many other countries speaking today, has been harshly hit by terrorist attacks and violent extremism.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“My country wants to recall the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and to underline that respect for international humanitarian law, human rights and the rule of law must remain a top priority, everywhere and under all circumstances. It is even more the case in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic. An efficient fight against terrorism and organized crime requires intense cooperation and coordination at the international, regional and national levels, as well as a global, whole-of-society approach.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic did not break those links, which instead adapted to this new framework, and can be, for example, increasingly witnessed online. Although many Member States have already adopted responses to address those linkages, both terrorism and organized crime continue to dangerously undermine the rule of law and human rights, and thereby exacerbate the threat posed by terrorism to international peace and security. Some measures adopted by Member States in their fight against terrorism and organized crime may have negatively impacted the respect of fundamental rights and the work of humanitarian actors on the ground.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank you, Madam President, for the organization of this open debate, as well as the briefers with us today. In July last year, on the impulse of the Republic of Peru, the Security Council adopted resolution 2482 (2019) on the link between terrorism and organized crime by consensus, thereby acknowledging the importance of both phenomena, as well as their interconnection. Today, we must ensure that this resolution is fully and correctly put into practice. The concluding observations formulated by the Secretary-General in the report (S/2020/754) requested by this resolution constitute valuable guidance in our way forward. The links between terrorism and national and transnational organized crime are manifold and evolving and vary between regions.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“We are deeply concerned at the scale and severity of grave violations of children’s rights in the country and thank all delegations for unanimously adopting conclusions on children and armed conflict. We urge all parties to swiftly implement the recommendations of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. Belgium reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the Afghan people. We are contributing through bilateral and multilateral channels to the implementation of the national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000), the Afghan National Army Trust Fund and NATO’s Resolute Support Mission. I want to emphasize that, in line with the conclusions of the Council of the European Union adopted last month, future support will be determined by the level of commitment of the Afghan authorities to good governance and human rights.”
2020-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/597 (2020) · source