YouSaid · the spoken record

Kessy Martine Ekomo-Soignet

lines on the record: 9
first: 2021-02-24
most recent: 2021-02-24
sittings or episodes: 1
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

“Those young people and women peacemakers must be supported technically and financially so as to amplify the impact of their peacebuilding actions. I wish to conclude by reminding Council members that the people of the Central African Republic are aware of the decisive weight that they represent for the future of our country. Your action or inaction can save or cost lives in the Central African Republic. We are therefore counting on the wisdom of the members of the Council to take decisions in the service of peace and security in my country. For our part, we remain active on the ground and nourish the strong hope that one day our country will emerge from these repeated crises thanks to the combined efforts of the people of the Central African Republic and the support of the international community.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source
“They demand justice for the thousands of innocent lives taken, they demand justice for the girls and women who have been raped and physically abused; they demand justice for the destruction of property and other goods. That cry for justice has always been a forceful demand on the part of the population of the Central African Republic, which does not condone impunity. Finally, there will be no lasting peace without the effective participation of women and young people, who represent more than 75 per cent of the population. How can we possibly envision a lasting peace without them? Their contribution should not be limited to ad hoc consultations but should be made in the context of a participatory, inclusive and active approach at all levels of decision-making.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source
“We dream of seeing the vision of the founding father of the Central African Republic, Barthélemy Boganda, formulated around the “Zo Kwe Zo”: that is, embracing the diversity of the people of the Central African Republic by ensuring that impunity is combated and that fundamental rights and freedoms can become a genuine reality for all. Thus we dream that freedom of expression and of thought will also be at the heart of the efforts of young people, women, men, decision-makers and friendly countries working for peace in the Central African Republic, because there is no one voice in conflict resolution. To advocate a single voice would call into question the diversity of our nation, especially the courage of the people who expressed their views at the ballot box against the odds. My people thirst for justice.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source
“Our people have dreams for our country; that dream is even more vibrant in the current context, despite our weariness and our fears. In 2020, a participatory analysis conducted throughout the territory of the Central African Republic that focused on the needs and aspirations of young people, who represent more than 70 per cent of the population, showed that for those young people, peace means, first and foremost, the freedom of movement of goods and people. The study also showed that despite the difficult context, 86 per cent of young people do not want to emigrate but to stay in the country and be successful. We dream of seeing our country develop with dignity and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and the aspirations of the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source
“At the political level, the current situation is jeopardizing the future of the peace process, in particular the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in the Central African Republic. Civil society actors, specifically young people and women, have worked over the past two years to make the agreement the reference framework for the establishment of lasting peace. For that reason, we have deployed advocacy efforts with decision-makers and armed groups to advance the cause of peace and silence the guns. Today we are calling for redoubled efforts on the part of all stakeholders, guarantors and facilitators of the agreement for the revitalization of the peace process, because the people thirst for peace, and we owe such peace not only to the present generation but also to future generations.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source
“The violence perpetrated by the nebulous armed coalition called Coalition des patriotes pour le changement has made the lives of my people very difficult. The violence has contributed to the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation and has compromised the right to education of thousands of inhabitants of the Central African Republic. In addition, the curfew and the state of emergency established by the Government have also impacted the life of the people on several levels, especially at the socioeconomic level, because our country is characterized by a largely informal and active day and night economy. At the social level, there has, unfortunately, been an upsurge in gender-based violence and sexual assault within communities.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source
“Yes, the people, especially young people and women, are ready to rise up and turn the page on repetitive crises. That commitment is not new. It was openly reiterated at the Bangui National Forum in 2015, which enabled the people of the Central African Republic to speak with one voice: the voice of peace. That passionate appeal still resonates today, six years later. The current context, unfortunately, reminds millions of people in the Central African Republic of the trauma of the 2013 crisis. That trauma is real, as evidenced by the events of 23 December 2020, and it is underlying our determination to live together despite everything, to create, to make positive changes in country and to rise up together as one strong and united people.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source
“However, despite those fears, today I would like to send a message from the people of the Central African Republic: our hopes are stronger than our fears. We strongly believe that it is possible to extricate ourselves from the situation of instability in which we have lived for years. Yes, we are aware of our vulnerability to crises and violence. Yes, we need to be supported by our partners, and we are grateful for their commitment and their sacrifices. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace in my country. Yes, our people have learned to be resilient and have always chosen the path of peace and unity in the face of attempts at destabilization and division.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source
“It is an honour for me to address you on the situation in my country, the Central African Republic. Indeed, thousands of my compatriots would have liked to seize such an opportunity to speak directly to you to share with you their concerns, their fears, their hopes and their vision for the future of this beautiful country. That is why I consulted several young people, women and civil-society actors living in the Central African Republic and in the diaspora in order to echo their voices in my intervention. The situation in my country is complex, tense and difficult. We live in fear: the fear of losing our lives and those of our loved ones due to gun violence; the fear of being physically abused; and the fear of not having the economic means to survive, especially in this period of pandemic, which has exacerbated vulnerabilities.”
2021-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/187 (2021) · source