YouSaid · the spoken record

Lagatie

lines on the record: 56
first: 2021-11-22
most recent: 2023-12-15
sittings or episodes: 10
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

“The issue of ammunition has been specifically mentioned in the title of this meeting, and it is indeed a very important one. Ammunition is the fuel of conflicts and is sometimes overlooked. We welcome the recent adoption by the General Assembly of the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (General Assembly resolution 78/47). It is an important step to better protect stockpiles from accidental explosions and avoid diversion cases. We are also convinced about the great opportunities provided by new technologies to identify arms and ammunition diversion patterns and actors, as referenced in the report of the Secretary-General with regards to the work of Tech4Tracing.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The Benelux countries will support Ukraine as long as necessary in its fight to liberate its country. Action by the Security Council should go hand-in-hand with action taken elsewhere. For instance, the Arms Trade Treaty holds annually its session of the Diversion Information Exchange Forum. This provides State parties with a dedicated forum to exchange information in a confidential setting, allowing for greater mutual trust while sharing sensitive information. This forum can help to identify diversion routes and methods and therefore strengthen the arms export assessment procedures. While the Arms Trade Treaty may not be a universal instrument, it will nevertheless reinforce the implementation of other instruments like the Programme of Action, as well as United Nations arms embargoes decided upon by the Council.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“This differential impact must be taken into account in our response to small arms and light weapons trafficking. We therefore support the idea expressed by the Secretary-General to request a report on gender equality in national, regional and international institutions and organizations working on conventional arms control and disarmament to track the implementation of resolutions 2122 (2013) and 2242 (2015). Benelux and other like-minded countries delivered military equipment to Ukraine, including small arms and light weapons and ammunition in order to support Ukraine’s right to self-defence, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. These transfers of equipment are a legitimate response to the unjustifiable attack against Ukraine and are in full compliance with Benelux’s international commitments.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The findings of the United Nations panels of experts should also be followed up, especially through outreach towards countries of the region, since they are often the last step before a diversion occurs. The year 2024 is a reporting year for the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, and we encourage all States to submit their biennial reports, including requests and offers for assistance. It is also an opportunity to include remarks on the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in national small arms and light weapons control processes. As we know, women and men are differentially affected by the violence resulting from illicit arms flows, especially when we talk about sexual violence.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We specifically commend the role of the Mine Action Service in providing weapons and ammunition management training to troop-contributing countries before their deployment. United Nations panels of experts have a complementary role, since they monitor respect for arms embargoes, and their reports provide invaluable information about traffickers and trafficking routes. Here, the build-up of a readily available institutional memory should be encouraged, and cross-referential research should be facilitated. Panels of experts and United Nations peacekeeping operations should closely collaborate in their efforts to chart arms flows and trace the origin of illicit small arms, which requires dedicated resources and skilled staff.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“United Nations peace missions can step in if they have the mandate and technical capacity to record and support tracing efforts of all weapons recovered or seized during their operations. The creation of arms embargo cells within missions that collaborate with panels of experts has also proven to be an effective tool to collect relevant information on arms flows through a combined civilian-military effort. Moreover, peace missions are uniquely placed to provide assistance to the host country on the safe and secure management of stockpiles and on the collection and destruction of surplus weapons and ammunition. We are highly satisfied to see that these type of measures have already been implemented in a series of United Nations peacekeeping missions, as demonstrated in the recent report of the Secretary-General (S/2023/823).”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the Benelux countries, namely, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Luxembourg and my own country, Belgium. The Benelux countries warmly welcome the initiative of Ecuador to organize this meeting. The illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons has devastating consequences on peace and stability in numerous countries. Action on this issue by the Security Council is therefore crucial. Building on resolutions 2220 (2015) and 2616 (2021), it is worth it to take a closer look at current challenges. Effective prevention of illicit arms flows calls for a clear picture of diversion routes and weaknesses in supply chain control.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The private sector could and should play a concrete role in that regard as well. We call on all donors and humanitarian actors to think outside the box and to analyse how innovations in the fields of research, industry and the private sector could be adapted and scaled up in different humanitarian contexts.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“Another creative example is the organization of humanitarian hackathons involving multiple actors in the field of new technologies. Science and technology are indispensable in addressing today’s interconnected challenges. The United Nations and its Member States stand to benefit from a stronger and more flexible interface between science, policy and society while strictly upholding the humanitarian principles. The Benelux countries further welcome the Secretary-General’s creation last month of a Scientific Advisory Board. I take this opportunity in my national capacity to stress the important work initiated by the new Group of Friends on Science for Action. Lastly, the Benelux countries believe in fostering links between humanitarian aid and sustainable development.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“Fourthly, we must support and promote the central and unique role of the United Nations. Lastly, we must strive to ensure predictability and flexibility in funding to the United Nations and other key humanitarian actors — for instance, through core funding. Finally let me, point out some best practices and potential sources of inspiration. The Benelux countries support innovative humanitarian approaches such as the launch of the first humanitarian impact bond — a financial instrument to encourage social investments by the private sector for the benefit of victims of conflict — and humanitarian innovation accelerators, which are aimed at supporting technology-powered solutions that address pressing global challenges faced in the humanitarian space.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“They are aimed at improving the coherence and effectiveness of donor action, as well as its accountability. Some of the key elements of good humanitarian donorship could be taken on board by private actors or in the framework of public- private partnerships. First, we must guarantee the protection of civilians and those no longer taking part in hostilities, as well as facilitating their return to normal lives. Secondly, we must strengthen the capacity of affected countries and local communities in order to ensure that Governments and local communities are better able to meet their responsibilities and coordinate effectively with humanitarian partners. Thirdly, we must provide humanitarian assistance in ways that are supportive of recovery and sustainable development.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“The Security Council is regularly briefed by Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths and other United Nations actors about the terrible sufferings that are also imposed on populations in the Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, in and around Myanmar, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the Sahel and sadly in many other places around the world. The list of forgotten crises is way too long. There should not be a hierarchy among those crises. They all deserve the same attention from the United Nations, as they all deserve equal political backing and financing from us, as Member States. That is one of the reasons that the Benelux countries greatly resort to core funding. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the principles and good practice of humanitarian donorship to be implemented by donors.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“It seems important to recall those key principles of humanitarian aid, as well as respect for international humanitarian law, in this setting, in particular regarding the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the recent withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which directly affects global food security. The same goes for the blocking of the cross- border mechanism for the delivery of humanitarian aid into Syria. Ukraine and Syria are unfortunately not the only countries affected.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“At the outset, let me express our condolences to the people of Morocco and Libya. I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this timely and important solutions-oriented debate on advancing public-private humanitarian partnerships. I also thank the briefers for their informative outlines. I would like to stress the following points in the name of the Benelux countries, namely, Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and my own country, Belgium. We of course align ourselves with the statement delivered by the observer of the European Union. The principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence are fundamental for humanitarian action.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418 (2023) · source
“To that end, Belgium has used its current chairmanship of the Forum for Security Cooperation, within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, to integrate the women and peace and security agenda into the Forum’s work. Belgium is convinced that today’s discussion will help identify ways to further value the resilience and leadership of women and girls. It is up to States to move from analysis and promises to effective action. Without that, we will not be able to reverse current trends or build a lasting peace.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Belgium stands ready to share its experience. Thirdly, supporting women peacebuilders, women human rights defenders and women’s rights organizations is crucial. Therefore, I am proud of our support for the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and now also in Ukraine. The Fund helps women-led organizations and women’s rights organizations to participate in decision-making, prevent conflict and respond to crises, such as Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Finally, let us give the women and peace and security agenda the priority it deserves in regional organizations. A transformative approach to gender is needed everywhere.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Failure to combat inequalities, guarantee women’s rights and eliminate conflict-related sexual violence impedes the full, equal and meaningful participation of women at all levels of decision-making. In that regard, the global anti-gender movement is particularly worrisome, reversing generational gains, as the Secretary-General has demonstrated in his report (S/2022/740). Secondly, we need concrete implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. Belgium takes seriously the recommendations of the Secretary- General’s report and the calls of civil society. In that spirit, my country is already implementing its fourth national action plan on women and peace and security for the period 2022-2026. We encourage all States that have not yet adopted a national action plan to start working on such a plan.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Lagatie (Belgium) (spoke in French): At the outset, I would like to stress that Belgium fully supports the statements made on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. Belgium thanks the Gabonese Republic for having centred this annual debate on women’s resilience and leadership. Indeed, effective action to counter underinvestment and persistent gaps in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda is vital. Let us begin by recognizing women’s resilience and leadership in the face of adversity and systemic discrimination. I would like to highlight three key points. First, we must remove structural barriers, especially in areas plagued by armed groups.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Fourthly and finally, Belgium continues its call for an increased child-protection capacity in United Nations peace operations and political missions, including through financial, political and operational support to fully deliver on child protection mandates. Let me conclude by thanking the Secretary-General profoundly for the presentation of his annual report on children and armed conflict, as well as Special Representative of the Secretary-General Gamba de Potgieter for all her work on the protection of children in an increasingly complex context of war. The numbers in the report are again very sobering. The violations are still horrific, and the task of preventing them remains vast. Yet the challenge is always in the moment, and the moment is now.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“It is therefore extremely worrisome that the perpetrators could not be identified for 15 per cent of those violations, making subsequent accountability extremely challenging. Thirdly, the children and armed conflict mandate does not operate in a vacuum but in a broader framework of standards and norms that provide specific protection to children. That framework, which we must all uphold by defending it rigorously and committing to its obligations, includes the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most-ratified human rights instrument in the world.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We are particularly worried about the increasing number of acts of sexual violence committed against girls. Secondly, Belgium supports a rigorous, objective and transparent process to ensure that parties are listed and delisted consistently across all country situations. Holding the perpetrators of such violations accountable increases the costs of non-compliance with international law, deters future violations and better protects children. Accountability is essential for protecting children in war and ending grave violations. The listing and delisting of perpetrators in the Secretary-General’s annual report remains a unique and powerful tool for promoting compliance with international law.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The children and armed conflict mandate has achieved important progress in the protection of children over the past 25 years. It has proved that it has sufficient instruments at its disposal, and they have made an existential difference in so many young lives. Belgium therefore confirms its unwavering support to the mandate, including the integrity and impartiality of its listing mechanism. We would like to make the following remarks on the occasion of the publication of the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict. First, the report’s accurate reflection of the worsening situation for children, especially in Ukraine, is a timely and important signal that illustrates the dramatic impact of hostilities on children in Ukraine, Ethiopia, Mozambique and the central Sahel region.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“At the outset, I would like to thank Brazil for organizing today’s open debate. I would also like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Gamba de Potgieter, Ms. Russell and Mr. Kumi for their work, both here in New York and on the ground. While we have come far in the past 25 years, the report presented today (S/2022/493) shows that ending the thousands of documented violations of children’s rights in conflict requires a clear focus and attention on the part of all of us. Conflicts are increasingly prolonged and fought in urban areas, blurring the lines between battlefields and critical civilian infrastructure, which is often deliberately attacked, with immediate and long- term negative consequences for children’s survival and well-being.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We cannot lose sight of the fact that traditional media is the main information source for some communities. In that regard, we want to commend the work carried out by local radio stations in the countries hosting peacekeeping operations. I would like to conclude by making a point on humanitarian actors. Given that today’s open debate has largely focused on the security of peacekeeping missions, we need to be aware that disinformation is increasingly putting humanitarian personnel at risk. Some parties to conflicts indeed politicize humanitarian action, and false rumours are often spread about humanitarian aid workers. Belgium calls on all parties to conflict to maintain discipline in the dissemination of information. We recall that humanitarian actors operate under the principle of neutrality — and they must be protected.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We also need to listen better and try to address the concerns of communities. That is why such proactive communication has to be realistic and accessible to all populations. That is the price of restoring their trust. The belief that the United Nations and its operations are acting in their interests will be the best bulwark against disinformation. (spoke in French) My second point concerns strategic communications in United Nations missions. Missions must inform the public in their host countries about their mandate, priorities, actions and outcomes. As I mentioned, that helps to build trust with local communities. However, we need to be careful about which languages we use to make that information accessible. We need to communicate with the public in their native languages, which are often not official languages of the United Nations.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090Resumption1 (2022) · source
“My first point is related to the power of ensuring the trust and confidence of the public. Misinformation can sometimes erode the confidence of local populations and peacekeeping operations and incite anti-mission sentiments. The past few years have shown enough that fake news rules easily. It is therefore crucial that we, the United Nations, constantly seek to communicate better and more convincingly. In that regard, we must avoid complacency and address the criticism regarding the disconnect between our peacekeeping missions and the local realities. But fighting misinformation is only one part of our efforts; we also have to focus on one of the best ways to avoid it — clear, engaging and proactive communication about our actions, objectives, achievements, values and successes.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this open debate on strategic communications and their importance for peacekeeping operations. I would also like to thank all those who spoke before me for their interesting remarks. I will focus my intervention on misinformation and disinformation — challenges that are both old and new. They are new in the sense that the digital age and social media have brought myths and disinformation to new highs, and old in that the truth has always been the first casualty of war. In that regard, we are particularly concerned about Russia’s narrative on its war in Ukraine. Belgium would like to take this opportunity to once again condemn all violence against peacekeeping missions and to honour the sacrifices of their women and men.”
2022-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9090Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We also support the fact that sexual violence is a stand- alone designated criterion in sanctions regimes. We invite the members of the Security Council to add a greater number of individuals to sanctions lists on that basis. We are particularly concerned by the situation of children impacted by armed conflict. Children are among the most vulnerable victims and are not always afforded the space that they need during legal proceedings. Belgium therefore calls for children to be systematically recognized as victims in a separate category before national, hybrid and international tribunals, as well as by transitional justice mechanisms.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“(spoke in French) Secondly, with the growing number of conflicts in the world, we also note the increase in violations and abuses of human rights and the most serious crimes, including conflict-related sexual violence, which Belgium condemns in the strongest terms. We have at our disposition a solid international legal framework to combat such crimes, and several States have adopted legislative frameworks or national action plans in that regard, but their implementation and the prosecution of perpetrators remains problematic. The United Nations must continue to provide support in order to strengthen the capacity of national institutions. Moreover, Belgium fully supports the efforts of the International Criminal Court aimed at prosecuting the perpetrators of sexual and gender-based crimes.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Belgium was one of its founding fathers, and we take this opportunity to call upon all United Nations States Members that have not yet done so to ratify the Rome Statute, as well as its amendments, and to cooperate with the Court. Accountability cannot be achieved if States lack the political will to execute arrest warrants issued by the Court, protect victims and witnesses and fulfil their financial obligations towards the Court. Belgium has always been a defender of a stable budget for the Court and has repeatedly made voluntary contributions. The current situation in Ukraine should remind us of the Court’s relevance. Twenty years after the entry into force of the Rome Statute, we welcome the recent deployment of 42 investigators by the ICC Prosecutor to Ukraine as a concrete example of initiatives for accountability.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“While Ukraine is the most recent example, it is unfortunate that so many other violations and abuses have been committed in other conflict situations, such as in Syria, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Yemen and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, to name but a few. Allow me to make three points today. First, we believe that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has a key role to play in the fight against impunity when States are unwilling or unable to investigate and prosecute the alleged perpetrators of the most serious crimes. In less than a month, on 1 July, we will commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Let me start by offering my condolences to our Brazilian colleagues following the passing of Judge Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade of the International Court of Justice. I would like to thank you, Madam President, for organizing this important high-level debate today. Accountability for serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law is crucial to rebuilding sustainable peace based on the rule of law and to restoring public trust and justice and security institutions. The fight against impunity is essential to prevent new conflicts and atrocities in the future.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In that vein, my delegation calls on all parties to address the plight of children in particular and calls for the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, the Safe Schools Declaration, the Paris Principles and the Vancouver Principles. In conclusion, Belgium promotes a multidimensional approach to the protection of civilians based on prevention, protection, monitoring and accountability. The fight against impunity for the most serious crimes, at both the national and international levels, remains one of Belgium’s priorities. We continue to support international justice and accountability mechanisms for violation of international law and urge all States Members of the United Nations to do the same.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The development of partnerships with relevant actors, in particular local communities and essential service providers, is also key. Thirdly, the denial of humanitarian access is one of the six grave violations identified and condemned by the Council as affecting children in armed conflicts. Children are the most vulnerable victims of conflict and humanitarian disasters. Belgium remains committed to addressing the needs of children affected by armed conflict, while facilitating access to essential services, such as health and education, and intensifying efforts to prevent and address grave violations against them.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Secondly, we call for the full implementation of the commitments contained in resolution 2573 (2021) in order to protect access to essential services. Parties to armed conflict should integrate concrete measures to safeguard the humanitarian space and protect health care and essential civilian facilities, including in counter-terrorism and sanctions contexts. In the planning of military operations, greater attention should be given to the possible effects of hostilities on civilian infrastructure and services. My country further calls on donors to provide flexible multi-year funding to humanitarian organizations to ensure longer-term systemic support to civilian populations and to strengthen the resilience of essential service systems in order to reduce the risk of development reversal and to reinforce short-term emergency response.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In cases of excessive barriers, humanitarian actors should be granted the means to safely and effectively monitor, document and report on the denial and obstruction of and constraints on humanitarian actions. Consistent and long-term engagement with all parties to conflict, including non-State armed groups for humanitarian purposes, should be fostered as a means to gain safe and timely access and to promote respect for international humanitarian law. My delegation welcomes the effort of Geneva Call in that regard. Humanitarian organizations and donors should also continue to support innovative initiatives such as cash assistance and the localization of efforts to ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable, as well as the use of new technologies for needs assessment.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The answer to that question is obvious — when parties to conflict make it a political priority to strictly comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and respect, at all times, its rules and principles, in particular the prohibition of direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects. You, Mr. President, urged us to focus today’s debate on practical ideas for ensuring better humanitarian access and breaking the trend of denial of access in conflict settings. My country would like to stress three points in that regard. First, Belgium calls on parties to armed conflicts to facilitate rapid and unimpeded access to humanitarian relief and to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel. My country further urges all parties to remove barriers to humanitarian operations, starting with administrative barriers.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We condemned the fact that civilians represent close to 90 per cent of the casualties and that impediments to humanitarian access persist in far too many conflicts. We also expressed regret that the coronavirus disease pandemic had further aggravated an already critical situation. If that were not enough, during the past three months, Russia’s illegal and brutal aggression against Ukraine has further exacerbated all of those trends. Today the question facing us, with a renewed sense of urgency, is an obvious one. When will we successfully put an end to widespread civilian harm in conflicts?”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank the United States for organizing today’s important debate, as well as the briefers for their compelling briefings. My country aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union, as well as with the statements of the Group of friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict and the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect. Early this year in a debate here in the Security Council, my delegation expressed its grave concern about the fact that respect for international humanitarian law had dropped to an all-time low and that humanitarian needs had increased to an all-time high (see S/PV.8953). We deplored the resurgence of urban warfare in the last decades and its devastating impact on civilian populations, essential infrastructure and services, such as schools and hospitals.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Belgium contributes to the Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Multi-Partner Trust Fund with some €500,000, including to the United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict network and the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, to strengthen the response to sexual and gender-based violence and support civil society. We can end sexual and gender-based violence only by protecting and promoting all the basic rights of women and girls, fostering gender equality and guaranteeing the full, effective and equal participation of women. The Council can count on my country to continue to fight for those rights, both nationally and internationally.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Fourthly, implementing a survivor-centred approach involves several issues: guaranteeing access to medical and obstetric care after a rape, including the right to abortion; ensuring that survivors can report crimes safely, without being stigmatized or harassed; guaranteeing legal, psychosocial and economic support, including compensation for reintegrating victims; ensuring that services are available in rural areas; and adopting an intersectional approach. Lastly, we would like to underscore the key role played by civil society, in particular organizations that promote the rights of women and girls and survivors in all these initiatives.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Belgium supports the fact that sexual violence should be a standalone designation criterion in sanctions regimes and encourages the members of the Security Council to add to the lists, based on that criterion. Thirdly, other forms of justice and compensation should be viewed as complementary, such as truth and reconciliation processes and traditional forms of justice. Those processes should be carried out by putting the rights and needs of survivors at the heart of concerns, while respecting international law.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Allow me to outline five priorities to speed up the implementation of the robust legal framework at our disposal for taking preventive action. First, Member States bear the primary responsibility for prosecuting the perpetrators of sexual violence. The United Nations must continue to invest in building the capacity of national institutions, which can be achieved by developing legal frameworks and prosecution strategies and by training police units and judges. Secondly, international criminal justice mechanisms play a key role in establishing responsibility. Belgium fully supports the work of the International Criminal Court in prosecuting the perpetrators of sexual and gender-based crimes. The United Nations has also supported hybrid courts.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Although the situation around the world is tragic, there are some positive signs. Allow me to offer two examples. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the prevalence of sexual violence regrettably remains extremely worrisome, we see some positive signs as a result of the readiness of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to promote and facilitate the fight against impunity, for example the ruling on the Kavumu case. In Mali, we commend the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali for their support to the national judicial authorities and civil society stakeholders. We call on the Government of Mali to provide swift support to ensure progress in the legal proceedings.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Lagatie (Belgium) (spoke in French): I thank you, Sir, very much for convening this important debate. Belgium aligns itself with the statement delivered earlier by the observer of the European Union. The report of the Secretary-General (S/2022/272) paints a dark picture. We note an increase in war crimes, such as conflict-related sexual violence. Civilian populations are suffering unspeakably from such crimes, and Belgium condemns them in the strongest possible terms. We are concerned about reports of acts of sexual violence perpetrated by Russian troops in Ukraine and urgently call on Russia to cease hostilities. We also urge a full investigation into the alleged war crimes, including sexual crimes, and call on all parties to fully participate and cooperate to that end.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We have a collective responsibility to protect the people who have the courage to come to this Chamber and share their stories with the world in order to end situations of injustice. That includes taking precautions to mitigate physical and digital security risks by identifying safe communication systems for contacting the briefers concerned, among other things. In case of reprisals, we need to ensure accountability and protection. Member States should collectively stand ready to raise such situations with the countries concerned and give briefers emergency assistance. Our countries are ready to continue their engagement on this critical issue.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Fifthly, we must open avenues for reporting individual cases, collecting data and strengthening monitoring mechanisms at both the national and international levels. Sixthly, we must support national authorities through capacity-building in recognizing and addressing threats to civil society and ensuring accountability. Finally, in past years we have unfortunately seen several cases of reprisals against briefers who have addressed the Council. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are firmly committed to a zero-tolerance approach to such acts of violence. The engagement of women human rights defenders with the Security Council’s work is crucial to deepening our understanding of local dynamics that can make or break processes for peace and post-conflict reconstruction.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Secondly, we must apply a gender perspective in peace and security processes, consider the specific risks faced by different groups of women human rights defenders and integrate appropriate risk mitigation where possible. Thirdly, we must be mindful that merely receiving diplomatic support or being in contact with diplomats can put women human rights defenders at risk. Any action taken to protect or empower women human rights defenders must be at the expressed wish of those concerned and in close consultation with them in order to minimize the possibility of reprisals. Fourthly, with their consent, we must increase the visibility of the work of specific civil-society members through media or by bringing up individual cases directly with the authorities concerned.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Our countries actively support the work of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN-Women and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund in preventing and addressing reprisals, and we call on all Member States to do the same. Civil society has also made recommendations to Member States and the diplomatic community on lowering risks, such as the guidelines on the protection of women human rights defenders developed by Peace Brigades International, Cordaid and the Dutch Gender Platform WO=MEN, as well as by the International Service for Human Rights. We see six key recommendations for Member States going forward. First, at the international level, we must continue to advocate for a more enabling environment for civil society to do its work free from fear, threats, harassment, violence or reprisals of any kind.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source
“According to the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, the Council has failed to address the root causes of the issue or to mount an effective response when attacks on civil society occur. The protection of women human rights defenders and women peacebuilders remains one of the starkest gaps in its implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. We are very grateful to Norway for the opportunity to deepen our reflections on measures that the Security Council can take, building on the discussions that we started during the Arria Formula meeting on the topic in February 2020 during Belgium’s presidency of the Security Council, at which the Benelux countries all voiced their concerns.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949Resumption1 (2022) · source