YouSaid · the spoken record

Maes

lines on the record: 204
first: 2011-11-09
most recent: 2023-07-14
sittings or episodes: 34
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

“Secondly, through investigative mechanisms, we must support the documentation of the crimes committed. Thirdly, close cooperation with civil society must be ensured, and we must protect those key partners from reprisals by taking appropriate measures. Fourthly and finally, we must tackle the root causes of sexual violence and redouble our prevention efforts. It is a matter not only of putting an end to the culture of impunity, but also of recognizing that sexual violence is linked to gender inequality.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As the Secretary-General points out in his report (S/2023/413), the number of actors involved is multiplying. In Ukraine, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documented 109 cases of sexual violence perpetrated by the Russian military. Victims ranged in age from 4 to 82 years old. In that regard too, we can speak of the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. In order to put an end to the cycles of sexual violence, Luxembourg wishes to make four recommendations. First, the fight against impunity must be at the centre of our efforts. The International Criminal Court has a key role to play. Sexual violence in conflict is a war crime and may constitute a crime against humanity or genocide. We support the work under way on a convention on crimes against humanity.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that context, my country has just signed the Murad Code and joined the new International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. We are grateful to the United Kingdom for launching those initiatives and encourage all Member States to join them. Luxembourg also continues to support the Stand Speak Rise Up! initiative, the United Nations Population Fund, UN-Women and Justice Rapid Response, as well as the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Despite the numerous resolutions adopted by the Security Council since 2008, sexual violence persists and continues to be used as a weapon of war in Mali, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sudan, South Sudan, Syria and other conflicts.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): I would like to thank the United Kingdom for organizing this open debate as part of its presidency. We also extend our thanks to Special Representative Pramila Patten and her team and to the two representatives of civil society for their recommendations. Luxembourg fully endorses the statements delivered on behalf of the European Union and on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security and the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect. Allow me to add a few considerations in my national capacity. The fundamental human rights of survivors, such as the rights to dignity, privacy, health, safety, access to justice, truth and an effective remedy, are at the heart of Luxembourg’s feminist foreign policy.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Their essential work with United Nations country teams helps to document violations of children’s rights in armed conflicts. Their mission is crucial. Luxembourg remains deeply attached to this theme, as demonstrated by the fact that, together with Belgium, Malta and Uruguay, we recently organized a photography exhibition in Geneva entitled “From Despair to Hope: Children Beyond Armed Conflict”, in conjunction with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. It is our duty to strengthen accountability mechanisms in order to put an end to impunity for serious violations committed against children. Children deserve our commitment, our compassion and above all our resolute action to build a better and safer future for all.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Those children, already vulnerable, face daily challenges to their survival, particularly young girls who are victims of sexual violence. A particularly worrisome trend is the 112 per cent increase in the number of attacks on schools and hospitals. In 2022 alone, 1,163 attacks on schools were recorded. Luxembourg actively supports the Safe Schools Declaration and urges all States that have not yet done so to endorse it, in order to prevent such attacks and protect places of learning. Schools must remain zones of peace. To deprive children of their fundamental right to education is to deprive them of their future. I would like to reiterate Luxembourg’s financial and political support for the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Mrs. Virginia Gamba de Potgieter, and all her teams.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“A striking example of this reality is Ukraine, where children are directly affected by the use of missile systems by Russian forces, bombardments of populated areas and air strikes by the aggressor. These disproportionate attacks have devastating consequences on the lives of innocent children, causing loss of life, serious injury and indelible trauma for this generation. Other situations are equally alarming. Luxembourg is particularly concerned at the deteriorating situation of children in South Sudan and Myanmar. In such countries as Syria, Yemen and the occupied Palestinian territory, the lack of access to humanitarian aid is having disastrous consequences for children trapped in protracted conflicts.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): Luxembourg aligns itself with the statements to be made on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict. I would like to add some considerations in my national capacity. I would like to thank the United Kingdom presidency of the Security Council for organizing today’s open debate, and this morning’s briefers for explaining what is at stake. We cannot ignore the alarming situation of children trapped in armed conflicts around the world. In 2022, 18,890 children were victims of 24,300 grave violations in 25 situations. These are the confirmed figures for last year. The real figure is certainly much higher.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366Resumption1 (2023) · source
“That brings me to my second priority. In our view, capacities and expertise in the field need to be strengthened. We support climate-related initiatives taken by special political missions, peacekeeping operations and special envoys, as well as by United Nations departments and agencies, and welcome the key role played by the Climate Security Mechanism in this respect. In addition, we encourage all United Nations missions to continue to take steps to reduce their environmental footprint and increase environmental management actions. Finally, the appointment by the Secretary-General of a special representative for climate, peace and security would, in our view, strengthen a coherent United Nations-wide approach and capacity to respond to climate-related security risks.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Natural resources are at issue in many conflicts, and climate change is worsening the situation, particularly through its impact in terms of soil degradation and desertification. This is the case, for example, in the Sahel region, where Luxembourg is actively involved in promoting local conventions for inclusive and sustainable intercommunity governance of natural resources. Luxembourg is supporting a programme implemented by the European Institute of Peace in the Liptako- Gourma region, on the border between Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger, which aims to take better account of land issues and natural-resource governance to resolve and prevent conflicts. In that regard, a workshop on the root causes of conflict was held in Niamey in December 2022. This Sahel programme also aims to strengthen local players.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“This impact is felt throughout the world, but it is those living in situations of fragility, conflict and violence who are hardest hit. The draft resolution submitted in December 2021 by Ireland and the Niger and supported by 113 States Members of the United Nations (S/2021/990), responded to the need to take better account of the security impact of climate change. We deeply regret that it could not be adopted due to Russia’s veto (see S/PV.8926). If the draft resolution had been adopted, we could already be seeing the first results. The impact of climate change on security is profound, and it knows no borders. We therefore need to work together, and we need to act now. We see three priorities. First, climate change must be taken into account in mediation and conflict prevention.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): I would like to congratulate the United Arab Emirates for organizing today’s open debate on climate change and peace and security under its presidency of the Security Council and for making this theme a priority of its Council mandate. I would also like to thank the briefers for their briefings. We fully endorse the statements made by the representative of the European Union and by the representative of Germany on behalf of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security. Allow me to add a few considerations in my national capacity. The impact of climate change on international peace and security must be better understood by the United Nations and the Security Council.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In another example, a Luxembourg police officer deployed with the European Union Police and Rule of Law Mission for the occupied Palestinian territory helped to launch a network of female Palestinian civilian police personnel in May. Luxembourg’s support for strengthening the role of women as agents for peace is part of our feminist foreign policy and our national action plan on women and peace and security. The Council can count on our continued commitment to supporting women and girls, without whom peace, security and prosperity cannot be achieved and whose resilience should be an example to us all.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Luxembourg reiterates its commitment to a safe school environment in the spirit of the Safe Schools Declaration, which we encourage all Member States to endorse. Lastly, with respect to support for regional and national efforts, the increased activity of terrorist and violent extremist groups has serious implications for the safety of women and girls, especially in West Africa and the Sahel. It is crucial to work hand in hand with regional and national partners to promote the rights of women and girls. Luxembourg is proud to support the work of the Office of Ms. Bineta Diop, the African Union Special Envoy on Women and Peace and Security, aimed at protecting women and girls in the Sahel from sexual and gender-based violence, in partnership with the Pan-African Centre for Gender, Peace and Development.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We welcome the Secretary-General’s recommendation to strengthen support for women human rights defenders and accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict situations. Luxembourg is concerned about the high incidence of sexual and gender-based violence committed by Russia’s armed forces in its war of aggression against Ukraine. There must be no impunity for those crimes. Secondly, concerning education, hindrances to women’s participation can appear at an early age if young girls are deprived of an adequate education, including as a result of insecurity. In that regard, Luxembourg supports the efforts of the Niger, whose President has just launched a boarding-school initiative for girls in order to provide them with accessible, safe, quality and sustainable education.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Despite being marginalized, women are putting their lives on the line and being subjected to intimidation, reprisals and physical violence as they strive to take action on the ground to ensure the peace and prosperity of their communities. To support them, we suggest focusing on three areas of action — justice, education and support for regional and national efforts. First, with regard to justice, in conflict zones around the world, including areas controlled by armed groups, women and girls are at an unprecedented risk of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence. In that regard, safe and secure access to justice for women and girls must be guaranteed.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): Luxembourg thanks the Gabonese presidency of the Security Council for convening today’s open debate. We also thank the Deputy Secretary-General, the Executive Director of UN-Women, the African Union Special Envoy and Ms. Zahra Nader for their briefings. Luxembourg fully aligns itself with the statements made on behalf of the European Union, the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security and the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect, and I would like to add a few points in my national capacity. Despite all the efforts to implement the women and peace and security agenda since it was launched 22 years ago, women are still too often excluded from peace processes.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We call on all States to sign and implement the Safe Schools Declaration, which provides a relevant framework for action. We are also very concerned about reports of the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Children fleeing the war in Ukraine are at increased risk of human trafficking and exploitation. It is vital that these children are protected from becoming victims of war a second time. In the light of the terrible suffering of the civilian population, and in particular of children, we regret that the Security Council is not in a position to condemn the war in Ukraine and adopt a draft resolution that could help put an end to it. That does not exonerate the perpetrators of war crimes. They will be held accountable for their actions.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096 (2022) · source
“The relentless shelling of civilian targets, including schools and hospitals, by Russian military forces continues to cause numerous casualties among the population of Ukraine. Children are not spared. On 21 March, the Group of Friends on Children and Sustainable Development, chaired by Bulgaria, Jamaica and Luxembourg, issued a joint statement lamenting the deaths of at least 75 children as a result of the war in Ukraine. As of 17 July, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 346 children have died in this conflict, and this figure is certainly lower than the actual number of dead children. Russia must immediately stop its indiscriminate attacks on densely populated areas, including schools and hospitals.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096 (2022) · source
“The publication of the Secretary-General’s annual report on children and armed conflict (S/2022/493) and its consideration by the Security Council is a testament to the international community’s continued commitment to the protection of children, a subject that remains ever relevant. Today’s news is the Russian aggression against Ukraine. While waiting for the situation in Ukraine to be included in the next annual report, we take note of the fact that Ukraine has been added to the list of countries of concern, with immediate effect. Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine has blatantly violated international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096 (2022) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): Luxembourg supports the statement of made observer of the European Union and those made on behalf of the Groups of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict and on the Responsibility to Protect. Allow me to complement those statements with some considerations in my national capacity. We thank the Brazilian presidency of the Security Council for organizing today’s important open debate and all the briefers for their insightful briefings. In this context, I would like to reiterate Luxembourg’s full support for the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and stress the importance of strengthening the Office of the Special Representative and continuing to support the work of UNICEF.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096 (2022) · source
“That commitment is supported by a growing number of presidencies of the Security Council, which has allowed it to considerably strengthen the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda within the Council.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“In order to ensure effective United Nations action and prevent conflicts, we call upon all Member States to join the code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, which was elaborated within the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group, which is now supported by more than 120 Member States, and to support the political declaration on the suspension of the veto in the case of mass atrocities submitted by France and Mexico. The Benelux countries fully support those two initiatives. I would like to conclude by commending the heightened commitment to the women and peace and security agenda initiated by the trio of the presidencies of Ireland, Kenya and Mexico in 2021.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“We strongly encourage the Council to ensure as much as possible that all Member States and all relevant stakeholders are involved, with a particular focus on the participation of representatives of civil society in Council meetings. The in-person participation of Member States and observer States in open meetings of the Council is particularly important in that context. We also encourage the Council to resume its practice of field visits, which allow for discussions with a broad range of actors and allow the Council to get a direct understanding of dynamics on the ground and then to debrief all Member States upon their return.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“The transparency of the Council’s work must be ensured, and its responsibility vis-à-vis all the States Members of the United Nations must be strengthened. Recent efforts in that direction are welcome, in particular thanks to the initiative on the veto. The new mechanism created by General Assembly resolution 76/262 was implemented for the first time at the beginning of this month. In that context, we welcome the submission in good time by the Security Council of a special report on the use of the veto and the participation of a large number of Member States in the General Assembly debate (see A/76/PV.77 and A/76/ PV.78). Improving the working methods of the Security Council remains an imperative.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“We deplore the impasse in which the Council finds itself, as it is currently not able to fully discharge its mandate and consequently not fully able to uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations, notably owing to the use of the veto. Lack of respect for the Charter of the United Nations and international law has devastating consequences for civilians in many regions of the world, including in Syria, the occupied Palestinian territories, Ukraine and Afghanistan. In the light of the many challenges that we face, it is crucial that cooperation be strengthened between the Security Council and the General Assembly as well as with the Peacebuilding Commission and regional organizations.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the three Benelux countries — Belgium, the Netherlands and my own country, Luxembourg. We thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this open debate on the working methods of the Security Council, and we commend the efforts of Albania as Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. We also sincerely thank Ms. Loraine Sievers and Ms. Karin Landgren for their briefings and their recommendations. Today more than ever it is vital that the Security Council be able to fulfil its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, as entrusted to it by Member States.”
2022-06-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9079 (2022) · source
“Considering their convening role, regional organizations have a responsibility to ensure that concerns about human rights violations and abuses are reflected in specific provisions of peace agreements. Violations of international law should not go unpunished, and amnesties for sexual violence crimes are never acceptable. Today it is more crucial than ever to redouble our efforts to advance the women and peace and security agenda in cooperation with regional organizations. The Council can count on the Benelux countries’ firm commitment and support in that regard.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Regional organizations, working in concert with national Governments, could enhance the sharing of knowledge on where and how women can receive formal training to become mediators and share toolkits on how training can be developed at a national or regional level. As the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2022/272) emphasizes, recent unconstitutional power grabs have been followed by widespread insecurity, economic shocks and human rights violations, including the use of sexual violence. Those violations have a disproportionate effect on women and girls, whether in Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Sudan or Mali. We are also witnessing such violations in Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Particular attention should be paid to women human rights defenders and women peacebuilders to ensure they can operate in a safe environment and are involved at all levels of political decision-making processes. Thirdly, we would like to highlight the importance of women mediators, while recognizing the valuable networks supported by regional organizations such as the African Union’s FemWise-Africa network. Too often, women mediators are not included in formal peace processes. We believe they can play a key role in breaking the patriarchal silos of negotiations, and that regional organizations can promote the deployment of qualified senior experts.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We call for the adoption of a rights-based approach, because protecting women’s rights, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights, means protecting the rights of all members of society as a whole. Secondly, according to Preventing Conflict, Transforming Justice, Securing the Peace, the global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), the participation of women creates a 35 per cent increase in the probability of reaching a sustainable peace agreement that will last 15 years. In line with resolutions 1888 (2009) and 1889 (2009), we urge all relevant actors, including all regional organizations, to take effective measures to ensure and increase the participation of women, in all their diversity, at all stages of peace processes, in particular through the active involvement of civil-society organizations.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We must continue working together to implement the normative framework on women and peace and security. While we welcome the adoption of women and peace and security action plans by many regional organizations and several Member States, including the European Union, we believe that regional organizations should further develop and implement policies, activities and advocacy for all women and girls affected by conflict. We believe it is essential to draw lessons from previous and current crises, and we would therefore like to make the following four observations. First, we must work together to promote gender equality and the economic, political and social empowerment and participation of women, which are prerequisites for sustainable development, peace, security and justice.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Benelux countries — Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and, my own country, Luxembourg. The Benelux countries fully align themselves with the statements made on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. We thank Albania for organizing today’s debate on the role of regional organizations in implementing the women and peace and security agenda, and for its efforts to integrate that agenda into the Council’s work. We welcome today’s briefings and the Security Council’s regular exchanges with regional organizations, which play an important complementary role in implementing the women and peace and security agenda on the ground.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The international community must redouble its efforts to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law and lay a foundation for just and lasting peace, not only in Ukraine but also in Afghanistan, Mali, Syria, Yemen and all conflict situations. Impunity must end. We must do everything to ensure that the perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law be held accountable for their actions and that justice be done for the victims, who must be at the centre of our efforts. In that regard, Luxembourg underscores the important role of the International Criminal Court.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In that context, we welcome the tireless efforts of our humanitarian partners to protect civilians in increasingly complex situations. I would like to highlight in particular the crucial mandate of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and its fundamental role in protecting people affected by conflict and other situations of violence. Luxembourg is proud of the strategic partnership it has built with the ICRC, which can count on our continued support. International humanitarian law is one of the more powerful tools we have to ensure the protection and dignity of every person and to address the devastating effects of conflicts on civilians.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Let us be very clear: those acts may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Luxembourg would like to stress the need to implement Security Council resolutions on the protection of civilian infrastructure, in particular resolution 2601 (2021), which calls for measures to protect schools from attack. We remain strongly committed to the Safe Schools Declaration and encourage all States that have not yet done so to sign it. The protection of persons displaced by armed conflict, in particular women and children, must be guaranteed. We condemn attacks on displaced persons, which make it extremely difficult to provide humanitarian assistance, which is so crucial. Full and unhindered humanitarian access is a necessary precondition for effective humanitarian action, particularly in times of armed conflict.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“A growing number of testimonies and reports describe unbearably brutal attacks by Russian armed forces against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, cities under siege in Ukraine, human trafficking, rape and other forms of sexual violence targeting women and children in particular. The information gathered and verified by the United Nations and its partners is essential to counter any manipulation of information. For example, between 24 February and 17 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) verified 226 attacks against health-care facilities in Ukraine. That figure represents two thirds of the attacks against such civilian infrastructure that have been verified by WHO throughout the world since the beginning of the year.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): Luxembourg is grateful to the United States for having organized this open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. I thank the Secretary-General for his report (S/2022/381) and the recommendations contained therein. Luxembourg fully supports the statement to be made by the observer of the European Union and the statements on behalf of the Groups of Friends on the protection of civilians and the responsibility to protect. Please allow me to add some remarks in my national capacity. We are deeply shocked by the devastating impact of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine.”
2022-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9042Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Fourthly, unhindered access to justice, health services and psychosocial care must be ensured for victims without fear of reprisals. Fifthly, we encourage Member States that have not yet done so to endorse and implement the Safe Schools Declaration in order to protect children, young people and teachers from sexual violence in times of conflict at school or on the way to school. Sixthly, Luxembourg encourages the Security Council to continue its efforts to incorporate sexual violence as a designation criterion in United Nations sanction regimes.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In Iraq, Luxembourg supports the non-governmental organization Yazda, which helps the Yazidi community, especially Yazidi women and girls who have survived sexual violence committed by members of Da’esh. Luxembourgwouldliketomakesixrecommendations aimed at ending cycles of sexual violence. First, we must prevent all abuses and violations of human rights by fully implementing existing legal frameworks and addressing the root causes of conflict-related sexual violence by committing to gender equality. Secondly, we should support the work of documenting crimes through investigative mechanisms. Thirdly, we must work together to end impunity for the perpetrators of crimes and thereby bring justice to survivors. In that context, we emphasize the key role of the International Criminal Court in complementing national jurisdictions.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“As part of its feminist foreign policy, Luxembourg defends and promotes the rights of women and girls in all their diversity, including those of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. We therefore support the awareness-raising actions of the Stand Speak Rise Up! initiative and have established partnerships with the United Nations Population Fund, UN-Women and Justice Rapid Response. We continue to support the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and we have contributed to the trust fund that supports her work. In South Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, my country is supporting efforts to strengthen the model of care created by Dr. Denis Mukwege for victims of sexual violence, in partnership with civil- society organizations.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Despite the resolutions that the Security Council has adopted since 2008 that demand that all parties to armed conflicts put an end to all acts of sexual violence against civilians, sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon of war in Ukraine, Myanmar, Syria, northern Ethiopia, South Sudan and other conflicts, in a climate of almost total impunity. Rape and other forms of sexual violence are war crimes and can constitute a crime against humanity or an element in the crime of genocide. We are deeply shocked by the growing number of testimonies and reports of rape and sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by Russian armed forces in Ukraine, targeting women and children in particular. We condemn those despicable acts in the strongest terms, and their perpetrators must be held accountable.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): Luxembourg thanks the United Kingdom presidency of the Security Council for organizing this open debate on the prevention of sexual violence. I would like to thank Ms. Pramila Patten, Ms. Nadia Murad and the civil-society representatives from Syria and Ethiopia for their testimonies and recommendations. Luxembourg fully subscribes to the statement to be made on behalf of the European Union and those made on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security (see S/PV.9016) and the LGBTI Core Group, and I would like to add some remarks in my national capacity.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In that context, we must better link humanitarian action with development activities. Finally, Luxembourg continues to support the development of a political declaration in which States would commit themselves to avoiding the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas and welcomes the negotiations led by Ireland in that regard.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In the wake of the deplorable cyberattack that recently targeted the ICRC, we want to assure the ICRC that it can continue to count on Luxembourg’s solidarity and active support in promoting respect for international humanitarian law at all levels by all parties to conflicts. That respect is essential for guaranteeing the protection and dignity of all, especially those in urban areas. Those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law must also be held accountable. There must be an end to impunity. In that regard, Luxembourg stresses the important role of the International Criminal Court. The collection of data on the impact of conflicts on civilians in urban areas is essential and must be strengthened. We must also link the protection of civilians in urban areas with post-conflict peacebuilding.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953Resumption1 (2022) · source
“That view also forms part of Luxembourg’s approach to its membership of the Human Rights Council for the period 2022 to 2024. We have made the protection and promotion of the rights of children, including those affected by armed conflict, a priority for our term. Luxembourg will also continue to focus, through humanitarian action, on the protection of children and education in emergency situations, in particular with respect to access to education for girls. As the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) pointed out in his briefing, greater respect for international humanitarian law is needed to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population. The ICRC is one of Luxembourg’s long- standing humanitarian partners.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Access for humanitarian organizations is limited, and sometimes entire cities are destroyed on such a scale that they are beyond reconstruction, as in the case of Syria. The impact and suffering that occurs when schools are attacked and closed weighs not only on adults and children — especially young girls — but also on society as a whole. In the absence of access to education, many children must go to work. Once children have taken that path, it is often impossible for them to return to school, which reinforces a cycle of exploitation and poverty and makes them vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups. The protection of education must therefore remain a priority. Luxembourg remains firmly committed to the Safe Schools Declaration and urges all States to join it.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Mr. Maes (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): I thank Norway for organizing this open debate on the protection of civilians in urban areas. Luxembourg fully endorses the statements made on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends for the Protection of Civilians. The Secretary-General’s 2021 annual report (S/2021/423) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict highlighted the devastating impact of the use of explosive weapons in urban areas on civilians and critical civilian infrastructure, including schools. Urbanization will continue to accelerate those trends. In the post-conflict context, rehabilitating damaged critical infrastructure can take years and delay the return of displaced people.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In that respect, we welcome the draft resolution on climate and security presented by Ireland and the Niger. Luxembourg has decided to co-sponsor this important draft resolution, which we hope the Security Council will soon be able to adopt.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923Resumption1 (2021) · source
“In addition, in cooperation with the European Institute of Peace and several local actors, we plan to support a project in the Liptako-Gourma region, on the border between Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger, to study different models of natural resource governance and identify critical success factors to support their application elsewhere. Given the undeniable link between the adverse effects of climate change and international peace and security, we believe it is essential that the Security Council, peacekeeping missions and special political missions take into account the security implications of climate change in their analyses and actions. Like many Member States, Luxembourg urges the Council to pay due attention to the link between climate, natural resources and security.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923Resumption1 (2021) · source