YouSaid · the spoken record

Mejia Velez

lines on the record

246

first

2014-03-07

most recent

2018-08-29

sittings or episodes

42

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un-security-council

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1. “Arnault, namely, the amnesty law for those members of the FARC who have not committed crimes against humanity, as well as a subseqeunt law on a special peace jurisdiction, both of which flowed from the special capacities conferred on Colombia by the Constitutional Court. The personal commitment of President Santos Calderon to go to a gathering site and meet with the tri-party mechanism, along with the Foreign Minister and Mr. Arnaud and his entire team, is another way in which we will manage to overcome the time that - well, I do not want to say "lost" but, rather, the setback of the referendum.”

   2017-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7859 (2017) · source

2. “The first day of December 2016 was set as the date to start the demobilization schedule 4 to group the ex- combatants of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejercito del Pueblo (FARC-EP) into temporary territories while they transitioned to the agreed upon zones - as well as for the handing over and collection of weapons, which must be completed within a 180 days. Thanks to a spirit of great commitment on the part of the Colombian legislature, the Constitutional Court approved the fast-track. The approved period of six months has made it possible for the legislature to introduce six important legal reforms - the first of which was mentioned by Mr.”

   2017-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7859 (2017) · source

3. “However, and I believe that it required a huge commitment and singular perseverence, it was an opportunity that opened the door to President Santos Calderon to initiate a national dialogue to conclude a new peace agreement, which we were finally able to celebrate on 24 November 2016. It incorporated a good number of the changes that were based on the proposals of the political leaders of the "no" movement. The new Final Peace Agreement was ratified by the National Congress 30 November 2016.”

   2017-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7859 (2017) · source

4. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Jean Arnault and the members of the Security Council. As you just said, Mr. President, it is very encouraging to not only receive the briefing of Mr. Arnault and the report (S/2016/1095) of the Secretary-General, but also to receive the support that Colombia has always felt from the Security Council since we started along this long path a year ago. On 2 October 2016 - I think it was a surprise for everyone - the referendum voted "no" by a narrow difference. This had an obvious consequence of a delay of the beginning of the actions that were proceeding for the implementation of what we had agreed upon.”

   2017-01-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7859 (2017) · source

5. “Finally, the presence of women at the negotiation table and their contribution to the peace agreement and its future implementation as part of the women and peace and security agenda in Colombia is a truly unique experience in a peace process that specifically includes a gender perspective. As Minister Wallstrom said this morning, investing in prevention is not only morally correct, it is also smart, economically safe and sustainable.”

   2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source

6. “The agreement addresses the causes of the conflict, and its implementation will enable us to generate economic development and well-being in the rural areas of Colombia that perhaps have not experienced development and Government involvement for many years because of the conflict. And, of course, as has been carefully considered in the Security Council, the case of Colombia shows that the help of international donors for the implementation of the agreements in their development components goes far beyond the resources of the special political mission that is now in the country, verifying and monitoring the ceasefire and disarmament.”

   2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source

7. “Preventing conflict means strengthening institutions and building resilient societies, prioritizing national and international policies and protecting and empowering women and girls - one of the most important steps in sustainable development. As is well known, my country is in the process of concluding what could be a peace agreement after more than 50 years. I want to share three relevant points that may be significant lessons learned. The agreement is anchored in Chapter VI of the San Francisco Charter, as has been mentioned, and is the result of direct negotiations between the parties to the conflict, with the backing of the international community, the Security Council and, of course, the special political mission, as well as the resolute support of our regional body, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.”

   2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source

8. “We have the benefit of the studies that have already been mentioned here on the peacebuilding architecture, on maintaining peace and, of course, on the issue of women and peace and security, all of which reaffirm the importance of focusing our efforts on prevention and the sustainability of peace. In 2015, we adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with the commitment to leaving no one behind, with a particular emphasis of combating the causes of many conflicts. We also have the resolve and the political will of the new Secretary- General, Mr. Guterres, as clearly evidenced by his plan of action and in what was reiterated this morning.”

   2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source

9. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to congratulate Minister Wallstrom and Sweden on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. I also congratulate the other new members of the Council, namely, Kazakhstan, Italy, Ethiopia and Bolivia. The convening of this open debate is very timely, as conflicts around the globe are increasingly complex and the United Nations faces new challenges that test its capacity to respond effectively and appropriately. Nevertheless, that is the current situation in 2017, as the Secretary-General rightly pointed out in his statement. Prevention is not simply a priority, but the priority.”

   2017-01-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7857 (2017) · source

10. “That is especially true regarding reparations for suffering, particularly providing for compensation and restitution, but also with regard to ensuring non-recidivism and to preventive measures, notably by creating and promoting a culture free of all forms of violence and discrimination, in keeping with international obligations. Colombia is facing an enormous challenge, but it will continue to make strides towards our common purpose.”

    2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source

11. “In the peace agreement that is starting to be implemented, with the support of the Security Council, guaranteeing the rights of women and girls has become a common purpose in the work of all the institutions that have been collaborating and incorporating a gender perspective into their various programmes. Legislation, particularly law No. 1719 of 2014, condemns and specifically addresses the crime of human trafficking committed during armed conflict. In 2016, the Secretary-General, in his report on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2016/361), underscored that, of all peace processes referred to in the report, only Colombia has systematically addressed gender issues, pursuant to resolution 1325 (2000) and resolution 1820 (2008).”

    2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source

12. “If any conclusion can be reached today, it is that, as the Secretary-General said, prevention must be one of our priorities. Preventive strategies, such as actions to prevent terrorism and violent extremism, cannot be developed in isolation. We are facing a phenomenon that requires joint, collaborative responses based on international cooperation, with full respect for human rights and in the framework of agreements on the protection of civilians, and must be supported by civil society. With a long internal conflict like ours, we in Colombia have understood that women and girls play a fundamental and proactive role in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, as well as in building stable and lasting peace. That is why we must ensure their rights in a safe and supportive environment.”

    2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source

13. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I offer my condolences and those of my Government to the people of Germany, Turkey and Russia for yesterday's terrorist attacks. There is no justification for terrorism. This debate and resolution 2331 (2016), adopted this morning, as Ms. Nadia Murad Basee Taha reminded us in her moving briefing, takes place 12 months after the Security Council's first debate on this item (see S/PV.7585), convened by the United States. The holding of this meeting reflects the importance that the international community attaches to the issue, but it also lays bare the tremendous challenges we still face. As obvious as it may sound, human trafficking is a crime, tragic and brutal in its disproportionate effects on the most vulnerable: women and girls, migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons.”

    2016-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7847 (2016) · source

14. “It would be of benefit to broaden the geographical composition of the 1540 Committee with a view to enriching the debates, proposals and considerations that are part of the internally workings of the Committee. Furthermore, we must promote activities for education, as mentioned this morning, and outreach among industry, academia, universities and research centres on the responsible use of chemical and biological material and nuclear energy, as well as on the obligations from the main international instruments in those areas. Finally, it is my pleasure to inform the members of the Security Council that my country's commitment to this issue is of high priority, and for that reason Colombia co-sponsored resolution 2325 (20106), which we adopted this morning.”

    2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source

15. “In terms of biological weapons, we firmly believe that we need to strengthen and implement policies on import and export controls and transshipments of dangerous goods, thereby carrying out rigorous assessments end-users in order to avoid potential diversion of said materials. I would very briefly like to share three proposals that could bolster the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004). We could complement the existing international legal framework on disarmament and non-proliferation by fostering synergies between the provisons of those instruments and resolution 1540 (2004) and the development of complementary processes at the global and regional level that would avoid a duplication of efforts.”

    2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source

16. “It is necessary to offer that same type of support to also strengthen the legal systems, focusing on the implementation of the resolution, not just in preventing the acquisition of WMDs, but also in ensuring the accounting and physical security of related materials. With regard to nuclear weapons, in order to comply with resolution 1540 (20040, all of our actions must lead to the absolute eradication of nuclear-weapon arsenals in a transparent, verifiable and irreversible fashion and within a multilaterally agreed upon and defined time frame. As far as chemical weapons are concerned, it is necessary to promote education and outreach among industry, academia, universities and research centres on the responsible uses of chemicals, as noted here, as well as the obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.”

    2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source

17. “We are convinced that, in order to prevent a catastrophe, States must lend their assistnace to the 1540 Committee and other relevant bodies in order facilitate national-level implementation of the resolution, by helping countries to develop their action plans, encouraging the timely presentation of national reports and fostering the exchange of experiences. In our region, for example, we are engaged in an exercise of peer review that will take place next year in conjunction with Chile, with the support of the Office for Disarmament Affairs United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism.”

    2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source

18. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I align myself, Sir, with all the delegations that congratulated your country on its work in the Security Council over the past two years. I am convinced that Spain has left its mark in carrying out its duties as President and through its leadership of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004), as well as on the women and peace and security agenda. As the President highlights in his concept note (S/2016/1013, annex) for this debate, the risk of the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) by non-State actors, particularly terrorists, poses the greatest threat to international security.”

    2016-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7837 (2016) · source

19. “My country will continue to promote a culture free of all forms of discrimination and violence. To that end, we have signed on to the recently created Women, Peace and Security National Focal Points Network, an initiative led by Spain and other regional countries. In conclusion, in spite of the difficult results of the 2 October referendum, the Government has called for a national dialogue to bring together all parties to help reach an agreement and its implementation as soon as possible. The commitment to gender equity and peace was strengthened on 21 October when President Santos and 109 women's organizations reaffirmed their support for the peace agreement and welcomed the fact that victims' rights were at the heart of the agreement and that the fundamental role of women and girls in peacebuilding was recognized.”

    2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source

20. “As the Secretary-General's report (S/2016/822) on women and peace and security indicates, women accounted for up to a third of the participants at the table, approximately half of those participating in the consultations and over 60 per cent of the victims and the experts that visited the negotiation table in Havana. We recognize that civil society, especially women's organizations, have spurred that rebuilding and the future adherence to the agenda for women's rights. That is why they are now strategic State partners in the search for that shared goal. Although challenges remain, the Government's resolve to overcoming them is underpinned by its commitment to offering women reparations for the injuries they have suffered, guarantees that the abuses will not recur and preventive measures.”

    2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source

21. “In Colombia, as we close a difficult chapter of the hemisphere's most protracted conflict, we understand that women and girls play a fundamental and proactive role in the building ofthe peace we so desire. We can say that the process has been a new, almost unprecedented experience. It is the first time that a gender focus is expressly included, not only through the participation of women as fully empowered members of both the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia guerillas and the Government, but also through the creation and work of a gender subcommission - that the Secretary-General and many of delegations recognized this morning - which, through often difficult but respectful dialogue, bore fruit as all resulting chapters of the final peace agreement provide concrete gender- specific provisions.”

    2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source

22. “The President's concept paper (S/2016/871, annex), which his delegation disseminated for the debate, states that all of the studies that the Secretary-General commissioned last year point to a significant link between the participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution and the effectiveness and sustainability of the subsequent rebuilding. That conclusion was reflected in last year's resolution 2242 (2015). We must continue to prioritize the participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution and peacebuilding, and States must fully assume the responsibility of safeguarding and guaranteeing women's rights in a safe and suitable environment.”

    2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source

23. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I would like to thank the Secretary-General, the Executive Director of UN-Wornen and Security Council members for their statements in support of the participation of women in my country's peace process. I would also like to thank Ms. Rita Lopidia and her organization for having shared her testimony. She can rest assured that her appeal to the international community on behalf of women from Colombian civil society who are seeking to build peace to make sure that the agreement reached in Havana is safeguarded will not fall on deaf ears. My delegation thanks the Russian presidency for convening this open debate, almost 16 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000).”

    2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source

24. “That will enable it not only to forge a more prosperous and just society but also to better contribute to the development of our Americas and the world. That was the dream of the thousands of Colombians whose lives were sacrificed to the violence and who cannot be here today to witness this historic event. The meeting rose at I] am.”

    2016-09-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7768 (2016) · source

25. “They and future Colombian generations, as President Santos has said, will now have the opportunity to learn about the suffering of the war only from history books. With the signing of the Final Agreement on 26 September and the approval of the referendum to be held by the Government on 2 October, Colombians will have the opportunity to open the door to a better future, with a stable and lasting peace that we will have built with the support of the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole. Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, speaking here at the United Nations on 25 January, said that the international community, with the culmination of the peace process, will see a Colombia that is taking off, one that has enormous potential, human capacity and national resources.”

    2016-09-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7768 (2016) · source

26. “It has been an inclusive process that has placed at the centre of peace the protection of human rights, specifically the rights of victims, women, peoples of African descent and indigenous people, organizations of farmers and of displaced persons, and ensured that all minors are removed from the ranks of FARC-EP and returned to civilian life. The agreement has begun to bear fruit. Since the entry into force of the ceasefire, there has not been a single victim or clash because ofthe conflict. Likewise, on 10 September, representatives of the International Committee ofthe Red Cross received the first 13 minors handed over as part of the commitment to return all of the children and adolescents who remain among the ranks of the organization.”

    2016-09-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7768 (2016) · source

27. “We are grateful also to the States members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States for contributing unarmed observers to the United Nations mission in Colombia, and to all the other countries that will be supporting us through their participation, as, Spain, for example, just announced it would do. This negotiating process has been arduous, complex and fraught. Begun four years ago, it leaves important lessons for peace for the world and great challenges with respect to its implementation, as some here have pointed out.”

    2016-09-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7768 (2016) · source

28. “On24August,theleadnegotiators oftheGovernment and of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejercito del Pueblo (FARC-EP) agreed in Havana something that many Colombians may have believed unattainable: final texts for ending the conflict and building a long-lasting and stable peace in my country. They will be endorsed through the signing of the Final Agreement on 26 September, in Cartagena de Indias - just three days - and thus put an end once and for all to more than five decades of armed conflict in our country. We are deeply grateful to and appreciative of the Governments of Cuba, Norway, Chile and Venezuela, as guarantors and supporters of the negotiating process, for their dedication and their commitment to this difficult undertaking.”

    2016-09-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7768 (2016) · source

29. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I wish to thank you, Minister McCully, for your presence here today and for the unanimous decision just taken by the Security Council in adopting resolution 2307 (2016). This is yet another reflection ofthe commitment of Council members and of the Members of the United Nations to peace in Colombia. On behalf of my Government, I should like to thank you for your invaluable help as well as Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, and his team of diplomats for having drafted the resolution and for the difficult task of coordinating it.”

    2016-09-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7768 (2016) · source

30. “For us, this Day will be an opportunity for the entire country to praise the dignity of the surviving victims and highlight the need to strengthen actions to care and rehabilitate them. The Security Council can count on Colombia to ensure that the contributions and proposals arising from this timely debate will be reflected in concrete actions of prevention and protection.”

    2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source

31. “We know that international cooperation is key to finding solutions, and my country is therefore proud to have had the opportunity to contribute to the work of the Team, providing our contribution through the National Institute of Legal Medicine by sharing with other countries the experience and best practices developed by Colombia in the use of forensic analysis to advance the fight against impunity. As highlighted in the concept note before us (S/20l6/496, annex), this debate is taking place within the framework of the first commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, to be held on 19 June. For Colombia, we will complement that commemoration with our own celebration of the National Day for the Dignity of Women Victims of Sexual Violence in the Armed Conflict next 25 May.”

    2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source

32. “We dearly hope that recent measures, represented by the very significant agreement reached on May 15 for the departure of children from the camps of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, will also also be a step forward in our efforts to build a solid and lasting peace and move towards reconciliation. We recognize the enormous challenges that lie ahead, and thank Special Representative Bangura for her tireless resolve to support our efforts to promote the eradication of conflict-related sexual violence. We thank the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict for its support.”

    2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source

33. “Allow me to turn to the paragraphs relating to Colombia in the report of the Secretary-General and to highlight the acknowledgements about the progress in my country's peace process and on women's participation in that process and the unique nature of the gender commission established to ensure that the views and concerns of women are reflected in the final peace agreement and its implementation. I should also like to point to the references to the normative measures adopted by armed and police forces, and the process of care and compensation to victims, particularly victims of sexual violence.”

    2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source

34. “Davis and her group have said, supporting such organizations in their work and involving them in efforts to provide adequate care for victims and increase women's participation in peace negotiations should be part of any strategy at the national, regional and international levels. All ofus must contribute to this fight. In Colombia's own context of a long-standing internal conflict, to which we hope soon to find a political solution with the support of the Council and the international community, I would stress that the national Government has in place an inter-agency strategy against trafficking in persons that, in addition to prevention, includes among its objectives supporting investigations, trials and sentencing with regard to groups that commit this crime, as well as to protect and assist victims.”

    2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source

35. “In that regard, I want to underscore that all efforts we adopt to combat terrorism and violent extremism, along with the links to human trafficking, must include a central element of prevention centred on generating better conditions for the empowerment of women and a greater commitment to ensure their rights. We condemn all forms of sexual violence in conflict. We join in the calls from all the members of the Security Council and other countries that have spoken here about zero tolerance. We agree with you, Mr. President, that efforts aimed at responding effectively should include the participation of civil society organizations, especially women's groups working at the local level in conflict areas. As Ms.”

    2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source

36. “Bangura, attest to the challenges we face in eradicating trafficking in persons in armed conflict, which, as we have seen, disproportionately affect women and children. The increasing links between this crime and phenomena such as violent extremism and terrorism forces us to redouble our efforts to ensure that no more women and children fall Victim to such crimes. The three reports issued last year on the review of the peacebuilding architecture (see S/2015/490), the review of peacekeeping operations (see S/2015/446) and the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, all emphasize the need to place greater focus on prevention in order to address threats to international peace and security. Sexual violence is not the exception.”

    2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source

37. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I congratulate your country, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and for convening this open debate on sexual violence in conflict - as needed as it is, as we have heard. I also welcome Special Representative Zainab Bangura and express my gratitude for the valuable report (S/2016/361) of the Secretary-General, which gives us a very good basis for strengthening our efforts against that scourge. I am also grateful for the briefings by the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in human beings, Ms. Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, and by Lisa Davis of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security. The interventions we have heard, along with your concept note (S/2016/496, annex), Sir, and the conclusions of the report presented by Ms.”

    2016-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7704 (2016) · source

38. “It is Colombia's hope that it will be one of the many success stories in the context of achieving peace and that the lessons that we have learned will make a contribution to those that, like us, are on the path towards peacebuilding.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

39. “Colombia is convinced that in order to enhance the impact of the Organization's peacebuilding efforts, peacebuilding must go hand in hand with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 70/ 1). The universal, indivisible and comprehensive nature of the Agenda is a reflection of the fact that there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. We nations that know full well the difficulties involved in achieving peace are well aware that the road is not easy, but we are convinced that we will be able to reach our goal. My country, Colombia, has undertaken a number of innovative, sometimes risky, political processes and actions, in a sort of collective endeavour aimed at achieving a sustainable peace after some 50 years of conflict.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

40. “Ensuring that there is an impact on the ground, as has been described very clearly by some speakers here, and responding to expectations and mandates will be possible only if we have sufficient, predictable and sustainable resources for peacebuilding on the very long road travelled by countries emerging from conflict. We must adjust our priorities if we truly wish to achieve sustainable peace and deepen our associations with various actors, including the international financial institutions and regional and subregional organizations, which must play a more relevant role in peacebuilding. That is what we are doing today in the context of our own regional organization, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, in the peace process in Colombia, for which the Security Council fittingly expressed its support.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

41. “This helps to prevent the human and economic toll of a confrontation. In that respect, we would reiterate the importance of institutionalizing women's participation in peace and reconciliation processes. Thirdly, we need to promote coherence in terms of peacebuilding strategies and resources throughout the United Nations system and its principal organs, including the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. Ambassador Rosenthal has called for action to break down silos so as to strengthen support for and the advisory role played by the Peacebuilding Commission, with the assistance of the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Fund.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

42. “I should like to highlight three actions in that context. First, there is a need to expand the scope of the concept of peacebuilding to include sustainable peace, as Ambassador Rosenthal said, on the understanding that each case is different, because not all processes are equal, and the United Nations must tailor its actions to the particular requirements of each situation. The strategy of reacting to crises in an international situation that is increasingly complex is neither sufficient nor sustainable for the United Nations; peacebuilding must be a focus before, during and following conflicts. Secondly, preventive action accompanied by inclusive national ownership is the best alternative for countries that find themselves on the verge of conflicts and that decide to seek the support of United Nations.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

43. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this open debate on a subject that is vital to current discussions in our Organization. I should like also to thank Ambassadors Rosenthal, Kamau and Skoog for their very valuable contributions to today's debate. The year 2015 was key to refocusing the actions of the United Nations in the areas of peacebuilding and peacekeeping, through the review of the peacebuilding architecture, the work of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations and the report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security (8/2015/716), all of which constitute key tools in refocusing the strategies of the United Nations for action on and support for the process of reform that we have undertaken.”

    2016-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7629 (2016) · source

44. “Finally, when missions are established they must be structured on the existing capacities of the countries concerned and the activities of country teams must be integrated into peacebuilding activities. In this way and at the time of transition or the conclusion of the mission, the country will be left with strengthened support to enable it to continue in its peacebuilding process towards lasting peace.”

    2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source

45. “Peacekeeping operations and special political missions are instruments whereby we can restore conditions of basic security and trust in the political process, and strengthen national capacities in the long term, facilitating the path towards peacebuilding and, at the same time, sustainable development. Cooperation between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission, of which we are a member, has yielded important results and must be strengthened with a View to overcoming fragmentation. The advisory role of the Commission, the diversity of its membership, its nature as a bridge between the Security Council and the General Assembly and among the three pillars of development, human rights and security, make it the appropriate mechanism to coordinate processes leading to sustainable peace.”

    2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source

46. “Allow me to cite the example of my own country, Colombia, where we have identified the convergence between the sustainable development targets and some ofthe points that have seen the greatest progress in our negotiations in Havana on the cessation of hostilities and the building of a stable and lasting peace. Forty-seven of the seventy points agreed upon are consistent with the 47 sustainable development targets, the accomplishment of which will, I am sure, allow us to close the gaps between rural and urban Colombia towards a lasting and sustainable peace. Through its tools, the Council should create a solid basis to prevent relapse into conflict and generate sustainable peace, whose inclusive processes must always be based on national ownership.”

    2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source

47. “We have also reviewed the reports on peacekeeping operations and the peacebuilding architecture, as well as that on the women and peace and security agenda, which appeals for a strengthened role for women in the maintenance and building of peace, not only as a party affected by the war but also as a fundamental part in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts and the achievement of lasting peace, which will allow us to think of peacebuilding as a cross-cutting process that takes place before, during and after conflict. The concept note before us (S/2015/845, annex) makes it clear that the Council recognizes that this is a complex and multifaceted relationship that is specific to each case.”

    2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source

48. “Ms. Mejia Velez (Colombia) (spoke in Spanish): I thank you, Sir, for convening this open debate. I should also like to thank the representative of Sweden for his briefing as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, and of course, Ms. Bouchamaoui for her very inspiring statement this morning. I express my condolences to the Government of France, to Lebanon and its people, and to Russia for the downing of its plane. These are all acts that we condemn vigorously. This debate could not be taking place at a more appropriate time. At the Sustainable Agenda Summit our leaders afirmed that peace and security would be in danger without sustainable development.”

    2015-11-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7561 (2015) · source

49. “Another initiative that is very dear to my country, which 48 Member States have joined, is the search for suitable women candidates for the position of Secretary- General. The historic role that a woman could play at this new stage would be the beginning of great progress in reform. Like these 48 nations, 1 am sure that we can work together on this proposal, which hopefully can be a great historic opportunity - as many here have said, beginning with the President and many other members of the Council, for whose support I am grateful - to initiate those changes and bring together the visions that civil society, academia and of course the Organization itself have as we approach the important election of the next Secretary- General of the United Nations.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source

50. “We believe its adoption stands as great recognition of our work and an important step towards greater transparency and more inclusiveness in the selection and appointment of the Secretary- General. Clear guidelines like the joint letter from the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council outlining and explaining the procedure, continual sharing of information on the candidates, and informal dialogues or meetings with candidates are of enormous importance. All this will support greater involvement of the membership, which I think has begun. The resolution is a fundamental part of our vision of working methods reform. Colombia calls for its implementation without hesitation.”

    2015-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7539 (2015) · source