YouSaid · the spoken record

Mminele

lines on the record
218
first
2015-01-30
most recent
2017-11-21
sittings or episodes
29
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

  1. “As the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations continues to deliberate on matters that directly affect the peacekeepers, I should like to conclude by commending all personnel involved in peacekeeping missions as well as civil society groups for the service they perform.”

    2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source

  2. “In conclusion, the fact that this open debate comes in the year that marks the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations is highly significant to my delegation, as South Africa's expectations are clearly defined regarding movement towards meaningful reform of this organ, which at present remains unrepresentative and has not conformed to global realities. South Africa remains committed to the Ezulwini Consensus, on which African countries speak with one voice for Security Council reform. Africa calls for the expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories from 15 to 26 seats, with Africa getting no less than 2 permanent seats and 5 non-permanent seats.”

    2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source

  3. “Accountability must first and foremost be sought at the national level. Failing that, the international community has a collective responsibility to act using mechanisms at its disposal including independent fact-finding commissions and commissions of inquiry. We would also reiterate that Member States should commit governing and principles of the United Nations Charter, as well as to basic norms governing international relations. States should also commit themselves to the noble cause of maintaining international peace and security, promoting fairness and justice to prevent conflict from erupting.”

    2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source

  4. “As noted in article 4 (h) of the Constitutive Act, the Union has the right to intervene in a member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. The AU has adapted and reformed according to changing circumstances and realisms. My delegation calls on this body to do the same and adapt to present-day realities. We however appreciate the efforts undertaken by the United Nations to review the peacebuilding architecture and a comprehensive assessment of the state of United Nations peace operations. This for us is an important step towards addressing the changing nature of conflict. On the protection of civilians, we wish to underline that it remains the primary responsibility of States to protect civilians within their borders.”

    2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source

  5. “The United Nations representative office in Addis Ababa is an invaluable conduit through which greater policy coherence between the United Nations and the AU can be achieved. On our continent, the norms underpinning the African Union peace and security regime resonate directly with the Charter of the United Nations. That stance is reflected in the African Union Constitutive Act and the AU Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council. Both these doctrines assign high priority to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member States. At the same time it should be noted that although the AU Constitutive Act does acknowledge that a State has the principal responsibility for protecting its citizens, the AU has the right to intervene for human protection purposes.”

    2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source

  6. “The actions of Governments that are not consistent with this provision show an unacceptable disregard for international law and the key principles of State sovereignty and territorial integrity. South Africa would like to reaffirm the importance of prioritizing the attainment of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Architecture in all parts of Africa through the collective efforts of the member countries. In this regard, we encourage the Security Council to deepen its relationship with regional and subregional organizations at the institutional level. We further welcome the ongoing efforts to improve the institutional relations between the United Nations and the AU characterized mainly by the good working relations between the secretariats of the two organs.”

    2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source

  7. “It was almost 70 years ago, in 1945, when the Charter of the United Nations was introduced to the global community. One of the most pertinent articles, which is relevant to this debate and to the Organization's future existence is Article 2.1, which notes that "The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members". That is self-explanatory in all its pronouncements. That provision prohibits all use of force against another State unless that use of force is one ofthe limited exceptions provided by international law - such as military action in self-defence and military action taken as authorized by the Security Council - or has become part of customary international law binding all States.”

    2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source

  8. “We thank the delegation of the People's Republic of China for organizing today's open debate on the topic "Maintenance of international peace and security: reflect on history, reaffirm the strong commitment to the purposes and principles ofthe Charter of the United Nations". My delegation welcomes this debate as it extends to the very core of the strategic objectives of South Africa's foreign policy, namely, the protection of territorial integrity, sovereignty and enhancing respect for the provisions of international law. South Africa associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Mozambique on behalf of the African Union as well as the representative of Zimbabwe on behalf of the Southern African Development Community, and we wish to make the following additional remarks in our national capacity.”

    2015-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7389 (2015) · source

  9. “However, the development and significant changes in the mandates, monitoring and training of peacekeeping missions remain vital factors. Examples of what has been achieved among the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the United Nations country teams joint-assessment missions to identify humanitarian and security concerns in camps for internally displaced persons in Darfur have enabled a degree of success. I would like to conclude by commending all personnel involved in peacekeeping missions and civil society groups for the services they perform. Often they are inadequately resourced for the enormous challenges that they face on a daily basis. South Africa will continue to interact closely with them to allow them to perform their vital international role.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  10. “It should be stressed that actions by peacekeeping missions to protect civilians will be successful only if there is confidence and trust in the security mechanisms and institutions and in the rule of law of the host country. In the past year, we have witnessed some significant advances when the Security Council adopted resolutions that allow for practical expressions to our collective need to ensure protection of civilians with an emphasis on the challenges and needs faced by women and girls in armed conflict and post-conflict settings. Actions undertaken, such as efforts to strengthen early- warning mechanisms and risk assessments with gender- sensitive indicators, serve as points of departure. The interaction with civil society and women peacebuilders regarding the collection of information and reporting is also pertinent.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  11. “It furthermore aspires to silence all guns by 2020, and my delegation views this move as an important stride forward. We are also pleased to learn that the Security Council encourages States to adopt minimum standards and codes of conduct in their armies, militias and police services, and to ensure their implementation to reduce the incidence of gender- based violence as a result of power imbalances. Further to that, the acknowledgement by the Security Council that sustainable peace requires an integrated approach based on coherence between security, development, political activities, human rights, including gender equality, justice activities and the rule of law, is particularly encouraging.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  12. “It is at this practical level that we see a lack of progress pertaining to the actual protection of civilians, including women and girls. Women and children, especially those displaced from their homes, in violent conflict areas are especially vulnerable to attack, including rape, trafficking and all manner of physical, sexual and psychological abuse. We have too often seen cases whereby female civilians taking no part in hostilities become the deliberate targets of war or find themselves in danger simply because they happen to be in an area where conflict is taking place. The African Union Agenda 2063 - "A global strategy to optimize use of Africa's resources for the benefits of all Africans" - has a vision to free the African continent from armed conflict, terrorism and extremism, intolerance and gender-based violent crimes.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  13. “In that regard, South Africa strongly believes that all- inclusive dialogue and national reconciliation should be promoted in order to reduce the scourge of violence, which will also prove valuable in finding solutions and laying the groundwork for sustainable peace in crisis situations. The Secretary-General's latest report on women and peace and security in September 2014 (S/2014/693), highlights some progress on all areas of the women and peace and security agenda, as well as some notable challenges and gaps. A sustained, integrated approach in a coherent and coordinated manner remains critical to ensuring effectiveness. The most notable challenge, however, continues to exist at the level of implementation.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  14. “South Africa welcomes the international community's efforts to protect civilians in armed conflicts. However, the in-country participation of all the relevant stakeholders must be sought. While positive efforts and progressive steps are being made, it is clear that the lack of political will and the complete disregard for civilian lives remain a major obstacle to their protection during armed conflict. It is therefore important that, as international actors and external organizations provide constructive assistance, they should comply with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, while fully respecting the will, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country concerned and refrain from forcible interference.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  15. “South Africa is firmly committed to the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including to the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, which seeks to address many challenges facing women and children. Furthermore, South Africa has consistently highlighted its major concerns about the apparent lack of political will to address the fact that generations face severe vulnerabilities and lack of protection in Palestine and Western Sahara. Children and women in those situations of armed conflict have for decades been unable to live a decent life of peace and security and unable to fully ensure the upbringing of their children in a secure environment. In that regard, noble programmes, such as the realization of Millennium Development Goals, sadly remain unattainable.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  16. “Thirdly, in October 2009 the African Union, for its part, adopted the Convention on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, known as the Kampala Convention, which remains a vital tool in addressing the root causes of displacement in Africa, where around 10 million people are displaced because of conflict and climate-change related natural disasters, among other things. And, fourthly, there is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the General Assembly in 1979, which is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Together with other international instruments, these provide us with clear guidelines on how to address the protection of children in armed conflict.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  17. “The challenge is very often a matter of failure by States to implement the key provisions of these instruments as well as failure to comply with their obligations. To this end, we call on all States committed to taking concrete and tangible measures for the maximum protection of women and girls in situations of armed conflict to faithfully implement the relevant Conventions, that is to say: first, the 12 August 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention as well as its 1977 additional protocols, and, secondly, the optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, which was adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2011.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source

  18. “The South African delegation wishes to thank the Republic of Chile for its leadership in convening this open debate and for your presence here today, Sir. We would also like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Kyung-wha Kang for her consistent and visionary leadership on protection in all its dimensions. Out thanks go too to Dr. Helen Durham, Director for International Law and Policy of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Ms.Ilwad Elman, from the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, for their insightful briefings. The violence against women and girls, which is on the increase, is becoming a worrisome global scourge. South Africa applauds the fact that the international human rights and humanitarian law systems have produced a body of law for protection in this regard.”

    2015-01-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7374 (2015) · source