YouSaid · the spoken record

Munir Akram

lines on the record: 143
first: 2020-07-02
most recent: 2021-10-15
sittings or episodes: 15
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

“We must end illicit financial flows from developing countries and ensure the return of stolen assets. These laundered assets, if returned to developing countries, could be channelled towards the cash-starved State-building needs of these countries. The Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has consistently urged the international community to take decisive action on the capital repatriation of stolen, and the illegal transfer of, assets of developing countries. He has warned that inaction could lead to mass migration from poor to rich countries.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“The implementation of Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals is extremely relevant in promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies around the world. It is also vital to ensure that the national wealth of developing countries stays within their borders. Capital outflows deplete the meagre resources of low-income countries and perpetuate the bitter struggle for subsistence among their masses. The international financial architecture should be restructured to ensure that it can support developing economies in retaining national wealth and promoting local investments. This is key to generating employment, promoting social order and building responsive institutions in these countries. Currently, $1 trillion flows out annually from developing countries and $7 trillion is parked in tax havens in advanced economies.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“The United Nations peace and security and development pillars should continue to work in tandem to help countries with security sector reform, transitional justice, disarmament, remobilization and reintegration efforts, and the extension of State authority. The role of the Peacebuilding Fund is vitally important in financing these activities. There is a dire need to enhance the investment capacity of the Fund by increasing its donor base and promoting the concept of blended finance. The Fund can make a long-term impact on national peace and stability if its investments are supported by larger funding from institutional investors, notably multilateral banks, private equity firms, foundations and charitable organizations.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“It must also offer all citizens a stake in the political and economic architecture of the country. For example, several conflict-affected countries are rich in natural resources. By distributing the benefits of these resources equitably, these States could incentivize marginalized groups to renounce violence and contribute to the State-building process. Building peace is more than just ending conflict. It is about building trust and harmony and strengthening the social contract between the State and its people by providing them with security, the rule of law and the opportunity for sustainable growth. The United Nations, through its peacekeeping and special political missions as well as its country teams, can support State authorities in fulfilling this “social contract”.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“It is in the same vein that the Government of Pakistan has initiated several social protection and poverty alleviation programmes, such as the Ehsaas (Empathy) and Kamyab Jawan (Accomplished Youth) programmes, under which the Government provides stipends and interest-free loans to citizens from low-income backgrounds. Pulling people out of poverty is at the heart of the Government’s efforts to build a stable, strong and prosperous Pakistan. States facing internal dissent can take practical steps towards sustainable peace and stability by promoting national dialogue and reconciliation. Such processes should aspire to strengthen the link between the State and the citizen. The State must act as a guardian and provider of social services to every citizen.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“It could help in developing common values and shared interests, transforming a diverse group of people into a nation. Pakistan has recently taken a landmark decision to introduce a single national curriculum across all elementary, primary and secondary schools in the country. It outlines a single system of education for everyone in terms of curriculum, medium of instruction and mode of evaluation. Now the elite and the poor, those enrolled in private schools and those in State-run education centres have an equal chance of gaining quality education. The initiative aims to strengthen national unity and assimilation and build a common set of core values. More importantly, it sends across a message of the State’s empathy toward the less privileged segments of society.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“Third, physical infrastructure, such as transportation, energy, and water and sanitation facilities, is integral to promoting stability and State-building. It is critically vital to encourage regional and international infrastructure investments to rebuild conflict-affected countries. Neighbours should be important partners in a country’s transition from conflict to peace, and then to stability and prosperity. Regional partnerships can play a key role towards this end. There is also empirical evidence to show that investments in social infrastructure projects, such as rule of law, health and education projects, could promote sustainable economic growth in fragile countries. The 2030 Agend a for Sustainable Development also endorses this view. In a diverse society, education is the common thread that can unite people.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“Second, fragile countries require consistent, substantial engagement and development support to meet the basic needs of their people and prevent a reversion to social turmoil and conflict. They require adequate financing to generate economic activity and overcome liquidity constraints. Member States and multilateral institutions should support these endeavours through such means as comprehensive debt restructuring, expanded official development assistance and the reallocation of a larger proportion of unutilized special drawing rights to these countries. The freezing of the resources of countries coming out of conflict is particularly deplorable. It is a recipe for chaos and renewed conflict.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“The international community must recognize the scale of the threat that “Global Hindutva” poses to the ideals of democracy, peace, diversity and State - building in the region and beyond. In resolution 2282 (2016), the Security Council very aptly underlined the vital importance of “inclusion” in State-building. This relationship has become more relevant in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The virus has exacerbated social and economic inequalities which threaten the very fabric of national cohesion in several countries around the world. In these difficult times, vaccine equity is the first and foremost prerequisite for advancing inclusivity, especially in conflict-affected countries. In responding to the vaccine needs of developing countries, the world must act in a way that is responsive, emphatic and effective.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“In South Asia, we witness the rule by a populist, supremacist government, elected on the basis of an agenda of religious exclusivity and hatred for other religious and caste communities. It brands the Muslim minority and certain “castes” as racially inferior and even as “untouchables”. This is contrary to every principle of equality and human rights. The campaign to extinguish the freedom sought by the Muslim majority in occupied Jammu and Kashmir is ominously termed as the “final solution”. Alarmingly, these extremist ideologies also seek to destabilize neighbouring countries through a concerted campaign of disinformation and fake news as a weapon of foreign policy.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“I extend my special thanks to the presidency of Kenya for convening today’s open debate on an innovative topic which has considerable relevance for international peace, stability and development. Ethnic, cultural and religious diversity within States is an expanding reality. The desire of some to build homogenous societies has become unrealistic with the rise of globalization, migration and multi-ethnic and multireligious societies. Despite these new trends, or perhaps because of them, moves to build pluralistic societies have encountered serious setbacks in recent years. The rise to power of right-wing and neo-fascist groups through electoral processes in certain countries is a disturbing phenomenon if one recalls the history of the last century.”
2021-10-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/868 (2021) · source
“United Nations-supported training frameworks, such as the Triangular Partnership Programme and light coordination mechanism, could focus on building self-sufficient training capacities of host States and troop- and police-contributing countries. Support in the development of a national cadre of trainers, provision and refinement of training materials and building national capacities to use sophisticated, high-tech equipment are areas that would require consistent focus and priority. Enhanced national capabilities would surely optimize the effective and efficient use of modern technologies in the field.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“We look forward to strengthening this contribution through innovative partnership projects, both with the Secretariat and Member States, to develop cost-effective, tailor-made solutions for United Nations peacekeeping. The upcoming Peacekeeping Ministerial preparatory conference, jointly organized by Pakistan and the Netherlands in October this year, will dedicate a session to digital technology and innovation, paving the way for required pledges at the Ministerial Meeting in Seoul. Bridging the digital gap As a troop- and police-contributing country, we would also like to underline that training and capacity-building will play a crucial part in seamless implementation of the United Nations digital strategy.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“My own country’s experience shows that nature-based solutions to environmental challenges can create jobs, promote ecosystem-based adaptation and support economic recovery in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The catalytic impact of such green initiatives could feed into the wider United Nations peacebuilding agenda centred on sustainable development and addressing the root causes of conflict. Building partnerships Moving forward, Pakistan will continue to contribute critical assets, like utility aviation, signals communication units, engineering companies alongside affordable field solutions to ensure rapid deployment, especially of infantry units.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Rather than supplanting the human resource in peace operations, technology should seek to supplement their capabilities. In each mission, the deployment of an adequate number of professional peacekeepers, equipped with right skills and commensurate resources, should be our collective priority. Promoting green initiatives As a country deeply committed to climate action, Pakistan welcomes the commitment to “green solutions” set out in this year’s report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. Eco-friendly initiatives combined with resource- efficient practices in field missions can contribute to cost savings, improve self- sufficiency and resilience, leaving a positive legacy for the local communities.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“They should not be merely leveraged as tools to advance narrow tactical objectives or promoted as a panacea for overcoming peace and security challenges. Lasting peace is achieved, not just through improving technical capabilities of peace operations, but through political engagement driven by solemn commitment to conflict prevention, peace processes and just political solution to conflicts. A fundamental requirement for sustainable peace is to enable the peacekeepers to fulfil their mandated role in fragile security environments. No amount of technology introduction can bring peace if peacekeepers are denied the ability to operate in accordance with their mandate. Harnessing technology to strengthen the peacekeepers Similarly, technology cannot be a substitute for capable and professional peacekeepers.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Pakistan supports the application of new methods, new technologies and new ways of thinking to United Nations peacekeeping. However, it should be done with full transparency and in consultation with Member States – an approach advocated in the 2021 report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and other key United Nations documents on peacekeeping operations, such as the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. Leveraging technology for dispute and conflict resolution Based on this approach, “technology” and “innovation” should be committed to improving the dispute and conflict resolution and mandate implementation capabilities of peacekeeping missions.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Ensuring a responsible use of technology The recent Action for Peacekeeping Plus document rightly envisages an innovative and tech-enabled peacekeeping architecture for the future. Its realization would require strengthening trust between various stakeholders, especially the host States, tech-contributing countries and troop-contributing countries. Using technology to collect, store and access data has always invoked certain sensitivities and concerns. A responsible use of technology, which respects national sovereignty and addresses confidentiality concerns, could expedite the integration of cutting-edge solutions in peace operations. We therefore recommend that the United Nations system explore the options for establishing an inclusive framework for the governance of new technologies, including in the peacekeeping domain.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“We have established a counter-improvised explosive device training school and a police school of explosives handling, which offer state-of-the- art courses on detecting and defusing improvised explosive devices; on gathering and analysing forensic evidence; and on conducting post-blast investigations. Equipped with these capabilities, Pakistan is strengthening its already deployed engineering companies with explosive ordnance disposal and vertical platoons. Given their exceptional mobility skills which enable them to respond swiftly to any threat or developing situation, these platoons offer a unique value in protecting lives of peacekeepers as well as the civilian population.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“To address this pressing challenge, peacekeeping should accelerate introduction of counter-improvised explosive device technologies such as mine-resistant vehicles, improvised explosive device jammers and ground-penetrating radars. Matching the scale of the threat with the right technological solutions could enhance situational awareness and facilitate safer contingent mobility, thus improving performance while mitigating the risk exposure. Over the years, Pakistan has made a concerted effort, with significant success, to integrate counter-improvised explosive device technologies and capabilities in its military planning.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Agile casualty evacuation/ medical evacuation supported by corresponding air assets; optimal level of field hospitals; detailing a medical team with each long-range patrolling convoy; and involving medical personnel in operational planning, especially in high-risk missions, are the key determinants of life-saving interventions in peace operations. Accelerating the introduction of counter-improvised explosive device technology In recent years, mines and improvised explosive devices have become one of the leading causes of peacekeeping casualties with the sophistication of such attacks having risen sharply in several peace operations.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Upgrading health-care technologies Similarly, health-care technologies are critical enablers for the success of peacekeepers, especially those deployed in remote areas. High-tech air ambulances, video telemedicine and well-equipped medical personnel could serve a twofold objective: one, reduce casualties and two, boost peacekeepers’ morale by displaying United Nations duty of care towards its personnel. Improving camp security and convoy protection A greater focus should also be on technological solutions that could strengthen camp security, convoy protection and peacebuilding capabilities of peace operations. As a troop-contributing country with current deployment in 8 out of the 12 United Nations peacekeeping missions, Pakistan considers improving the field medical system vital for strengthening peacekeeping performance.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Designing peacekeeping-specific technologies Advancing safety and security of peacekeepers and protection of civilians Both the Security Council and the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations have encouraged the use of field-focused, reliable and cost-effective technologies that are driven by practical needs of end users on the ground. This means designing peacekeeping-specific technologies which advance the protection of peacekeepers as well as the security of the local population. Improving water accessibility For example, to improve water access to peacekeepers and communities, advanced technologies focused on water recycling, rain capture and water usage efficiency should be embraced.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Innovation and modern technology have immense potential to strengthen United Nations peacekeeping in the face of mounting challenges. From fulfilling the basic needs of peacekeepers such as access to water, energy and health to improving mobility, communications and camp security, technology could make peacekeeping safer, secure and hence more effective. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has further ramped up the reliance on technology with information and communications technologies, such as stable Internet and efficient interoperable radio systems, becoming vital for timely communication in the peace operations.”
2021-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/732 (2021) · source
“Finally, I reiterate Pakistan’s desire to see a peaceful, stable, united, democratic, prosperous and sovereign Afghanistan, at peace with itself and with its neighbours. Peace is within the grasp of the Afghan people. They must not let it slip away. I end by quoting the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan: “We have no favourites and will work with any Government that enjoys the confidence of the Afghan people. History proves that Afghanistan can never be controlled from the outside.””
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“We have committed over $1 billion to development support in Afghanistan, including $500 million for infrastructure and capacity-building projects. Over the past four decades, Pakistan has provided all possible support to millions of Afghan refugees who sought safety and security on our soil. Pakistan continues to host nearly 3 million Afghan refugees on its soil to this day. We are proud that we opened our homes for our Afghan brothers and sisters in their hour of need. Concurrently with the peace process, we expect the international community to develop a time-bound and well-resourced plan for the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland and their reintegration in Afghanistan. This can provide a key component of endeavours to achieve lasting peace and security in Afghanistan.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“We call on the Council to take full cognizance of the terrorist activities of these groups and their sponsors. Peace and stability in Afghanistan will usher in an era of prosperity for Afghanistan, as well as the broader region. Promoting economic connectivity and regional trade is the key to lasting peace and security in Afghanistan. Through regional connectivity projects, Pakistan and Afghanistan can serve as a bridge connecting Central Asia and the Arabian Sea, offering immense economic opportunities to both countries and the region, and help Afghanistan reap the dividends of peace. Pakistan is Afghanistan’s largest trading partner and continues to provide critical support in the areas of agriculture, health, education and infrastructure development.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“Terrorism has had a devastating impact on Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries. The international community must not allow Afghanistan’s territory to be used by Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or other international terrorist groups, like Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, to carry out attacks against any country. Pakistan is especially concerned about the support being provided to Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar by a third country, to operate and conduct the hundreds of cross-border attacks that have been launched against Pakistan from Afghanistan. These Security Council-designated terrorist groups must not be allowed to operate against Pakistan from Afghanistan with external support.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“Last week, the Pakistan Foreign Minister met with the Chairman of the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Haneef Atmar, and the Head of Jamiat-e-Islami Afghanistan, Salahuddin Rabbani, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey and discussed ways to advance the Afghan peace process. Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff also visited Kabul on 10 May 2021 and, in meetings with the Afghan leadership, discussed the Afghan peace process, bilateral security and defence cooperation, and the need for effective border management between Pakistan and Afghanistan. All of these efforts – bilateral, regional and international – are testimony of Pakistan’s strong desire to strengthen the prospects for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“The fourth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue was held on 3 June 2021. It underscored the importance of a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict, through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, in addition to expressing the resolve to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and other regional mechanisms. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, held a meeting with the Secretary-General, António Guterres, on 20 May 2021, on the sidelines of the special session of the General Assembly on Palestine, during which he highlighted Pakistan’s constructive efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace process.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“In the current fluid political environment in Afghanistan, Pakistan has continued its efforts to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan at the bilateral, regional and international level. Under the “troika plus” format, Pakistan, China, Russia and the United States held meetings on 18 March and 30 April, in Moscow and Doha respectively, to help galvanize the Afghan peace process by bringing together all the major stakeholders. This format can continue to make a contribution to reaching a political settlement. The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey held a trilateral meeting in Istanbul, on 23 April 2021, during which they reiterated their support for the Afghanistan peace process and for the achievement of a just and durable political settlement of the Afghan conflict.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“It is important that the Afghan leaders seize the historic opportunity to reach an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan. We reiterate the need for a reduction in violence in Afghanistan, leading to a ceasefire. At the same time, we urge the need for a responsible and orderly withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, coinciding with the overall progress achieved in the peace process. Any security vacuum in the country will be exploited by the “spoilers” that aim to subvert the peace negotiations and keep Afghanistan, as well as the region, in a state of constant conflict and turmoil. We must guard against all such spoilers who do not see peace and stability in Afghanistan serving their strategic interests.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“More than 70,000 Pakistanis have been killed.” Pakistan has consistently maintained that the conflict in Afghanistan can be ended, not by military force, but through a political settlement involving the full spectrum of Afghanistan’s political landscape and through an Afghan-led and Afghan- owned peace process. As the result of our efforts to facilitate the Afghan peace and reconciliation process, three major milestones were achieved in 2020: one, the United States-Taliban peace agreement signed on 29 February 2020; two, the commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations on 12 September 2020; and three, the agreement on rules and procedures between the Afghan parties in Doha on 2 December 2020. Today, Afghanistan stands at a critical juncture in its history.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“We thank the President for convening this high-level quarterly meeting on Afghanistan. We would also like to thank all the briefers, in particular the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, for her statement. The peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan are inextricably bound together by a common historical, religious, cultural and linguistic heritage, as well as shared destinies. Pakistan has a vital interest in a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan. Apart from Afghanistan itself, no other country has suffered more than Pakistan as a result of the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, in a recent statement said, and I quote: “Our country has suffered so much from the wars in Afghanistan.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“Moreover, articles 31 and 32 of the Charter of the United Nations, which call for inviting non-member States to participate in discussions on matters of direct importance to them, within the context of the work of both the Council and its subsidiary bodies, should be fully implemented. The work of the Informal Working Group shows that, over the years, non-permanent members have made important contributions in improving the working methods of the Council. Normally, non-permanent members have a sense of accountability and responsiveness towards the general United Nations membership as a result of being elected. We hope that the Informal Working Group and the wider United Nations membership will continue to play their role in increasing the transparency and accountability of the Council while ensuring efficiency.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“This runs contrary to the essence and purpose of the Informal Working Group, the successive presidential notes on working methods and the relevant provisional rules of procedure of the Council, as well as the Charter-based role of the Security Council to act “on behalf” of all Member States. With the progressive lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions, the Council must ensure the effective and meaningful participation of non-members of the Council on matters of direct concern to them. The COVID-19-related provisions related to the participation of the non-members were exceptions – they cannot and must not become the permanent practice of the Council. The technologies and innovations used to circumvent the physical limitations imposed by the pandemic need to be adapted to ensure greater transparency and the wider involvement of non-members.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“Note 507 places particular emphasis on the Council’s commitment to continue to take steps to improve the focus and interactivity of its open debates. Unfortunately, by replacing even the videoconference participation of the non-members with the submission of written statements, the working methods adopted during the pandemic have undermined one of the few available channels for participation by the wider United Nations membership on issues of international peace and security. Furthermore, the written statements submitted by the non-members are circulated as a separate compilation and not as part of the official records of the meetings.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“The use of videoconferencing has allowed the Council to continue to receive briefings and ensure the participation of the Council members despite the global shutdown during the pandemic. Its working methods have been adapted to respond to the physical constraints dictated by the pandemic. Ideally, the use of such technologies and innovations in working methods should have allowed for greater participation in the Council. Instead, the adaptations in the Council’s working methods in the wake of the pandemic appear to have come at the expense of the ability of non-Council member States to even effectively participate in its proceedings. The Security Council’s open debates have traditionally provided an opportunity to non-Council members to physically attend and express their perspective on important matters pertaining to peace and security.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“Closed consultations of the Council, therefore, were envisaged to be an exception rather than the norm. Note 507 (S/2017/507) of 2017 also reaffirms the commitment of the Council “to increase recourse to open meetings, particularly at the early stage in its consideration of a matter”, in order to increase the transparency of its work. In practice, however, the participation of the wider membership of the United Nations on matters pertaining to international peace and security appears to have been progressively restricted over the years. The Council’s tendency now is to meet behind closed doors as much as possible. The COVID-19 pandemic has opened up the possibility of utilizing new technologies and innovative methods for the conduct of the Council’s business.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“The primary purpose of establishing the Informal Working Group was not only to enhance the efficiency of the working methods but also to increase their transparency as well as dialogue and interaction with the wider United Nations membership on Council matters. The Group, therefore, has the responsibility for striking the right balance between the smooth and seamless conduct of the work of the Council with transparency and inclusivity for the wider United Nations membership. The provisional rules of procedure of the Council are also very clear on the issue of the participation of the wider United Nations membership and the transparency of the Council’s working methods. Rule 48 of the provisional rules clearly stipulates that “unless it decides otherwise, the Security Council shall meet in public”.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“We thank the President for organizing this open debate of the Security Council on the working methods of the Council against the backdrop of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We also thank all the briefers for their insights on the issue, in particular the Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in her capacity as the Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. Derived from article 30 of the Charter of the United Nations, the working methods of the Security Council have undergone a process of continuous adaptation in accordance with changing circumstances. Ever since the Informal Working Group was established in 1993, its work has been crucial in evolving the working methods.”
2021-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/572 (2021) · source
“The goal of the protection of civilians is best served by preventing the outbreak of an armed conflict in the first place. The Security Council, the organ of the United Nations with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, should address the root causes of emerging and long-standing conflicts, including those in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, and should promote just and peaceful solutions. Unless we do so, the human suffering and misery — so evident among the world’s 60 million refugees and displaced persons and the millions of others caught in the crossfire of conflict — will continue to intensify, threatening international peace and security and the world order.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source
“Those responsible for such grave and consistent breaches of human rights law and international humanitarian laws in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir must be held accountable and brought to justice. The challenge of addressing gross violations of international humanitarian law is further exacerbated by the inequity and double standards of the international response. In some situations, there are quick and robust calls for accountability. In other situations, the perpetrators enjoy virtual impunity to commit crimes. The recent records of the Security Council itself illustrate such double standards. In the current circumstances, it is vital to reinforce the concept of the protection of civilians and accountability in all situations of armed conflict, including in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source
“Those actions include the so called cordon and search operations and fake encounters to extrajudicially kill innocent Kashmiri youth; the indiscriminate use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters, including pellet guns, which have blinded hundreds of Kashmiri children; collective punishments that have destroyed and burned entire Kashmiri neighbourhoods and villages; the arbitrary detention of Kashmiri political leaders and thousands of young boys on trumped up charges; the targeting of civilians in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Kashmir; and the forcible seizure of Kashmiri land and efforts to change the demography of occupied Jammu and Kashmir in order to transform it from a Muslim-majority state to a Hindu-majority territory.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source
“It is such a false equivalence that has given Israel the sense of impunity to use indiscriminate and disproportionate force, including the aerial bombing of Gaza, resulting in the death of more than 200 Palestinians, among whom were dozens of women and children. Such attacks amount to the collective punishment of civilians and constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions. There should be no impunity for such violations. India’s illegal and unilateral actions since 5 August 2019 to impose what its leaders have themselves called a final solution for India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir also constitute grave violations of Security Council resolutions and international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source
“Another principle that has been severely eroded since the 9/11 terrorist attacks is the legitimate struggle of peoples for self-determination against foreign occupation. That is most evident in the Israeli- occupied Palestinian territories and occupied Jammu and Kashmir. As an occupying Power, Israel has no right of self-defence under international law. Its use of force against the occupied and besieged Palestinians is illegal. On the contrary, it is the Palestinian people who have the right to struggle by all means possible to secure freedom from foreign occupation. The false equivalence between the occupier and the occupied is morally and legally untenable.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source
“The Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism do not authorize the use of force on the territory of other States without the Council’s express authorization, neither do they justify compromising the requirement for proportionality in the use of force. Some counter-terrorism measures are akin to using a hammer to kill a fly. Aerial bombardment usually amounts to the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force, which mostly kills more civilians than terrorists. There should be accountability for civilian casualties that result from so- called collateral damage by such indiscriminate use of force. The thousands who have died because of unilateral foreign military attacks, including in the Middle East, deserve accountability.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source
“We have lost almost 80,000 civilians and security forces in the fight against terrorism. We have conducted well-planned campaigns to root out terrorists operating from our soil. Yet we continue to face cross-border terrorism sponsored by our adversaries. While the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy contains in its fourth pillar the promise of protecting human rights while fighting terrorism, its enforcement has not been applied effectively or equitably so far. Counter-terrorism measures do not justify setting aside the limitations of Articles 2 (4) and 51 of the Charter of the United Nations on the non-use of force.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source
“Today, as conventional war among States has become unacceptably destructive, most conflicts are irregular and are fought among or with non-State actors. Many such non-State actors are categorized as terrorists. Terrorists, almost by definition, target civilian populations to spread terror. When States also target civilians, their acts must also be categorized as terrorism. Steps are urgently needed to safeguard civilians in such conflicts and hold those responsible for violence against civilians accountable for their crimes. Unfortunately, neither the resolutions of the Security Council nor the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy provides a credible means for offering either protection or justice to civilian victims of terrorism or State terrorism. Pakistan has been a principal victim of externally sponsored terrorism.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source
“The Geneva Conventions — the basic edifice of international humanitarian law — were adopted seven decades ago in the aftermath of the Second World War. With the terrible atrocities of the war fresh in mind, the international community agreed to a set of fundamental principles aimed at strengthening protections for civilians affected by armed conflicts. Unfortunately, the Geneva Conventions, which contain the most important rules limiting the barbarity of war, do not appear to be limiting very much today. It is the persistent failure to comply with the basic obligations under the Geneva Conventions and respect the rules of international humanitarian law during armed conflict that presents the central challenge to protecting civilians in current armed conflicts, even as the weapons of destruction have become more lethal and diverse.”
2021-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/505 (2021) · source