YouSaid · the spoken record

Murmokaite

lines on the record: 1,184
first: 2012-11-19
most recent: 2016-11-07
sittings or episodes: 138
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 encourage the Government to further develop cooperation with United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in implementing a zero-tolerance policy towards violations of human rights law and humanitarian law. Verification and vetting are currently being undertaken in the Central African Republic, where preparations are under way for the national elections. The pressure to have the armed forces in place and ready to provide security for the people during that vital transition time should not lead to compromising on the integrity ofthe troops.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“Vetting mechanisms therefore should be a central component of troop selection in order to break with past abuses and build disciplined, rights-respecting forces that protect civilians instead of preying on them. Cleaning up the ranks also serves to strengthen the trust between local populations and the armed and police forces, as well as the general confidence in the irreversibility of post-conflict recovery. In that regard, we welcome the steps taken by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to introduce vetting and build a security sector free from child recruitment and sexual violence.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“If left unaddressed, a lack of accountability for past crimes can lead to a reopening of old wounds - and therefore a resurgence of conflict, bringing the efforts of any country emerging out of conflict to naught. Therefore, security sector reform should entail, inter alia, solid human rights training, mentoring, due diligence policies and an embedded culture of individual responsibility among the ranks - from top to bottom and bottom to top - for abuses of office, including human rights abuses. In countries plagued by repeated cycles of violence, members of the security forces are known to have participated in serious human rights abuses and crimes against humanity, including killings, summary executions, mass rapes, torture, arbitrary arrests and abductions.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“In that regard, we would like to emphasize the importance of the Secretary-General's seven-point action plan on women's participation in peacebuilding, as well as the whole range of measures that the United Nations has established to date, including on the matter referred to today by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. They offer practical ways forward that should be taken by the United Nations system, with the support of Member States, regional partners and implementing countries. Justice and accountability are other factors linked to security sector reform, and an underlying element for SSR durability. They are an integral part of peace and reconciliation efforts.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“Integrating a gender perspective into security sector reform is therefore a question of trust and confidence in the bodies and in the reform itself. A gender perspective must become part of the daily work of armed forces, police and law-and-order institutions. It should make those institutions more inclusive and accountable, strengthen popular trust in them and improve the overall effectiveness of security sector reform. Specific programmes aimed at preventing sexual harassment and gender-based violence must be implemented so that both the general female population and the women serving in the armed and police forces are guaranteed safety and recourse to justice in cases of abuse. Witness and victim protection mechanisms must also be put in place.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“The support of the good offices of the United Nations in that respect could be helpful. An army or a local police force made up exclusively of one ethnicity, one tribe or one faith in multi-ethnic, multireligious communities would inevitably challenge their impartiality and put into question their readiness to protect all members of the community. It would also serve to raise fears and suspicions of bias - for example, in situations such as the violence we have witnessed in the Central African Republic. Likewise, an exclusively male police force, or prosecutorial bodies, for that matter, would raise legitimate concerns and fears among women about their safety and security and would inevitably prevent women from complaining about sexual violence, rape and other abuses.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“In that regard, we welcome the Department of Peacekeeping Operations compact initiative aimed at helping to better coordinate responsibilities between the United Nations and national Governments. As we have heard this morning, the subject itself is wide-ranging, and I cannot deal with all of the issues. I would like to touch upon just a few of them, starting with trust. While the pressure to rebuild security sector institutions as a country emerges out of conflict may be enormous, Governments must make sure that SSR activities involve all segments of society and respond to the concerns of all, including the most affected and vulnerable groups. That is the best way to ensure the common ownership of the reform and to prevent lingering grievances from resurfacing at a later stage.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“Over a year since that debate and the adoption of resolution 2151 (2014), we can ask ourselves if enough is being done to put the resolution into action. Are the voices of women, youth and civil society being heard well enough by those implementing SSR efforts? Is the vetting effective enough to bar those who have committed rape and abuse fromjoining police and military ranks? Have we become better in meeting the needs of the countries concerned? As has been said many times, ensuring national ownership of SRR processes is essential. To succeed, national authorities must lead, own and drive reform efforts. The United Nations and other contributing actors on the ground can assist Governments in their efforts, with a clear objective to create effective, accountable and human rights-respecting national security structures.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, for organizing this briefing. I would also like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Dmitry Titov, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Hawa Bangura and Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, for their insights and comprehensive briefings to the Security Council. At the Council's debate on security sector reform (SSR) last year (see S/PV.7l6l), we called on the United Nations to do more to help States coming out of conflict to reform their police and military forces. We advocated for reinforced efforts to ensure that security institutions in post-conflict environments were a source of safety, security and trust, rather than of extortion and fear.”
2015-08-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7508 (2015) · source
“Its expertise could be further used in assisting countries in the constitutional and legislative fields, especially in post-conflict situations, where building a judicial system and ensuring the independence of the judiciary are often key priorities. Contemporary security challenges are too complex and too multidimensional to be addressed by any one single player. It is essential to take forward the partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations, with a view to strengthening complementarities and creating new synergies on the basis of their comparative advantages. I hope that today's debate will contribute to that process.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“The partnership between the United Nations and the Council of Europe can also be strengthened in the field of the rule of law, the absence of which, along with the ensuing lawlessness and abuse, are often at the very core of conflict. The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe assists countries in democratic transitions and constitutional processes. The work of the Commission is well recognized not only within the Council of Europe but also among its Mediterranean and Central Asian partners. The Venice Commission is already working closely with the United Nations Development Programme on justice reforms.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“In June, for the first time, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe addressed the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism on the initiatives aimed at supporting efforts by States to implement resolution 2178 (2014) on foreign terrorist fighters. The recent adoption by the Council of Europe of the protocol on foreign terrorist fighters merits our attention as we continue to elaborate joint responses to that unprecedented threat. It also serves as an excellent example of close cooperation between regional organizations and United Nations entities, since the adoption of the protocol was originally suggested by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, which also participated actively in the drafting process.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“Let me now turn to the Council of Europe, which has developed an impressive inventory of international treaties aimed at addressing some of the most pressing contemporary challenges that are at the core of issues related to peace and security. The conventions on mutual assistance in criminal matters, on corruption, on cybercrime, on the prevention of terrorism and on action against trafficking in human beings are just a few highly relevant examples for the work we do here at the United Nations, including in this Council. Those treaties are open to accession by States not members of the Council of Europe and can provide useful standards and tools for countries anywhere around the globe for strengthening governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine has an important role to play, as it represents the only international body providing continuous reporting from the ground and registering ongoing violations of the Minsk ceasefire. The Mission's vehicles have been burned and its unmanned aerial vehicles have been repeatedlyjammed, while its observers have been denied access and threatened by illegal militants who continue to enjoy the military and material support of their patrons. The Mission definitely needs greater support and cooperation from both the European Union and the United Nations as it continues to carry out its work. Despite existing difficulties, a greater role for the United Nations in the pursuit of a durable, viable resolution of that conflict should be further explored.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“The OSCE has developed considerable mediation and conflict-prevention capacities complementary to those of the United Nations, and it continues to play a role in tackling the protracted conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh, Transnistria and Georgia, as well as to contribute to security and stability in Central Asia. This year, the OSCE marks the fortieth anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act - a set of fundamental commitments based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, the inviolability of borders and the non-use of force, which are also at the core of the Charter of the United Nations. It is an important but also a poignant anniversary, in the context of the unprecedented breach of those very principles by Russia, whose proxy war against Ukraine and illegal annexation of Crimea continue to cause death and destruction.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“The OSCE, an organization with 57 participating States on three continents, engages in a wide range of issues, including conflict prevention, mediation, confidence- and security-building measures, the fight against illicit trade in small arms, non- proliferation issues, and the promotion of the rule of law, good governance, human rights and fundamental freedoms. All those areas coincide with the activities of the United Nations. Thus the two organizations certainly have a great potential for closer cooperation that has yet to be fully utilized.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“The EU's African Peace Facility, inter alia, supports the fight of the African Union Mission in Somalia against Al-Shabaab terrorists and will provide funding for the multinational joint task force against Boko Haram. EUCAP Sahel Niger, established in 2012, is assisting the country and the region to tackle transborder security threats such as terrorism and organized crime. With regard to combatting terrorism and countering violent extremism, United Nations-EU high-level counter-terrorism political dialogue and cooperation offer much-needed and useful exchanges, as well as capacity-building initiatives for affected regions and States and should be further developed.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“The comprehensive and synergistic nature of partnerships among the United Nations, the EU and African Union can well be seen in Somalia, Mali, the Central African Republic and elsewhere, ranging from border management and security sector reform to capacity-building, post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation. In Mali, an EU training mission (EUTM) and the civilian mission EUCAP Sahel Mali are actively contributing to the country's security sector reform. Lithuania is a long-term contributor to EUTM. Mali and is committed to maintaining its involvement. Close cooperation between the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union is also strong in Somalia, involving Mission Atalanta, among others, in which Lithuania has participated since 2011.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“As the largest humanitarian and development donor worldwide, the European Union cooperates with the United Nations in all major conflict and post-conflict areas, whether Syria, Libya, South Sudan, Ukraine, the Central African Republic, Yemen or Afghanistan. The EU has been at the forefront of United Nations- led international efforts in the Ebola response, which the Council discussed just last week. The EU and its member States dedicated â‚¬l.2 billion for humanitarian aid, recovery and research projects in the affected countries, including for support to the African Union's medical mission in West Africa. EU institutions and member States have allocated some â‚¬3.7 billion to tackle the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Syria alone.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“Successive transformations made the European Union an anchor ofpeace and security on the continent, whose underlying principle of solidarity works inside as well as well outside its boundaries, including through a comprehensive strategic partnership with the United Nations, which was recognized in last year's presidential statement S/PRST/2014/4 on the subject, adopted under the Lithuanian presidency of the Council. On the political level, the EU commitment to prevention and mediation finds expression in its continued support for United Nations stand-by teams of mediation experts and its direct involvement in mediation, such as that which produced an historic agreement between Pristina and Belgrade in 2013 and, more recently, the successful conclusion of negotiations between the E3+3 Governments and Iran.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“The United Nations and regional and subregional organizations would benefit greatly from developing greater complementarity and using their comparative advantages and capabilities as they seek to defuse crises, negotiate peaceful settlements and tackle cross-border threats. Let me refer today to three regional organizations of which my country is a member - the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe - and to their cooperation with the United Nations. In the aftermath of the horrors of the Second World War, European Governments, determined to prevent another such terrible war, were determined to proceed so as to make a war between the historic rivals not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“I would like to thank you, Madam President, for convening us today to discuss the contribution of regional organizations to the maintenance of international peace and security. I also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing at the beginning of this meeting. Lithuania aligns itself with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union (EU). As our Jordanian colleague noted a few minutes ago, regional and subregional organizations have the advantage of geographical proximity and can thus respond more quickly to the evolving situation on the ground. They share better knowledge of and insights into the causes, factors and actors of a crisis, and, as neighbours, they have a direct interest in preventing a crisis from spilling over.”
2015-08-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7505 (2015) · source
“Accountability, however, should not be limited only to those responsible for chemical weapons attacks, but extend to all those who have caused death, destruction and unimaginable suffering to the Syrian people during the conflict that started some four and a half years ago. The Council must stand firm for accountability. We owe it to the memory of the hundreds of thousands who have lost their lives and to the millions left destitute and displaced by the carnage in Syria.”
2015-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7501 (2015) · source
“The Joint Investigative Mechanism that is to be established will provide a clear path to identifying those responsible for attacks involving chemical weapons in Syria, whoever they are. That is a crucial step forward, since it will enable us to drag the perpetrators out of the shadow of their ugly deeds, put a face on those criminals and thereby send a clear message to other would-be perpetrators that the international community will no longer tolerate such crimes. The Council must take all the steps necessary to make sure that those responsible for the chemical attacks are brought to justice.”
2015-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7501 (2015) · source
“The attacks did not stop either after the conclusion was reached by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Fact-Finding Mission in September 2014 that a toxic chemical was used as a weapon, systematically and repeatedly, in the villages of northern Syria, or when the Council - barely five months ago - adopted a second resolution on the subject, in which it stressed that those responsible for any use of chemicals as weapons must be held accountable and reiterated its readiness to impose measures under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations in the event of non-compliance. The resolution we have just adopted is about accountability.”
2015-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7501 (2015) · source
“When in August 2013 hundreds died in Ghouta after the Syrian regime used sarin against its own people, a formidable effort was launched by the international community to destroy the regime's declared stockpiles of chemical weapons. For some time, there was hope that Ghouta would be the last time we would ever see chemical weapons use in Syria or anywhere else for that matter. But after Ghouta came Talmenes, Al Tamanah, Kafr Zita, Idlib and others - more helicopters overhead, the whistling sound of falling barrels, and orange plumes of noxious chlorine gas rising above civilian neighbourhoods.”
2015-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7501 (2015) · source
“Lithuania co-sponsored and voted in favour of resolution 2235 (2015), establishing the Joint Investigative Mechanism to identify those involved in the use of chemicals as weapons in Syria. Despite the fact that the complete prohibition of the use of chemical weapons is at the core of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Syria has been a State party since October 2013, and the prohibitions contained in the resolutions 2118 (2013) and 2209 (2015) to use, develop, retain or transfer chemical weapons in Syria, the use of toxic chemicals has continued with disturning frequency. Civilians remain the primary targets of such attacks, while spreading fear remains their main objective.”
2015-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7501 (2015) · source
“In Samoa last year, the Secretary-General called SIDS a magnifying glass whose lenses reveal vulnerabilities that demand an international response. In the processes affecting SIDS today, we may be seeing a harbinger of a global tomorrow. If we fail to act with all due urgency, the threats and vulnerabilities affecting small island developing States today may spread to affect much larger communities, threatening international peace and security. More often than not, in terms of prevention the Council has been lacking, doing too little too late. Acknowledging early and acting together on the security challenges to SIDS offers a rare opportunity to take preventive action. That opportunity should not be missed.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“For countries that rely heavily on tourism as a source of revenue, rampant criminality or an attack against foreign tourists can cause a serious blow to local economies, with considerable effects. Preventive efforts should be taken to ensure that relevant national legislations are compliant with international norms and standards and that necessary capacities to deal with such deadly phenomena are put in place. While some SIDS have made impressive strides in building such capacities and fostering regional cooperation, the CARICOM. Implementation Agency for Crime and Security and the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre can be mentioned in that respect. Support and assistance by relevant United Nations and other bodies, including on counter-terrorism, remain of critical importance given the limited resources and capabilities of those States.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Such regional cooperation initiatives are very important and can offer useful examples for others. The adoption and entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) represents a unique opportunity to make relevant legislation more rigorous and uniform across the regions. We welcome the fact that the majority of SIDS have either signed or ratified the ATT and have taken steps to develop model legislation for its implementation. While terrorism is not yet a major issue among SIDS, one cannot lower one's guard. Porous marine borders can be easily exploited by criminal and terrorist groups, also in view of the evolving links between terrorism and transnational organized crime, the pernicious presence of which is already felt by many of the SIDS.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“In the Caribbean region, as the Prime Minister of Jamaica reminded us, the illegal smuggling of weapons is a key driver of violence, criminality and the empowerment of criminal gangs and accounts for up to 70 per cent of murders. The loss of life, predominantly among the young, hampers long-term socioeconomic development, with destabilizing effects. While each situation is different, stockpile management, an accountable security sector and the rule of law are key to tackling armed violence. Comprehensive firearms legislation, including import, export and transit controls, is also essential. In 2011, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries adopted a Declaration on Small Arms and Light Weapons as their regional framework for tackling the problem.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“We appreciate the efforts of Seychelles in that respect, which established a vigorous judicial system enabling the quick prosecution and conviction ofpirates and thus made a significant contribution to the common effort of tackling the threat of piracy. Among the multiple challenges that SIDS face, the illicit trafficking, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons remain a major concern. My delegation was happy to initiate and negotiate resolution 2220 (2015) in May, and we hope that its full implementation will contribute to tackling those very serious issues, because in the smallest of States, even a few hundred weapons in the wrong hands have the potential to plunge countries into chaos.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Besides environmental threats, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, maritime security and piracy, as well as the less immediate threats related to cybersecurity and terrorism, are huge for any one country to tackle, but especially for small, geographically isolated developing island States. Since 2011, Lithuania has taken part in the international efforts against piracy off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean, as part of the European Union Naval Force Atalanta, Operation Atlanta. We are pleased to note that such efforts have shown positive results, leading to a dramatic reduction of pirate attacks since 2013.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Further, ocean acidification, increased flooding and shoreline erosion, fish-stock depletion and rising seawater temperatures would have inevitable security consequences for all humankind. Protecting the oceans and marine environment from further degradation is a question of our common future. One issue specifically mentioned in the Samoa Pathway is the need to address the long-term effects of sea-dumped munitions and their impact on human health and the marine environment. As the main sponsor of General Assembly resolution 68/208 on sea-dumped chemical munitions, Lithuania fully shares the concerns of SIDS in that respect and looks forward to close cooperation on related matters. Due to their size, remoteness and institutional capacity constraints, SIDS' vulnerabilities are many and varied.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“The Security Council should fully recognize climate change-induced risks and tensions and the role of climate change as a threat multiplier to international peace and security, and act in a preventive and proactive manner. Resolute, coherent and consolidated action by the international community aimed at strengthening State and regional capacities to manage the effects of climate change amd promote resilience, sustainability, and resource and energy security at the global level has never been more important. In that context, there is a pressing need to reach a universal and ambitious climate change agreement in Paris this year. Oceans hold about 96 per cent of the Earth's water.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“With the continuous rise of sea levels, States like Tuvalu, Maldives, Seychelles, Micronesia, Vanuatu and others, as well as also large parts of low lying countries like Bangladesh, risk going underwater. The consequences of such developments would be very serious and have an inevitable impact on the wider regional and international security. But as Samoa's Prime Minister said during the Third International SIDS Conference last year, "Sympathy and pity will not provide solace nor halt the devastating impacts of climate change". Small as they are, these countries are taking important initiatives and are at the forefront of very important progress being made in terms of renewable and sustainable development.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“Among them, climate change - which, inter alia, reduces access to and the availability of vital resources, such as food and fresh water - threatens the very subsistence of local populations, exacerbates migratory, health and humanitarian pressures, and contributes to human insecurity and potentially to new conflicts. Land is literally disappearing from under the feet of some of the SIDS. In 2005, Vanuatu's Tegua residents were among the first to be relocated as a result of climate change. Climate-related relocation is also the fate of the people of the Carteret Islands of Papua New Guinea. They are among the first, but certainly not the last to be threatened by rising waters. The Government of Kiribati was forced to buy land in another country, Fiji, to grow food and eventually resettle its population.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“The outcome document of the Third International SIDS Conference in September 2014, the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway (Samoa Pathway), acknowledged the particular vulnerabilities of SIDS and called for the coordinated action of the international community to address them in a coherent and comprehensive manner. Its implementation is of vital importance for the SIDS, some of which are facing today, in their own words, "an existential threat". The concept note (S/2015/543, annex) provided for this debate lists a number of challenges they face.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this open debate. I would certainly like to thank the Prime Minister of Samoa, the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the Minister of Finance of Seychelles for their insightful briefings. This debate provides a rare opportunity to discuss the specific challenges faced by the small island developing States (SIDS) in relation to international peace and security. My delegation aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the observer of the European Union later today.”
2015-07-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7499 (2015) · source
“The international community has to continue assisting and supporting Afghanistan as it continues to build a secure and just future. We welcome the establishment of a Tripartite Commission, as per Security Council resolution 2210 (2015), to conduct an examination of the role, structure and activities of all United Nations entities in Afghanistan. We encourage all participants to actively engage in that process.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“In June 2015, after 13 years of active participation in Afghanistan, the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces completed the longest-ever non-stop Lithuanian international mission abroad. The mission's success was a result of effective cooperation between the Government of Afghanistan and its allies. As a result, the Afghan National Security Forces have gained the useful experience they need to ensure their country's security on their own. Lithuania remains engaged in the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which is one of the major commitments of the Alliance in 2015 and 2016. The mission's mandate will end in December 2016. With this in mind, we need to discuss the further engagement of the international community in Afghanistan after 2016.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“Lithuania commends the Government's efforts aimed at improving bilateral relations with its neighbours, including Pakistan, and in multilateral cooperation forums, such as activities carried out under the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process. Any positive steps on peace and stability taken by Afghanistan should be reciprocated with tangible actions by neighbouring countries. To cite some practical examples, from 2012 to 2015 Lithuania provided funding for a regional project involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. That initiative contributed to the development of a compatible veterinary control system in the four Asian countries, in line with international standards and the EU legal framework.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“We encourage the Afghan Government to strengthen access to the justice system and increase women's trust in legal proceedings, which are often overshadowed by corrupt practices. My delegation welcomes the first human-rights dialogue between the European Union and Afghanistan, which took place on 15 June in Kabul. We encourage further discussions, in a cooperative spirit, on ways to improve the human-rights situation in Afghanistan. The future of Afghanistan depends not only on the Afghans themselves, but also on the actions of their neighbours. A peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan is in the interest of all the countries of the region.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“We call on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks against civilians. In that regard, it is vital that the Government push forward an Afghan- led reconciliation and peace process. More needs to be done to protect women's rights and expand their access to justice. Reports estimate that up to 87 per cent of Afghan women have experienced domestic abuse at least once. Domestic violence, coupled with high maternal mortality, a lack of economic rights and limited opportunities for justice, makes Afghanistan one of the world's most dangerous countries for women. The latest UNAMA report on violence against women shows that Afghanistan's court system is failing to provide adequate access for women who are victims of violence.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“At the same time, existing security concerns must be addressed, since a continuing lack of security may thwart progress in other areas. As the Secretary- General's report (S/2015/422) shows, the number of civilian casualties in the reporting period increased by almost a quarter compared with that in 2014, continuing the trend of record high numbers. Improvised explosive devices remain the second leading cause of civilian casualties. The anti-Government elements' spring offensive has been more intensive than the year before, with a 45 per cent increase in armed clashes. We condemn the continuing attacks by anti-Government elements and their deliberate targeting of civilians, including the 13 May Taliban attack on a Kabul guesthouse and on those working in the justice system.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“It is crucial not to lose momentum and to persevere in their implementation, as such reforms will improve service delivery, increase citizens' participation and strengthen their trust in elected officials. The need for progress on electoral reform deserves a separate mention. While the establishment of the Special Commission on Electoral Reform provided a mechanism towards enhancing electoral integrity, the Commission has yet to start its work. The current mandate of the lower house of the National Assembly expired and has been extended, but there is still no electoral calendar. That must be urgently addressed, along with the implementation of socioeconomic policies and a development agenda. Counter-narcotics policies should be promoted as well, including through creating incentives for farmers to turn to legal livelihoods.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“I am sure that they will be a valuable asset to the Government's work and will also have a real impact on the promotion of women's rights across the country. It is crucial that the Unity Government create an accountable, transparent and effective Government. After decades of corruption and obscure dealings, Afghanistan is in dire need of bold reforms. In that regard, President Ghani's agenda, entitled "Realizing self-reliance", as presented last year in London, is the way forward. The President's initiatives on reviewing Government revenues and spending, formulating 100- day action plans for each ministry and establishing an independent anti-corruption commission are certainly steps in the right direction.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“We firmly condemn all such attacks. Faced with these daunting challenges, it is essential that the Afghan Government continue demonstrating its firm determination to end the conflict and improve the lives of its citizens. We welcome the completion of the Cabinet formation, which, due to the nature of the National Unity Government, was a difficult yet absolutely necessary event. We encourage Afghan leaders to complete pending appointments of officials, including in the justice sector and at the provincial level. The new leaders have delivered on their promise to appoint four women ministers. In addition, President Ghani has nominated the first-ever female Supreme Court judge in Afghanistan.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“Iwould like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nicholas Haysom, and Ambassador Tanin for their briefings. My delegation expresses its appreciation for all the important work that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the United Nations family are doing in Afghanistan. Lithuania aligns itself with the statement to be made on behalf of the European Union (EU). Afghanistan is continuing its difficult transformation towards peace and self-reliance. The deaths, caused by an improvised explosive device, on 21 June of 16 civilians who were returning to their village in the Marja district of Helmand province, and the attempted attack on the Afghan Parliament earlier today, which injured 31 civilians, are only a few of the many reminders of how dramatically challenging the situation remains.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“We must close the gap between the existing legislation and their application, in order to put an end to Violence against children and restore them the biggest gift they can have: a safe and secure childhood and the right to be who they are - children.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source