YouSaid · the spoken record

Nicolas De Rivière

lines on the record: 545
first: 2020-04-07
most recent: 2021-07-30
sittings or episodes: 116
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

“I thank the Special Representative, Mr. François Fall, for his briefing. His efforts demonstrate the added value of a regional approach in understanding the dynamics of Central Africa and strengthening the preventive approach of the United Nations in that region. I would like briefly to address three points. First, on the progress made in regional cooperation, I welcome the implementation of the institutional reform of the Economic Community of Central African States, which entered into force in August. The establishment of the new Commission demonstrates the deepening cooperation within the region. It complements the many recent cooperation initiatives in Central Africa in the field of security and cross-border cooperation. That dynamic must continue in the service of peace and development.”
2020-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1188 (2020) · source
“The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union can be successful only with the involvement of civil society. I commend the African Union Special Envoy on Youth Solidarity for her determination to bring the demands of young African women to the Generation Equality Forum that France will host together with UN-Women and Mexico. Their demands will be heard. We call on the Special Envoys of the United Nations and the African Union to work together so that actions on the ground benefit women and young people more systematically. I want to conclude by once again congratulating South Africa on this meeting and its presidency this month, and more broadly on its biennium in the Security Council. The past two years have enabled your country to contribute significantly to the success of the multilateral method, Mr. President.”
2020-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1179 (2020) · source
“We encourage the African Union to continue its efforts to operationalize the African Continental Free Trade Area. Cooperation must also be strengthened in the face of health threats. Resolution 2532 (2020), which we co-authored with Tunisia, calls for a cessation of hostilities and for greater cooperation between regional and international organizations in facilitating the fight against the pandemic. The African Union has contributed to the global effort by very quickly mobilizing the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. President Macron has advocated for a moratorium on the debt of African countries. France has pledged to mobilize €1.2 billion to help African countries fight the coronavirus pandemic.”
2020-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1179 (2020) · source
“African countries must be able to ensure their own security and strengthen their regional cooperation within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture. Meetings between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council should enable progress to be made on this issue in 2021. The Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel is an example to be promoted. Our objective is for it to become fully autonomous, but that still requires the most ambitious support possible, to which the Security Council must contribute. The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union can go even further by supporting projects to concretely implement the Silencing the Guns initiative, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
2020-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1179 (2020) · source
“Those successes must be acknowledged. We also welcome your mobilization for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ethiopia, Mr. President. The Security Council must support the African Union’s commitment to the prevention and resolution of crises on the continent. That principle is at the heart of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, on cooperation between the Security Council and regional organizations. The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union is also of strategic importance in security matters. The African contribution to peacekeeping is invaluable, and we have a collective interest in strengthening it. France supports the development of sustainable and predictable financing for African peace operations, including through United Nations-assessed contributions.”
2020-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1179 (2020) · source
“I commend South Africa, as the current Chair of the African Union and President of the Security Council, for choosing to highlight the issue of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. It is a strategic partnership, not only in terms of preventing and resolving crises in Africa, but also because we need the African Union and African States to be able to respond to global threats. That is why we support the efforts of the Secretary-General and the African Union to strengthen this partnership. The African Union plays a major role in the prevention and resolution of political crises in Africa. We saw it in Madagascar in 2018 and in the Sudan in 2019. This year, once again, the South African presidency succeeded in arranging African Union mediation on the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.”
2020-12-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1179 (2020) · source
“It is essential to be able to rely on indicators that are tailored to each mission, which would make it possible to produce, on the basis of regular reports, a reliable summary of the progress made, both in capacity-building and in the implementation of structural reforms. The benchmarks in MINUSMA’s mandate relating to the establishment of a reconstituted Malian army illustrate how this mechanism can be used to coordinate political guidance by the Security Council with the efforts of peace operations on the ground, as well as the international community’s work in following up with the host State.”
2020-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1176 (2020) · source
“Secondly, France advocates a vision of security-sector reform that takes the greatest possible account of the specific characteristics of each country, based on the political will of the host State and coordination among international actors. It is those combined efforts that make it possible to provide a solid foundation for security-sector reform. I am thinking, for example, of the model of the Mali national coordination body, which provides a link between the national armed forces and international partner forces. Thirdly, France considers that one of the keys to success is the carrying out of a set of initiatives at the country and mission levels, so that reforms can dovetail with the needs identified on the ground.”
2020-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1176 (2020) · source
“France has strong aspirations in that area with regard to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. In that regard, the difficult task of security-sector-reform services within missions, under the authority of the Special Representatives of the Secretary- General, deserves to be actively supported. I commend the work of the organizations that assist those missions in connection with the United Nations, such as the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, which operates in 80 countries and which France supports.”
2020-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1176 (2020) · source
“We welcome South Africa’s initiative to present a new draft resolution (S/2020/1158) that would enable us to further clarify the issues at stake in this process and achieve further concrete progress. I would like to emphasize three points. First, peacekeeping and special political missions often contribute to the long- term stabilization of host States, which enables them to strengthen their autonomy and thus make a direct contribution to the exit strategy of peace operations. However, such peace operations need to be given a mandate for that purpose.”
2020-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1176 (2020) · source
“I, too, wish you, Madam, every success in connection with your presidency of the Security Council and congratulate you and your country on your commitment to an issue that is dear to us. Indeed, in all parts of the world, the confidence of our citizens in their Governments depends on their ability to guarantee security. That is even more true in the aftermath of a conflict, where peoples traumatized by cycles of violence need strong security institutions, staffed by competent personnel, acting within the framework of the law and respecting human rights, to imagine the future and rebuild it. With resolution 2151 (2014), the Security Council recognized the importance of helping States to improve their performance in the area of security-sector reform in order to consolidate peace.”
2020-12-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1176 (2020) · source
“This is a pragmatic position: there can be no stabilization in Syria without a political solution to the conflict. Organizing a conference on the return of refugees cannot change the reality: the conditions for the return of refugees and displaced persons have not been met, which is why France and its European partners have refused to participate. It is time for all members of the Security Council to understand that no one can emerge victorious from the Syrian crisis through military means. In the face of this impasse, there is an urgent need to resume dialogue and for all parties to show a spirit of compromise. I call in particular on Russia to hear this message and get the Syrian regime, which owes its survival to Russia, moving on it.”
2020-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1147 (2020) · source
“We call on the Special Envoy to move forward on all elements of resolution 2254 (2015), in parallel to the work of the Constitutional Committee. I refer to the release of detainees, the establishment of a safe and neutral environment and the preparation of elections in accordance with the provisions of resolution 2254 (2015) — and under United Nations supervision — in order to give a voice to all Syrians, including those in the diaspora. We welcome the intention of the Special Envoy to review the implementation of this resolution. France is ready to contribute to that process. We repeat the following every month: unless there is a credible political solution, France and its partners will not deviate from their position on sanctions and reconstruction.”
2020-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1147 (2020) · source
“The protection of civilians, including humanitarian and medical personnel, must remain the top priority. The humanitarian situation continues to worsen. The number of cases of coronavirus disease has more than doubled in a month, and we all know that this figure is much lower than the real number of cases. Food insecurity is worsening day by day. More than 2 million people do not have adequate shelter and are preparing to face another harsh winter in inhumane conditions. The increase in humanitarian needs makes full access to humanitarian assistance more essential than ever. Shortcomings in the delivery of medical aid in the north-east are particularly alarming. In this context, priority must be given to relaunching a credible political process.”
2020-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1147 (2020) · source
“We therefore call on the United Nations to keep the Security Council informed of any new obstacles and identify those responsible. The lack of progress on the political front is appalling in the face of the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation. France is concerned by the ongoing hostilities in the north-west of the country, the increasing instability in the south and the entrenchment of Da’esh in the badiya. The civilian population continues to pay the price for this. There is an urgent need to respond to the appeal of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy to implement a lasting cessation of hostilities in accordance with resolutions 2532 (2020) and 2254 (2015). We call on all parties, in particular the Syrian regime, to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
2020-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1147 (2020) · source
“I thank Ms. Matar and Mr. Rajasingham for their briefings. First of all, I would like to commend the efforts of the Special Envoy, who is working in a particularly difficult context. France has taken note of the announcement that an agreement was reached for an agenda for the next two meetings of the Constitutional Committee. This agreement was long overdue, and we hope that it will be fully respected. Nevertheless, more than a year after the establishment of the Constitutional Committee, it is high time it finally moved forward on constitutional reform. Unfortunately, we note that the regime refuses to participate in the political process in good faith. Clearly, it is seeking to challenge the mandate of the Constitutional Committee, which it itself had endorsed.”
2020-11-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1147 (2020) · source
“We will then be able to take stock of it, based on the assessment that will be presented by the Secretary-General in April. Our objective is for the Joint Force to become fully autonomous. But to achieve this, it still needs the most ambitious support possible, to which the Security Council must contribute.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1126 (2020) · source
“On the other hand, attacks on humanitarian workers and health personnel are increasing and obstacles to humanitarian access are multiplying. I would like to point out that international humanitarian law is non-negotiable and binding on all. In conclusion, I would like to reflect on the international support for the G-5 Sahel Joint Force. When renewing the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), we improved the tripartite United Nations-European Union-G-5 Sahel mechanism. MINUSMA is now able to enter into supply and logistics contracts with private companies to support the Joint Force, including outside Mali’s borders. We expect this mechanism to be implemented urgently.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1126 (2020) · source
“Beyond these actions in terms of security and governance, stabilization of the region requires a significant effort in terms of humanitarian aid and development. This is especially necessary in order to respond to the worsening humanitarian crisis as well as to the challenges of climate change, youth emancipation and women’s empowerment. The donor mobilization has been exemplary. On 9 November, the European Union announced nearly €23 million in additional aid. But we are facing several problems. On the one hand, the effectiveness of aid must be improved so that it reaches populations more quickly. This is the philosophy behind the Sahel Alliance, which is continuing its efforts to coordinate technical and financial partners.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1126 (2020) · source
“The organization of several administrative convoys, which began in June as part of military operations, will help to deploy public services in areas where populations are deprived of them. This is a promising initiative that we hope to extend in agreement with the G-5 Sahel Governments. The credibility of the State also depends on respect for the rule of law. It is essential that the countries of the region investigate violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in order to put an end to impunity. The compliance framework for human rights and international humanitarian law provides welcome support and must be fully implemented. The mechanisms created by the Joint Force to look into incidents involving civilians are indispensable.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1126 (2020) · source
“The support of the United States, for which France is grateful, was decisive in achieving these results. As the Secretary- General has pointed out, the G-5 Sahel Joint Force has successfully conducted several operations, particularly Sama 1 and Sama 2. Task Force Takuba, which brings together several European special forces, has also begun its mission. These security efforts must be accompanied by a strong political commitment from the countries of the region to strengthening their institutions and deploying public services in remote areas. The Partnership for Stability and Security in the Sahel, which we launched with Germany in 2019, and whose secretariat is now operational in Brussels, will help to speed up its deployment.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1126 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank the various speakers for their briefings. The situation in the Sahel remains difficult, but we know which areas should be prioritized and which tools should be used. At the request of the countries of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel), France, together with the European Union, supported the launch this year of the Coalition for the Sahel. It is based on four pillars: the fight against terrorism, capability-building of the defence and security forces, deployment of State services and development. The fight against terrorism is the area where we have made the most progress. Over the past few weeks, operations conducted by the Operation Barkhane force, in close cooperation with the armed forces of Mali and the Niger, have made it possible to neutralize several dozen terrorists.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1126 (2020) · source
“France stands ready to continue its efforts, and the Council must play its role fully in order to put an end to the crisis and support the efforts of the Libyan parties.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1129 (2020) · source
“We condemn the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, especially those committed against migrants and refugees. Those responsible must be held to account. That is why, together with Germany, we have taken the initiative to request the identification of migrant traffickers. France strongly condemns the assassination in Benghazi of the lawyer and human rights activist Hanan Al-Barassi. Such crimes must not go unpunished. We welcome the strengthened cooperation between the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. France will remain mobilized to ensure that all stakeholders are focused on the same goal of achieving peace in Libya. It is in that spirit that we announced the convening of a meeting of Libya’s neighbours. The Libyan crisis has endured for too long.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1129 (2020) · source
“That is why we urge the Secretariat to propose realistic but also ambitious options on this issue as soon as possible. France stands ready to work with its partners in that regard. On the political front, too, the progress made must be sustained. It is up to the Libyans, and the Libyans alone, to decide on their future. The convening of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunis and the continuation of those talks in a few days’ time are encouraging. The adoption of a road map and agreeing on the date of 24 December 2021 for holding the elections are important steps. The Forum participants must now agree on the formation of a new executive responsible for organizing those elections. No one should impede that process. Potential spoilers will be subjected to sanctions.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1129 (2020) · source
“That must be accompanied by the effective withdrawal of forces from the front lines as well as other confidence-building measures, including a comprehensive process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of militias. We call on the foreign forces and mercenaries present in Libya to withdraw within the 90-day period stipulated in the agreement. The arms embargo must also be fully respected, in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Security Council. The Libyan parties called on the Council to adopt a draft resolution to guarantee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. The Council must now uphold its responsibility by authorizing the deployment, under the auspices of the United Nations, of a credible and effective monitoring mechanism, including to support the efforts made by the Libyan parties themselves.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1129 (2020) · source
“I would like to thank the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Ms. Stephanie Williams, for her briefing, but in particular for all of the efforts she has made throughout her mandate, allowing for significant progress to be made on the path to finding a solution. With regard to security, we welcome the signing on 23 October of a permanent ceasefire agreement that covers the entire Libyan territory. The discussions within the 5+5 Joint Military Commission regarding the modalities for implementing that agreement have enabled real progress. The reopening of coastal roads, and subsequently roads in the central region of the country, could enable further progress.”
2020-11-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1129 (2020) · source
“It is important that the elections announced by President Abbas at the General Assembly in September (see A/75/PV.10) are not postponed again. All parties must play their part to advance peace. The parties expected to show courage are the United Nations and its agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which must be supported politically and financially, and every member of the international community. They must all play their part. Members can count on France to contribute tirelessly to this collective effort.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“The suspension of annexation projects must become a definitive measure and must not be replaced by annexation through increasing faits accomplis on the ground, which would be tantamount to a de facto annexation of Palestinian territories. France calls on the parties to create conditions conducive to the resumption of discussions This is the focus of the continued efforts of Minister Le Drian, in coordination with his German, Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts. Restoring confidence requires gradual commitments from both sides. We welcome the announcement of resumed coordination between Israelis and Palestinians and the reaffirmation, in part, by Israel of its commitment to past bilateral agreements. This cooperation can lead to a better response to the coronavirus disease pandemic. This requires renewed intra-Palestinian reconciliation.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“France condemned new announcements concerning the building of more than 1,200 housing units in the Israeli settlement of Givat Hamatos, in East Jerusalem. The expansion of this settlement undermines the viability of a future Palestinian State, as repeatedly recalled by the European Union. We also condemned the demolition by Israeli authorities, on 3 November, of the Palestinian village of Khirbet Humsa, in the West Bank. We once again call on Israeli authorities to reverse their decisions on settlements and to halt all demolitions, particularly the village of Khan Al-Ahmar and the school in Ras Al-Tin, in accordance with its obligations as an occupying Power.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“It is now up to the parties to define the framework for their negotiations in order to resume their discussions with the support of the international community. France stands ready to work to relaunch this process in close coordination with all its partners. It calls for an end to all unilateral measures jeopardizing the two-State solution. We are concerned about the proliferation of settlement expansion projects and the record number of demolitions of Palestinian structures, including those financed by the European Union and its member States. These measures come after the signing of the normalization agreements between Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the Sudan, which could lead to the beginning of a positive dynamic for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“I thank the Special Coordinator for his briefing. I, too, wish to express my condolences to the relatives of Saeb Erekat and to the Palestinian people and pay tribute to the commitment of this tireless advocate of the Palestinian cause and ardent defender of peace. We are at a pivotal point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is more urgent than ever to relaunch momentum towards peace. The parameters of its settlement are well-known — two States, living in peace and security, within secure and recognized borders based on the 1967 lines, both with Jerusalem as their capital. They have been defined with the aim of bringing fair and lasting peace to the region. They make it possible to guarantee the security of Israel and to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, in accordance with international law.”
2020-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1128 (2020) · source
“This issue will be the subject of particular attention at the donors’ meeting on 12 November, under the co-chairmanship of the European Union and Sweden. I would also like to recall that the protection of civilians must remain an absolute priority. Finally, it is essential to allow the inspection mission mandated by the United Nations to have immediate access to the FSO SAFER oil tanker. We must do everything possible to avoid a disaster, and this inspection has been delayed for too long. France will remain fully mobilized, along with the other stakeholders, to find a political solution to the war in Yemen. And the French authorities will continue to work towards a de-escalation throughout the region.”
2020-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1109 (2020) · source
“We call on the parties to engage in good faith in the dialogue on the draft joint statement proposed by the Special Envoy, to whom we reiterate our full support. As Mr. Lowcock and Mr. Beasley stated, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen: the numbers speak for themselves. The spectre of famine is looming yet again. We must therefore act collectively to avoid such a catastrophe. In that regard, I would like to commend the outstanding work done by humanitarian actors, in particular by the World Food Programme. Their fight against hunger in the world is crucial, and they can count on France’s support. We must not underestimate the risk of a second wave of coronavirus disease. The consequences would be tragic. We will not stop repeating it: all parties have the obligation to guarantee humanitarian access.”
2020-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1109 (2020) · source
“In Al-Hudaydah, we call on the Yemeni parties to resume their talks within the framework of the Redeployment Coordination Committee of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement in order to implement the Stockholm Agreement and reduce tensions. We also condemn Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, which threaten the security of the Kingdom and the stability of the region. A new Yemeni Government must be formed without delay. The Yemeni political forces must implement the Riyadh agreement and validate the first efforts to distribute ministerial portfolios. Once again, we welcome Saudi Arabia’s efforts to facilitate the signing of that agreement and its implementation. That new Government must find a comprehensive political solution.”
2020-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1109 (2020) · source
“I thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock, World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley and Omer Badokhon for their briefings. It is high time we saw a political settlement for Yemen. There must be a cessation of hostilities, and a new Government must be formed. De-escalation is needed, and it must lead to a cessation of hostilities. In the north, the level of tensions around Ma’rib and the resurgence of tensions in Al-Hudaydah are concerning. The Yemeni parties must cease their clashes and renounce any military option in the north and throughout the country.”
2020-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1109 (2020) · source
“That is why France, along with 40 other countries and the European Union, has been leading the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons since 2018. Restoring the credibility of the prohibition regime is also one of the conditions for a just and lasting peace in Syria on the basis of resolution 2254 (2015).”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1088 (2020) · source
“In that context, I wish to stress the professionalism and impartiality of the OPCW and condemn all attempts by those who seek to discredit the organization, which is so important to our collective security. Finally, I wish to stress that the use of chemical weapons, wherever, whenever, by whomsoever and under whatever circumstances, is unacceptable and constitutes a crime that threatens all humankind. The re-emergence of chemical weapons is one of the most serious threats with which we have to deal in the Security Council. The Council made that clear in its presidential statement S/PRST/2019/14, of November 2019. As President Macron recalled on 21 September, “[t]aboos that were thought to be inviolable have been lifted”. No impunity in that regard can be tolerated.”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1088 (2020) · source
“We hope that the Conference of the States Parties, which will begin on 30 November in The Hague, will fully draw conclusions from the report. In 2013, the Syrian regime committed to cooperating with the OPCW transparently and in good faith. The least one can say is that it has not kept its word. Seven years after the adoption of resolution 2118 (2013), we still do not know the state of Syria’s chemical stockpiles. Secondly, I would like to recall that the regime’s repeated use of chemical weapons against its own people unfortunately needs no further proof. In April this year, following a rigorous investigation, the OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team issued a damning report, which establishes that chemical-weapon attacks were carried out in Ltamenah in March 2017 by elements of the regime’s air force.”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1088 (2020) · source
“I thank Mrs. Nakamitsu for her briefing. As has been the case every month for far too long, we are once again witnessing a complete lack of cooperation by the Syrian regime. I wish to emphasize three points. First, last July, the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) called on Syria to comply with its obligations and gave it 90 days to remedy the situation. The Director General of the OPCW accordingly sent us a report a few days ago, which takes stock of the implementation of that decision (see S/2020/1033, annex). The report is two pages long and its conclusion is clear: no, and I stress no, progress has been made. That must be a matter of concern to us.”
2020-11-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1088 (2020) · source
“Finally, the Security Council must continue to interact with S/2020/1090 human rights defenders, particularly during its visits on the ground, and call for their protection when they are threatened. Conflicts are also rooted in issues of development and governance, which are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United Nations must adopt an integrated approach, combining security, humanitarian and political actions, that also promotes human rights, sustainable development and the fight against climate change. The Security Council must play its part fully. Let us collectively rise to the challenge.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“The situations on the Council’s agenda serve as a daily reminder. That is why the Council demands respect for international humanitarian law, mandates peacekeeping operations to protect civilians and assists national authorities in strengthening the rule of law, security and justice. We have specific mechanisms for the protection of children, the full participation of women and their protection, the consideration of young people and the fights against poverty and impunity. We must go further to address situations of massive human rights violations. We are in favour of regular briefings by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, just as we are briefed regularly by the High Commissioner for Refugees, for example. We can reinforce synergies with the Human Rights Council while respecting the mandate of each forum.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“Countries in conflict or post-conflict situations are particularly vulnerable. It is therefore indispensable to preserve humanitarian space and to ensure the protection of humanitarian and health workers. Furthermore, pandemics aggravate the deep causes of conflict, in particular by reinforcing inequalities and disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable. Measures taken to stem them can also generate information manipulation and a restriction of public freedoms, thereby undermining confidence in institutions. That is why, as per my third and final point, we must remain vigilant with regard to human rights. Human rights violations, the breakdown of the constitutional order and the exclusion of women and youth can lead to violence, population displacement and the destabilization of States and entire regions. That is nothing new.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“It is time to make our action part of a preventive approach by anticipating in particular the humanitarian consequences of environmental disasters. That is why France would like the Secretary-General to be able to present, every two years, an assessment of the threats to international peace and security posed by climate change. My second point concerns pandemics. The Security Council must anticipate their destabilizing effect more systematically. The role of the Security Council in mitigating the consequences of the coronavirus disease is essential. That is why we firmly support the call of the Secretary-General for an immediate and global ceasefire to facilitate the fight against the pandemic. No effort must be spared to accelerate the implementation of resolution 2532 (2020), which the Council adopted unanimously on 1 July.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“I thank all the briefers for their presentations. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has invited us to examine the contemporary drivers of conflict and insecurity. This is an important debate because while the causes of conflicts evolve, the Charter of the United Nations and the responsibilities of the Council are immutable. It is imperative that the Security Council continuously adapt its actions and tools in order to fulfil its principal responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. I would like to emphasize three points. First, climate change threatens international peace and security. The Council has on many occasions recognized the nefarious effects of climate change in different regions, from the Lake Chad basin to Somalia or Mali, and has called for a better assessment and management of the related risks.”
2020-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1090 (2020) · source
“In particular, we regret that the requests expressed by the overwhelming majority of delegations to reaffirm what is essential, such as the indispensable role of civil society, were dismissed. The eagerness to adopt the draft resolution before the end of this month did not allow us to unite around a consensual text. However, the debate in the Security Council (S/2020/1084) unambiguously confirmed that we have a robust normative framework and that the time has come to implement every one of our resolutions. For all those reasons, France decided to abstain in the voting on this draft resolution.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1076 (2020) · source
“France welcomes the commitment of the Russian Federation to the women and peace and security agenda, as reflected in its organization of the open debate on 29 October (S/2020/1084) and the announcement of its participation in the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, created in 2015. As a long-standing supporter of the women and peace and security agenda and a partner of Russia, France engaged transparently and constructively in the negotiation process on draft resolution S/2020/1054, marking the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). However, the draft resolution put to the vote by Russia does not match the challenges and ambition that are required.”
2020-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1076 (2020) · source
“It has strengthened the integration of gender issues into its humanitarian and development aid in order to provide targeted support to women in conflict and post-conflict situations. France will launch a €120 million fund this year to support women’s organizations, particularly in developing countries. Finally, I would like to recall that France will host, in partnership with Mexico and UN-Women, the Generation Equality Forum in June 2021. On that occasion, a women and peace and security compact will be launched in order to build on existing commitments and raise new funding. France pays tribute to all feminists and human rights defenders around the world and will continue to make the full implementation of the women and peace and security resolutions a major focus of its action in the Security Council.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“Access to sexual and reproductive rights and health care is being hampered, and the coronavirus disease pandemic has exacerbated the difficulties in that respect. We regret the politicization of these issues, which leads to losing sight of the best interests of women and girls. France condemns all sexist, misogynistic or homophobic discourse and supports actions in favour of victims through a significant contribution to the Global Fund for Survivors of Sexual Violence created by Dr. Mukwege and Ms. Murad. The implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) requires an effort on the part of everyone. That is why national action plans are so important, and France is finalizing its third plan.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source
“Although women are often key players in crisis response, they are still insufficiently present in all peace and post-crisis processes. Progress has been made in Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in particular. But negotiators and mediators do not have the place they deserve. Let us be honest. The conditions for this exist; it is simply a matter of making the most of them. That is why France finances training for civilian and military women, in conjunction with the Department of Peace Operations, UN-Women and the International Organization of la Francophonie. At the same time, we must pursue determined action against the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence. The prevention of such violence is not a choice but a requirement. Such violence must be suppressed.”
2020-10-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1084 (2020) · source