YouSaid · the spoken record

O’Neill

lines on the record: 27
first: 2021-10-21
most recent: 2023-10-25
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“That means heeding women peacebuilders’ calls, building new partnerships across traditional divides, silos and geopolitical blocs based on outdated power dynamics and recognizing that the value that can best define how supposedly like-minded we are should be the desire for all people to live in peace with dignity and agency.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I do not like to think how far we could go back in years and continue to find usable material — references to growing threats against women peacebuilders, appeals for more consistent implementation and even specific calls for recognizing and resourcing the leadership of Afghan, Haitian, Israeli, Palestinian, South Sudanese, Sudanese and other women working for peace, including Indigenous women in Canada and around the world. Yet while many of the words we are using could be the same, this moment feels different. It feels especially raw and fearsome, as though so much of the work being done by so many to centre humankind, strengthen institutions and ultimately build peace is increasingly being lost every day. More than ever, the women and peace and security agenda can be pivotal.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Finally, we encourage the continued development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national and regional action plans, together with women peacebuilders, of course. I will now briefly address the Council on behalf of Canada. Perhaps like many others around this table today, when we started preparing our national statement we looked at the one we made last year (see S/PV.9158), the year before (see S/PV.8886) and the years before that. We were struck by how almost all of those texts would be equally relevant today.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“That requires putting victims and survivors at the heart of all efforts. It means ensuring their non-discriminatory and comprehensive access to essential services, including sexual and reproductive health-care services and mental health and psychosocial services, as well as gender-responsive justice. Where national institutions are not able or willing to act against perpetrators, we should deter such crimes with all the tools at our disposal, including by referring matters to the International Criminal Court. The Security Council has shown that it can use targeted sanctions against those who perpetrate or direct sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflict, and we encourage it to take such action.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“That includes strongly condemning gender-based violence that occurs through technology or is amplified by it, as well as any attacks, intimidation, retaliation or reprisals against women peacebuilders and human rights defenders and advocates for gender equality, especially those who cooperate with the United Nations. Member States and the United Nations system must give concrete support to the work of women peacebuilders and human rights defenders and take all necessary steps to prevent attacks and protect those at risk. We must also promote more predictable, sustained and flexible funding for peacebuilding by local and women’s rights organizations and networks. Fourthly, we call for full respect for international law and for preventing and responding to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination, on- and offline.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The United Nations should ensure that women’s participation is a standard requirement in all of the peace processes it supports. Secondly, we must dismantle the patriarchy and oppressive power structures, which stand in the way of progress on gender equality and women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in political and public life. Thirdly, we must create safe, secure and enabling environments—bothon-andoffline—forallpeacebuilders, peacekeepers, human rights and environmental defenders, civil-society leaders, journalists, media workers, advocates for gender equality and others to carry out their essential work.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As agreed, I am pleased to deliver two statements today. The second will be Canada’s, and the first is on behalf of the 67 member States of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, representing all five regional groups of the United Nations and the European Union. We recognize the determination of all women and girls in diverse conditions and situations who are building peace and preventing conflict. We emphasize five points. First, we urge all Member States and the United Nations system to redouble our efforts to protect and promote women’s human rights and ensure their full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and leadership in all aspects of peace and security. We must raise the level of ambition regarding peace processes at all stages, with a target of 50 per cent.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In that spirit, our Department of National Defence undertook an independent assessment of barriers to the meaningful participation of women in the Canadian Armed Forces in peace operations. For that, we used the methodology developed through the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations. Last month, we made the results public. We will keep deepening the work that we are doing within our own institutions, and, having renewed the Elsie Initiative for another five years, we will keep working with partners globally to ensure receptive environments and root out harmful practices and unacceptable behaviours.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We are recommitting to strong and predictable collaboration with civil society and indigenous representatives and to working together to mainstream anti-racist approaches in our work. We are determined to fully honour the empowerment of women peacebuilders in all their diversity, recognizing that support for them and for women’s movements is one of the greatest contributions that we can make to the prevention of violent conflict. We are also committed to working with them and all Member States to prevent and address the attacks and reprisals that they face. (spoke in English) Last year, I told the Security Council that Canada was determined to reflect and proceed with humility, and that we wanted to talk about our successes, but were also resolved to openly share our challenges (see S/PV.8886).”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“But let us also be clear that our primary focus must be on addressing the factors that require them to be resilient in the first place. Canada is proud to work with a wide range of partners around the world to support systemic changes. We are also looking inwards. Like many other countries, Canada is developing its next national action plan. To prepare, our primary civil-society partner, the Women, Peace and Security Network of Canada, sought input from across our country. Among the recommendations, it called on us to focus on the “peace” in women and peace and security and to bring a more feminist lens to the term “security”. (spoke in French) Its calls are relevant to us all in informing our next plan. We are broadening the national focus by addressing a wider range of security issues.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“(spoke in English) Canada is profoundly concerned about the reversal of generational gains in women’s rights, about the Taliban attempting to erase women from public life in Afghanistan — Zahra Nader referred to it this morning as “gender apartheid”; about attacks on often young, peaceful women protesters in Iran and the Sudan; about conflict-related sexual violence in Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar and as part of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine; and about the murders of women climate activists and about the dangerous disinformation campaigns targeting women peacebuilders and human rights defenders. As we reflect in this debate on ways in which women and girls, in all their diversity, are overcoming immense barriers, let us recognize, and thank them for, their resilience.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We will continue to encourage the Security Council to pursue the fight against impunity with all the means at its disposal and to incorporate and apply conflict-related sexual violence as a designation criterion in United Nations sanction regimes. Finally, we commit to providing greater support for women and girls subjected to forced displacement and put at increased risk for violence and discrimination. It is critical that the international community act now to close the gaps between the global commitments set out in the Council’s now 10 resolutions on women and peace and security and their realization. (spoke in French) I will now address the Council on behalf of Canada.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Fifthly, we call on the Security Council to ensure that all peacekeeping operations and special political missions provide, monitor and report on support to women peacebuilders and human rights defenders at risk and fully support and facilitate independent civil society contributions to the work of the Council. Sixthly, we must prevent and respond to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination, such as by ensuring survivors’ access to essential services, including sexual and reproductive health care, and to gender-responsive justice, by holding perpetrators of such acts to account.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Thirdly, we must create a safe and enabling environment for all women peacebuilders, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, journalists and advocates for gender equality to carry out their invaluable work, including by championing their role, amplifying their voices, swiftly and unequivocally condemning attacks, intimidation and reprisals against them and ensuring adequate, predictable, sustained and flexible funding so they can carry out their important work safely and independently. Fourthly, we continue to call on the United Nations itself to champion the important work of women peacebuilders and human rights defenders, as well as advocates for gender equality, to provide all necessary protection and support for those at risk and to establish clear protocols for how all United Nations entities should respond.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Yet women and girls in conflict-affected contexts in particular continue to be excluded from decision-making and targeted with discrimination and violence, including sexual and gender-based violence. Women leaders have made clear what the international community must do. We, as 64 member States, reiterate seven commitments. First, we must protect, respect and promote the autonomy and human rights of all women and girls. Secondly, we must advocate for and support women’s full, equal, effective and meaningful participation and leadership, at all stages and levels and in all political and peace processes, and we reiterate our call on the United Nations to lead by example by making women’s participation in United Nations-led peace processes a requirement.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I am grateful for the invitation to deliver two separate statements today. The second will be on behalf of Canada, and the first will be on behalf of 64 member States of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, an informal network representing all five regional groups of the United Nations and the European Union. In Afghanistan, Haiti, Myanmar, the Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen and many other countries, women and girls are working courageously to build peace and shape their countries’ futures. Amidst a sharp rebound of militarization and misogyny, they are demonstrating, at great risk to their own safety, their determination, resilience and capacities.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Indigenous women and girls in particular, as well as gender and sexually diverse peacebuilders in Canada, continue to face unacceptable barriers to their full and effective participation in all aspects of decision-making. That is something that we are determined to change — once again, always with humility. As civil society and other briefers have said before the Council over the years, women do not need to be given a voice; they have voice; and we must listen to them.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“Such support and engagement with women peacebuilders remains in need of being fully institutionalized within the United Nations system. The achieved gender parity in senior management is a welcome step. However, work remains to be done in transforming norms and requiring real accountability from United Nations global leadership, including from Special Envoys, Special Representatives and Heads of field operations. The crisis in Afghanistan in particular is a litmus test of all of our commitments to implementing resolution 1325 (2000) and the subsequent resolutions on women and peace and security. The meaningful direct inclusion of diverse Afghan women in all political processes is essential. Lastly, indeed in Canada too, the women and peace and security agenda is relevant.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“(spoke in English) Earlier this year, Canada held a special meeting on women and peace and security, bringing together all 10 Ministers whose departments are partners of our national action plan in addition to our Chief of the Defence Staff, and the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Of course, they began by listening to women peacebuilders themselves — youth, indigenous and other leaders in Canada and abroad. A key takeaway was the importance of continuously supporting the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of decision-making related to peace and security and preventing and protecting them from physical and online expressions of misogyny aimed at stopping them from carrying out their essential work.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“In addition to reaching the quantitative targets set out in the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy, more important than statistics, it is a matter of ensuring work space that supports women and eradicates harmful practices and unacceptable behaviours. We thank Australia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom for their financial contribution. We also thank Jordan, Liberia, Mexico, the Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo for the leadership that they have demonstrated as the first Member States to implement activities under the aegis of the Elsie Fund.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“We want to talk about our successes but are also resolved to share openly our challenges, recognizing that we all have much to learn on this journey to true gender equality. A major issue that has come into focus for Canadians this year is sexual misconduct in our own armed forces. No service and no level has been immune, including some of our most senior leaders. We know that in order to address the issue meaningfully, as we are determined to do, we must examine every aspect of organizational culture. We also know that, in that challenge, we are not alone. (spoke in French) It is one of the many reasons for which we are proud to have spearheaded the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“Lastly, the Group calls for increased, predictable, sustained and flexible funding for local and grass-roots women’s organizations and networks. As highlighted in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2021/827), there is a concerning lack of support for local women- led organizations and women leaders in fragile and conflict-affected countries, especially as compared to the upward trajectory of military spending globally. It is critical that the international community act now to close the gaps between commitments to women and peace and security and their realization. I thank you, Sir, for allowing me now to briefly address the Council on behalf of Canada. More than ever, Canada is determined to reflect on the past year and proceed with humility.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“Secondly, the Group expresses its deep concern that women peacebuilders, human rights defenders and advocates for gender equality and their family members continue to face intimidation, threats and violence. We are appalled that some who have briefed the Council have faced reprisals for doing so. As set out in resolution 2493 (2019), Member States must both unequivocally condemn and decisively address threats, harassment and violence against women peacebuilders and human rights defenders. We also urge all Member States, including Council members, to create a safe and enabling environment for all who protect and promote human rights and gender equality, fulfil their obligations to protect them and hold perpetrators accountable. We must recommit to comprehensive prevention and responses to sexual and gender-based violence.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“We encourage regional and subregional organizations to redouble their efforts in fully implementing this agenda. We also encourage further progress on steps taken by the United Nations under the Secretary- General’s leadership to integrate women’s perspectives in peace processes; integrate women’s participation as negotiators; integrate women’s participation as mediators in mediation support teams and in other leadership positions in peace and security; address barriers for, and increase the meaningful participation of, uniformed women in United Nations peace operations; and engage with local women peacebuilders to implement United Nations peace efforts.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“We unequivocally reject any violation or limitation of their rights. We urge all parties, in particular the Taliban, to prioritize women and girls’ rights and their full, equal and meaningful participation in all decisions on Afghanistan’s future. We also underscore the need to take all appropriate measures to immediately ensure women’s and girls’ safe and equitable access to education, given the vital role that education plays in reducing gender inequality and building sustainable peace. We call on the Security Council to systematically include women in all its discussions and urge the Council to fully integrate women and peace and security commitments into all of its work and outcomes, including on country-specific situations and mission mandates.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“There has been progress over 21 years, but it has been too little, including in political, security and peace processes supported by the United Nations itself. The Group of Friends strongly calls for all United Nations-supported peace processes to require and ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation. That must be made a priority. It is imperative that women participate in decisions that affect their lives. Women cannot participate if they are not safe. The prevention of, and the protection from, violence against women and girls, including by addressing gender inequality, cannot continue to be ignored. The Group expresses its unshakable solidarity with Afghan women and girls, who face the prospect of losing the gains for which they fought so hard for more than 20 years.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“I am grateful to deliver two statements today, the second of which will be on behalf of Canada. But first, I will speak on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security, an informal network of 65 Member States representing all five regional groups of the United Nations and the European Union. We commend Kenya for its efforts to return to the more open and inclusive format that characterized open debates prior to the pandemic. Today the Group would like to emphasize three main points. First, we call for urgent action to implement commitments to protect the full scope of women and girls’ human rights and to achieve women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all political, peace and security decision-making processes.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source