YouSaid · the spoken record

Otunnu

lines on the record: 204
first: 1998-06-29
most recent: 2005-02-23
sittings or episodes: 17
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

“And that will have implications in terms of the resources that they will mobilize in the way in which they usually mobilize resources for programmes of this nature. All of the other points are well noted; I shall take up some of them bilaterally, especially the exceedingly important critique provided by the delegation of India, reiterating points that they have previously made. We are having an ongoing bilateral dialogue on those very important points. Finally, we are very grateful to you, Mr. President, for sending the clearest possible signal that our children matter and their protection matters because the future of our societies matters. I also thank the Ministers from France, Japan and Tanzania, who came from their capitals to be here today to lend their support and influence to this project.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129Resumption1 (2005) · source
“The mechanism being proposed for monitoring and reporting - and this is stated explicitly in the report - does not envisage the creation of a new entity or structure within the United Nations. Rather, it calls for the streamlining, the coordination, of the existing actors and existing structures, both on the ground and at the Headquarters level. Secondly, in connection with resources, particularly at the ground level if the operational actors - such as UNICEF, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and non-governmental organizations - are to perform well the roles envisaged in this mechanism, they will need to strengthen their capacities, such as staff; for example, they will need to provide better and more targeted training.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Together, these form a comprehensive approach that should lead to the modification of the conduct of parties on the ground. Civil society and non-governmental organizations - both local, based within the countries and communities concerned, and international - have crucial roles to play in this exercise. Indeed, that is laid out in great detail in paragraphs 136 and 137 of the report. I should now like to say one word about whether or not we are talking about situations beyond the context of conflict: no. Some of the abuses described in this report may be reproduced; they may be perpetrated in situations other than conflict situations. But this mandate, this exercise, is strictly about Violations that are taking place in the context of conflict. Finally, a word about the issue of resources.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129Resumption1 (2005) · source
“With regard to what kinds of measures should be taken, again, it is important to emphasize that there is a wide range of measures to be brought to bear on parties to conflict so that they modify their conduct relative to the protection of children. Those measures include public opinion, both local and international; and juridical measures and juridical accountability before national courts and before the International Criminal Court. They certainly include diplomatic and political pressure, both local and international. And, as an extreme measure - because we are now dealing with extreme situations - there should also be targeted sanctions. However, sanctions are not to be applied exclusively, but in addition to other measures.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Regarding dialogue with parties in conflict, again, let me clarify that this dialogue is solely for the purpose of ensuring protection of and access to vulnerable children. It should be done in complete transparency, with the knowledge and cooperation of local authorities, and it should not in any way compromise the framework of peace processes and negotiations; it should fall within that framework. We are interested in the monitoring exercise not simply in terms of what has gone wrong - the bad news, the grave violations. As you see in the Secretary- General's report, we are equally interested in what is going right. In fact, the ultimate goal is to ensure that in every situation remedial measures are taken by the parties in conflict working in collaboration with United Nations agencies and local civil society to remedy the situations.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129Resumption1 (2005) · source
“Mr. Otunnu: The day has been long and full and I shall not detain the Council for much longer. My comments will be very telegraphic. The critiques, insights and observations made by members of the Council and other delegates have all been noted. I only wish to clarify a few areas of common concern. With regard to the role of Governments, let me state as clearly as I possibly can that the primary responsibility for protecting children lies with the national authorities, and that the role of United Nations agencies and other international actors should supplement those efforts, not supplant them. In situations where, because of the protracted experience of war, national institutions have been weakened, the rejuvenation of those institutions should be a priority for all international partners.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129Resumption1 (2005) · source
“As we debate here, I can hear Bob Marley challenging us, singing: "Hear the children cryin' From Beslan to Bar-Lonyo to Bunia And so we tell them: 'No, Children, no cry Don't worry about a thing, 'Cause everything gonna be all right.' "Hear the children cryin' From Mazar-i-Sharif to Jumla to Darfur, Won't you help sing 'Cause all they ever asked: Redemption Songs. Redemption Songs. "Rising up this mornin', I saw three little birds Pitch by the doorstep of the Council Singin' sweet songs Of melodies pure and true, Sayin', 'This is our message to you.' "Hear the children cryin' From Apartado, to Malisevo, to the Vanni But I know they cry not in vain Now the times are changin' Love has come to bloom again." And so, the children are waiting. They are waiting for the Redemption Songs from this Council. I know you will not let them down.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“This is nothing short of a process of self-destruction, consuming the very children who assure the renewal and future of all our societies. How can we allow this? Unlike the onslaught of the tsunami yesterday, we can do something today to bring to an end this human-made horror, the horror of war being waged against women and children. In conclusion, as we deliberate today on what measures to take for the protection of children, I return to Bob Marley, whose life and music is being celebrated worldwide this month. I return to his prophetic voice, to his spiritual rendition of the themes of suffering and redemption for those who are vulnerable and abused.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“In this, the Security Council has to lead the way, as the most important "destination for action", because of its primary responsibility for peace and security. The time has come for the international community to redirect its energies from the normative task of the elaboration of standards to the compliance mission of ensuring their application on the ground. Today, as never before, we have the necessary means - normative, juridical, institutional, and political - to realize the "era of application" for the protection of children exposed to armed conflict. When the tsunami tragedy struck in Asia, we felt almost entirely helpless in the face of a mighty fury unleashed by the force of nature. Alas, what is recorded in this report before the Council is a human- made catastrophe.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“The idea of drawing up lists of offending parties is, above all, about ensuring accountability. For a party to be listed, therefore, it should be a specific, identifiable and identified entity; it is not sufficient to refer to a broad or non-specific category of actors. The mention, review or discussion of any particular situation in the monitoring reports should not be construed as a legal determination that there exists a situation of armed conflict within the context of the Geneva Conventions and its Additional Protocols. Our approach has been to focus on ensuring broad and effective protection for children exposed to situations of concern. A monitoring and reporting mechanism is of limited value unless it leads to action - unless the information compiled can serve as a trigger for action.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“The purpose of the lists is to identify particular parties to conflict, whether Governments or insurgents, that are responsible for specific grave violations against children. In this respect, the names of countries are referred to only in order to indicate the locations or situations where offending parties are committing the grave violations in question. The monitoring lists name all offending parties, while preserving a clear distinction between parties in situations on the agenda of the Security Council and parties in situations not on the agenda of the Council and other situations of concern. Concrete and targeted measures should aim to bring an end to all grave violations by all listed parties, while preserving the aforementioned distinction.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“It identifies the key bodies that constitute "destinations for action", those responsible for taking concrete measures in response to these grave violations against children, with the Security Council at the forefront. As we move to put in place a compliance and enforcement regime, it is important to underscore a few pertinent issues. It is crucial to engage in protection dialogue with all parties whose actions have a significant impact on children, without any implications as to their political or juridical status. The only purpose for such dialogue is to ensure protection for and access to vulnerable children. It should be stressed that the accountability lists do not name States or countries as such.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“The report before the Council sets out a concrete plan of action for establishing a comprehensive, from- the-ground-up monitoring, reporting and compliance mechanism to provide for the gathering of objective, specific, reliable and timely information - the "who, where and what" - on grave violations being committed against children in situations of conflict. In turn, that information should lead to action and accountability. The plan identifies the grave violations that should be particularly monitored. It sets out instruments and standards that should constitute the basis for monitoring - the yardsticks for judging the conduct of parties to conflict.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“What are the reasons for the prevalence and level of abuse? What issues must be addressed concerning institutional capacities, the enforcement of existing standards, the investigation of allegations and the multiplicity of jurisdictions? In order to mount a truly comprehensive and effective response, we need to receive solid answers drawn from an across-the-board review. That must necessarily involve the United Nations Secretariat working hand in hand with countries that contribute military and police peacekeepers. Together, we must move - without any compromise or complacency - to punish the offenders and to root out this practice from all United Nations field presences.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“United Nations peacekeepers are warmly welcomed into war-torn communities because they are viewed as a God-sent presence to end impunity and to restore protection and respect for vulnerable and long-suffering populations. I pay tribute to the vast majority of peacekeepers who have carried out their mission with honour and dedication. But the notion that some peacekeepers would use their position to prey on local children and women in this way is a particularly shocking and unacceptable betrayal of trust. I commend my colleague from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guehenno, for his swift and transparent response to these developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is important that we get to the bottom of this issue through a fundamental and comprehensive review. What is the scope of this problem?”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“While I welcome that message from the LTTE, I call on its leadership to embark immediately upon tangible actions leading to a time-bound action plan to end, once and for all, the practices of recruiting, abducting and using children as soldiers. And I urge all other parties named in the report to take immediate concrete steps to demonstrate their commitment to ending their grave violations against children. I am very sad to report that one of the most disturbing developments in the reporting period has been the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel, both civilian and military, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“The purpose of the compliance and enforcement regime is to ensure that the offending parties take heed and that the necessary actions are undertaken to end the violations for which those parties have been named. In that connection, I should like to report that yesterday, I received a letter from Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan, head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of Sri Lanka - a party named in this year's report - taking note of their inclusion on the lists and expressing their readiness to enter into dialogue using the framework of the monitoring and reporting mechanism.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“In the light of the facts, the lists and the trends towards impunity recorded in the three consecutive reports, I would propose and urge that the Council undertake a four-pronged response to end impunity: first, decide to impose concrete and targeted sanctions measures against the offending parties named in the monitoring lists; secondly, constitute a committee of the Council to review and monitor the imposition of specific sanctions measures for the protection of children exposed to conflict; thirdly, demand that the parties on the monitoring lists, working in collaboration with the United Nations field representatives, prepare within six months time-bound action plans to end the grave violations for which they have been named; and fourthly, endorse the monitoring and reporting mechanism with a View to putting it into operation expeditiously.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“The targeted measures should include the imposition of travel restrictions on leaders and their exclusion from any governance structures and amnesty provisions, the imposition of arms embargoes, a ban on military assistance and restriction on the flow of financial resources to the parties concerned.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“Compared with the lists in the last report (S/2003/1053 and Corr.l and 2), which was discussed by the Council in January 2004, eight parties have been dropped from the lists because of change of conduct; six offending parties have been added to the lists this year, mainly because of improved information- gathering; and a few parties have been dropped from the lists for lack of verifiable information. This is the third report received by the Council that systematically documents grave abuses and lists offending parties. The Council has already, on previous occasions, expressed its intention to take concrete and targeted measures against those parties. It is most important that the Council make good on its promise on this occasion; the credibility of this exercise depends on that.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“Against that background, the present report has reviewed developments in 17 situations of concern, recording systematically the following five grave violations: the killing or maiming of children, the recruitment or use of child soldiers, attacks against schools or hospitals, rape and other grave sexual violence committed against children, and the abduction of children. Altogether, 54 offending parties have been specifically named and listed; they are drawn from 11 situations of concern. All 54 offending parties are responsible for the recruitment and use of child soldiers. In addition, many of them are responsible for committing other grave abuses, as recorded in the lists.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“Abductions are becoming widespread and brazen, as we have witnessed, for example, in northern Uganda, Nepal and Burundi. Since 2003, more than 11 million children have been displaced within their own countries and some 2.5 million children have been forced to flee their own countries and to become refugees because of conflict. Approximately 800 to 1,000 children are killed or maimed by landmines every month. As the horror of Beslan and other incidents have demonstrated, schools are increasingly being targeted for atrocities and abductions.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“I am pleased to report that the overall situation for children has improved considerably in some situations. Those include Afghanistan, Angola, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Timor- Leste. Clearly a great deal has been achieved in the space of a few years, most of it with the Security Council at the forefront. But much more remains to be done, because far too many children continue to be brutalized in situations of conflict. Consider the following. Although the overall figure has decreased in the past few years, more than a quarter of a million children continue to be exploited as child soldiers, used variously as combatants, porters, spies and sex slaves. Tens of thousands of girls are being subjected to rape and to other forms of sexual violence, sometimes as a deliberate tool of warfare.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“Those gains include: greatly increased global awareness of and advocacy for child protection; an impressive and comprehensive international body of protection instruments and norms; the protection of war-affected children being firmly placed on the international peace and security agenda; the protection and well-being of children being increasingly reflected in the mandates, training and reports of peacekeeping missions, as well as in the deployment of child protection advisers; children's concerns being incorporated in peace negotiations, peace accords and post-conflict programmes for rehabilitation and rebuilding; and the mainstreaming of this issue taking hold in several institutions and mechanisms, within and outside the United Nations.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“Members of the Council will see that specific, concrete and practical features of the compliance and enforcement regime have been laid out in the report. I draw attention in particular to three features of the report, which together comprise the key components of the compliance and enforcement regime: review of the conduct of parties to conflict, resulting in the systematic naming and listing of offending parties; ensuring accountability for offending parties, particularly through the imposition of concrete and targeted measures; and the establishment of a monitoring and reporting mechanism. The efforts deployed over the last several years have yielded significant advances and created strong momentum for the protection of conflict-affected children.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“But the most important constraint has been the absence of an organized and functioning mechanism for monitoring and reporting at the country level. The Council has before it a report of great consequence. The report is about instituting a serious, formal and structured compliance and enforcement regime to ensure the protection of children who are at present being brutalized in many situations of conflict. The report brings together all the necessary components for the establishment of such a regime. This marks a turning point in our collective campaign for the "era of application": for transforming protective standards into compliance and condemnation into accountability. This is the culmination of several years of a block-by-block building process.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“I wish to express particular appreciation to Carol Bellamy and all our other colleagues from the United Nations Children's Fund, represented here today by Rima Salah. I am pleased to report that, since the adoption of resolution 1539 (2004) last year, the heads of United Nations field teams have become fully seized of their responsibility for follow-up, monitoring of progress and coordination of response on this issue. As a result, the United Nations field teams have been the primary sources of the information contained in the present report. The United Nations field representatives have informed us of the various constraints they have encountered in fulfilling that responsibility. They include security problems, lack of access and non- cooperation of parties.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“I am very grateful to Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere and the rest of the French delegation for their continued stewardship of this issue in the Council. I thank them for their steadfast commitment. On this occasion, I wish to pay a special tribute to a pioneering leader who is not in our midst today. I refer to Ms. Graca Machel, whose seminal and compelling report, issued in 1996 (A/51/306), laid the foundation upon which we have been building over these years. We have come this far in the development of this important agenda because of the important collaboration and contribution of many stakeholders: delegations, United Nations partners, regional organizations and the community of non-governmental organizations.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“Mr. Otunnu: I thank you, Mr. Minister, for convening this meeting of the Security Council, a meeting devoted to taking action to ensure the protection of children exposed to armed conflict. I have had the opportunity to witness - particularly in the context of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), here at the United Nations and at the African Union - the concern of the Government of Benin and your personal leadership on this issue. Your presence here today testifies to that engagement and leadership. We are grateful. I warmly welcome in our midst Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children of Tanzania. We are delighted that she is here with us today.”
2005-02-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5129 (2005) · source
“President, and the Foreign Minister for taking the time to be with us personally today to underscore the importance that she and Chile attach to this issue. I also thank the delegation of France, which has taken the leadership in the past several years in shaping and guiding this issue within the Security Council. We appreciate that leadership enormously. Again, I thank the Council warmly.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“The Office of the Special Representative, in fact, has no presence on the ground, so we rely entirely on United Nations agencies on the ground and non- governmental organizations to provide us with information, on the basis of which we then convene a group here in New York, which has within it all United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, to vet in the most thorough way possible all the information in order to agree on a list to submit it to the Secretary-General, who in turn submits to the Security Council. And that is the same criterion we use for all situations. So Ijust wanted to clarify that; I do not want to embark on a response to the polemic. Finally, I should like very much to thank you, Mr.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“I know the Council has enough wars on its hands, so I want to assure members that I am not to embark on a response to that statement. I think the last thing the Council wants is to add another civil war, between the Ugandan delegation and Olara Otunnu, to its list of conflicts to handle. I do not believe it appropriate to do that here. Rather, I invite the delegation of Uganda to join all of us - rather than fighting each other - in ensuring that we can salvage the children of northern Uganda, who are condemned to abominable conditions of human rights abuses and neglect. With regard to the lists, I should like to say that one can question what kinds of lists we might have, but I think it is very difficult to question the criteria, the vetting system and the method we use in producing the lists.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“First, I should like to thank very much the delegation of India for a very systematic, carefully constructed and serious critique of this agenda and the response of the United Nations system to the use of children in armed conflict. I may not agree with all the views expressed, but I appreciate the seriousness with which that critique has been put forward. This is not the moment to engage in dialogue, but I promise, following this, to engage in bilateral dialogue with the delegation to discuss some of those issues. The second delegation that I would like to refer to by name is the delegation of Uganda. I listened with much interest and with deep sadness to the polemic by the representative of Uganda, directed at a particular individual.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“Fourthly, it is crucial that the Council should underscore the important role of the United Nations presence on the ground in relation to monitoring and reporting and the era of application. United Nations peace missions, as well as United Nations country teams and, of course, the non-governmental organizations - we rely on them to gather information on the basis of which we then compile reports to the Council for action. And in that connection, I would like to say that beyond the Security Council, there are other centres of action - the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the International Criminal Court, the Commission on Human Rights. They, too, should become engaged in the campaign for the era of application within their own areas of competence. I should just like to refer briefly to two comments by two delegations.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“Again, I take note of the fact that there is unanimous support for establishing a monitoring and reporting system. The Secretary- General's report outlines most of the elements: the instruments and standards, what kinds of violations might be monitored and what actors within the United Nations system might participate in such a monitoring exercise - and there are other actors outside: non- governmental and regional organizations. What we now require is to deepen and intensify consultations, discussions, about how the contributions of these various stakeholders - the gathering and flow of information, the added value of various contributions- how all these elements can be coordinated, integrated and become an effective system.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“Otherwise, I fear that the credibility of this agenda - the credibility of our collective efforts to protect war-affected children - as well as the credibility of the Council, might suffer as a consequence. My second point concerns my satisfaction in hearing so many delegations underscore the fact that there are other grave violations of the rights of children beyond child-soldiering; that all these child victims of armed conflict deserve the attention, support and protection of the Council; and that in any monitoring exercise we should keep most of these grave violations in View in terms of action and compliance. I express great satisfaction in hearing that. The third point I would like to make concerns monitoring and reporting.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“If it should prove impossible on this occasion for the Council to act, then it would be exceedingly important that a clear signal go forth from the Council that this is not a pro forma postponement but that it is part of very graduated measures the Council proposes to take. In that context, I think it would be very important that the Council ask parties to conflicts to prepare in collaboration with United Nations country teams - the United Nations country presence on the ground - specific action plans indicating how and within what time frame they propose to end the recruitment and use of children as child soldiers, to give a time frame that would suggest a sense of urgency on this issue and to come back to the Council within a reasonable period of time with updated information.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“Mr. Otunnu: I have listened very attentively to all the comments, critiques and suggestions. We shall follow up on all these in the coming months, and we shall stay in touch with both the Council and delegations that are not on the Council. Let me very briefly touch on a couple of things. First, as the Council begins to discuss a resolution on this issue, our clear preference and hope is that this would be the occasion for the Council to act, and to act in terms of the targeted measures that are outlined in the Secretary-General's report (S/2003/1053) - targeted measures which would attach to the leadership of fighting entities and measures which would attach to organizations involved in fighting.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898Resumption1 (2004) · source
“Since I will be circulating the full text of my remarks, I wish to conclude by saying that I know that the Security Council must always take into account and balance various important factors before taking any action, but I hope that, at this watershed moment, the best interests of children - our children - will trump all other considerations. On them, after all, depend the prospects for future peace and progress in all our societies.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“In the same spirit, I believe that we should support local communities in their efforts to reclaim and strengthen indigenous cultural norms that have traditionally provided for the protection of children and women in times of war. The ending of armed conflicts is the beginning of salvation for war-affected children everywhere. That is why greater and more concerted efforts should be deployed to end ongoing conflicts and address the key factors that facilitate the occurrence and recurrence of conflicts. That is also why we should, on this occasion, particularly rejoice with the children of Burundi, Liberia, Sri Lanka and Sudan, for whom the prospects of peace at last - definitive peace - bring unbelievable relief.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“In this connection, I particularly welcome the recent adoption of guidelines on children in armed conflict by the European Union and the adoption by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of a peer review framework on the protection of children. In order to build a viable regime of protection on the ground, international actors need to support and reinforce local efforts. In particular, we need to do much more to strengthen the capacities of defenders of children who are labouring at the very front line of this struggle: national institutions and local and subregional civil society networks for advocacy, protection and rehabilitation.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“The time has come for United Nations agencies and their governing bodies, where appropriate, to translate their commitment to this agenda into concrete and systematic mainstreaming projects within their respective institutions. This should be measured in terms of priority setting, resource allocation and programming for the benefit of children affected by armed conflict. We must ensure, after the progress that has been made, that from now on the protection and rehabilitation of children are systematically incorporated into all stages of peace processes. Regional and subregional organizations have a significant contribution to make to the realization of an era of application. The United Nations should encourage and cooperate with those organizations in their efforts to strengthen their advocacy and programme activities.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“Much effort is being deployed to develop United Nations response and innovations on the ground. I have to emphasize that effective response also requires increased political and material support for field programmes. I should like to pay special tribute to United Nations field teams and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for their indispensable contribution. In this connection, the leadership of my good colleague Carol Bellamy and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and that of Jean-Marie Guehenno and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) have been especially invaluable. United Nations agencies must assume particular responsibility for mainstreaming this issue.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“In this regard, the Security Council must lead the way. It is the most important destination for action because of its primary responsibility for peace and security. After careful monitoring, compilation and vetting, the Secretary-General has presented to the Council comprehensive and universal lists of parties to conflicts that continue to recruit and exploit children as child soldiers. Annex I of the Secretary-General's report names some 32 parties in six situations on the agenda of the Council, while annex II lists 22 parties in nine situations that are not on the Council's agenda. You now have before you, Madam President, the information necessary for action. At this watershed moment, I urge you to respond to the lists with concrete action, action commensurate with the gravity and scope of the violations in question.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“Of particular importance is the need to establish a systematic and coordinated monitoring and reporting mechanism. This is indispensable. The Secretary- General's report before you (S/2003/1053) puts forth a set of proposals designed to serve as a basis for broad consultations on this issue among all stakeholders. The impact of armed conflict on children takes grave and multiple forms. Children are killed, maimed, raped, abducted, denied humanitarian access, robbed of their birthright through the plunder of natural resources and used as child soldiers. All these children are victims of armed conflict. All these children look to the Security Council for protection. A monitoring and reporting mechanism is of little value unless it leads to action, unless the information compiled can serve as triggers for action.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“Sadly, in spite of these advances, I have to report that on the ground the general situation for children remains grave and unacceptable. Parties to conflicts continue to violate with impunity the rights of children. This is a cruel dichotomy, and herein lies the imperative for the era of application: a purposeful and concerted response. Today the international community possesses, as never before, the means and collective influence to ensure compliance and protection. The challenge is that of will and choice. The Security Council must lead the way in taking measures that will create a critical mass, measures that are capable of making the era of application a reality for children exposed to war. I should like to use this occasion to highlight several preoccupations for your consideration and action.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“Mr. Otunnu: Madam President, thank you for being here today and for presiding personally over this meeting of the Security Council. We appreciate enormously your personal commitment and the leadership of the delegation of Chile, which has been demonstrated within the United Nations and within the Organization of American States, and by you personally in the context of the Human Security Network. I thank you for being here today. The struggle to ensure the protection, rights and well-being of children exposed to armed conflict has reached a watershed moment. A few years ago, the Security Council placed this issue on its agenda. We have come a long way since then. The developments, most of them in the realms of advocacy, development of standards and innovative initiatives, represent significant and concrete progress.”
2004-01-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4898 (2004) · source
“Mr. Otunnu: I have taken very careful note of the extremely important comments and critiques made by members of the Security Council and other Members of the United Nations. I shall be in continuing dialogue with them, and I shall do everything possible to act on the suggestions and proposals which have been made. At this late hour, I do not intend to respond or to elaborate on any specific suggestion or proposal. Thank you very much, Sir, for your interest and engagement and the commitment of the Security Council.”
2003-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4684Resumption1 (2003) · source
“No efforts should be spared to preserve unity and peace in that country, to ensure the protection of children and to prevent their engagement in the conflict. Much has been put in place by the Security Council. Now everything must be done to translate those principles, norms and measures into a protective reality for millions of children who are exposed to war. I am eager to work closely with the Council to fulfil its promise to those children.”
2003-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4684 (2003) · source
“In this context, I call on the Israeli authorities to abide fully by their international human rights and humanitarian legal obligations concerning the protection, the rights and the well-being of Palestinian children. The use of suicide bombing is entirely unacceptable. Nothing can justify it. We have witnessed child victims at both ends of these acts: children have been used as suicide bombers, and children have been killed by suicide bombings. I call on the Palestinian authorities to do everything within their power to stop all participation by children in this conflict. I am deeply concerned about the tragic turn of events in Cote d'Ivoire, a country which for so long exemplified peace, prosperity and solidarity in Africa. This has been broken by the drums of war, which are now beginning to reach the children.”
2003-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4684 (2003) · source