YouSaid · the spoken record

Paet

lines on the record: 41
first: 2014-02-12
most recent: 2014-10-28
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“In View of the upcoming twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, we will be even more engaged in our activities on the advancement of women's rights and gender equality. We are convinced that the aims of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action are still very much relevant and should be integrated in the new post-2015 agenda. Since the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), remarkable achievements have been made at the normative level, and the international community has come a long way since the year 2000. However, challenges remain at the level of implementation. We look forward to the global review next year and hope it will advance the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the follow-up resolutions.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“As to the elimination of conflict- related sexual violence, I am glad to say that Estonia has also been providing financial support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, and we will continue to do so. Latvia has been focusing on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) primarily through its development cooperation policy and, in close cooperation with civil society organizations, has engaged in projects aimed at the advancement of women's rights in different parts of the world, especially Central Asia. Over the years, both Estonia and Latvia have actively promoted women's rights and gender equality at the international level.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“Protecting and promoting the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls is one ofthe principal priorities of the humanitarian aid and development cooperation policies of Estonia and Latvia. We have supported the alleviation of the humanitarian situation of refugees and internally displaced persons, primarily women and children, in many conflict zones. For example, Estonia supports the activities aimed at improving the quality of women's health-related education in Afghanistan, raising knowledge about reproductive health in Kyrgyzstan and ending child marriage in Yemen.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“Best practices described in the Secretary-General's report (S/2014/693) should be more widely used to avoid any recurrence of such situations. It is self-evident that women's empowerment is crucial for long-lasting peace and stability. The participation of women and women's organizations in policymaking and in post-conflict reconstruction must be ensured from the outset and throughout the process. Similarly, it is necessary to support post-conflict countries in the rebuilding ofjudicial systems in order to ensure the rule of law and the protection of human rights. Next year we will mark the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000). Estonia has included the protection of women in national strategies on conflict prevention and has adopted a national action plan to implement the resolution.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“The International Criminal Court therefore has an important role to play when States lack the capacity or political will to hold perpetrators to account. Estonia and Latvia are supporting victims of gender-based and sexual violence in countries affected by armed conflict through the Trust Fund for Victims set up by the International Criminal Court. Unfortunately, even in the United Nations own peacekeeping missions, sexual violence has been an issue. We must continue our efforts to provide training to and raise awareness in all peacekeeping missions and prioritize the fight against sexual violence when planning missions. Despite the progress achieved, continued cases of sexual exploitation threaten the credibility of the international peacekeeping system and individual missions. Those cases may also discourage victims from coming forward.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“We must take resolute steps to prevent situations where women seeking refuge from war and conflict have to face new threats and fear in the camps instead. Ensuring accountability for the perpetrators of sexual violence crimes is crucial to deterring and ultimately eliminating sexual Violence. It is equally important for providing justice to victims of those crimes. As strong supporters of the 2013 Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, Estonia and Latvia will focus on the practical implementation of the commitments to end the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war. Sexual and gender-based violence as a war crime or crime against humanity has been prosecuted primarily at the international level.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“The situation of refugee and internally displaced women and girls is often complicated by restricted access to resources and inequitable access to services such as education and health, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and to training and livelihoods initiatives. Improving the educational level of women and girls is crucial for their political and economic empowerment. Education is necessary for preventing the abuse of women and girls' vulnerable situation as refugees or displaced persons and for helping them to adjust to life after conflict and integrating them into their host society if they do not have the option to return to their home country. Currently, only 12 per cent of girl refugees attend secondary school. It is highly regrettable that sexual violence also occurs in refugee camps.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“More than half of the registered internally displaced population in Ukraine - 66 per cent 4 are women, and 31 per cent are children. We welcome the steps taken by the Ukrainian Government to address the internally displaced persons (IDPs) situation. While many IDPs have been able to return to their homes in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, encouraged by the ceasefire, the overall situation of IDPs in Ukraine requires a long-term solution for their economic and social integration in host communities or successful return home. It is a duty of the international community, and especially of the Security Council, to work towards resolving conflicts and to lessen human suffering. Unfortunately, women and girls make up about half of any refugee or internally displaced population. Therefore, we must pay special attention to their needs.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“In Iraq, the terrorist movement called the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant has conducted the abduction, enslavement, rape, forced marriage and sale into slavery of several thousand Yazidi and other minority women and girls. In Nigeria, another extremist movement, Boko Haram, abducted schoolgirls and has been holding them captive for over six months now. The international community must resolutely oppose such barbarity. Those are only a few examples. Sadly, the list is longer. Many protracted conflicts that deeply affect women and girls - in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo - remain unresolved. Unfortunately, this year we have also witnessed a military conflict in Europe, which has caused suffering to the people of Ukraine.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“Therefore, we would like to thank Argentina for choosing this relevant theme for today's debate. The forced displacement of women and girls is not only a humanitarian issue, but a long-term development issue, a human rights issue, a peace and security issue and a key challenge for the women and peace and security agenda. It is paramount that we tackle the discrimination, human rights abuses and obstacles to justice that refugee and internally displaced women and girls are facing every day. Throughout this year, women and children, particularly girls, have been affected by newly emerging forms of violence and conflicts associated with the proliferation of militias and armed groups linked to violent extremism.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Estonia and Latvia. I thank all the briefers for their statements today and welcome the adoption of the presidential statement (S/PRST/2014/21). Estonia and Latvia align themselves with the statement to be delivered by the observer of the European Union. As highlighted in the concept note prepared by the delegation of Argentina (S/2014/ 731, annex), throughout the development of the normative framework of the women and peace and security agenda, namely, in a number of Security Council resolutions on the subject, the particular risks faced by women and girl refugees and internally displaced persons has been addressed. Despite that, the issue has been more in the background than the specific focus of earlier Security Council open debates.”
2014-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7289 (2014) · source
“Estonia, as one of the sponsors of today's resolution 2178 (2014) on foreign terrorist fighters, therefore fully supports its adoption and swift implementation. It is crucial that all nations and relevant international organizations provide the resources and mechanisms needed to implement these measures. Estonia is fully committed to that effort. We must tackle terrorism and violent extremism as quickly as we can and wherever it emerges in order to prevent it spreading further.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“We must identify and sanction individuals and groups who sponsor terrorism or facilitate and finance the recruitment of foreign fighters. Another important path to reducing the threat of terrorism is to address the conditions conducive to its spread. That can range from strengthening legal systems to reducing poverty and tackling the development-security nexus. We can combat terrorism more effectively by approaching it horizontally, as a cross-cutting issue. We commend the manner in which United Nations and European Union counter-terrorism strategies are advancing this approach. The outcome of our discussion today should enable Member States to address this growing threat within the context of respect for international law and human rights.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“They pose a real threat, not only where they are fighting but also after they return home to their countries of origin. The problem's repercussions are also visible in the Sahel region. Whatever its form or manifestation, no act of terrorism, regardless of its motivation, can be justified. Terrorism demands a global response. Only intensive, close and well-coordinated cooperation between nations and international organizations can produce results. There are many different ways to fight it. Direct action must be taken against terrorists' safe havens, and it can include military strikes, as the recent actions against ISIL have shown. Fighters must be prevented from travelling to and from such havens. Globally, we must block the financing of terrorism and close all their channels of support.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“I would like to thank the United States presidency and President Obama for their initiative in convening this meeting to address terrorism's threat to international peace and security, with particular focus on foreign terrorist fighters. Like many nations, Estonia is gravely concerned about the recent wave of aggressive terrorism and violent extremism, which crosses State boundaries and poses a threat to countries far from conflict zones. Today's discussion at the highest political level here in the Security Council is therefore most timely. We should agree on further ways and means of cooperating in fighting the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. The appalling wave of violence we are seeing from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Nusra Front is being supported by an influx of radicalized foreign fighters.”
2014-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7272 (2014) · source
“But at the same time, there is no real alternative to increasing the local, national and regional comprehensive approach to tackling protracted and violent crises. We stand ready to contribute and assist. The more we invest in prevention, the less we will have to deal with consequences. But prevention can be successful only if we strive for it together. I am convinced that we will be successful in that endeavour. We shall commit ourselves here today to act together for a better, safer and more prosperous future for our children.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“One effective measure of prevention, among others, is the general understanding that perpetrators must be held accountable. Atrocity crimes have no justification, and those who commit them must be brought before to justice and subjected to trial. Therefore, we must all treat the international tribunals and the International Criminal Court with respect and dignity and help and support them in carrying out their tasks. Otherwise, we will lose an important element of international justice and law, and already complicated peace efforts will become even more complicated. To conclude, allow me to stress that these issues should be brought to wider international attention. We should ask for more international reaction, including on the part of the Security Council.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“To bolster African countries' peacekeeping capacities, Estonia supported the European Union decision to commit to double spending on the African Peace Facility, a joint EU-African Union fund supporting African-run peacekeeping and conflict-resolution missions. The European Union will give â‚¬800 million to the Fund over the next three years. We highly value the role of international actors and international law in safeguarding peace and security. But there is also a need for stronger national and regional ownership on the part of the Governments of countries struggling for peace and stability. Societies must demand more from their elected leadership, and we remain a devoted supporter of that principle. Here I come back to prevention and its importance.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“I would like to call upon Member States to follow suit, especially those that have enjoyed considerable economic growth during the past 10 to 15 years and that today have a greater capacity to pay than in the past. I also have to emphasize that the peacekeeping budget is not the only resource we allocate to peace and stability. Estonia has contributed to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund this year. Funds are also allocated to conflict-torn countries through different United Nations bodies, such as UNICEF and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to name only a few. Peace on the African continent is a prerequisite for a better future for the whole world, and Estonia is therefore ready to take on more international responsibilities and is willing to contribute increasingly to African stability.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“We have seen the United Nations peacekeeping budget increase year by year. Exceeding $8 billion, it places an enormous burden on Member States, but especially on the countries that contribute financially. Estonia welcomes the very last-minute agreement of the Fifth Committee on the peacekeeping budget for 2014-2015, but allow me to remind the Council that the agreement was a hard compromise and was hindered, surprisingly, by the strong unwillingness of many countries. Estonia has always taken its responsibilities for the United Nations peacekeeping budget seriously. In 1999, Estonia made a unilateral voluntary decision to contribute to the peacekeeping budget on level B and has continued to follow that pattern since then.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Even more importantly, the groups are prepared in a unified planning and training framework. Speaking of peacekeeping, we should not overlook what happens in a conflict zone after peace has been restored. The international community should keep looking for ways to facilitate the return of the country concerned to a peaceful and sustainable path of development. Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration should be an integral part of the mandates of peacekeeping operations and for post-conflict peace consolidation. Comprehensive security sector reform is vital to ensuring the development of effective, efficient, affordable and accountable security institutions. In that regard, Estonia commends the work of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission. I would like to touch upon one important feature of peacekeeping, namely, financing.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“During the past decade, in the light of the growing necessity for raising readiness and enhancing the capacity to counter crises and take timely action, both the European Union and NATO have worked to improve their toolbox in order to streamline their operational and planning capabilities, as well as their readiness for prompt action. The EU concept of battlegroups and the NATO Response Force could be used as good examples for other regions to follow. The battlegroups, for example, are based on contributions from member States and are staffed and equipped in a rotational manner. It is a battalion-size force reinforced with a combat support element. There are 18 such groups, and they undertake military tasks of a humanitarian, peacekeeping and peacemaking nature.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Regional organizations are very often better suited to taking preventive action because they can detect rising tensions more quickly and accordingly respond sooner, using their good offices and mediation tools. Political will is the first and foremost prerequisite for more regional actions, as are the existing decision-making framework and operational capabilities. In that regard, joint planning and information-collection capabilities, as well as the pooling of troops and necessary expertise, are of great importance.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Their increased cooperation with the United Nations, the African Union and regional economic communities could improve their overall capacity for carrying out the missions. Over the years, some progress has been made, but ongoing crises demonstrate that it is not enough. Conflicts continue to erupt and instabilities to arise. Our response to them is still very often too slow or cautious. It is understandable that even the United Nations has its operational limits, and its capabilities have to be used first of all to counter the most serious crises. With regional organizations taking more responsibility, the excessive burden facing the United Nations can be relieved.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“Let us recall operations and missions in the former Yugoslavia or in Afghanistan, where the European Union, NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations have worked together and shared the burden. Regional and subregional organizations sometimes have more knowledge and experience to handle local affairs, and they might also have better suited capabilities for regional action. Therefore, the complementary roles of, for example, regional economic communities such as the Economic Community of West African States or the African Union - speaking of Africa - should be reinforced in the future. In that respect, the experience gained by the European Union or NATO in peace operations could be used.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“By taking part in peace operations, Estonia first aims to protect civilians and achieve a peaceful outcome in situations with escalating tensions. But we also understand that all tensions, instabilities and conflicts, close or distant, will sooner or later have an effect on us. There is therefore a link between peacekeeping and our own security. Based on our own experience, I should like to elaborate on some elements of the President's concept note (S/2014/478, annex), which I find comprehensive and forward-looking. Both politically and operationally, we agree that there are comparative advantages to regional action. That applies not only to Africa but also to other regions where we have witnessed some positive results of joint regional action.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding help societies in desperate need of stability to return to the path of peace and development. United Nations peacekeeping facilitates the protection of human rights and strengthens democracy, which I believe is the best way to ensure one's stability and well-being. Estonia has actively contributed to international peacekeeping since 1995. During that time, there has not been a single day when an Estonian peace soldier, policeman or expert has not been on a peace mission. This spring, Estonian soldiers began their first mission on the African continent, namely, in the Central African Republic, where our infantry platoon is deployed as a part of the European Union (EU) mission. We realize the importance of cooperation and mutual support in solving problems in the international arena.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“At the outset, allow me to thank the Rwandan presidency of the Council for its initiative to convene this open debate. I highly value open debates as a measure of greater transparency and inclusion of the wider United Nations membership in the issues discussed by the Council. I recommend that every presidency follow suit. I congratulate the Council on its adoption of resolution 2167 (2014) today. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. Estonia also fully aligns itself with the statement made by the Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service. United Nations peacekeeping provides essential security and humanitarian support to millions of people in conflict zones and supports fragile institutions in countries emerging from conflict.”
2014-07-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7228 (2014) · source
“That is possible only when national Governments adopt corresponding legislation, empower their domestic judicial systems, ensure the protection of witnesses and support and cooperate with the ICC. It is the responsibility of all States to put an end to atrocities and to impunity.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Thirdly, protecting civilians means protecting human rights, and vice versa. The Secretary-General's "Rights up front" initiative is a step in the right direction. Fourthly, violations of international humanitarian and human rights law must be condemned and the protection of humanitarian workers must be ensured at all times. Humanitarian assistance remains a crucial part of protecting civilians. Fifthly, former Estonian President Lennart Meri said once, "Crimes against humanity are crimes against humanity regardless of who commits them". Therefore, those who are responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international criminal law must be brought to justice.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“But the ICC's jurisdiction is limited to the territory of States parties unless the Security Council is willing to refer the matter to the ICC. In other words, the ICC can meet its full potential only when national Governments are determined to cooperate with the Court, but also only if the Security Council is willing to enforce that cooperation and to refer all appropriate situations consistently. Otherwise, civilians would be unequally protected in armed conflicts throughout the world. To sum up, allow me to repeat the five crucial points for Estonia in today's debate. First, the protection of civilians must remain the central idea behind peacekeeping operations. Estonia remains determined to support peacekeeping efforts. Secondly, the mandates of peacekeeping operations must set achievable goals and should be adequately resourced.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“National Governments have the primary responsibility to adopt and adjust their domestic legislation to ensure the prosecution of persons suspected of grave crimes. Building up strong and effective legislation is a prerequisite for protecting witnesses and victims - whose cooperative engagement in court proceedings is crucial. States must also ensure that their investigative and judicial infrastructure has the knowledge and capacity to prosecute atrocity crimes. Witness-protection programmes must be in place to ensure the safety of those brave enough to testify. In addition to national mechanisms, the international criminal system must also be constantly strengthened. Especially significant is the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has the power to deter further atrocities or prevent their escalation.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“I agree that it is important for national and international humanitarian actors to ensure a more coordinated approach to negotiating, securing and maintaining access. Estonia welcomes the initiative of Switzerland to produce legal and operational guidance and training materials on the matter. Our goal must be to prevent conflicts, grave crimes and human rights violations. We must strive for a deterrence-centred approach; but, whenever it is clear that unacceptable war crimes and violations of human rights have taken place, we must act in a timely way and bring the persons responsible for the atrocities to justice. By ensuring that there are effective mechanisms for investigating and prosecuting crimes, we strengthen accountability and decrease the possibility that similar inhumane injustices will happen again.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“They must also facilitate humanitarian operations and allow rapid and unimpeded passage of relief consignments, equipment and personnel to all affected populations. The protection of organizations and institutions providing humanitarian assistance, as well as humanitarian workers, assets and goods, must be ensured at all times. It is important to set up simplified, expedited mechanisms such as the registration of humanitarian organizations and project agreements, the exemption of humanitarian goods and workers from fees, duties and taxes, in-country movement of personnel and goods, and visas. Parties to conflict must facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance in the most effective ways, including, where appropriate, across lines and borders.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“However, we are in a situation where humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) experience increasing difficulties in reaching the most vulnerable parts of society affected by conflict. With great disappointment, I have to admit that the humanitarian space is shrinking. The latest examples are Syria and the Central African Republic. Humanitarian organizations and NGOs often have to make compromises in order to get access to conflict areas. Those limitations function as alarming hindrances to humanitarian principles. The Security Council needs to send a clear message to all parties in armed conflict and to remind them of their obligations. Violations of international humanitarian, human rights law and international criminal law must be condemned. All parties to an armed conflict must refrain from targeting civilians.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“That is an awaited move forward in acknowledging the crucial need to respond as early as possible to human rights violations. The protection ofcivilians is based on the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality. Estonia has focused its development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and human rights activities on supporting the countries in most need - Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Mali, South Sudan and Somalia, to name a few. Over the past couple ofyears, Estonia has supported efforts to alleviate the humanitarian situation of refugees from Syria with almost â‚¬l million. Recently, Estonia has also provided â‚¬100,000 for the effort to relieve the situation of internally displaced people suffering violence in the Central African Republic.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“There is growing understanding that women and children are impacted uniquely and disproportionately by the effects of conflict and its aftermath. I should like to encourage the Council to include in the mandates of peacekeeping missions provisions on human rights monitoring, with special focus on the rights of children and women. We also urge the further and timely deployment of gender advisers, women's protection advisers and child protection advisers to peacekeeping missions. In addition, I should like to stress that the predeployment training must cover the subjects of sexual and gender-based violence and the protection of children. Bearing that in mind, I welcome the Secretary General's "Rights up front" initiative to make the United Nations more accountable for its responsibilities.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“We remember the Rwandan genocide in 1994, when the international community reacted too late. Such situations should never happen again. United Nations peacekeeping operations receive mandates from the Security Council. Therefore it is also the Security Council that bears responsibility for setting realistic margins for operations. A clear and precise assessment of the situation on the ground is a prerequisite for the sufficient allocation of resources and operational capabilities. The clarity of a mandate will have a direct impact on the success ofthe operation. Therefore, in order to strengthen the means to protect civilians, the Council should also remain involved in the implementation process. Estonia is particularly concerned about the implications of armed conflicts for the most vulnerable groups.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“That is evidenced by the fact that last year we raised our contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations considerably, sending our military observers to the most complicated areas in the world. Under the auspices of the United Nations, Estonians are currently serving without any caveats in the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. But the bulk of our peace-support troops are still deployed as part of the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan. Maintaining peace and protecting civilians is the ultimate goal and requires a quick and determined reaction. That is why Estonia has decided to take part, with an infantry platoon, in a European Union-led peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“However, ifthe conflict is escalating despite all preventive efforts and there is a risk that the lives of civilians might be in danger, the international community, with the Security Council at the helm, must act. In addition to systematically condemning the violations, the Council can also use targeted measures against those who commit the violations, mandate a commission of inquiry or even refer the situations to the International Criminal Court. There are numerous examples that prove the crucial significance of United Nations peacekeeping missions as the first stabilizing force to reach a conflict area. United Nations peacekeepers have often played a central role in restoring peace and preventing tragic losses of human life. Estonia continues to support United Nations peacekeeping efforts.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“At the outset, let me congratulate Lithuania, the first Baltic State to serve on the Security Council, on having assumed the presidency of the Council. The Secretary-General notes in his latest report (S/2013/689) that the current state of the protection of civilians leaves little room for optimism. Estonia strongly condemns all forms of violence against civilian populations and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. We hear with great concern about children being killed and maimed in Syria and women being raped in the Central African Republic. The outbreak of armed conflict should be avoided to the extent possible by using all available measures. The greatest responsibility to maintain stability and to find sustainable solutions guaranteeing the safety of civilians is in the hands ofthe State concerned.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source