YouSaid · the spoken record

Philippe Goffin

lines on the record

21

first

2020-06-11

most recent

2020-09-24

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

1. “This is not just a health or humanitarian crisis. It is an economic crisis, a security crisis, a health crisis, a hunger crisis, a protection crisis and a human rights crisis. These challenges only demonstrate that we need to do more, and we need to do it together. Belgium stands ready to assume its responsibilities to this end.”

   2020-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/953 (2020) · source

2. “Belgium welcomes the fact that most of those operations have shown a great deal of flexibility and ingenuity in continuing to carry out their mandates, despite all the restrictions, including physical restrictions, imposed on them by COVID-19. However, here again the Council will have to address the issue of the adaptability of peacekeeping operations to future scenarios that are highly restrictive, such as the one we are facing today. Otherwise, Council resolutions — or even the Council in its own right — risk becoming less consequential. All of us — every individual, every community, every country, every Government and every part of the United Nations — must learn together from the effects of the pandemic. There is no doubt that COVID-19 has changed the world and has had an impact on everything from the way we live to the way we work.”

   2020-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/953 (2020) · source

3. “The world today cannot afford a geostrategic divide. A coordinated S/2020/953 global response is the only way forward in the fight against these multiple crises. This response must be based on trust and political will; fuelled by respect for the principles and values of multilateral cooperation; and accelerated by innovative approaches. This also requires a Council that is “future-proof”. We lost too much time last March and April discussing digital working methods for the Council to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic. We took too long to reach an agreement on resolution 2532 (2020). What applies to working methods also applies to the means available to the Council to implement its decisions, especially peacekeeping operations.”

   2020-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/953 (2020) · source

4. “Belgium contributes €22 million to this multifaceted response and has contributed €5 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. The European Union (EU) and its member States have spared no effort: as part of the Team Europe package, the EU has mobilized more than €36 billion to support partner countries in the fight against the pandemic and its impact. It intends to mobilize up to €400 million to support WHO’s COVAX facility, which aims to accelerate vaccine development and ensure fair and equitable access for every country in the world. Indeed, in the words of the Secretary-General, “vaccinationalism” is toxic, because no one is safe until everyone is safe. Solidarity is equal to self-interest. Our discussion today must not be overshadowed by finger-pointing or accusations.”

   2020-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/953 (2020) · source

5. “We therefore fully support the leadership of the Secretary-General and his call for a global ceasefire and other initiatives to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. We welcome the efforts of the United Nations system to address the crisis on the ground and to implement resolution 2532 (2020). We continue to support the World Health Organization (WHO) in its transparent leadership of the global response to the health crisis. We call on all Member States to share comprehensive and accurate surveillance data with WHO to ensure the effectiveness of our collective response. We support the humanitarian system and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in their work, their guidance across the sector and their tireless efforts to support the most vulnerable individuals.”

   2020-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/953 (2020) · source

6. “In areas of protracted conflict, we see women, men, children, refugees and internally displaced persons being pushed to the brink of starvation. The pandemic has highlighted global challenges and served to exacerbate inequality, fragility and the human cost of conflict. That is why we share your concerns, Sir, about the implications of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for almost every aspect of our lives, for our international cooperation and for global governance. The global challenges facing our world — conflict, poverty, climate change, natural disasters and now COVID-19 — are a stark reminder of the true raison d’être of the United Nations and of the simple and obvious need for enhanced multilateral cooperation.”

   2020-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/953 (2020) · source

7. “I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for drawing the Security Council’s attention to the issues before us today. In recent months, we have witnessed unprecedented needs and challenges. School closures on a massive scale have deprived children of safe learning spaces. Lockdown measures have exposed women and children to increased levels of domestic violence. Past epidemics have shown us the cost of deprioritizing public- health services. Vaccination campaigns are being disrupted, and children are at risk of dying because of a lack of regular vaccinations. In addition, mistrust and misinformation are undermining the effectiveness of the response. Hate speech and fake news stigmatize and fuel violence against civilians and health workers. Armed groups are taking advantage of the health crisis to strengthen their grip on civilian populations.”

   2020-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/953 (2020) · source

8. “Ending sexual violence against women and girls and ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights are also key elements of the Belgian National Action Plan on women and peace and security. I wish to reconfirm, here and today, our continued commitment. Belgium, the European Union and the United Nations remain partners in this important fight.”

   2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source

9. “What is the point of our intentions if they are not translated into concrete action to the benefit of survivors? Crimes of sexual violence will stop only if we address the root causes of sexual violence. Let us therefore work together for gender equality, for the genuine participation of women in peace processes, for the inclusion of women’s empowerment at the heart of prevention measures, for increased support for women’s organizations and human rights defenders, and for greater efforts to further pursue the path set out by resolution 1325 (2000). A decade after the first United Nations report on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2010/181), sustained action and continued political pressure are still needed to change the situation.”

   2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source

10. “However, such access in conflict areas is often insufficient due to inadequate normative frameworks, the limited capacity of rule-of-law institutions or a lack of trust in State actors, who themselves may perpetrate violence. Belgium supports and commends the work of the United Nations Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in that regard. In the Central African Republic, for example, the experts contributed to the organization of a session of the Bangui Court of Appeals on sexual and gender-based violence cases. The Security Council can also act directly. In all its resolutions on sexual violence, it refers to the instrument of targeted sanctions against parties committing sexual violence. To date, however, no perpetrator has ever been targeted by sanctions for acts of sexual violence.”

    2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source

11. “The level of compliance with Security Council resolutions remains low — too low. The figures speak for themselves; no more than one State actor has been removed from the list annexed to the annual report since its inception, while 71 per cent of the parties having made no commitment have been on the list for more than five years. What survivors want, though, is an end to impunity. They want justice. Documenting crimes is an essential step. We commend the efforts of the Special Representative in this regard. The presence of women protection advisers on the ground has also contributed to improving the quantity and quality of information. Let us safeguard the monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements on conflict- related sexual violence. Access to justice is also crucial.”

    2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source

12. “Although the issue of reparations after conflict-related sexual violence has received increasing global attention, the actual provision of reparations remains, unfortunately, an exception. Yet efforts to provide reparations to survivors of conflict-related sexual violence have had positive effects in Colombia. The same goes for Iraq, where a relief programme for survivors saw initial grants disbursed last year. We must learn from the experiences of survivors to better prevent further violations; better recognize early-warning, signs such as discrimination, hate speech and incitement to violence; and improve the gathering of evidence, and Belgium welcomes the draft Murad code in this regard. My second point is on the effective implementation of the commitments.”

    2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source

13. “Their statements remind us that the current situation requires additional efforts and renewed commitment. I would like to address three points: the importance of a survivor-centred approach, the need for effective implementation of our commitments, and the need to address the root causes of sexual violence. First, survivors of sexual violence are not a homogenous group. Whether boys raped in the Central African Republic, sex slaves of Da’esh or mothers of children born out of violence in South Sudan, survivors all have their own stories. They all need tailor-made solutions. They need justice, access to health-care services, psychosocial support, meaningful reparations or socioeconomic support to reintegrate into society.”

    2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source

14. “In recent years, the international community has taken important steps to address the problem of conflict-related sexual violence. However, in his annual report (S/2020/487), the Secretary-General once again reports a large number of cases of sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict areas. In addition, a large number of abuses go unreported due to fear and stigmatization of victims or restricted access. The coronavirus disease pandemic further exacerbates the situation. In many places, the crisis has resulted in reduced social control, more difficult access to assistance or judicial authorities, and obstacles to sexual and reproductive rights. Belgium thanks Germany for organizing this important debate. We also thank the briefers.”

    2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source

15. “Rather than trying to put them into perspective or looking to find scapegoats, I call on all Malian political actors of goodwill to take on those challenges and overcome them. They should know that they can count on Belgium to assist and support them on the path that they themselves will have traced.”

    2020-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/541 (2020) · source

16. “In this regard, I regret that no investigations into the allegations of abuse by the defence and security forces have led to accused persons being brought to trial. Equally regrettable is that no trial has been held against alleged perpetrators of crimes against MINUSMA peacekeepers. Accordingly, I would like to reiterate that Belgium will carefully monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the International Commission of Inquiry. The crisis that put Mali on the agenda of the Security Council has been slow to resolve. Of course, some questions, including the global health crisis we are experiencing, climate change, the regional terrorist threat and transnational organized crime, all go beyond the Malian crisis in the strictest sense. But there are also major internal challenges.”

    2020-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/541 (2020) · source

17. “I would like to take this opportunity to salute the work of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in support of the Government’s efforts. The MINUSMA adaptation plan is an important initiative in this regard, even if we all know that the work of the Mission, in which more than 80 Belgian soldiers are deployed, can be framed only as support for a political process. Let me mention another important topic: the fight against impunity. The feeling of injustice, which is one of the most powerful, has already provoked revolts. I encourage Mali to respond to the perception of injustice by adopting and implementing a national crime policy.”

    2020-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/541 (2020) · source

18. “After five years of modest progress, there is an urgent need for the parties to show a renewed sense of responsibility in the search for compromise in the implementation of the peace agreement. We can all see it — the situation in central Mali remains very worrying, despite the establishment of the crisis management political framework. We call on the reformed State to redeploy as soon as possible and fulfil its sovereign role of protecting citizens, starting with the most vulnerable. Security, justice and education are three basic services that could help undermine the recruitment of community militias and terrorists. I am convinced that the end of intercommunal conflicts and the fight against terrorism involve strengthening the legitimacy of the State.”

    2020-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/541 (2020) · source

19. “Nevertheless, it must be noted that since the signing of the 2015 agreement, progress has been too weak to guarantee a return to lasting peace. I regret that the benchmarks identified by the Security Council in June 2019 have, for the most part, not really been met. Challenges remain, and I will point out two in particular. First, security sector reform must be a priority in order to professionalize the sector and restore the confidence of all Malians in those whose mission it is to protect them. Secondly, the representation of all Malians — that is, of men and women — in State institutions, which has yet to see progress in terms of balance, for both elective and administrative functions, needs attention.”

    2020-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/541 (2020) · source

20. “Some progress has been made on the agreement: the timid redeployment of parts of the reconstituted army in the north, the establishment of a decentralized administrative structure with a gradual transfer of responsibilities and resources, the establishment of a development zone for the northern regions and the beginning of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, which is a crucial process designed to prevent the resumption of violence. I also salute the work of the International Commission of Inquiry for Mali, as provided for in the peace agreement, whose final report will be presented in a few days. It is imperative that there be follow-up on the report and that the work accomplished by the International Commission is acknowledged.”

    2020-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/541 (2020) · source

21. “I would first like to thank the Secretary-General for his briefing and presence at today’s meeting and, through him, express gratitude to the entire United Nations staff in Mali. I also salute President Buyoya and the African Union’s commitment to peace, stability and development in Mali. We again deplore the deaths in recent months and even in recent days of too many civilians and soldiers in Mali. On behalf of Belgium, I would like to express our condolences to their loved ones, as well as to the people and the Government of Mali. The fifth anniversary of the signing in 2015 of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali will be in a few days. I wish to emphasize that, even though progress has been much slower than hoped, there is no alternative to peace and no alternative to the 2015 peace agreement.”

    2020-06-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/541 (2020) · source