YouSaid · the spoken record

Pillay

lines on the record: 139
first: 2010-07-07
most recent: 2014-08-21
sittings or episodes: 11
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

“Law and order should be restored as soon as possible in Abidjan, including through the collection of weapons, which are all too readily available in the city. President Ouattara's pledge, on 7 April, to establish a truth and reconciliation commission and to punish those who committed crimes or acts of vengeance is a positive and welcome step. Of course, transitional justice processes must be comprehensive and interconnected and include meaningful accountability, such as prosecutions and vetting. These commitments must be implemented. My Office stands ready to assist President Ouattara and his Government in the development of a transitional justice strategy for the country.”
2011-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6513 (2011) · source
“While additional investigation is needed to determine the exact circumstances of the killings and the identity of perpetrators and victims, the area was known to be hosting a heavy presence of pro-Gbagbo militiamen and had witnessed ethnic and inter-communal tensions over the exploitation of land resources. During March, the area was under the control of pro-Gbagbo forces, and later pro-Ouattara forces as the Forces republicaines advanced further south towards Abidjan. Killings and acts of retaliation were reported on both sides, sometimes with the involvement of the local population. As President Ouattara is now effectively taking power in Cote d'Ivoire, it is of the utmost importance that, in the transition, all necessary measures be taken to prevent a security vacuum or acts of retaliation.”
2011-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6513 (2011) · source
“Towns in the west of the country, such as Duekoue, have reportedly been the scene of large-scale killings from the second half of March, leading to a total displacement of at least 28,000 people from Duekoue alone. Preliminary investigations carried out by the Human Rights Division suggest that at least 500 people have been killed, including 255 people in Duekoue, more than 100 in Guiglo, 79 in Blolequin and possibly 100 in Bangolo. In the Carrefour neighbourhood of Duekoue, which was known to be a former stronghold of pro-Gbagbo militia from the Guere community, 229 bodies were found, mostly of young men dressed in civilian clothes.”
2011-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6513 (2011) · source
“Many others were directly targeted by uncontrolled armed elements, including through the use of heavy weapons. Extended looting and pillaging of shops and private homes by militia groups, and in some cases by the Forces republicaines, contributed to the climate of insecurity and fear. The human rights call centre established by the Human Rights Division continues to receive distress calls from victims. Since its inception, the centre has registered more than 12,000 calls, 75 per cent of which pertained to alleged human rights violations. In a very restricted security environment, the human rights call centre has proved to be an essential tool for the collection of information for the Mission and has provided a much needed link with the civilian population trapped in Abidjan.”
2011-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6513 (2011) · source
“Its members met with President Ouattara, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights and the Minister of Health. They also held meetings with victims and witnesses, as well as with the United Nations country team and humanitarian actors. The mission found evidence of large-scale human rights violations, including extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and sexual violence in Abidjan and the rest of the country in the course of the conflict. The United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) Human Rights Division estimates that at least 400 people were killed in Abidjan between the first round of presidential elections and the entry of the Forces republicaines into the city. The dangerous security situation held the inhabitants of Abidjan hostage, leaving them short of food, water and medicines.”
2011-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6513 (2011) · source
“To achieve peace and reconciliation, the cycle of impunity must be stopped, perpetrators must be brought to justice and victims must be rehabilitated in their rights and dignity. As part of the United Nations coordinated response, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights conducted a mission to Cote d'Ivoire from 2 to 9 April, which was led by my Assistant Secretary-General Ivan Simonovie. The purpose of the mission was to assess the human rights situation in the country and to remind all parties of their obligation to respect international human rights and humanitarian law and of the importance of bringing perpetrators to justice as a prerequisite to sustainable peace. The mission visited Abidjan and the west of the country.”
2011-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6513 (2011) · source
“Nonetheless, the serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law that have occurred must be addressed, or they may yet serve as cause for further future destabilization in an already fragile situation. Immediate and decisive action is now called for, not only to respond to the dire humanitarian needs that my colleague has referred to but also to build public confidence in the rule of law and ensure that justice is done. Reconciliation will not be accomplished without meaningful accountability, which has been lacking in Cote d'Ivoire over the past decade. In 2004, an international commission of inquiry established by the Secretary-General identified alleged perpetrators and recommended accountability mechanisms, which were never implemented.”
2011-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6513 (2011) · source
“Ms. Pillay: I am very grateful for this opportunity to address the Security Council on the human rights situation in Cote d'Ivoire. Let me begin by saying that I welcome the growing recognition that human rights concerns are central to the issues of peace and security. In Cote d'lvoire there is a history of human rights violations without any accountability or redress, including discrimination, particularly against people in the north. C6te d'Ivoire was plagued by years of violence, which was further fuelled by disregard for the people's right to choose their own leadership. The recent arrest of former President Laurent Gbagbo offers the prospect of an end to the conflict.”
2011-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6513 (2011) · source
“In addition to formal meetings such as today's, my Office stands ready to contribute to Arria Formula meetings and expert-level meetings of a less formal character, as the Secretary-General recommends in his report. I thank members of the Council for their attention and for this opportunity to speak here today. I look forward to our continued dialogue.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“I encourage the Council to ensure that the mandates that it establishes provide the necessary elements for this work to continue as effectively as possible: robust and well resourced mandates that ensure that human rights officers are present throughout areas affected or threatened by conflict, including remote areas; that allow such violations as do occur to be properly documented and reported; and that provide for support to national authorities to restore and strengthen the rule of law. Finally, I would welcome the opportunity to share information relating to this topic with the Council in future, including reports and recommendations arising from our human rights monitoring work on the ground, and to keep it apprised of evolving situations where civilians are at risk.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“In Guinea, as in many other cases, establishing the facts is a first step on the road to remedy and eventual reconciliation. I am pleased to confirm that, in line with the Secretary-General's recommendation, my Office will work actively with co-lead departments directly involved in inquiries of this kind with a view to reviewing past experiences and making proposals as appropriate. In conclusion, my Office stands ready to assist the Council as it seeks to strengthen the protection of civilians threatened or affected by the effects of armed conflict. Every day around the world, human rights officers mandated by this Council make a vital contribution to protecting civilians, often working in very challenging conditions and with limited resources.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“There is an important discussion to be had in this context - specifically, on how to ensure that United Nations support to non-United Nations security forces is based on respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. My Office is currently contributing to the review of United Nations experience in this respect. Our expertise has also increasingly been called upon to conduct commissions of inquiry in the context of political crises where there is no peace mission but where the lack of protection of civilians and of accountability for violations of their rights represents a threat to peace. An example is our involvement in the Secretary-General's international commission of inquiry to investigate the violence that occurred in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, on 28 September 2009.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“A recent example of facilitating national efforts for accountability is the arrest of General Jerome Kakwavu, who was accused of rape and whose file is being transmitted to the high military court of Kinshasa. In some cases, the longer-term challenge is to build up the capacity of non-United Nations security forces, including national forces and institutions, to take on the task of effective protection of civilians once the international presence has been withdrawn. In this context, my Office has been playing an essential role, including by participating in the training and technical advice being provided to police and military officers and contributing to necessary legislative and policy reforms.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Human rights officers work closely with national authorities and civil society to support national judicial institutions and other accountability mechanisms. Again taking an example from our work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Joint Human Rights Office, through its joint investigation teams, provides direct support to military prosecutors to investigate cases of violations, including by helping them access populations to carry out their investigations and by ensuring judicial follow-up. This support has allowed prosecutors to bring many cases to court that might not otherwise have been pursued, including cases of sexual violence.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Through its assessment of existing accountability mechanisms and the challenges faced in addressing the violations documented, the report provides a road map for engaging the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congolese population and the international community in a constructive dialogue on how to ensure accountability and offer remedy to victims within the overall goals of reconciliation and peace. I hope that we will be able to make a further contribution on the question of what measures or mechanisms can provide a sense of redress for victims when we receive the report of a high-level panel of experts, led by my Deputy, who went to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in October and held hearings around the country with survivors of sexual violence.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“While our primary concern is to prevent the commission of violations, where prevention fails we collectively bear the responsibility to ensure accountability. The Secretary-General's report rightly identifies accountability as one of the core elements of the protection of civilians. Not only is accountability required to fulfil international legal obligations; it is also our best tool for preventing the recurrence of violations. My Office's efforts to enhance accountability are multifaceted. As Council members will be aware, my Office has recently concluded a mapping report of the most serious violations of human rights committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 1993 and 2003.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Their testimonies indicate a pattern of risk and violations occurring throughout the country. Human rights officers also work with national monitoring networks in order to gather relevant information from within Somalia. Apart from these constraints, it is essential that the Council give missions the requisite mandate and resources, including the prioritization of logistical support and access of human rights monitoring and investigation. Unfortunately, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, insufficient access to vulnerable populations by human rights officers, due in part to limited air assets or military escorts, has impeded our ability to adequately identify threats, plan accordingly and ultimately protect civilians from violations.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“10-64592 Effective monitoring and reporting of human rights violations and encouraging greater compliance with international human rights law require opportunities to engage directly with both State and non-State actors, as well as access by human rights officers to populations at risk. In that context, it remains of grave concern that human rights officers still cannot access large parts of Darfur for security reasons. Further, in Somalia, intense fighting in Mogadishu and other parts of the country severely limits the access of human rights officers. Human rights officers of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia have been working with internally displaced persons in Somaliland and Puntland and interviewing on a regular basis individuals who had fled southern and central Somalia.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Since 2007, the human rights contingent of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has monitored and reported on civilian casualties in the conflict in Afghanistan, and engaged in advocacy to strengthen the protection of civilians. The Afghanistan mid-year report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in Afghanistan, released on 10 August, found that in the first half of 2010 there was an overall decrease of 29 per cent in civilian deaths attributed to pro-Government forces, as compared to the same period in 2009, with a 64 per cent decrease in civilian deaths caused by aerial attacks. UNAMA concluded that the implementation of tactical directives governing air strikes, night searches and the escalation of force contributed to this significant reduction in civilian casualties.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“In the week following the publication of the report, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo set up two additional temporary operating bases in Binyampuri, deployed additional staff and equipment and stepped up day and night patrols in the area. These actions have reportedly provided much- needed reassurance to local populations. Monitoring and reporting on human rights and the protection of civilians can also play a role in raising awareness of the impact of military operations on civilians and in encouraging the parties to a conflict to take steps to strengthen the protection of civilians.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Time and again, human rights reports and their recommendations have provided the basis for decision- making by heads of missions, whether in relation to responses to immediate threats, longer term preventive measures or following up with relevant national authorities and international actors. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, the preliminary report on the horrific mass rapes that took place in Walikale in August 2010, which was released on 24 September by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office, was a key document in helping to establish the facts and identify protection gaps.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Where that fails, as regrettably it sometimes does, we also contribute to mitigating the effects of conflict on populations at risk and to ensuring proper accountability for violations once they have occurred. Establishing accountability, in turn, can help serve the 8 longer-term goal of prevention by making a recurrence of violations less likely. Effective prevention begins with the facts. Through human rights monitoring and reporting, we are able to build up a detailed picture of the situation on the ground, anticipate emerging threats and take appropriate preventive action in a timely manner.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Today, human rights are thoroughly integrated in United Nations peace missions. There are currently 17 human rights components of peace missions led by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Political Affairs, established at the behest of the Council and supported by my Office. Of the five core challenges to the protection of civilians identified in the report of the Secretary- General before the Council (S/2010/579), my Office and human rights officers on the ground are directly engaged in four. We work to enhance compliance with international law, compliance by non-State armed groups, protection in the context of peacekeeping and accountability for violations. Our approach to protection is first and foremost to prevent the commission of human rights violations.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“The concept of the protection of civilians, which is rooted in international humanitarian and human rights law, has been developed as a way to encourage a more comprehensive and coordinated approach by Member States, international organizations and agencies to our efforts to protect civilians from the imminent threat of violence during armed conflicts. Over time, in responding to emerging threats to civilians, the Council has looked beyond situations of actual armed conflict to situations of civil strife preceding full-fledged conflict, as well as post-conflict and natural disaster situations. In situations such as the ones in Haiti, Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia, the Council has established broader protection mandates to ensure that the populations' human rights are protected.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Ms. Pillay: First, let me welcome the contribution of my colleague Valerie Amos and congratulate her on her appointment. The work of our respective Offices is complementary at many levels, something I was reminded of listening to her speak today. Let me also thank the members of the Security Council for giving me the opportunity to address the Council today on the subject of the protection of civilians in armed conflict. This is a subject that has rightly become a central focus of the Security Council. It is also an important priority for my Office as we seek to promote and protect human rights worldwide. Protecting civilians from the atrocities of war is an essential element of our human rights work. It is also an indispensable part of any strategy for managing threats to international peace and stability.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“In 2009 alone, there were at least 2,500 violent civilian deaths and more than 350,000 people were displaced. Given the likelihood of more violence in the lead-up to the 2011 referendum, there continues to be an urgent need for more proactive protection of civilians. In the course of the past few decades, grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law have been a tragic common denominator in armed conflicts, with civilian targets of attacks by State and non-State actors. I have raised today many situations needing serious and urgent attention. I welcome this opportunity to strengthen the cooperation of my Office with the Council, and I remain at its disposal to answer any questions it may have.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“Concrete initiatives must now follow to provide justice and redress to victims and to promote accountability and longer-term reconciliation. The leadership of the Secretary-General in establishing an expert panel to advise him on those issues is a welcome step in that direction. With regard to the Sudan, sporadic fighting in Darfur between armed movements and Government forces continues to result in civilian casualties, the destruction of civilian property and large-scale displacement. Civilian lives are also being lost in inter- communal violence stemming from resource-related disputes. Across southern Sudan, also, lawlessness and inter-communal violence, compounded by the widespread proliferation of arms and ammunition, continue to put civilians at risk.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“In accordance with relevant resolutions of the Human Rights Council, a follow-up mechanism is currently monitoring and assessing domestic, legal and other proceedings undertaken by both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian side. The Council has also mandated an independent fact-finding mission, which will soon start investigating violations resulting from the Israeli military action against the flotilla carrying humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Turning now to Sri Lanka, let me recall the unacceptably high level of loss of civilian lives caused by both sides of the conflict in that country. Since the end of the conflict, some progress has been made in the return and resettlement of internally displaced persons.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“Both Palestinian and Israeli civilians have the right to live in peace and security. I welcome the decision of the Government of Israel to moderate its blockade of Gaza. Yet I stress the urgent need to ensure the open flow of imports and exports to and from Gaza. I urge the Council to take appropriate action to ensure the lifting in full of the blockade. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settler violence, forced evictions, home demolitions, revocation of residency permits, arbitrary detention and torture are taking place with impunity. I urge the Security Council to support the recommendations of the United Nations Fact- Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (see A/HRC/12/48), especially those that call for accountability for all perpetrators of violations.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“Turning now to Kyrgyzstan, where a deadly wave of violence engulfed the south of the country in June, I am particularly concerned about the targeting and indiscriminate killing of civilians - including children - looting and destruction of public and private property, displacement and sexual violence. My Office leads the human rights sub-cluster within the protection cluster and works closely with all humanitarian agencies to address the most critical protection challenges and contribute to strengthening the rule of law. On the accountability front, I continue to be convinced of the need for an independent international inquiry. Meanwhile, we stand ready to engage, should there be credible national investigations aimed at establishing the facts and the responsibility for the attacks.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“Alleviating those conditions remains the priority of the Human Rights Section of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, acting in concert with the protection cluster led by my Office and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. With regard to accountability for continued human rights violations, I note the establishment of the joint investigative commission which, starting next week, will seek to determine the facts around the events that led to an as of yet undetermined number of violent deaths in the Les Cayes prison on 19 January 2010.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“We expect the presence to gradually evolve into a fully- fledged office that can more effectively help the Government to address the human rights challenges that the country faces. In addition, my Office has dispatched a small team to assist the authorities, in cooperation with other United Nations bodies, in ensuring respect for human rights throughout the electoral process. The serious protection concerns in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti are of a magnitude that warrants the utmost attention. Death and destruction are compounded by displacement, and women and children continue to be vulnerable to widespread sexual and gender-based violence and trafficking.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“Few perpetrators of serious Violations of human rights and humanitarian law have been brought to justice. Some research even indicates that rape and violence against women have increased despite all the attention they have received in recent years. In that context, I wish to recall that, in cooperation with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, my Office undertook an exercise to map out the most serious Violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in that country between 1993 and 2003. That exercise is a contribution to combating impunity and supporting transitional justice. The report will be published soon. Following the recommendations of the international Commission of Inquiry into the September 2009 events in Guinea, a start-up presence from my Office has been deployed to the country.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“I am also concerned about civilian casualties caused by aerial attacks and ground operations, including from search and seizure operations, carried out by Afghan national security forces and international military forces. Moreover, women and girls continue to face widespread human rights abuses including abduction, trafficking, sexual violence, forced and underage marriage and harmful practices justified on the basis of tradition. I am particularly concerned about the legal framework, which in many instances institutionalizes violence and discrimination against women. Although the Government has taken steps to enact laws aimed at protecting women's rights, those laws remain largely unimplemented. The corrosive effect of impunity on both human rights and peace is evident in the case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“It has explicitly made its support for military operations of national armed forces conditional on their observance of human rights law, humanitarian law and refugee law. We need to ensure that United Nations and bilateral support to military operations and security sector reform are tied to promoting respect for human rights. Let me now update the Council on situations where the protection of civilians has been, and remains, of great concern. In Afghanistan, the intensifying conflict has had an intolerable impact on civilians. Many lives are being lost, homes destroyed and livelihoods and access to basic services threatened. Clearly, anti-Government insurgents, with their widespread use of indiscriminate suicide bombing and targeted assassinations, present a fundamental challenge.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“It is worth recalling that States bear the primary responsibility for carrying out investigations and prosecutions regarding genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations. Several countries have established national commissions of inquiry. These are welcome demonstrations of a State's willingness to seek justice. True accountability can be achieved only if national inquiry mechanisms are credible, independent and impartial. Such national commissions should have the power of access to all relevant authorities, persons and information, as well as adequate financial and human resources. It is these conditions that will instil confidence and trust in these national initiatives. The Council has acted to promote accountability.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“Information gathered by my Office as well as the United Nations human rights mechanisms, including the special rapporteurs, can be very helpful to the Council in this regard. When the security environment requires the dispatch of peacekeeping missions, a clear mandate with robust and well-resourced human rights components becomes essential for the effective implementation of protection measures. Holding perpetrators accountable is key for the protection of civilians. Amongst the most significant actions taken by the Council for the protection of civilians is the establishment of commissions of inquiry. I am pleased that, on several occasions, the 10-43853 Council and the Secretary-General have requested my Office to assist with these commissions. More use can be made of such mechanisms.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“If we want to make a greater difference on the ground, human rights and humanitarian actors need to work together in order to give effect to the United Nations policy framework. I am sure that my colleague John Holmes would agree with me, and I would like to take this opportunity to salute him for championing humanitarian action within the United Nations system. His leadership has enabled the development of meaningful partnerships to advance protection. The Council has long recognized that the maintenance of peace and security will not be achieved or sustained without due attention being paid to redressing grievances, ending impunity and protecting the human rights of civilians. Monitoring human rights conditions can serve to sound an alarm when situations are at risk of degenerating into violence.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source
“Ms. Pillay: Madam President, allow me to express my appreciation to you and to members of the Security Council for giving me the opportunity to address the Council during this high-level debate on the vital issue of the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Since the Council was last briefed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on this topic in November 2009 (see S/PV.6216), important developments pertaining to protection and accountability have taken place, which I will discuss today. The Council's initiative in developing a solid framework to protect civilians in many countries is most welcome. However, protection remains a dream for victims, and the gulf between policy and practice is still vast.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source