YouSaid · the spoken record

Power

lines on the record: 1,841
first: 2013-08-06
most recent: 2019-07-09
sittings or episodes: 165
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

“"The Security Council deplores all acts of trafficking in persons undertaken by the "Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL, also known as Daesh), including of Yazidis, as well as all ISIL's violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights, and deplores also any such trafficking in persons and violations and other abuses by the Lord's Resistance Army and other terrorist or armed groups, including Boko Haram, for the purpose of sexual slavery, sexual exploitation and forced labour that may contribute to the funding and sustainment of such groups, and underscores that certain acts associated with trafficking in persons in the context of armed conflict may constitute war crimes.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“"The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms reported instances of trafficking in persons in areas affected by armed conflict. The Security Council further notes that trafficking in persons undermines the rule of law and contributes to other forms of transnational organized crime, which can exacerbate conflict and foster insecurity.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“Let me say that I have been in many Security Council meetings, and people do not clap. But they are clapping for a remarkable young woman. Following consultations among Council members, I have been authorized to make the following statement on their behalf: "The Security Council recalls its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. "The Security Council recalls the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, which includes the first internationally agreed definition of the crime of trafficking in persons and provides a framework to effectively prevent and combat trafficking in persons.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“I thank Mr. Grono for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Taha. In advance of her statement, exceptionally, I want to thank her for her courage and for making the trip here to share her experience with the Council, which I know will not be easy.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this important meeting: Mr. Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Mr. Nick Grono, Chief Executive Officer of the Freedom Fund; and Ms. Nadia Murad Basee Taha. On behalf of the Council, I welcome Mr. Fedotov, who is joining today's meeting via video teleconference from Vienna. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to warmly welcome the Deputy Secretary- General, His Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, and I now give him the floor.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7585 (2015) · source
“In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Mr. Jenea.”
2015-12-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7584 (2015) · source
“We think it is good for peace and security. We have to remember how we got this deal; decisive Security Council action played a major role in getting Iran to the negotiating table. But our job here is not done. We have to work together in the same spirit of resolve that led to the JCPOA to support the implementation of this nuclear deal and to enforce the Council's resolutions. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. The meeting rose at 4.05 pm.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“And we will continue to hold Iran accountable for violations of the measures imposed by the Council. But that is not enough. The Security Council itself- we here, we 15 - must take responsibility to respond to violations of our resolutions. That will be a long-term challenge. After J CPOA implementation day, there will still be measures imposed under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. That is part of the JCPOA. Those measures, enforced by the Security Council, will remain in place for many years. That includes restrictions relating to arms transfers and ballistic missile-related items. The United States and our partners will continue to bring violations to the Security Council's attention and press for this organ to respond appropriately. All of us are very pleased by the JCPOA. We are glad that it exists.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“The Council members that raise violations of our resolutions, who seek action from the Council in response to violations, are not the destabilizers. We are not the rule-breakers. Iran is, when it violates Council resolutions. It is not allowed under the resolutions, and they are admitting it. The United States of America, as well as other Council members, have appropriately and firmly condemned those violations. We will continue to dedicate resources and work with international partners to make sure that United Nations measures are better enforced. We will continue to intercept and seize Iranian arms exports, in accordance with international law. We will continue to identify and obstruct shipments to Iran of prohibited ballistic missile-related items.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“After the October launch, Iran's Defence Minister even declared, "We don't ask permission from anyone", as he then went on to describe the ballistic missile's technical capabilities. The Council cannot allow Iran to feel that it can violate our resolutions with impunity. Some Council members may not like those resolutions, but they are our resolutions. Furthermore, we reject the notion that those countries that raise those violations in the Security Council, countries such as the United States, are somehow responsible for destabilizing the JCPOA. Implementing Security Council resolutions is the sine qua non of a credible, enforceable nuclear deal. To suggest otherwise is to miss the point of the JCPOA and the point of the Security Council. A sense of impunity for violators will not help this deal.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“We intend to keep working with Council members so as to acknowledge and respond appropriately to that serious incident. And there have been other violations. Just last week, the international affairs adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader admitted outright that Brigadier General Qasem Soleimani, who is subject to Security Council travel ban, visited Russia. That adviser called such travel "absolutely normal". Also, in late September, a shipment of arms from Iran was intercepted off the coast of Oman. That shipment was a violation of resolution 1747 (2007). We do not see how Council members can cast doubt on those violations. In many cases, Iranian officials have boasted publicly about taking prohibited actions, leaving them no plausible deniability - no desire on their part for deniability.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“After that day, however, the Council will continue to play a crucial role in JCPOA implementation and in monitoring compliance with resolution 2231 (2015). Prior to JCPOA implementation day, all the current Security Council sanctions remain in place. Nevertheless, we have seen a troubling tendency to look the other way when those measures were wilfully violated in recent months. For example, this past October, Iran launched a ballistic missile that was obviously capable ofdelivering a nuclear weapon. Resolution 1929 (2010), which is still in force, prohibits that kind of launch. After reviewing that incident, the independent Panel of Experts also concluded definitively that it was a violation of the resolution. Yet instead of an effective timely response, the Security Council has dithered.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States of America. I thank Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi for his briefing. We are grateful for his leadership during this important transition period. Five months have passed since the P5+l countries, the European Union and Iran concluded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Like others, I am pleased to note that the JCPOA participants are making progress in fulfilling their commitments under the deal. Iran is taking key steps outlined in the JCPOA, such as removing centrifuges, and it has begun work to eliminate 98 per cent of its enriched uranium stockpile. When the International Atomic Energy Agency verifies that Iran has completed those steps - we call this implementation day - then we will enter a new phase of this landmark deal.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“I thank the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) for his detailed briefing. I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Ambassador Roman Oyarzun Marchesi, Permanent Representative of Spain, in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006). 1 now give the floor to Ambassador Oyarzun Marchesi.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7583 (2015) · source
“There cannot be collective guilt, andjustice is a critical means for ending collective guilt. South Sudan has an opportunity to close the door on conflict and reclaim the promise we all saw at its birth as a nation four years ago. Today's resolution will help them to do so, and I thank the Council for its work. If holding partners to their commitments to implementing the agreement, providing access to justice for victims and supplying troop contributors with the tools they need to do their jobs safely leads to abstentions, that is very unfortunate for a Council that has agreed on such issues in many other contexts in the past. We seek unity, for sure, but today's strong vote reinforces our determination to ensure that UNMISS can respond to a very real crisis, which persists, and the very real needs in South Sudan.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7581 (2015) · source
“This issue should not and need not be politicized. As a matter of fact, we wonder if the countries that abstained in the voting on this resolution, citing UAVs, would do so if they had battalions of peacekeepers on the ground. Finally, today's resolution reflects the fact that ensuring accountability for crimes and abuses, and providing access to justice for victims, represents a central part of building peace, not an obstacle to maintaining it. The hybrid court proposed in the peace agreement could play an important role in that effort, and the resolution reaffirms the Security Council's commitment to staying involved in the development of that institution. This is really important. It is important because impunity must end if peace and security are to take hold and to endure.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7581 (2015) · source
“Secondly, like its predecessor, today's resolution recognizes the Council's responsibility to ensure that UNMISS peacekeepers have the tools and technological capabilities they need to safely and fully fulfill their mission. We heard an extensive briefing from the Secretariat during our meeting with troop- and police-contributing countries (see S/PV.7569) on the important role that unarmed and unmanned aerial systems and helicopters can play in helping missions fulfil their difficult mandates. We owe it to the troops and police on the ground to provide them with those lifesaving tools. They are asking for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) so they can know what is going on around them, so that they are less at risk and so they can better fulfil their mandates. We are listening to the troop contributors.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7581 (2015) · source
“Many of the main concerns raised remain the same as those at our last adoption, and I would like to briefly respond to them. First, today's resolution expresses our continued commitment to using sanctions as a tool for peace. They are essential, as a tool in the toolbox, to marginalizing those who wish to derail an important agreement. The African Union (AU) has spoken forcefully about this issue on multiple occasions. In a 26 September communique of its Peace and Security Council, the AU expressed its determination "to impose measures against all those who would impede this agreement". Today's resolution takes the same position.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7581 (2015) · source
“That increase will further enable UNMISS to support ceasefire monitoring and provide technical assistance to the joint integrated police, which will be important for maintaining security in cities throughout the country. The resolution also anticipates the return of nearly 3,000 members of the opposition to Juba. A return of such large numbers of opposition figures could change the dynamics in Juba, which is why we have asked the Secretary-General to undertake planning for UNMISS to ensure that it has a dedicated capacity to deter and respond to incidents in Juba so as to avoid any deterioration in security there. While the Council agreed on the necessary troop and police increases, we regret, as others have, that we could not reach full consensus on all elements of the resolution.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7581 (2015) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States of America. Today's resolution 2252 (2015) affirms the Council's support for the peace agreement signed by South Sudanese parties in August and mandates certain additional tasks so that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) can better support the implementation of the agreement. We thank Council members for their support for the resolution. It retains UNMISS'S core mandate to protect civilians, monitor and investigate human rights abuses and violations, and create conditions in which humanitarian assistance can reach people in need. It also answers the Secretary- General's call for increasing the number of troops and police assigned to UNMISS, and thereby strengthens the Mission's ability to protect civilians.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7581 (2015) · source
“I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by Show ofhands. In favour: Angola, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America Abstaining: Russian Federation, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) The President: There were 13 votes in favour, none against and 2 abstentions. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2252 (2015). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements following the voting.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7581 (2015) · source
“The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2015/967, which contains the text ofa draft resolution submitted by the United States of America. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2015/899, which contains the special report of the Secretary-General on the review of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, and document S/2015/902, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on South Sudan. I also wish to draw members' attention to document S/2015/903, which contains the text of a letter dated 23 November 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7581 (2015) · source
“In favour: Angola, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Spain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) The President: The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2251 (2015). I now give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7580 (2015) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Sudan to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2015/966, which contains the text ofa draft resolution submitted by the United States of America. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2015/870, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Abyei. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. A vote was taken by Show ofhands.”
2015-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7580 (2015) · source
“There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject. The meeting rose at 3.35 pm.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7577 (2015) · source
“Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and Ambassador Ramlan Bin Ibrahim, Permanent Representative of Malaysia, in his capacity as the Chair ofthe Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011). I now give the floor to Mr. Kobler.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7577 (2015) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Libya to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome Mr. Kobler, who is joining today's meeting via video-teleconference from Tunis. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of its item on the agenda. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear briefings by Mr.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7577 (2015) · source
“We urge Moscow to choose the path of peace and uphold its Minsk commitments. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to Mr. Pavlo Klimkin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“Marina was one ofthose injured. When the shell hit the house, her father tried to use his body to shield her, but two shell fragments sliced into her. One hit her spinal cord. Nearly a year later, Marina, whose love of dance led her to dream of being a professional hip- hop dancer, still cannot feel her right leg. She cannot walk. Instead of dancing, she now hopes to help other children who have been affected by this conflict. We are here today because ofMoscow's aggression, because of how it continues to fuel this conflict and because of how this conflict hurts innocent people like Marina. We will continue meeting about this crisis. We will continue to insist that we hear the facts until the aggression ceases and until Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity are restored.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“Finally, Russia and the separatists must fulfil other outstanding Minsk obligations, which include withdrawing all foreign fighters and military equipment, releasing all hostages and unlawfully detained persons, including Nadia Savchenko and Oleg Sentsov, and turning over control of the international border back to the sovereign Government of Ukraine. When all sides faithfully uphold their commitments, we will see progress on this conflict. Until then, there will be casualties, and their number will inevitably rise. Let me conclude by trying to humanize the stakes. Marina Reznik is 13 years old. On a Saturday back in January, Marina was visiting her father in a residential neighbourhood of Mariupol. That day, separatists announced an offensive against the city. The rocket fire that followed killed at least 29 people and injured 97 others.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“Holding legitimate elections is the key to unlocking the remaining steps ofMinsk and enabling the separatist- held territories to be peacefully reintegrated back into the Ukrainian political and legal system. As agreed in Paris in October, the elections must be followed by the implementation of Ukraine's special-status law and the entry into force of the amnesty legislation. Constitutional reform must also occur, and Ukraine has been working towards this for many months. Its draft amendments on decentralization were endorsed by the Venice Commission's international legal experts and in August received the first of two required approvals by Parliament.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“In October, President Putin recommitted to these Minsk-required standards and agreed on the urgent need for the sides to agree on election mechanics that conform to these standards. But since then, Russia and the separatists have rejected proposals by Ukraine and the OSCE because they included elements such as free media access and the right okarainian political parties to participate. While the rest of Ukraine held local elections on 25 October and 15 November, residents of Donbas continue to be deprived of legitimately elected representatives, and Russia and its surrogates continue to stonewall the work of the Trilateral Contact Group.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“This would allow the people of Ukraine to resume a normal life and focus on building the democratic European society that Ukrainians have fought and, in many cases, died for. Let me be specific about the path to peace laid out by the Minsk agreements. Most immediately, the daily violations of the ceasefire line must come to an end. Heavy weapons must be withdrawn from the front line, and the OSCE must be allowed full access all the way to the border. Legitimate local elections must then be held in Donbas. Minsk is crystal-clear on the requirements for these elections: they must be held according to Ukrainian law and OSCE standards, and they must be held under OSCE observation.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“The September 2014 and February 2015 Minsk agreements are the best and only way to achieve peace in eastern Ukraine. Over the six months since we last met, we have seen how even incomplete steps towards the implementation of Minsk, like the 1 September cease-fire, can reduce casualties and provide space for progress on other fronts. What is needed now, what is long overdue is the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. All sides must seize the opportunity to bring this conflict to a peaceful end. This year has seen some progress in this direction, with fewer casualties and some limited weapons withdrawals. Now is the time to implement Minsk and settle this conflict.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“There has also been a deeply concerning deterioration of the human rights situation in Donbas, as described in depth by the United Nations human rights monitoring mission. Their report this week notes "new allegations of killings, torture and ill-treatment, illegal detention and forced labour" in separatist- controlled areas. The self-appointed authorities in the east have systematically failed to stop, investigate or hold to account those believed responsible for abuses and ill-treatment. The mission also reported incidents in areas controlled by the Ukrainian Government; we urge the Government to immediately investigate all serious and credible allegations. Just as we know who is driving this conflict, we know what must be done to end it.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“Only a fraction of the aid required by the 2 million people in need in these areas is getting through. We heard earlier a very moving account by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation on the plight of people living in Donbas, yet it is Russia's separatists that expelled humanitarian organizations and, by and large, have not let them resume their functions. We urge Moscow to finally honour the commitments that it made when it signed the Minsk agreements and ensure that separatists lift restrictions and allow the immediate resumption of critically needed aid. We also encourage the Government of Ukraine to accelerate efforts to facilitate the movement of civilians and cargo across the contact line and continue the provision of social, educational and economic benefits to internally displaced persons and others in need.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“Ukrainian soldiers and civilians continue to be killed or wounded in these attacks, and we cannot afford to get used to that. The cumulative impact of Moscow's aggression remains the widespread and unnecessary suffering of Ukrainian civilians. Almost 1.5 million people are unable to return to their homes, their schools or their daily lives. Winter has arrived, and as many as 300,000 people residing along the contact line are in need of blankets, fuel and clothes to get them through the cold weather. Yet despite the urgent need, few relief organizations are able to work in the separatist-controlled areas, because, as we heard from John Ging, the separatists suspended and expelled United Nations and international humanitarian organizations in July.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“A robust combined Russian separatist military force, led by Russian officers, continues to operate in Ukrainian territory. We are here because Moscow and the separatists continue to obstruct international monitoring efforts, undermining the ceasefire and the prospects for peace. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitors face obstruction on a daily basis. Just this past weekend, OSCE monitors on patrol were threatened by separatists with automatic rifles. We are here because, in blatant disregard for the commitments that have been made, the Russian-backed separatists continue to attack Ukrainian positions along the line of contact almost every day, at times with mortars banned under weapons-withdrawal agreements.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“We are here because Russia continues to occupy Ukraine's autonomous region of Crimea, in defiance of international law, its treaty obligations, the Helsinki Final Act and resolution 68/262, adopted by 100 members of the General Assembly, which rejected the phony Crimea referendum and called for Ukraine's territorial integrity to be respected. Its authorities there have opened criminal cases against critics of the occupation and specifically targeted the Tatar community, subjecting them to beatings, arbitrary detention and police raids. We are here because even today Moscow continues to arm, train, support and fight alongside separatists in eastern Ukraine. On Wednesday, OHCHR confirmed the continued "inflow of ammunition, weaponry and fighters from the Russian Federation into the territories controlled by the armed groups".”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“But the horrific situation back in June cannot become the baseline for our assessments or our actions. While major combat is down since the 1 September ceasefire, and that is extremely important for all of the lives affected, this crisis remains no less real, no less urgent and no less troubling. There are still, as we have heard, daily ceasefire violations, and, as has been described in great detail today, the citizens of Ukraine, all of Ukraine, continue to suffer enormously. Let us be clear about why we are gathered again and what continues to drive this crisis.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“I also must stress the absolute criticality and centrality of the independent reporting of facts to the implementation of the Minsk agreements and of resolution 2202 (2015). In arguing, as the Russian Ambassador did earlier, that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) should not brief, one does wonder what Russia seeks to hide. But we understand its very unfortunate desire to prevent the Council from hearing inconvenient facts, and it is absolutely essential that we not let that happen and that the facts be presented such as they are. As we have heard today, the present situation in Ukraine looks different than it did when we last met in June, just a few days, then, after a combined Russian separatist force offensive that coordinated attacks west of the ceasefire line in Donetsk.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States. I would first like to join my colleagues in thanking our briefers - Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson, Assistant Secretary-General Simonovic', Director of Operations Ging and Ambassador Apakan. Teams from the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are active on the ground, working in extremely difficult conditions, and we would like to express the gratitude of the United States and, I am sure, of the broader international community to them. We thank Foreign Minister Klimkin and Foreign Minister Linkevicius for joining us. I would like to start by apologizing for the late start to this meeting; the delay was unavoidable and very important to protecting the integrity of the Security Council.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to warmly welcome the Deputy Secretary- General, His Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, and I give him the floor.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Ukraine to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Ivan Simonovie, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights; Mr. John Ging, Director of the Coordination and Response Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; and Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. On behalf of the Council, I welcome Mr. Ging and Ambassador Apakan, who are joining today's meeting via video-teleconference from Kiev.”
2015-12-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7576 (2015) · source
“We in the Security Council, the United Nations and the international community must all bear that burden with him. That is why the Council must meet regularly to discuss the human rights crisis in North Korea. It is the reason that we must all bring greater urgency to not only witnessing and documenting those horrors, but to taking steps that will help to stop them and one day bring to justice the perpetrators of those crimes. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Japan.”
2015-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7575 (2015) · source
“One of them was a young man named Joseph, who told how he had been orphaned when he was 12 years old, after his father starved to death and his mother was sent to a prison camp for trying to cross the border. Joseph said that he spent his days begging in the streets and his nights sleeping beneath bridges, a life he described as marked by loneliness and hunger. After three years, Joseph managed to escape and eventually made his way to the United States, where he now lives. Joseph told the people at that meeting that while he was grateful to have escaped, he felt an unshakeable burden, knowing that millions of his fellow North Koreans were still trapped in the conditions that he had managed to escape. That is a burden that Joseph should not bear alone.”
2015-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7575 (2015) · source
“A report published in September by the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea reported that, according to multiple interviews with former prisoners who had escaped the country, approximately 800 of the 1,000 women held in one prison labour camp, known as Kyo- hwa-so No. 12, were people who had been forcibly returned to the country. They had made it out. Instead of returning people fleeing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to gulags, countries should welcome the North Korean refugees and asylum seekers who reach their territory. The rest of us must do our part, in terms of resettlements. Let me conclude. In April, the United States co-hosted an event here at the United Nations in which three people who had escaped from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shared their experiences.”
2015-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7575 (2015) · source
“Our continuing spotlight on the situation sends a clear message that we hope will reach the North Korean people, tight as the regime's control over information may be. We will not turn a blind eye to your suffering. You, like all human beings, deserve to be treated with dignity. We will continue to press for the nightmare that you are living to end. To the regime, our message is just as clear: we are documenting your crimes, and one day you will be judged for them. United Nations States Members, particularly members of the Council, must stop sending people who try to flee from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea back to that country. We know the gruesome punishments that await North Korean escapees who are sent back against their will. Yet the practice continues.”
2015-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7575 (2015) · source
“But it would be a grave mistake to think that, in order to obtain such access, any country or any body should soften its criticism of what is, by every measure, the most repressive regime on the planet. We must do the exact opposite by speaking with objectivity and firmness about the real conditions on the ground. For the Security Council, it is critical not just to discuss the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, but to consider the commission's recommendation that the situation in North Korea be referred to the International Criminal Court and that we consider other appropriate action on accountability, as 112 Member States urged the Council to do, just a few weeks ago.”
2015-12-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7575 (2015) · source