YouSaid · the spoken record

Raychelle Omamo

lines on the record

36

first

2020-07-24

most recent

2021-05-07

sittings or episodes

5

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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. “Besides this, as we seek to “build back better” in the throes and aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, the expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council to reflect the diversity of our world and to correct historical injustices is now both urgent and necessary. Multilateralism without inclusion is unsatisfactory and limited. Kenya affirms her commitment to a rules-based ethos, strengthened by robust multilateralism and secured by the Charter of the United Nations and international law.”

   2021-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/456 (2021) · source

2. “Accordingly, this Council ought to pronounce itself unequivocally on this matter and offer the leadership and momentum required to galvanize global action against climate change-related risks to international tranquillity and security. Finally, Kenya fervently believes that the success of the United Nations largely depends on its cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, in line with Chapter VIII of the Charter. Intensifying this inextricable interdependence, especially in the arena of peace and security in Africa, is imperative. Accordingly, the principle of complementarity must attain its salient place in the Council’s vision and decision-making.”

   2021-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/456 (2021) · source

3. “In this regard, Kenya persists in her demands for the listing, without exception, of acknowledged terrorist groups, such as Al-Shabaab, under this Council’s sanctions regimes. Without a consistent, strong, and unyielding multilateral consensus against terrorism, we risk providing space for the expansion of terrorist groups. Furthermore, a firm multilateral consensus must also be established around the nexus between international peace and security and climate change. It is no longer tenable, in our view, to underestimate the devastating effects of climate change, both as an underlying cause and multiplier of conflicts and insecurity throughout our world.”

   2021-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/456 (2021) · source

4. “We therefore fully support the African Union in advocating for international cooperation in expanding vaccine manufacturing within the African continent, as well as for the waiver of intellectual property rights in relation to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics in order to democratize and accelerate large- scale production worldwide. Access to vaccines, particularly within the context of a global pandemic, is a fundamental human right, which the multilateral system must jealously uphold. As the world tackles the COVID-19 crisis, terrorism and violent extremism endure, especially on the African continent. Thus, multilateral approaches to subdue these threats must be bolstered without delay, driven by an invigorated consensus derived from Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1373 (2001).”

   2021-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/456 (2021) · source

5. “Although Kenya wholeheartedly welcomes and appreciates the establishment of the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, vaccine access and distribution have become one of the greatest tests to multilateralism today and pose an existential threat to global peace and security. It ought to be the duty of this Council to affirm this truism — there is a real and present danger that many States in the global South will remain excluded and neglected in the face of growing vaccine nationalism and vaccine hoarding, as well as the uneven production of vaccines. Vaccine exclusion, coupled with the dire economic challenges confronting African States, for instance, will impede global recovery and the return to normalcy for everyone.”

   2021-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/456 (2021) · source

6. “Despite regular calls for global solidarity, responses to the pandemic have, in many instances, paradoxically spawned increased isolationism, nationalism and protectionism, thereby diluting State cooperation and depleting the potency of multilateral agencies. In fact, the stark absence of widely accepted rules, norms and principles to guide the international system through this crisis has become apparent. For this reason, Kenya has joined other States in appealing for a pandemic treaty domiciled within the World Health Organization framework. We would encourage all States to embrace this noble cause so as to enhance rules-based multilateralism.”

   2021-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/456 (2021) · source

7. “Allow me at the outset to congratulate Your Excellency, Mr. Wang Yi, on China’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council this month and for convening this important debate. I also thank His Excellency Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly, for his briefing and welcome our colleague, the new Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Niger. Rarely in the past 30 years has effective multilateralism been as sorely needed as it is today. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically showcased the interconnectedness of our world. COVID-19 has touched us all, exposing State vulnerabilities, revealing stark inequalities in our societies and unveiling latent weaknesses within international institutions.”

   2021-05-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/456 (2021) · source

8. “All actors, including individuals, the private sector and civil society, should, as much as practically possible, be incorporated in mine action activities in a manner consistent with the International Mine Action Standards. In particular, women and youth participation should be emphasized. While our hearts go out to individuals whose lives have been impacted by these explosive devices, we pay tribute to all the men and women who continue to risk their lives in addressing this menace across the world.”

   2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source

9. “Mine Action strategies should respond to the specific country situations and be sensitive to the regional dimensions of the threat. In this regard, regional approaches including joint operations as well as sharing of information and best practices in demining, victim assistance, community awareness, risk reduction and other related activities should be encouraged and promoted. Increased cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations are central to the success of mine action. It is therefore important to reinvigorate international cooperation that emphasizes the provision of technical capacity for countries in need as well as research and development. Mine action should be inclusive.”

   2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source

10. “Since its inception, several other international partners have joined the campaign. For instance, the Government of Germany has plans to develop a regional centre of excellence by providing key structural support needed in training. Open to both men and women, in the spirit of resolution 1325 (2000), the institution has so far trained over 3,000 persons from 22 countries in specialized S/2021/346 S/2021/346 counter-IED modules. Kenya calls on the United Nations and its States Members to support this initiative and help develop this institution into a key regional centre of excellence in Africa, where the threat of IEDs is becoming progressively menacing. International collaboration and support will enable the institution to build the required capacity for peacekeepers deploying to peace support operations in Africa.”

    2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source

11. “In this regard, robust mine action will enhance the mobility and safety of peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, thereby contributing to the protection of civilians as well as stabilization efforts and peacebuilding. Allow me to underscore four points that Kenya believes are imperatives for successful mine action for sustainable peace. We need to integrate mine action in all peacekeeping mandates. All peacekeepers should be properly equipped, informed and trained on mine action. At the regional level, Kenya has taken the lead to facilitate the capabilities of the African Union in counter-IED operations by leading in training and counter-IED operation. Kenya partnered with the United Kingdom in 2015 to build the capacity of counter-IED cooperators and regional operations within the International Peace Support Training Centre in Kenya.”

    2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source

12. “Regrettably, explosive remnants of war, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and insecure stockpiles of weapons and ammunition continue to pose a serious security threat to humankind. We are experiencing an increasing number of civilians, including women and children, being killed or maimed by these devices, especially in conflict and post-conflict situations. The indiscriminate use of improvised explosive devices including by terrorists remains a major threat not only to civilian populations but also to the safety of peacekeeping personnel and humanitarian workers. In the recent past, we have witnessed a surge in the deployment of IEDs against peacekeepers. This was highlighted during the Arria Formula meeting on the protection of peacekeepers from IEDs that most Security Council members co-hosted with Kenya.”

    2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source

13. “I thank the Secretary-General and all the other the briefers for their insightful presentations on this important subject of stronger partnerships for better delivery of mine action and sustaining peace. I was truly inspired by the presentation made by Ms. Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh and the wonderful work being done by women in mine action. I reaffirm Kenya’s unequivocal support for actions that address the threats of landmines, explosive devices, improvised devices and other deadly remnants of war. We appreciate the progress that has been made in addressing this challenge pursuant to resolution 2365 (2017) and other resolutions on United Nations mine action-related activities, particularly in peacekeeping operations and special political missions.”

    2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source

14. “May I, at the outset, congratulate Your Excellency, Mr. Bui Thanh Son, on your appointment and swearing-in, earlier today, as Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. As you assume this important responsibility, I assure you of cooperation with confidence that the existing friendly relations between our two countries will be further strengthened through our collaborative efforts. I also congratulate you on the assumption of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam of the presidency of the Security Council during the month of April. I assure you of Kenya’s support as you deliver on the rich programme of work that you have designed.”

    2021-04-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/346 (2021) · source

15. “Fourthly, and finally, is furthering compliance with resolution 2417 (2018) in mitigating conflict-induced food insecurity, particularly banning starvation as a weapon of war. Decisions and interventions of the Security Council should be based on facts and driven by empirical evidence to ensure a balanced approach to furthering international peace and security. As I conclude, I urge all of us to work together as we explore all available options to end hunger and conflict-induced food insecurity for the sake of all vulnerable populations and international peace and security.S/2021/250”

    2021-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/250 (2021) · source

16. “Similarly, food-related civilian objects, including farms, markets, water systems, mills and food-processing and storage sites and hubs, should be protected as a non-partisan resource that has no role in hostilities. Secondly, countries and regions experiencing armed conflict should do their utmost to provide and facilitate safe and unimpeded access by official humanitarian personnel to vulnerable civilians in need of aid, in line with existing international and regional obligations. Thirdly, humanitarian agencies should extend support not only to food aid, but also to building local capacities for producing food and boosting nutrition resilience. In that regard, support for farm inputs, seed and fertilizers to the local populace in fragile countries is of the utmost priority.”

    2021-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/250 (2021) · source

17. “We are particularly concerned by the food insecurity experienced in communities and areas where there is ongoing violent conflict. It is my hope that this debate will offer new, or better, ways to address food insecurity as a multiplier of peace and security fragilities and threats. I believe that many solutions to ensuring humanitarian access and linking humanitarian aid to national and local food production will emerge, in addition to the following four points, which I will make with the utmost brevity. First, the United Nations, regional organizations and Governments should insist that civilian infrastructure that is critical to food delivery never be deliberately targeted by conflicting parties.”

    2021-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/250 (2021) · source

18. “The drivers of our initiative are ensuring food availability, increasing land under irrigation, scaling up smallholder production and value addition, ensuring affordability and establishing 1,000 targeted production-level small and medium-sized enterprises using a performance-based incentive model in the entire value chain. Those interventions will deliver a paradigm shift that we believe will positively impact development, inclusion, cohesion and sustained peace. However, we are doing that in the face of growing climate-related and environmental challenges in our region. Climate change and associated droughts, desertification, land degradation and desert locust invasions are undermining food security and multiplying conflict threats.”

    2021-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/250 (2021) · source

19. “I congratulate the United States on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of March. I applaud the choice of conflict and food security as the focus of this debate. I thank the Secretary-General and all the briefers for their illuminating remarks on this critical subject. Food security is the core human need. All our other aspirations for development, security and human progress rest on achieving it. That is why food security is one of the four policy priorities being pursued by the Government of Kenya under what is popularly known as the Big Four Agenda.”

    2021-03-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/250 (2021) · source

20. “In conclusion, may we reiterate our call for collaborative human sensitive action and solidarity. In that regard, we applaud the concerted continental and regional actions taken by the African Union in response to the pandemic. Those examples ought to be emulated at the global level. Kenya is also pleased to have assisted the United Nations in establishing a COVID-19 treatment centre in Nairobi to provide critical care to United Nations peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel across our continent. In the spirit of further cooperation, Kenya recommends continued dialogue between the Council and countries in conflict, countries hosting refugees, and humanitarian agencies to improve the response to COVID-19 and other emerging security challenges in a more effective and coordinated manner. We look forward to Council members’ support for that.”

    2021-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/157 (2021) · source

21. “Along with those proposals, and with a view to facilitating vaccine delivery in fragile and conflict-affected regions, we believe that the Security Council should, first, renew its demand under resolution 2532 (2020) for a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda and call on all parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause; secondly, incorporate humanitarian exceptions in its sanctions regimes for that purpose; thirdly, mandate its field operations, including peace operation missions, to facilitate the safe delivery of vaccines, assist local communities in community sensitization and ensure the timely vaccination of peacekeepers and United Nations humanitarian personnel in the field; and, fourthly, call for increased financial support to the COVAX Facility, as well as increased support to countries experiencing conflict and those hosting large populations of refugees.”

    2021-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/157 (2021) · source

22. “To further facilitate equitable and timely access to vaccines, which we view as a global public good, there is an urgent need to democratize and scale up local production and manufacturing capabilities, especially on the African continent, through partnerships, technology transfer and the suspension of barriers related to intellectual property. We therefore reiterate our support for the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union made at its thirty- fourth ordinary session on 7 February, calling for the temporary waiver of certain obligations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19.”

    2021-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/157 (2021) · source

23. “Those include the prohibitive cost of vaccines, limited vaccine supplies, manufacturing deficiencies, increased export restrictions on vaccines and their ingredients, the emergence of viral mutations and the erosion of global solidarity through the hoarding of vaccines, together with vaccine nationalism and opaque bilateral vaccine deals. My delegation therefore welcomes the role of the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, which is multilateral in nature to facilitate the rapid and fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It is gratifying that up to 5 per cent of the COVAX doses are reserved as part of a humanitarian buffer to be used for missed or neglected populations, such as refugees and asylum seekers. We urge the extension of that element of the Facility to populations affected by conflict and insecurity.”

    2021-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/157 (2021) · source

24. “The pandemic therefore demands that the Security Council lead the way in articulating a human-security-based approach to the vexing issues surrounding equitable access to the coronavirus disease vaccines. A new urgency is required to mobilize global responsibility and action to protect lives. I salute the immense efforts made by the international community in the development of the COVID-19 vaccines. However, that optimism is threatened by significant realities that perpetuate inequality and exclusion in our world.”

    2021-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/157 (2021) · source

25. “The implications of the pandemic are particularly serious for the African continent, where a number of zones of fragility and conflict exist and other pervasive health challenges, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and Ebola, continue to plague our populations. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained humanitarian aid flows and exposed vulnerable groups, such as women and children in conflict areas, to further risks. It has eroded peacebuilding initiatives and threatens to reverse critical development gains made by countries in transition or undergoing post-conflict reconstruction. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic is more than a health crisis. It is an existential challenge to global human and economic development and an acute threat to global peace and security.”

    2021-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/157 (2021) · source

26. “At the outset, may I congratulate you, Mr. Minister, on the assumption by the United Kingdom of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of February. I also commend you for including in your programme of work this timely open debate, which affords us the opportunity to consider the role of the Council and the United Nations at large in ensuring equitable, affordable and timely access to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines, particularly in contexts affected by conflict and security. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust upon the whole world unprecedented health, socioeconomic and security challenges, which continue to unfold.”

    2021-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/157 (2021) · source

27. “It is essential that our women peacekeepers, for example, begin to collect gender-disaggregated data in order for us to really assess the impact of climate change and conflict on women. Finally, we wish to emphasize that the Security Council, as a guarantor of international peace and security, can provide the political will, leadership and courage that will enable us to tackle climate change risks head-on. Our country, Kenya, will be joining Security Council as an elected member for the period 2021-2022. A key portion of our efforts will be dedicated to advancing the environmental and climate change agenda, and we look forward to working with all Council members.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

28. “We may need to retrain our peacekeepers to address climate change issues head-on in collaboration with national stakeholders to improve capacities in environmental restoration, build resilience within our communities, collect data and monitor environmental changes, as well as integrate the green economy and clean energy into State stabilization and reconstruction. If we want to build back better, perhaps we need to build back weak States on a green economy platform. Furthermore, let us not forget the role of women and young women as key actors in addressing climate change. For those of us who live in Africa and understand the power of women and the great impact climate change has had on women, it is essential that the issues of women, peace, security and climate change be brought to the centre of the thinking of the Security Council.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

29. “In that connection, I note resolution 2349 (2017), on the Lake Chad basin, which recognizes the nexus between ecological changes and conflict. It is only when we are able to see the United Nations act proactively in restructuring the value systems that underpin peacekeeping operations and peace support missions that we will be able to see real action on the ground and real collaboration towards dealing with the nexus between climate change and peace and security. We must also rethink peace support missions and reconsider humanitarian action.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

30. “More than this, there must be a democratization of access to critical data and a move towards more data-sharing in that area. In addition, we need to strengthen the linkages between the Security Council and regional and continental agencies, such as the African Union and other regional agencies, which have early-warning mechanisms that can provide timely information and analysis to the Council to bring about the transformation that we need. We must not forget that the impact of climate change is local. It is often community-based and individual. As we tackle climate change, we must therefore think locally and act globally. We also wish to encourage the Council to integrate the subject of climate change into its resolutions. We are beginning to see progress in that regard.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

31. “We are clear that if we wish the Council to act effectively, it must have facts and data. That requires a better utilization of Earth observation technologies and scientific research. In that connection, we wish to commend the Federal Republic of Germany for producing an excellent climate risk and foresight assessment report that we believe is driven by science. But even as we call for more collaboration in that area among Member States, international organization agencies like UNEP, private sector research institutions and communities themselves, we must remember that there is a huge digital divide that leaves the developing world behind. Consequently, there must be financing and training to bolster scientific engagement in the developing world.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

32. “Fifthly, it is absolutely essential that we find the nexus between the battle against climate change and the push for development. In Kenya, we are trying to recalibrate our development agenda by promoting the idea of green energy and a green economy. Kenya is a leading producer of green energy and has committed to planting 2 billion tree seedlings by 2020 in order to restore 1.5 million hectares of land that has been degraded and deforested. There is still more that can be done to promote more active participation by the Security Council. In that regard, we call for an improvement in our early-warning and predictive systems, which will enable us to identify and to map climate change hotspots in order to procure critical and verifiable data to enable decision-making and conflict prevention at the level of the Security Council.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

33. “Secondly, there must be a commitment to the climate change responses that are exemplified by key relevant international instruments, which we all must endeavour to ratify. Those include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. In other words, we must walk the talk. Thirdly, as I mentioned initially, we need to strengthen the institutions that have a huge mandate in the area of climate change. Here we wish to emphasize the role of UNEP and UN-Habitat in Nairobi. Fourthly, it is important that countries show commitment at the national level. In that regard, I am proud to say that in Kenya we have put into place policies and legal climate change frameworks, as well as a national climate change action plan to mainstream climate actions into our development planning processes.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

34. “We know the impact of climate change, but despite the mounting evidence of global warming, our response as a community of nations has been plagued by doubt and reversals, making it difficult to progressively move to a low-carbon pathway, which is critical to saving our planet. It is not enough to continually narrate the problem. It is not enough to emphasize what is wrong. We must move away from the arena of rhetoric towards one of real concrete action. In that regard, we would like to offer some recommendations. First, there must be broad acceptance of the nexus between climate change and peace and security. That is something that is not always easy to agree on within our community of nations.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

35. “Climate change, as we know and as we have generally agreed, is an existential threat to most of our States. It is already having an impact on peace and security, not only as a risk in itself, but as a risk multiplier of conflict, insecurity and State fragility. We know that climate change makes things worse. It exacerbates water scarcity and food insecurity. It increases the prevalence of disease and leads to intercommunal conflict over resources. In addition, it brings about the forced migration of communities and the haphazard urbanization of many areas in Africa. That is quite evident in the Horn of Africa, where many States are confronting extreme climate events, the coronavirus disease, terrorism and the worst infestation of locusts in the past 70 years. Climate change pushes State capabilities to the limit.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source

36. “Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to his Excellency Heiko Maas, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, for his kind intervention and for convening this important meeting. We also express our gratitude to the briefers and to all the countries that have co-sponsored this important event. The topic under discussion is very dear to my country, Kenya. As the Council may be aware, Kenya hosts the only United Nations headquarters in the global South, housing the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat. That is why we continue to call for the allocation of more resources and the progressive consolidation of the functions of the Nairobi office to efficiently deliver on its mandate, which includes tackling the pressing challenge of climate change.”

    2020-07-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/751 (2020) · source