YouSaid · the spoken record

Rugwabiza

lines on the record: 277
first: 2016-12-08
most recent: 2023-10-26
sittings or episodes: 25
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

“At this point, allow me to move onto another element that is dear to Rwanda, which concerns increasing the number of women in peacekeeping. We were very happy in July to be able to deploy a police unit that was in full parity - 50 per cent male and 50 per cent female. This shows that it is possible. We worked very closely on this with the Secretariat; however the key element here in in being able to do so is really leadership - both political and military. Of course, one needs to have well-trained female police or military officers. In conclusion, I will say that we have and have had a range of interventions that are available to all of us to strengthen peacekeepers' performance. This intervention will need the support, coordination and cooperation of the Security Council, the Secretariat and all Member States.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“Finally, we would like to emphasise the need for effective and greater delegation of authority to field commanders. It is our sense that the Secretariat has the authority required to do so, so we believe that we do not need a specific, additional resolution in that regard. We think that the Secretariat should be able to use the authority it has. Still under accountability, I will not underline points that were underlined earlier by previous speakers. However, please allow me to emphasize one point that is dear to all troop-contributing countries - the caveats. We will once again call on all troop-contributing countries to remove all caveats that impede performance. As was well noted by one of my colleagues, the caveats of some contingents are an unbearable tax on other contingents.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“We encourage all Members to endorse the Principles and use them for their intended purpose as simple operational guidelines for our peacekeepers and commanders in the field. The Principles are informed by Rwanda's experience. We know from experience what the lasting impact on peace and security can be when there is a failure of peacekeeping. We have experienced both the worst and the best of peacekeeping, and we know that peacekeeping can make a major difference. With respect to accountability, we should ensure that personnel in the field and at Headquarters are held accountable when it comes to peacekeeping. Here, we would agree with the very practical and pertinent proposals that were presented this morning by Under- Secretary-General Lacroix.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“Here, I would like to further develop the idea of operational performance. We have, with a number of other Members, put together a robust set of guidelines in the Kigali Principles that, when implemented, effectively enhance peacekeeping performance while providing for accountability. For example, the Principles seek to enhance performance by encouraging high levels of training, ensuring that peacekeepers are well prepared to protect, consistent with the mandate, and to take disciplinary action against personnel if and when they fail to act to protect civilians, and when circumstances so warrant. We are encouraged that countries contributing more than 50 per cent of peacekeeping troops and that those funding more than 50 per cent of peacekeeping have endorsed the Kigali Principles.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“102) This framework should contain well-thought-out benchmarks that we can be used both to measure and to monitor peacekeeping performance. Secondly - and here, I should like to emphasise a point that was made by Ambassador Haley earlier - the Security Council should ensure that the Secretariat underlines troop capabilities, operational readiness and the performance record, including the willingness to fully implement Security Council mandates, at the core of which is the protection of civilians. The performance record cannot be recognized only by rewarding troops, as has been happening; it should also be taken into account for future deployment. I think we have reached a level of maturity in United Nations peacekeeping where deployment can no longer be dictated only and exclusively by considerations that are not performance-related.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“As a top troop- and police-contributing country, Rwanda considerers today's discussion and debate to be of critical importance. I should like to focus my remarks today on a few points. I will start by addressing some of the ways of improving the peacekeeping performance of civilians and uniformed personnel. I recall that, as rightly outlined in the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, the Security Council should continue to encourage and support the Secretariat to develop "an integrated performance policy framework for mandate implementation based on clear standards for all relevant civilian and uniformed personnel working in and supporting peacekeeping operations in the Secretariat and missions" (A/72/19, para.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Rugwabiza: At the outset, I would like to congratulate the United States and Ambassador Nikki Haley on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of September. I assure the United States of my delegation's full support during its presidency. I would also like to commend the United States in particular for convening this important debate on United Nations peacekeeping reform, with a focus on improving peacekeeper performance. Rwanda aligns its statement with those delivered by the representative of Cote d'Ivoire, on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council, and by Ambassador Fatima Mohammed, on behalf of the African Union I also highly commend and thank the Under- Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Lacroix, and Ms. Blakemore for their briefings.”
2018-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8349 (2018) · source
“To cite the words of one of our colleagues this morning, the representative of the United States, ifwe do not deal with those children, we will have to deal with the adults that they will become. I would like to conclude by reiterating Rwanda's commitment to ensuring that the rights of all children are respected and protected, regardless ofthe context or circumstance. Rwanda is a signatory to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Every year in Rwanda we hold a Children's Summit, organized by children and held in our national Parliament. All the recommendations that emerge from the summit integrate the children's needs, priorities and demands. As a Government, we are accountable for following up and implementing those recommendations. If that might be of use for others' consideration, I would be happy to elaborate further on our annual Children's Summit. Lastly, I would again like to echo something discussed by many speakers today, which is that if we do not protect and provide children living in conflict situations with what they need, we will have to deal with the adults that they will become on the battlefield.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“We urge the members of the Security Council to consider consulting with child protection experts in order to ensure that adequate capacity is provided in order to meet the mandates of peace operations with regard to children and their needs. I should not conclude without recalling Ms. Londofio's powerful remarks this morning, which showed that all children, including former combatants, have the power to become agents of change if they are just given the chance and a platform. Children are more resilient and more likely to become positive agents for change if we give them that chance and platform. The case of Ms. Londofio speaks for itself. Today the importance of collecting best practices has also been mentioned, and I would like to share with the Council one that we in Rwanda provide today and the platform that we use.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Lastly, we must ensure that our reintegration efforts are very specific - specific to girls, for example, and to children in particular circumstances. Rwanda believes that it is crucial to strengthen the links between the protection ofchildren, the rights ofthe child and conflict prevention. The importance of access to education and health care cannot be overemphasized. I would like to echo the brilliant words of the Prime Minister of Sweden this morning when he said that this is simple. It is about providing security, safety, health care, education and food - just putting food on the table. It is as simple as that. This is not about a very sophisticated mechanism. More importantly, those are our obligations. They are not optional. We may have optional protocols, but our obligations to our children are not optional.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Whether they are combatants or direct victims of a conflict, they are still victims. We would like to propose some recommendations by Rwanda. Many of those here will already have heard many of them today. First of all, we really have to focus on prevention, with preventive tools and strategies for protecting children at risk of being affected by armed conflict. Secondly, we must put in place the means for strengthening accountability. Thirdly, we need to ensure that the protection of children is included as a separate part of every peace process and negotiations on peace agreements. And fourthly, we must support Member States and the various parties to a conflict by providing them with the tools to help them protect children.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“What is even more worrying is that those are just the documented cases, and the extent of the undocumented cases is essentially unknown to any of us. Our efforts to ensure that the international community provides the tools necessary to address violations with the greatest possible focus, break the cycles of violence and address the root causes of armed conflict, while preventing new armed conflicts from breaking out, should be our collective focus. Even if it is stating the obvious, the rights of children must be respected and protected, regardless of the context or circumstances, and even when they are in very poor, vulnerable or disadvantaged conditions. The fact is that the only side that children belong on in any armed conflict is the side of the victims.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“If it is any inspiration, what I can say is that a large part of what we are still dealing with today is related to the trauma experienced by today's young adults, who were children then. The consequences are far-reaching and last a very long time. Simply based on our experience, therefore, I can say that it is not only absolutely essential to protect children today in order to enable a country's rapid and inclusive development, but also to enable it to be resilient and get back on its feet as soon as possible. That is what we can share from our own experience. My delegation is very concerned about the increase today in the documented cases of verified violations of children by both Government forces and non-State armed groups in conflict.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Londono, who really shared with us her testimony this morning. The impact of armed conflicts on children is catastrophic; we cannot overemphasize this. They have serious consequences for children's development, both in terms of physical scars and of the invisible ones that can be perceived only in children's learning and their emotional and social development. Nearly 250 million children live in countries affected by violent conflicts. In the relatively recent past, Rwanda was a country in conflict, and the perspective I would like to offer the Council today is based on the fact that when we were in conflict and experiencing the genocide of 24 years ago, children were not spared on the sides of either the killers or the victims.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“This does not come as a surprise to us; we still recall vividly Sweden's first presidency of the Security Council, which put prevention of conflict at the heart of its work; that was the very first time our Secretary-General participated in the work of the Security Council. So it is only fitting that today we are moving one step forward by putting a focus on children. Rwanda welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2427 (2018) and is very pleased to be one of the sponsors of this important resolution, which bolsters the mechanisms to prevent violations against children in conflict situations. I should like also at this point to thank very much this morning's briefers, in particular the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Gamba, as well as the survivor - I will call her a survivor - Ms.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Through you, Madam President, I should like very sincerely to thank Sweden for having convened this very timely and salient debate. The personal participation of His Excellency your Prime Minister in the debate on this issue places this issue at the highest political level, which is the level at which we need to place such an important matter. We are also very happy to see that a number of very high- level officials were here this morning. We were here this morning - not among the high officials - and were very happy to see that the issue is being put at the highest political level.”
2018-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8305 (2018) · source
“Let me end my remarks by thanking the President and the Council once again for this opportunity to explain our concerns. The meeting rose at 1 pm.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“First, the Mechanism should be urged to put in place clear rules of procedure for early releases and to apply them transparently instead of leaving such a grave decision of early release to personal discretion rather than rules. The credibility of the Mechanism and its legacy and contribution to the fight against impunity are at stake. Secondly, rules of procedures to be put in place should include conditions to prevent genocide convicts benefiting from early releases from engaging in future activities promoting genocide ideology and denial. Again, the rules of procedure of the Special Court of Sierra Leone can serve as best practices. We are not asking for anything to be reinvented. Rather, we are offering those best practices for consideration and implementation.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“As I mentioned earlier, we are happy that for the first time in the six years of the Mechanism we received a request a few weeks ago for the Government's opinion. Rwanda has shared its concerns in various interactions with the Mechanism, with both the President and the Prosecutor. No change has been made to date to the rules of procedure for early release. We are aware, however, of the constructive attempts by a number of judges and the Prosecutor to amend the current rules with stronger provisions for accountability and obligations of transparency. However, we regret the current paralysis on the matter, as there has yet to be any change. In conclusion, allow me to submit two very modest suggestions to the Council.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“We believe that such elements are lacking in the Mechanism's process of determining eligibility for early release. Yet they are reasonable accountability mechanisms. There is absolutely nothing extraordinary about requesting accountability, and it is a mechanism that needs to be put in place to ensure that released convicts do not re-engage in criminal activities. Thirdly, the Special Court requires that witnesses, victims, the Government of the home State and representatives of requested areas of release are all informed and engaged regarding early releases. In particular, they should have an opportunity to provide their opinion on requests for early releases prior to the Court's decision.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“We expect and we hope that the Council will be able to advise the Mechanism to consider those best practices. The first practice is under the eligibility criteria for consideration for conditional early release. The Special Court requires that to be eligible for early release a convict has to prove a "positive contribution to peace and reconciliation in Sierra Leone", such as "public acknowledgement of guilt, public support for peace projects, public apology to victims, or victim restitution". The individuals being released by the Mechanism are well known to deny the historical facts for which they were convicted. The second practice of the Sierra Leone Court is stringent requirements for supervision, restitution to victims, renunciation of ideologies contrary to peace and reconciliation, and proposed areas of resettlement.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“A number of those who have benefitted from early release have since regrouped and formed an association denying the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and repropagating the genocide ideology. They are free to undertake such criminal activities without fear of consequences because they were released without conditions. That will remain a part of the Mechanism's legacy. The Mechanism and its current President will not be able to escape that legacy. I would like to point to some of the best practices of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. I will spare the time of the Council and reference its Practice Direction on the Conditional Early Release of Persons Convicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, issued on 1 October 2013. Those best practices provide a robust set of accountability mechanisms that the Residual Mechanism could itself use.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“The problem lies in the lack of consideration of the gravity of the crimes committed. The problem lies in the lack of consideration of the total absence of remorse expressed by those who are benefitting from those early releases. The decisions have been made solely by the Mechanism's President. The Government of Rwanda and the associations of victims and survivors have learned about those decisions in the media. We continue to wonder what weight was given to the gravity of the crimes committed by those convicts. We continue to wonder what weight was given to their lack of remorse. We continue to wonder what the Mechanism, and particularly those who have made those decisions, think when they themselves hear those released denying their crimes and the genocide against the Tutsi.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“One may ask what allowed the Mechanism to seek our opinion this time even as the rules have remained unchanged. I would like to elaborate a bit on a point made earlier regarding the failing credibility of the Mechanism due the lack of transparency on the issue of early releases. In Rwanda we believe that the purpose of incarceration is to rehabilitate individuals. Therefore, what we are opposed to is not the principle of early release in itself. Let me remind the Council that there is no country on Earth, no jurisdiction, that has to date commuted the sentences of or released early more convicts of genocide than Rwanda has. The problem lies in the lack of transparency and accountability in the process used by the Mechanism to effect those early releases. The problem lies in the criteria that are being used.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“A few weeks ago, my Government was very surprised to receive, for the first time, a request from the President of the Mechanism for an opinion on three additional applications for early releases of genocide convicts. We were surprised because the Government had never received such a request in the six years of the existence of the Mechanism. While we appreciate the opportunity to provide our opinion, which we did, that unique request from the Mechanism underlines the lack of transparency and the inconsistency we have been denouncing for a long time. It also demonstrated that the decision not to seek the opinion of the Government of Rwanda before or not to consult the associations of victims and survivors before was at the personal discretion of the President of the Mechanism and was never a matter of his role.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“With those positive achievements in mind, it should be a matter of concern to all of us that the legacy of the ICTR and the credibility of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals are seriously at stake. Since the Mechanism was established, in 2012, it has released, before the end of their sentences, more than 10 masterminds of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Those early releases were granted in non-transparent circumstances and using inconsistent procedures. It is worth noting that the Mechanism was not able to apprehend or prosecute a single genocide fugitive during the same period due to the lack of cooperation by Member States.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“In the light of the magnitude of the challenges to justice in the post-genocide era in Rwanda, my Government accords particular importance to an international mechanism that is functional and can reinforce our own efforts in ensuring justice after the atrocious crimes of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was a pioneer in establishing a credible international criminal justice system. Some of its achievements, especially the verdicts it delivered in relation to rape and media as weapons of perpetrating genocide, remain significant milestones for jurisprudence on genocide.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“First of all, it my pleasure to congratulate you, Mr. President, and Russia on assuming the presidency of the Security Council during the month of June. Let me assure you of Rwanda's full cooperation and active participation during your presidency. I thank Judge Meron and Prosecutor Brammertz for their reports (see S/2018/347 and S/2018/471) and briefings. I also take this opportunity to particularly thank the Office of the Prosecutor, and Prosecutor Brammertz himself, for the favourable cooperation between his Office and the Prosecutor and judicial authorities in Rwanda, including cooperation on the apprehension of the remaining fugitives who are still at large. This is a fitting occasion to assess the results and effectiveness of an important institution for international justice.”
2018-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8278 (2018) · source
“However, when warring parties specifically target civilians and that protection is not provided, it is our collective responsibility as States Members of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, to ensure that the protection of non-armed civilians, internally displaced persons, United Nations agencies and humanitarian actors who live and work in complex and deadly environments remains a priority task for United Nations peacekeepers when present on the ground. That is our collective responsibility as United Nations Members and will continue to inform Rwanda's commitment to peacekeeping, both in the African Union and at the United Nations.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“We learned from our tragic history and have since worked relentlessly to make our humble contribution to the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping with respect to fulfilling the noble and sacred duty of deterring violence against civilians and protecting civilians in situations of armed conflict. Lastly, enhancing the protection of civilians in armed conflict requires a paradigm shift from conflict management to prevention. States bear, and will continue to bear, the primary responsibility to protect civilians.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Such action encompasses making a show of force as a deterrent; interpositioning our forces between armed actors and civilians; and taking direct military action against armed actors with clear hostile intent to harm civilians." Fourthly, the Kigali Principles were born ofa desire to improve our understanding and implementation of the protection of civilians. We have sometimes been the target of criticism and questions about their origin. I would like to say that the origin of the Kigali Principles is very clear. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland visited Rwanda last month. The origin of the Principles dates back to 1994, when we Rwandans were left to fend for ourselves.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Secondly, I want to emphasize that the Kigali Principles do not supersede the Charter of the United Nations, nor do they contradict the principles of United Nations peacekeeping or go beyond a mission's mandate. After all, all United Nations peacekeeping missions' mandates are decided by the Security Council. Thirdly, the Kigali Principles do not exclude the use of force. As stated in paragraph 3 of the Kigali Principles, we agree "to be prepared to use force to protect civilians, as necessary and consistent with the mandate.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“A 2014 report of the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (A/68/787) found that in 507 attacks reported on civilians between 2010 and 2013, peacekeepers almost never used force to protect those under attack. The report made three recommendations: first, enhancing operational control over contingents; secondly, improving the clarity of peacekeepers' tasks at the tactical level; and thirdly, improving the working- 1evel relationship between peacekeeping operations and humanitarian entities. The Kigali Principles directly address the second recommendation, and I would like to take this opportunity to commend the peacekeepers who are effectively implementing them on the ground.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“In that regard, I would like to highlight four points on how the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians address the political commitment to protecting civilians and improving the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping operations, given the circumstances that are defining today's challenges. First, the Kigali Principles are a set ofbest practices aimed at strengthening the protection of civilians in United Nations-mandated peacekeeping missions. They are based on lessons learned and represent a concrete blueprint aimed at shaping the practices of peacekeepers in accordance with their mandate, including in volatile situations. Over the past decade, the international community has vastly increased the demands it places on peacekeepers and has often asked them to do more with much less in ever more challenging environments.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Today's debate underscores the pivotal importance of the protection of civilians, especially as civilians continue to account for an ever- growing percentage of victims in armed conflicts. Rwanda strongly condemns all attacks on civilians caught in situations of armed conflict. Civilians are never casualties of war; they are always victims of war crimes, either because they are deliberately targeted or because they are used as human shields by parties to conflicts. Rwanda underscores that the protection of civilians should be prioritized in all United Nations peace operations in order to effectively prevent and respond to violations of international law in situations of armed conflict.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank the Polish presidency for convening today's debate on recommitting us to the central responsibility of all peacekeeping missions, the protection of civilians. I also thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mr. Yves Daccord, Director-General ofthe International Committee of the Red Cross, and Ms. Hanaa Edwar for their briefings. The protection of civilians is best served, first, by preventing conflicts and their escalation; secondly, by resolving conflicts through political means when prevention has failed; thirdly, by ensuring accountability for those responsible for crimes against civilians during armed conflicts; and fourthly and most importantly, by putting people and the protection of civilians at the centre of United Nations political and peacekeeping action.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Let us talk about what we can do in each mission to minimize the violence towards civilians and protect them, and to minimize violence against our own peacekeepers.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Rwanda supports his efforts and will be more than happy to work with any other Member that would like to see improvements in peacekeeping operations. In conclusion, I would just like to say in a sobering manner: Let us stop talking about peacekeeping in an abstract manner. Peacekeeping is operational; it saves and protects real lives. We speak from our experience of a peacekeeping failure, but we also speak today from our experience of the success of peacekeeping operations. We have seen both sides of peacekeeping. So let us instead talk about what is and is not working on the ground. Let us talk about the specific effects it has on the women, children and men where armed conflicts are taking place.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“This is not just a matter of knowing what happens; it is the potential to significantly minimize threats, reduce casualties and keep our peacekeepers from serving blindly in the field. Seventh, we need to deepen, institutionalize and operationalize our partnership with the African Union. We have been discussing this partnership for a few years now. Last year, we saw an important improvement through the framework that was entered into by the Secretary-General. We know what to do. We need now to institutionalize and operationalize this framework. Lastly, we must remove the bureaucratic barriers that further bury us in age-old ways that hamper our ability to be nimble and flexible. The Secretary- General's efforts to reform the peace and security pillar target many of these pitfalls. Let us support him in this pursuit.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Fifth, we need the right capabilities and equipment to meet the challenges we face on the ground. That is an endeavour that cannot fall short of adapting to new technologies that modernize our ways. Sixth, we need the right capabilities to provide our peacekeeping missions with reliable and accurate data, particularly in situational awareness, to inform all our operations. For this to happen, again, we know what to do. We know that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Department of Political Affairs, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the regional organizations and the field missions need to work much more closely together and exchange critical information in a timely manner.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“This is key, both for the operational and tactical success of peacekeeping missions and for the reputation of the United Nations and the legacy it strives to leave behind. This is a collective reputation. Fourth, we need to deploy more female peacekeepers. We have heard this point made a number of times this morning. We also emphasize this point, and we agree fully with those who made it earlier. Evidence shows that women increase the effectiveness of missions with a protection of civilians mandate, in particular the protection of women and children, who are more vulnerable to violence in situations ofconflict. The victims of sexual and gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse also find it much easier to interact with female peacekeepers.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“We turn to them when we seek long-term peace and stability that ward off a relapse into violent conflict. We therefore need to support them accordingly. Third - and we understand that this is a tall order - the Secretariat should deploy only troops that are willing to robustly implement mission mandates and to be held accountable, both in the field and to their mission leaderships. When there is a failure to protect civilians, then we need accountability to apply. Accountability is very clear. Accountability does not lie only with the troops. It lies with the entire chain of command. But we need accountability to start being applied seriously if we are to improve peacekeeping operations. That will ensure that we have the best Blue Helmets serving on the ground.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“The protection of civilians in United Nations peacekeeping is defined as using "all necessary means, up to and including the use of deadly force, aimed at preventing or responding to threats of physical violence against civilians, within capabilities and areas of operations, and without prejudice to the responsibility of the host Government". The Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians provide further guidance on this and, as a country with peacekeepers, we apply them. We are happy to say that when they are applied, as we do, they are lifesaving. Second, we need to bolster our support for the indispensable role police play in peacekeeping. We turn to our police officers when we seek the trust of local populations. We turn to them again when we seek to strengthen a country's rule of law.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Rwanda continues to play a critical role in peacekeeping and, as one of the top five troop- and police-contributing countries, with an unwavering commitment to the protections of civilians, today we will speak from that point of view. I would like to make eight brief points: First, we need a unified understanding of the protection of civilians. This is an absolute prerequisite for the way forward. Having differing interpretations of the protection of civilians is dangerous, and we have witnessed its lethal consequences for civilians and peacekeepers alike. September will mark the nineteenth anniversary of the first mission with a protection of civilians mandate. We have had 19 years to debate its substance, so Rwanda really believes that it is time to agree on what the protection of civilians is, and move forward in a concerted manner.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Peacekeeping has been to date the most effective United Nations contribution to peace and security. There is, however, room for improvement. There have been numerous reviews and reports, including on ways to improve peacekeeping operations. I think that today we can all agree that, quite honestly, we know exactly what needs to be done by every peacekeeping stakeholder to make this improvement a reality. So why are the improvements that we are all calling for not happening faster than we see today? We also believe that we need the political commitments that are expressed in this very Chamber to transcend beyond these halls and materialize on the ground and in capitals.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“I thank the Secretary- General; Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Director Fatimata Toure for their insightful briefings this morning and their determination to strengthen peacekeeping. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Kingdom of the Netherlands for convening this critical debate. We have convened in this Chamber countless times, and after each meeting the feeling that remains is always the same - will this be the meeting that changes our course regarding peacekeeping operations? Given the interest across the United Nations membership that we have seen in today's debate - and I was impressed to see that I am the seventieth speaker - I believe that this particular meeting and debate will make a difference.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Therefore, increased investment in Africa's capacities in the area of peace and security is an investment in ensuring that the 2030 Agenda leaves no one behind, including, above all, those affected by conflicts today.”
2017-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8006Reprise1 (2017) · source
“Supporting the African Union Peace Fund, including through United Nations assessed contributions, will go a long way in ensuring predictable financing and contributing to the goal of ending conflicts in Africa. The management structure, accountability and transparency mechanisms built into the administration of the African Union Peace Fund will ensure value for money. However, Rwanda knows through experience that the highest value for money lies in the millions of lives that could be saved by enhancing African capacities to respond to peace and security issues. None of the 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be realized without peace and security.”
2017-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8006Reprise1 (2017) · source
“Thirdly, in post-conflict situations, Rwanda recommends that investment in institutions' capacities and inclusive governance systems be given priority in development cooperation. Fourthly, the lack of predictable and sustainable funding remains a major challenge to the ability of the African Union to engage more effectively and use its comparative advantage to address conflicts and sustain peace on the continent. In order to address that challenge, the African Union Summit decided, at its twenty- fourth Ordinary Session, held in Kigali in July 2016, to finance 25 per cent of the African Union-led peace support operations. The African Union Peace Fund, established by the African Union, and Mr. Kaberuka's report serve that purpose.”
2017-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8006Reprise1 (2017) · source