YouSaid · the spoken record

Rycroft

lines on the record: 1,262
first: 2015-05-12
most recent: 2018-01-10
sittings or episodes: 197
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

“Yet as the country moves forward and tackles the challenges that remain, this morning's attack shows that we cannot afford to let international attention to Afghanistan slip. Through this regular debate and through the work of UNAMA, we must maintain our focus.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“For the second time in Afghanistan's history, there is a female provincial governor, and only last week, the first female judge was nominated to the Supreme Court and the first female officers graduated from the United Kingdom- supported national officer academy. All of this would have been unthinkable a decade ago. These gains must be protected and further promoted. Let me close by stressing that we must never forget the sacrifices made by the men and women of Afghanistan and the international community to bring Afghanistan this far. Thanks to their commitment, so much has been achieved over the past 13 years. Life expectancy is rising. Health care is improving. Millions of children - and millions of girls in particular - are now receiving education.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“There are two immediate steps that the Government of Afghanistan can take to improve the lives of women and girls: first, implement fully the law on the elimination of violence against women, so that the perpetrators of these terrible crimes face justice; secondly, publish soon Afghanistan's national action plan for women and peace and security. We hope it will set a clear framework for improving women's rights across the country. In highlighting the challenges, we should not lose sight of progress. As my Afghan colleague outlined, Afghanistan now has women running the Ministries of Higher Education, Women's Affairs, Counter Narcotics and Labour and Social Affairs.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“The time has come for the Taliban to sit down at the negotiating table for the sake of the people of Afghanistan. Turning to the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, we welcome President Ghani's commitment to making fundamental and sustainable changes for Afghan women. These need to include participation in decision-making and economic empowerment. Despite his commitment, women and girls continue to face significant challenges, including violence against them and against those who defend their rights. We condemn the horrific killing of Farkhunda Malikzada in March. Her death was a tragic reminder of the scale of the challenge facing Afghan women and girls.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“However, no matter the strength of the ANSF, a political settlement remains the best prospect for bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan. We welcome President Ghani's commitment to a peace process and his efforts to build regional cooperation for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. The continued violence experienced by innocent civilians gives us a clear illustration of why a political solution is so vital. The rise in civilian casualties highlighted in the Secretary-General's report is worrying. We deplore the Taliban's large-scale attacks against civilian targets, including Government officials, legal professionals and those participating in cultural events. These are in stark contrast to Taliban statements on protecting civilians.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has a crucial role to play throughout this process in support of the Government's reforms. Its continued presence in Afghanistan underlines the international community's commitment. This year's fighting season and the intensification of armed clashes is testing the capabilities of the ANSF. They are showing that they are capable of meeting this challenge. I pay tribute to their resolve and the sacrifices they are making for the sake of security and stability in Afghanistan. Let me take this opportunity to reiterate the United Kingdom's commitment to a strong and self-sufficient ANSF. We are proud of our support for the Afghan National Army officer academy, and we will maintain our contribution of $110 million each year to the ANSF until at least 2017.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“It is Vital that this vision now be translated into actions to address Afghanistan's many challenges. The remaining Government appointments should be made swiftly. Reforms should be implemented quickly in order to build a better future for all Afghans. The forthcoming meeting of senior officials from the international community and Afghanistan to be held in September 2015 should take stock of how far the country has come in tackling corruption, strengthening the economy and improving women's rights. That meeting is also a chance to look ahead to the longer-term development of Afghanistan. We hope that it will agree on a refreshed framework between the international community and the Government.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“Afghanistan has clearly demonstrated its commitment to democracy, as the Afghan people courageously turned out to vote in the millions during last year's elections. The United Kingdom will continue to stand alongside all those who seek a more peaceful, prosperous and democratic future for Afghanistan. After many difficult years and despite such attacks, Afghanistan has now begun its Transformation Decade, with full ownership of its national affairs. The country is moving forward. Cabinet ministers and provincial governors are being appointed, and the National Unity Government has set out an impressive vision for reform at the London Conference. These reforms could have a real impact on day-to-day life in Afghanistan by improving citizens' rights, strengthening accountability and promoting economic growth.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“I join others in thanking the Secretary-General for his report (S/2015/422), Special Representative of the Secretary- General Nicholas Haysom for his briefing and Ambassador Zahir Tanin for his remarks this morning. Ijoin my Spanish colleague and others in strongly condemning this morning's attack on the Afghan Parliament. The Taliban have claimed responsibility. It was a callous attack. It once again targeted civilians in Violation of international humanitarian law. My deepest sympathies go out to all those affected, their families and friends. I should like to pay tribute to the swift and effective response by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The Taliban will further alienate the Afghan people by such attacks.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“How a society treats its most vulnerable - be they children, the infirm or elderly - is always a measure of its humanity, and even more so during instability and conflict. When a society begins to disregard the vulnerable and their rights, instability and conflict will only grow. The litany of Violations and abuses against children in the Secretary-General's report is evidence of that spread. It has spread so far that children across the world, whether from Syria or Yorkshire, are now caught up as both victims and tools of conflict. Through today's resolution we have taken one step forward to ending that, but many more steps will be needed if we are to eradicate this problem. We cannot waver in our resolve.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“We support the efforts of Special Envoy de Mistura to take forward the implementation of the Geneva communique (S/2012/522, annex) and ultimately enable the Syrian people to decide their own future. Across the world, there is a way out. The roles that they play are listed in the Secretary-General's report. Whether Government or non-State armed groups, they can adopt concrete, time-bound action plans to halt violations and abuses. Eventually, that can lead to delisting. Action plans work. We congratulate Chad for the successful delisting of the Chadian national army last year, following the full implementation of their action plan. I call on all listed parties - Governments and non-State armed groups - to follow their example. I would like to conclude with this final point.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“In the case of Syria we cannot afford to become numb to the recruitment, detention, torture, killing and maiming in that children in that country whether by the regime, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant or others. There is a clear call for action by the international community. The Secretary-General's report sets out the case: 889 schools attacked, 413 medical facilities damaged, 368 children killed and 771 injured. All ofthese events took place in 2014. The Secretary-General's report shows that the vast majority of those acts were committed by Syrian Government forces. Thus such, the United Kingdom believes adamantly that situation in Syria must be referred to the ICC. There are ways out. In Syria we maintain that this must be through a political solution; there can be no military solution.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“The trigger in a new resolution is a clear declaration from the Security Council that we will not tolerate the abduction of children in any form or for any purpose. But listing is just the first step towards ending impunity. We want to see more progress on ensuring accountability. States must exercise their national jurisdiction to bring those listed to account, and if they fail to do so, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has an important role to play. As the Secretary-General's report (S/2015/409) notes, the transfer to the ICC of Dominic Ongwen, who himself was abducted as a child in 1989, shows that we must take a long-term approach. We have seen some progress this year, including the conviction and sentencing of Thomas Lubanga, and we welcome the fact that Bosco Ntaganda's trial will commence slhortly. More needs to be done.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“It is truly a global issue, and it requires a global response. Through today's resolution, we have taken a step forward. The expansion of the listing criteria to include abductions will enhance our ability to hold perpetrators to account. The need is great. In February, at least 89 boys were kidnapped in the Upper Nile state in South Sudan. These are in addition to the hundreds of children abducted by ISIL - and by Boko Haram, as our Nigerian colleague so eloquently described in 2014 (see S/PV.7259), making that arguably the worst year for children in recent memory. Those sick groups abduct children to use them forcibly as child soldiers. They bind them into sexual slavery and turn them into weapons of war to terrorize families and communities.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“He was friendly, kind; he worked hard at school. He should have been looking forward to university. Instead, he died a long way from home. Amid the tragedy that left 11 people dead, a sad truth emerged: Talha was not an innocent bystander caught up in the attack, he was a suicide bomber. Talha was a perpetrator, but also a victim. He was a victim of ISIL and its sickening propaganda. He was a victim of violent extremists too cowardly to act themselves. He was a victim of an increasingly violent world that does not distinguish between children and adults in conflicts. I do not seek to excuse Talha's actions. What he did was barbaric and un-Islamic. But in highlighting this example from my own country, I hope to illustrate that we all face challenges to do with children and armed conflict.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this open debate. Iwelcome the leadership that Malaysia has shown on this important issue, and I am pleased at the unanimous adoption of resolution 2225 (2015). I also thank the Secretary- General, his Special Representative Ms. Zerrougui and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Brandt for their briefings. I welcome the powerful words of Ms. Eunice Apio. Her insights into the consequences of abduction require us all to reflect deeply. She has underscored the importance of the Security Council hearing from those working directly on these issues. Last week, a 17-year-old British boy, a child, died in an attack by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on an oil refinery in Iraq. His name was Talha Asmal. To those who knew him, he was an ordinary Yorkshire lad.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“Caveats often do not become apparent until the situation deteriorates, leaving Force Commanders unclear about What their troops can and cannot do. It is that uncertainty that leads to problems. In the worst circumstances, it can lead to command and control failures that put the lives of troops and civilians at risk. Let me conclude by asking all the Force Commanders in the Chamber today what more the Council and the Secretariat can do to reduce those caveats and to ensure that they and the mission leaders are aware of the caveats that remain from the outset. What more can we do to reinforce the importance of the chain of command? I again thank the Generals for their briefings today, and all the other Force Commanders for coming to today's meeting. I look forward to hearing their views.”
2015-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7464 (2015) · source
“I am interested to hear the views on how we can better instil the necessary proactive and creative mindset needed by all peacekeepers deployed to modern peacekeeping missions. In the spirit of openness and transparency, I believe that it is time for us to have a more honest conversation, like that begun today, about the national caveats of troop-contributing countries. I welcome the comments by Major General Finn. Like it or not, caveats exist and we need to work and plan around them. That can happen only if we are clear from the outset about what we are prepared to allow our troops to do. We must also be up front about changes in caveats over time, particularly as the nature of the mission or conflict changes.”
2015-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7464 (2015) · source
“The United Kingdom considers the initiative a great step forward, but I would be interested to hear the Force Commanders' views and those of other Force Commanders in the Chamber. Let me turn now to the threat posed by asymmetric environments, set out so clearly by the Force Commander of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. As new challenges to international peace and security emerge, new technology will have to play a greater role. But, in order to be effective, that new technology must be supported by training and exercises and must be used by troops that come ready and willing to meet evolving threats. Predeployment training is crucial, particularly in cultivating the right mindset and skills to confront asymmetric threats, so that troops stand their ground when protecting civilians.”
2015-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7464 (2015) · source
“We therefore need the Force Commanders' honest assessments of what is working and what is not, and of what is possible and what is not. In turn, we will be honest with them about the resources and equipment we can provide. I would like to ask the Generals what they and other Force Commanders need from the Council to enable their missions to protect civilians effectively. What more can we do beyond providing more resources, and how can we work with them to keep their host Governments accountable for protecting their civilians, particularly in cases such as that of South Sudan, whose Government has so clearly failed to provide that protection so far? A few weeks ago, Rwanda launched an initiative to encourage all troop-contributing countries to agree on a set of pledges to better protect civilians.”
2015-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7464 (2015) · source
“More broadly, we favour honest and open communications, including through meetings such as this one, to create ever-greater openness about peacekeeping more broadly. The protection of civilians is an issue that the United Kingdom cares deeply about. In the darkest moments of conflict, people all over the world look to the United Nations and its peacekeepers for reassurance and protection, and we all have a responsibility to deliver. To do so, it is critical that United Nations peacekeepers be prepared to use force, where necessary and within their mandates, to protect civilians under immediate threat. The principle of the protection of civilians is now widely supported by the United Nations and Member States, yet the question of how peacekeepers make the decision to intervene and how they choose to do so still poses huge problems.”
2015-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7464 (2015) · source
“The Commanders' insights into the reality on the ground and the constraints they face are invaluable to the Council's decision-making on their mandates and, ultimately, to the promotion of international peace and security, and I would therefore encourage them to always be open and frank so that we can provide them with the best possible support. That need for ever-greater transparency and accountability was also a prominent feature of yesterday's peace operations review panel and, as was said then in relation to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, zero tolerance must mean zero tolerance. All troop-contributing countries must robustly follow up any such allegations involving their troops and report back to the United Nations.”
2015-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7464 (2015) · source
“I welcome this opportunity for a candid and constructive discussion with the Force Commanders. I wish to thank Mr. Ladsous and the three Generals for their briefings. I look forward to their responses to our questions. I would first like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the Force Commanders for their service and leadership, and to the men and women who serve in and support the United Nations peace operations. They are all at the sharpest edge of the Security Council's efforts to preserve international peace and security, putting their lives on the line in the most challenging environments. And sadly, as we have seen in places such as Mali and South Sudan, that dedication comes at a tragic cost.”
2015-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7464 (2015) · source
“I was pleased to hear today's briefing on the growing cooperation among these three important subsidiary bodies. When resources are limited, joint activities such as country visits can save money and add value. We welcome further innovations such as those in future.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the 1540 Group of Experts and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs for their tireless work in helping States comply with the resolution. But more needs to be done. We urge all States to approach the Committee to offer or request support for national implementation. And to those 19 States that have yet to provide a national implementation report, let us be clear in our call to them to do so. We also look forward to starting work on the comprehensive work of the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) under the leadership of Spain. We invite all United Nations States Members to consider how the Committee's work can be strengthened, including through implementation, monitoring, assistance, matchmaking and outreach.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“Fair and clear procedures for the sanctions regime are also needed to keep the list effective and current. We join the Chair in thanking Kimberly Prost for her sterling service as Ombudsperson. Her work has helped to maintain the legitimacy and effectiveness of that important tool. Thirdly, let me turn to non-proliferation and resolution 1540 (2004), the Committee chaired by Roman. The threat of non-State actors, particularly terrorists, acquiring weapons of mass destruction is a nightmare scenario for us all. Today's complex conflicts and rapidly evolving technology make effective implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) an imperative if we are to reduce the chance of that ever happening.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“Secondly, with respect to the Committee that Gerard chairs, let me reiterate support for the work of the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee. That regime remains a key tool for the Security Council to disrupt the sickening activities of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaida groups. But to do so, all States need to fulfil their obligations under the terms of the regime, and the list needs to remain agile to evolving threats. We therefore commend the work of the Al-Qaida Monitoring Team and the analysis it shared with the Council, including its most recent in-depth report on foreign terrorist fighters (S/2015/358). That report gave the Council a valuable understanding of the sheer scale of foreign terrorist flows: an estimated 25,000 fighters originating from over half the United Nations Members.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“First, with respect to the Counter-Terrorism Committee, chaired by Raimonda, we welcome the recent reporting by the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate on foreign terrorist fighters and other issues. Such analysis helps all Member States understand the global risk we face and builds our collective will for global action. As we heard in last month's Council debate (see S/PV.7453), countering extremists' narratives is a major challenge for us all. We welcome the Committee's expanding focus on that issue and trust that countering violent extremism will remain a priority for the Committee in future. We look forward to the Committee's adding to the plan of action to prevent violent extremism recently announced by the Secretary-General. We hope it will include clear metrics for success and quick-win capacity-building ideas.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“Such threats destroy lives and fundamentally challenge our collective efforts to preserve stability and further development across the globe. The work of the three Committees forms a vital part of the global response. Together, we can stop dangerous individuals from travelling abroad to perpetrate those heinous acts. We can freeze their assets and halt their financing of terror, and we can help deny them access to an even more dangerous arsenal of dirty bombs and chemical weapons. The Committees and their United Nations experts are therefore a crucial tool and a resource for the Council. I reiterate the United Kingdom's full support for their work. Let me now address each Committee in turn.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“I welcome this opportunity to review the Council's subsidiary bodies on counter-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and the sanctions regime against Al-Qaida and its affiliates. I thank our briefers for the comprehensive overview they have just given and the hard work they do on our behalf alongside their day jobs representing their countries on the Council. As so many recent terrorist atrocities have shown, we now face threats to international peace and security that our predecessors would scarcely have imagined when writing the Charter of the United Nations, 70 years ago. Attacks like the one attempted against tourists in Egypt just last week showed that our citizens can now be targeted wherever they are in the world.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“Until Russia is able to demonstrate that commitment in Ukraine, the Council needs to remain actively engaged in overseeing the full and timely implementation of resolution 2202 (2015).”
2015-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7457 (2015) · source
“Let us not forget that the crisis started with the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia. More than a year since that illegal annexation, we cannot lose sight of what is at stake in eastern Ukraine. A return to violence and conflict would come at a terrible human cost for all sides, and it would represent a further attack on the rules-based international system that we have shared and valued for the past 70 years. We all depend on that system enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Any escalation in Ukraine calls into question Russia's commitment to those principles. Our relationship to Russia extends far beyond the borders okaraine, but in order to foster the cooperation and trust we want, those relationships must be based on honesty, mutual respect and dialogue.”
2015-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7457 (2015) · source
“We were disturbed to hear that the economic working group was not able to meet earlier this week because a Russian participant did not attend and that Russian and separatists participants walked out of a session of the Trilateral Contact Group. The European Union has made clear that the duration of sanctions against Russia is directly linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements, and through resolution 2202 (2015) this Council has made clear that we too expect complete compliance with the Minsk agreements. So there is no military solution. The Minsk agreements are the only way that stability can be restored in eastern Ukraine. We must all recommit to their implementation and to upholding the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
2015-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7457 (2015) · source
“Russia has the capacity and the influence to control the separatist forces. It must exercise that influence to ensure compliance with the Minsk agreements. If it is not ready to do so, the Council must be clear in its condemnation. Thirdly, it is vital that all parties engage seriously in the process and implement the Minsk agreements. The Trilateral Contact Group and Trilateral working groups are essential mechanisms for making this happen, and their roles are clearly spelled out in paragraph 13 of the February Minsk agreement. We need all parties, both Russians and Ukrainians, to engage in these groups in a genuine and constructive way.”
2015-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7457 (2015) · source
“Simonovie, of the High Commissioner's Office, will be able to brief the Council on his recent report on the distressing human rights situation in eastern Ukraine later this month. There are three things that now need to happen to prevent further escalation. First, Russia must immediately withdraw its military forces from Ukraine, stop its flow of weapons to the separatists and make every effort to secure a political solution to this crisis. This includes the immediate release of Nadiya Savchenko, who has been illegally detained for nearly a year. Secondly, we urge Russia to use its considerable influence on the separatists so that they cease their provocative behaviour and live up to their commitment to implement fully the Minsk agreements. The separatists forces are Russia's creation; they are Russia's tool.”
2015-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7457 (2015) · source
“This legislative action suggests that the Russian authorities want to silence the justified questions they are facing from families, journalists and civil society. We have seen Russian-supplied T-72 tanks and Uragan rocket launchers operating on Ukrainian soil, and we have seen countless conveys of supplies flooding across the border from Russia. Russia claims these are humanitarian supplies but will not cooperate with the legitimate Government in Kyiv in a way that allow for verification of these claims. The tragedy and the hypocrisy of the separatists is that the ordinary people of Ukraine are the ones who suffer. More than 6,000 have been killed, and more than 1.3 million have fled their homes. We hope that Mr.”
2015-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7457 (2015) · source
“Action of that kind and on that scale was clearly premeditated. We have previously seen Russian-backed separatists seek to provoke a Ukrainian response and then twist that - as the Russian media are again seeking to do - into claims that it was the Ukrainians who launched an assault. These feints are transparent, and Russian claims and those of their separatist proxies carry no credibility. The world is watching. We know who is supporting the separatists. We have seen Russian soldiers captured in the Donbas. We have heard Russia's attempts to come up with innocent explanations for their presence there. We have noted the amendments to the Russian State secrecy law, which now prohibits the release of information about the deaths of soldiers in peacetime.”
2015-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7457 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this urgent meeting. I thank Under-Secretary-General Feltman and Mr. Hug, Deputy Chief Monitor for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). It is disturbing that the Council must again return to this issue, since fighting has flared up and Russian-backed separatists have broken the ceasefire provided for in the Minsk agreements. The fighting on Wednesday around Marinka and Kyivsky was an alarming escalation of violence in eastern Ukraine. It is clear from the OSCE spot report that this was a separatist assault on Ukrainian military units. The OSCE observed heavy weapons mobilizing in the territory controlled by the so-called Donetsk People's Republic. Those weapons moved westward, in complete disregard of the terms of the Minsk agreements.”
2015-06-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7457 (2015) · source
“Would we know the true horror of the Syrian conflict without the bravery of journalists willing to work in the region? They and so many others give voice to those who have lost their own. It is therefore in the interests of us all to protect journalists and the work that they do. Through their investigations and reporting, the media can bring to light human rights violations. They can act as an early warning mechanism for impending conflict, atrocities or humanitarian disaster. Their insights from difficult and inaccessible places have spurred the international community to action on issues that otherwise might have been missed. Protecting journalists so that they can carry out this role in future is therefore a vital part of the work of the Council.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“The United Kingdom is supporting countries to keep that space open. In the Sudan, we have funded 75 community correspondents in Kassala, El Gezira and Blue Nile states. They will help raise awareness of social issues and ensure that communities have a voice. In Tunisia, we are supporting the Government and media institutions in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework that protects media freedom. We call on all Member States to support journalists in whatever ways they can. Resolution 2222 (2015) recognizes not only the need to protect journalists, but also the contribution that journalists can make to protecting others. Journalists risk life and limb to bring focus to some of the world's most pressing problems, and bring them to the attention of the world at large.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“We welcome the fact that today the Council unanimously adopted the resolution urging Member States to conduct impartial, independent and effective investigations to bring perpetrators of crimes againstjournalists to justice. As we implement resolution 2222 (2015), we must update our concept of journalism for the twenty-first century. In this world of Twitter and YouTube, there have been great changes to the way in which people receive news. We need to ensure that we also work to protect bloggers and social media activists. In Bangladesh, three secularist bloggers have already been murdered this year. The latest, Ananta Bijoy Das, was killed outside his home earlier this month. These deaths have created a culture of fear that has closed down the space for free speech in Bangladesh.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Because of that single day of barbarism, more journalists have now died in France than any other country this year. Together with the high-profile killings of Steven Sotloff, Kenji Goto, James Foley and many others, it is clear that journalists have become even greater targets for terror, whether they are in a conflict area or not. We must end impunity for those who target journalists. In 90 per cent of cases of murdered journalists, there are no convictions. That is not acceptable. Those who commit such crimes must be held to account, whoever they are. The failure of States to do so only perpetuates the culture of impunity and so precipitates further attacks.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“We are also concerned by growing levels of harassment ofjournalists. Recent reports ofintimidation and attacks on radio stations and newspapers in Burundi are a worrying example. We call on the Government there to promote an environment where journalists are free to report on political developments without fear of reprisal. The current media blackout will only serve to increase uncertainty and tension in an already fragile environment. Today, journalists face new threats. The emergence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and other violent extremist non-State actors has created new risks, both in conflict areas and in areas that were once seen as bastions ofjournalistic freedom. This has not been seen more clearly than in the brutal and senseless murder of 10 employees of Charlie Hebdo in Paris in January.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“The protection ofjournalists, both in conflict and in peace, is an essential tenet of any functioning society. The freedom of journalists to report unhindered and unharmed is a vital tool to help hold authority to account. It is a building-block of an open society and an effective democracy. Sadly, this year we have seen 25 journalists killed around the world, and we are not even halfway through the year. To that number, we can add countless more who have been intimidated, injured, detained or kidnapped. The numbers keep growing. Only last week, in South Sudan, Pow James Raeth, a young talented radio journalist, was shot and killed with his friend Yohanes Pal Kwek as they crossed the street in Akobo. We offer our condolences to their friends and family and to those of all the journalists who have lost their lives this year.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this open debate. I welcome the adoption of resolution 2222 (2015) - the first in nine years on this important issue - and congratulate you, Sir, on the leadership Lithuania has shown in moving the issue forward. I would like to thank the Deputy Secretary-General for his insightful briefing and Director-General Deloire and Ms. Pearl for their moving testimony today. I pay tribute to them and their colleagues for their work in truly difficult circumstances. I was particularly struck by the individual stories of bravery that we heard regarding the journalists with moral courage who gave their lives in pursuit of their profession so that all of us may have a better understanding of the truth than the terrorist organizations or oppressive regimes would like us to have.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Contrary to some arguments, we do not think that ill- defined and practically unenforceable new statements by the Council on the subject of non-State actors can in any way improve the situation on the ground. Despite those disagreements, however, we urge all Member States to focus on the overall value of today's resolution, which offers tangible actions for addressing the scourge of small arms and light weapons across all regions of the world, particularly in Africa.”
2015-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7447 (2015) · source
“Third is the important recognition in the text ofthe disproportionate impact that such weapons have on women and children, and fourth is its further acknowledgement of the positive impact of the Arms Trade Treaty. On that point, the United Kingdom maintains that the Treaty is the most effective international tool for creating a responsible and secure international trade in these weapons, and we once again urge all States to support and accede to the Treaty. Finally, we regret the fact that several Council members found themselves unable to support today's resolution. For decades, global policy on conventional weapons has focused on the obligations and responsible behaviour of exporting and importing States. That is the best way to moderate illicit transfers and proliferation.”
2015-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7447 (2015) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption of today's important resolution 2220 (2015). We thank Lithuania for the leadership and tenacity it has shown on the issue, with efforts that build innovatively on resolution 2117 (2013), which was the Council's first on small arms and light weapons. Today marks a substantial step forward in the saving of lives from the scourge of small arms and light weapons, and four elements of today's resolution deserve particular attention. The first is its review of the work of the United Nations departments and entities that address the issue of small arms and light weapons. Second is the concrete proposals it makes for increasing those bodies' effectiveness in future.”
2015-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7447 (2015) · source
“But women can also play a key role in resolving these problems. Women can help combat and eradicate the illicit transfer, the destabilising accumulation and the misuse of small arms. They can do so by participating in all programmes, planning and implementation processes, including at grass-roots level. In the United Kingdom's national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000), we pledge that women will play a key role to control the use of small arms and light weapons, and we call on other Members to do the same.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source
“As we approach the first conference of States parties in August, we will continue to lobby our international partners to support and accede to the Treaty. We want as many countries as possible to join us. We stand ready to offer our expertise, where possible and appropriate, to any State that wants to accede, yet lacks the capacity to do so. Finally, let us not lose sight of the disproportionate and distressing impact that small arms and light weapons have on women and children. As the Secretary- General makes clear in his report (S/2015/289), sexual and gender-based violence is often perpetrated by individuals and militias armed with these weapons. In this fifteenth anniversary year of resolution 1325 (2000), we welcome the report's recommendation to give greater recognition to the impact of these weapons on women and children.”
2015-05-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7442 (2015) · source