YouSaid · the spoken record

Saleh Azzam

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14
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2018-04-23
most recent
2019-04-11
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2
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un-security-council

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  1. “We thank Under-Secretary-General Jean- Pierre Lacroix for having spoken at the workshop during his most recent visit to Lebanon. I would like to conclude by stressing that correcting the gender imbalance in peacekeeping operations is tantamount to strengthening the peacekeeping mechanism. That is a long-term investment in building and sustaining peace. I hope that the outcome oftoday's meeting will be a unified, simple and direct outcome: more women, more peace.”

    2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source

  2. “Greater participation must be encouraged, as appropriate. In November 2015, UNIFIL created a female assessment and analysis support team tasked with various activities, including operational and communication activities with the local people. Since the establishment of the team, we have noticed an increase in the number of social activities involving women and children within UNIFIL area of operation. On 13 March, Sector West of UNIFIL hosted a workshop for the women of the Lebanese army and of UNIFIL to exchange experiences. That event, the first of its kind, was part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the Lebanese army and the United Nations Force and to increase joint activities related to the gender dimension and civilian/military cooperation.”

    2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source

  3. “As Council members know, Lebanon hosts one of the largest United Nations peacekeeping operations, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). For four decades, UNIFIL has played a major role in maintaining stability along the southern border of Lebanon, thereby helping to maintain stability in the country and the region. Lebanon highly appreciates the efforts and sacrifices made by UNIFIL, its commanders and staff, and we thank the contributing countries for their long-term commitment to supporting UNIFIL. In the context of the topic of today's meeting, my country's delegation pays homage to the women working in UNIFIL. By late February, the rate of women's participation in UNIFIL had increased to 5.25 per cent. Although we must recognize that positive achievement, the current rate remains well below what we had hoped for.”

    2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source

  4. “Working towards gender parity in peacekeeping would be a victory for the inalienable right to representation for half of human society - women - and enable them to carry out their duties and responsibilities to strengthen international peace and security. That is an indisputable issue of principle. Furthermore, it is not a question of simply attempting to correct an imbalance of rights; it is also a need for peacekeeping operations as such. Strengthening the role of women within peacekeeping operations would enhance those operations and thereby promote peace. Indeed, women bring comparative advantages to peacekeeping operations that improve their performance. Their presence allows for the empowering of local women and helps to improve and deepen the relationship between local communities and peacekeeping personnel.”

    2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source

  5. “The women and peace and security agenda, as enshrined in resolution 1325 (2000), is among the top priorities of the Action for Peacekeeping initiative. The agenda reflects the acknowledgement of the international community of the need to integrate the gender perspective into peacekeeping operations as an indispensable condition for strengthening and enhancing them. Until recently, women made up no more than 4 per cent of the military component of peacekeeping operations around the world, 10 per cent of the police component and 28 per cent of civilian personnel. Those figures illustrate the considerable gap that exists when it comes to the representation of women, which requires a major effort to bridge.”

    2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source

  6. “It sent a message of support and appreciation to the contributing countries and the peacekeeping operations for their achievements. There is consensus on the decisive role of peacekeeping operations in reducing tensions and defusing conflicts. Within that framework, the Action for Peacekeeping initiative of the Secretary- General provides the international community with an updated and comprehensive roadmap to strengthen and rationalize those operations, and make them better capable of carrying out their mandate. That is why Lebanon was first among the countries to support the initiative. We are convinced that, with its content, objectives and capacity, it can make a qualitative change concerning the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations.”

    2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source

  7. “Mr. Saleh Azzam (Lebanon) (spoke in Arabic): I would like at the outset to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council this month. I wish you and the delegation of Germany every success. My country's delegation also thanks you for having chosen such an important topic for this open debate, namely, women in peacekeeping operations. I would like as well to thank the briefers for their informative briefings. Several days ago, we had a ministerial meeting in the General Assembly Hall on peacekeeping operations, with high-level participation from countries all over the world. The topic of and level of participation in that conference reflected the conviction of the international community that peacekeeping operations play a central role in the maintenance of international peace and security.”

    2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source

  8. “I wish to conclude by taking this opportunity to inform the Council that, on 27 March, the Lebanese Government officially endorsed Lebanon's national strategy for preventing violent extremism. Youth empowerment is one of the nine core pillars of the strategy. The late United States President Herbert Hoover famously said: "Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die". If young people are enabled to play their well-deserved role in decision-making, ifthey are provided the chance to have their say on matters of peace and security, a safer, more peaceful world is more likely to emerge, ascend and prosper.”

    2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source

  9. “They are not only victims and perpetrators, but also solution providers. It is imperative that youth become the centre both of national counter-terrorism and preventing violent extremism strategies, but also of international endeavours on those two interrelated subjects. During the negotiations over the biennial resolution on the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in June 2016, Lebanon was one of the leading countries seeking to include in the text references to the decisive role of youth in the prevention of terrorism, in particular through education. Education is without a doubt a tool of immense importance. It becomes even more so when it instils the values of openness and tolerance, and promotes critical thinking.”

    2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source

  10. “Social media also offer youth a platform to express its hopes, fears and political, economic and social grievances. In that respect, Lebanon boasts a vibrant and powerful civil society and an open press and social media space in which youth-led communities are particularly active. These are opening doors for youth to have a growing and impactful presence in the public sphere. The ongoing parliamentary electoral process testifies to that impactful presence as we are witnessing an unprecedented level of participation and involvement of young men and women, including civil society activists, in various aspects of the process. Terrorism and the violent extremism conducive to it are among the most alarming threats to international peace and security today. Young women and men are present on the different sides of this global challenge.”

    2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source

  11. “The central role of youth in peacebuilding and sustainable development needs to be recognized and integrated into relevant policymaking. With regard to Lebanon, I am glad to highlight the National Youth Policy, which was endorsed by the Lebanese Government in 2012. That policy was a key milestone in our national efforts to empower youth and address their concerns. The final outcome was the fruit of the joint efforts of young women and men from civil society organizations, political parties, universities and high schools, and of relevant ministries, in particular the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as United Nations agencies. Adjacently, civil society shoulders a considerable responsibility with regard to youth empowerment and its ultimate contribution to peace and security.”

    2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source

  12. “The numbers are telling and reflect certain social repercussions of that economic challenge, particularly in the increasing figures of migration to other countries to seek jobs. Among youth, the lack of opportunity and hope can be a recipe for disaster. One expectable, albeit worrisome by-product of economic, social and political frustrations is the desperate resort to radical ideas and beliefs, which are, in certain cases, conducive to violent extremism. We therefore wonder what factors could promote and support young people's active involvement in building peace, thereby preventing violence and contributing to positive social cohesion. To begin with, national Governments should uphold their share ofthe responsibility.”

    2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source

  13. “Mounting political frustration, lack of economic opportunities and diverse social challenges are, regrettably, depriving youth of the spark of hope. In Lebanon, despite the Government's dedicated efforts to address pressing economic challenges, the overall impact of the lack of economic opportunities on youth is tangible. These have also been exacerbated by the economic repercussions of the Syrian displacement situation. As of August 2017, the unemployment rate stood at 25 per cent, with unemployment among young people - those under 25 years of age - at 37 per cent. Although approximately 35,000 young people graduate from universities annually, only 5,000 jobs are found. That is only one job for every seven graduates.”

    2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source

  14. “Allow me at the outset to express my delegation's appreciation for the remarkable efforts made by the Peruvian presidency, and your able leadership of the Council, Sir, throughout the month of April. I also thank you for convening this important open debate, your team for the concept note (S/2018/324, annex), and the briefers for their pertinent presentations. This debate is of particular importance not only to Lebanon, but to the Arab region as a whole. Approximately 60 per cent of the population of our region is under 25 years of age, thereby making it one of the most youthful regions in the world. Yet, quite unfortunately, it is also a region where optimism and zeal are waning among young people.”

    2018-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8241 (2018) · source