YouSaid · the spoken record

Sannoh

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32
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2015-05-05
most recent
2015-09-10
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2
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un-security-council

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  1. “The Secretary-General's report buttresses this hope when, in welcoming the progress made in Liberia, it states that "challenges remain that will require additional assistance on all fronts in order to complete the transition by 30 June 2016 in line with the expectation of the Security Council." (S/2015/620, para. 72) The Government and the people of Liberia therefore call upon the Security Council to leverage its position to mobilize international support for the implementation of the transition plan. We also look forward to forging increased engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission to fully consolidate peace in Liberia. The support of Council members will facilitate Liberia turning the corner from conflict to a future of sustained peace.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  2. “Liberia has complied with its reporting obligations under several human rights conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Liberia remains committed to enhancing the work of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights. In conclusion, when the Council mandated the Government of Liberia to formulate a plan to assume full responsibility over the security architecture of the country by June 2016, the Government entertained the hope that the financial requirements for the implementation of the plan would not be left to Liberia alone, especially given the steep decline in the economy due to the Ebola crisis.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  3. “The insatiable yearning of the people of Liberia for respect of their rights, grounded by our historical commitment to make Liberia a beacon of hope and freedom, makes it very difficult for any Government in Liberia to engage in any persistent patterns of violations of human rights. Therefore, Liberia is making progress. We have intensified efforts to address sexual and gender-based violence, rape and pretrial detentions. Following our participation in the second round of the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva in May, Liberia will be returning to Geneva on 24 September to react to the recommendations put forward by the Human Rights Council.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  4. “With general and presidential elections slated for October in Cote d'Ivoire, and with more than 38,000 registered Ivorian refugees still within the proximity of the border, it is imperative, and the Government has taken steps to ensure, that the borders be routinely monitored with a view to taking actions to avoid conflict along this corridor. We welcome the joint aerial reconnaissance initiative by the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire and UNMIL in that regard. On the human rights front, it is important to underscore that no country is free from human rights violations.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  5. “The Ministry of Justice has restructured the Prosecutorial Department and created five new divisions, one of which is focused on anti-corruption litigation, exclusively handling cases referred to the Ministry by Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the General Auditing Commission. The Government of Liberia remains committed to the fight against corruption and calls upon its partners to help strengthen the investigative and prosecutorial capacity of the Ministry of Justice. On regional issues, the Government has made diplomatic representations to the Government of Cote d'Ivoire regarding the cross-border movement and activities of Ivoirians and Burkinabes.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  6. “These recommendations, if approved, will be subject to referendum, which will take place concurrent with the 2017 general elections. While it is true that corruption continues to dominate public attention, as reported in paragraph 14 of the report, some progress continues to be noted. The Government obtained indictments and prosecuted a number of high profile cases including the National Oil Company ofLiberia case, the case ofthe illegal issuance of logging permits involving officials of the Forestry Development Authority, and the case involving the National Drug Service. As I noted in my most recent statement to the Council (see S/PV.7438), in response to the twenty-ninth report of the Secretary-General (S/2015/275), capacity and resource constraints still pose a threat to the fight against corruption.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  7. “We thank them for their perspectives. However, some significant developments have not been fully covered. First, the initial reactions to the proposed amendment to declare Liberia a Christian State, which caused divisions along religious lines during the constitutional review process, as noted in paragraph 10 of the report, have all been quietened, as the parties realized that it was just a proposal subject to the approval of the Legislature and a referendum. The Constitution Review Committee has now completed its task and submitted 25 recommendations to the President, who transmitted them to the national legislature along with her comments. Some of the key recommendations advanced relate to dual nationality, ownership of land, and reduction of the terms of the President, Senators and members of the House of Representatives.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  8. “To each incident of Violence, however, the Liberia National Police responded and restored control. Where human rights violations by the police have been alleged, the accused are investigated and brought to justice if they are found to be culpable. With respect to the Secretary-General's observations of public discontent, alienation and slow pace of reconciliation, it is the Government's view that through its ongoing programmes in areas such as access to justice, infrastructure development, including an improved road network that facilitates the movement of people and commerce, and the decentralization of governance, it is in fact promoting reconciliation and addressing alienation and discontent. Both Mr. Ladsous and the PBC Chair have commented on the situation in Liberia and the challenges that we face.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  9. “No responsible Government can condone lawlessness, criminality and direct challenges to its constituted authority. As the number of motorbikes in Liberia has increased exponentially, the challenges to the Government have also increased. Working closely with the unions, the Government has now instituted new measures, including limiting the use of motorbikes to certain communities, mandatory registration of all motorbikes, and training and licensing of bike operators, which have considerably decreased motorcycle-associated violence over the past five months. The violence in the concession areas is related to unresolved employer-employee issues and disagreements among the communities' leadership in the negotiation process on the granting of additional land beyond that covered under concession agreements.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  10. “It is imperative to give new impetus to resource mobilization initiatives in support of Liberia as foreseen in the statement of mutual commitments with the Peacebuilding Commission. The Secretary-General has expressed concern about the about the recent surge in violent public disturbances and has linked this surge to deficiencies in the response capacity of the national police, public discontent, alienation and slow pace of reconciliation. However, the violence alluded to represents isolated incidents which relate to motorcyclists and few concession areas. It needs to be taken in context. The essence of any Government is to maintain peace and stability of the body politic, protect human rights and promote the economic and social development of its people.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  11. “The Police, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Armed Forces of Liberia and the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation are also conducting trainings. Procurement plans are now being finalized for the bulk purchase of needed items prioritized under the disaggregated plan. I would like to note at this juncture the Government of Liberia's appreciation for the work of the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the support of the partners in furtherance of the transition. However, the Government is concerned about the slow pace offunding commitment or support for implementation of the plan. There is as yet no funding commitment to close the $60 million gap for this fiscal year.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  12. “On Monday, 8 September, these draft bills had their first reading in the legislature. Work is also currently in progress on a draft alien and nationality law. These reforms will lead, inter alia, to a strong, coherent and modern legal framework for the justice sector, improving civilian and democratic oversight of the sector's governance system, reducing inter-agency overlapping of functions, professionalizing the sector's management systems and ensuring accountability and efficiency. Progress is also being made in the area of training. On Saturday, 12 September, the Bureau of Immigration and the Liberian National Fire Service will be graduating 328 officers who have undergone three months of intensive training.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  13. “The total budget for these activities is $38.8 million. Against this amount, the Government of Liberia has allocated $20 million in its 2015-2016 budget, and 50 per cent of this amount is to be deposited in a dedicated trust account to enhance timely disbursement and rapid implementation. With the support of the United Nations Development Programme, a transition implementation unit has been established within the Ministry of Justice to coordinate the various activities of the plan. With respect to the legal framework, in July 2015, the Legislature opened public consultation on a draft firearms act. A draft police act and a draft bureau of immigration and naturalization act have been drawn up, approved by the Cabinet and the National Security Council, and forwarded to the Legislature for enactment.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  14. “The third objective is to simultaneously pursue all normal conventional security operations throughout the country. The fourth objective is to reform the legal frameworks of the sector agencies. The fifth objective is to build the capacity of the sector. Significant progress has been made towards the achievement of these objectives. In close collaboration with our partners, the Government now has a clear road map, especially with regard to the structural and implementation arrangements of the plan. The Government has disaggregated the plan. The priority activities for implementation between now and June 2016 have been identified and costed with timelines. They include those responsibilities that the Government is to take over from UNMIL and those challenges that pose immediate threats to the consolidation of peace.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  15. “The Secretary-General has noted in his report (S/2015/620) that the assumption of security responsibilities for UNMIL will mark a historic moment in post-conflict Liberia, whereby the fate of the country and the protection of its citizens will, for the first time in more than a decade, be completely in the hands of the national authorities. I agree fully with the Secretary-General that this will be an important turning point in our nation's history. The Government is doing everything possible to make this a reality. As Council members may be aware, the plan for Liberia to assume this responsibility has five strategic objectives. The first objective is to fill immediate security gaps created by the UNMIL drawdown throughout the country. The second objective is to strengthen response capacity in threat-prone regions of the country.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  16. “The steep decline in the economy due to the Ebola crisis remains the greatest challenge to our nation, and the reverberations of that decline will continue to have an impact on all sectors of the Government, especially the justice and security sectors. Permit me therefore to express appreciation to the Secretary-General, members of the Council, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the Liberia configuration, as well as our bilateral and other multilateral partners, for their invaluable support, which enabled us to contain the Ebola scourge.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  17. “It is an honour and a privilege for me to address the Council as it considers the thirtieth progress report of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) (S/2015/620). On 3 September 2015, Liberia was declared Ebola-free for the second time by the World Health Organization. Although this would not have been possible without the strong leadership of our President, Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and the resilience of the people of Liberia, we owe a debt of gratitude to the United Nations and our international partners for walking along with us to cross this bridge. It has been a difficult road for us as a people and a nation.”

    2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source

  18. “Finally, Liberia remains committed to its obligations under the statement of mutual commitment with the Peacebuilding Commission, and we will continue to forge increased engagement with the members of the configuration in order to solidify peace in Liberia, especially given that the pace of resource mobilization in support of Liberia has slowed considerably in recent years. The Government emphasizes that support for the peacebuilding architecture of the United Nations is particularly critical during the process of transition in Liberia.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  19. “The Government very much looks forward to a continued partnership with the United Nations and the global community, so as to reach zero infections and to sustain an Ebola-free Liberia and subregion. The steep decline in the Liberian economy due to the Ebola crisis remains the greatest inhibiting factor for the Government in terms of delivering services to its people. The situation will continue to have an impact on all sectors, especially the justice and security sector. The Government will continue to exert efforts to improve socioeconomic conditions, especially among restive youth; strengthen relations between the State and society; and build trust and confidence among the citizenry, the Government and its institutions.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  20. “While the plan recognizes that it is the responsibility of the Government of Liberia to mobilize the required amount, it also emphasizes the need for increased donor support to the security sector, given the enormity of the challenges. In March 2014, the deadly Ebola virus disease struck Liberia, revealing several vulnerabilities across the service-delivery systems, especially the health- care system. I would like to report that with the robust support of the United Nations and the global community, matched at the national level by strong leadership and a resilient people, Liberia is now on the verge of being declared an Ebola-free society. Liberia has developed an economic stabilization and recovery plan to address a number of the vulnerabilities revealed by the Ebola virus and a subregional plan with Sierra Leone and Guinea.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  21. “The plan emphasizes, among other underlying benchmarks, a holistic Government approach for both ownership and implementation, focusing on State and human security; efficiency, transparency and accountability; democratic and civilian oversight; and coordination, collaboration and partnerships within the security sector and among Liberia and its regional and law-enforcement partners. The plan also calls for capacity-building and for key legal and regulatory policies and frameworks to be strengthened and established where they do not exist, and calls for the review and enactment of legal frameworks, including passage of the police act and the firearms act, among others. The plan is incorporated into the post-Ebola recovery programme. The implementation of the plan is costed at $104.8 million, spread over a period of three or more years.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  22. “In response to resolutions 2190 (2014) and 2215 (2015), which call on the Government of Liberia to assume fully its complete security responsibilities from UNMIL no later than 30 June 2016, and for UNMIL to resume its drawdown, the Government, in close collaboration with UNMIL and partners, has formulated a concrete plan, with timelines and benchmarks, for building the capacity of the security sector to assume those responsibilities. However, the plan formulated by the Government goes beyond the UNMIL transition. It is a peace consolidation strategy designed not only to assume responsibilities from UNMIL but also to consolidate the gains made over the years, and to address the remaining challenges that pose a threat to the peace and security of the country in a more structured manner. The plan has now been disaggregated along these lines.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  23. “In addition to prosecutions, we must now look at other factors, including sociological and cultural dimensions, and embark on concerted efforts through sensitization to fight this scourge. The Government is committed to this process. The Government also remains committed to concluding the constitution review process in a way that further contributes to rather than undermines Liberia's peacebuilding efforts and respect for freedom of religion. We recognize the slow pace of the implementation of the Palava Hut programme as part of the road map for national healing, peacebuilding and reconciliation, but we nonetheless remain committed to fully implementing the programme.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  24. “Other procedures exist that allow for AFL soldiers to be prosecuted in civilian courts if found responsible for criminal misconduct involving civilians. Regarding the media, there is no restriction on or prior censorship of the press in Liberia. However, the media are not above the law but remain subject to it, so much so that where there is a clear and deliberate violation of the laws of Liberia by journalists or media institutions, the Government has a duty to bring those responsible to justice in order to preserve the integrity of the law and for the greater good of society. Sexual and gender-based violence remains a challenge, even in spite of an increase in prosecutions and long prison terms. What is now clear is that criminal justice alone cannot address the challenge.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  25. “The events referred to in the report of the Secretary-General, including in particular the use of excessive force in the violent clash between the community of West Point and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) during the state of emergency, was an isolated incident that the Independent National Commission on Human Rights swiftly investigated. The Commission's findings did not conclude that the AFL was responsible for the shooting, so no criminal investigation was triggered. We recognize the need to establish a military tribunal consistent with the uniform code of military justice, which the Government is working on, but the fact that criminal proceedings did not result from the incident was not due to the absence of such a tribunal.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  26. “This exercise is expected to be completed by the end of this month, and thereafter submitted to the President for onward transmission to the legislature. The draft firearms act is still in the Legislature, and we are informed that it will soon be passed into law. On the human rights situation, the Government does not condone violations by any of its institutions and remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under local and international law. The Government routinely investigates incidents of human rights violations and abuses, and, consistent with due process, brings those responsible to justice.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  27. “The Transnational Crimes Unit, which includes representatives from all the security agencies, is functional although the meeting of its Board remains erratic. The Minister of Justice has directed the Board to meet regularly. The Government has also embarked on vigorous steps to reform the Liberia National Police and instil discipline and professionalism among its rank and file. Four senior police officers were recently dismissed by the President in this regard. Two separate independent probes are currently in progress involving allegations of police misconduct, which may warrant criminal prosecution. The review and reform of the laws relating to the security sector is a dynamic and ongoing process. The draft police act was recalled by my office with the view to providing a clear direction on a number of policy issues.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  28. “An Anti-Corruption Division staffed by experienced and seasoned prosecutors is in the process of being established in the Ministry of Justice; when fully operational, it will speed up the prosecution of cases of corruption. New legislation is also being drafted to establish an additional court dedicated to cases of corruption. The Government is currently working on decongesting the police beyond Montserrado county into the counties so that the level of deployment is linked to population ratio. Concerns about police brutality are troubling. The Professional Standards Division of the Liberia National Police routinely investigates acts of police misconduct and disciplinary actions, including dismissals and prosecution, are taken.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  29. “It could be recalled that the President in her most recent address to the Legislature urged it to amend the act establishing the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission so as to give the Commission full prosecutorial powers. What is not being said is that prosecuting corruption cases requires capacity and resources that are not readily available. Hence the Ministry prioritizes cases that have pervasive impact, such as the National Oil Company case involving the bribing of legislators, the illegal issuance of logging contracts involving officials of the Forestry Development Authority, and the National Drug Service of the Ministry of Health, among others.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  30. “Both the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Ambassador Olof Skoog of Sweden, Chairman of the Liberia configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, have commented eloquently and truthfully on the situation in Liberia, the challenges that we face as a nation and people, and the need for international support. We could not agree more. The Secretary-General's report fairly represents the situation in Liberia as of 15 April. However, some of the concerns raised and the incidents reported do not give a holistic picture of the situation in Liberia and appear more to be isolated events, which the Government has not condoned. The first is the issue of corruption. The lapses mentioned in regard to corruption and impunity in Liberia are more a manifestation of capacity challenges than a lack of political will to fight this menace.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  31. “I should therefore like to express my thanks and appreciation to the Secretary-General, the successive members of the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the members of the Liberia configuration, as well as all other bilateral and multilateral partners, for the support that they have given us over the years. Let me also register the appreciation of the Government of Liberia for the work of the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the leadership demonstrated by Ms. Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, during her tour of duty.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source

  32. “It is an honour and privilege for me to address the Security Council as it considers the twenty-ninth progress report (S/2015/275) of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Liberia has come a long way since the end of the conflict, forging ways and means to address the root causes and consequences of the civil conflict in a comprehensive and holistic manner so as to consolidate peace, promote national reconciliation and create an enabling environment for political, economic and social development in Liberia. Significant progress has been made in this regard under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, but we must remain ever mindful that Liberia would not be where we are today without the tireless support of the international community.”

    2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source