YouSaid · the spoken record

Schaper

lines on the record: 97
first: 2009-10-05
most recent: 2013-07-17
sittings or episodes: 15
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

“As a part of that, several members of the Freedom Online Coalition have set up the Digital Defenders Partnership to promote innovative solutions in keeping access to the Internet open. The Partnership is also used to support journalists, bloggers and cyberactivists who find themselves under attack and to facilitate deployment of emergency Internet access in countries where the Internet is not accessible. These are just two examples of concrete action to protect the freedom of expression and its messengers. But more still needs to be done. The Netherlands looks forward to collaborating with the members of the Council to ensure better protection for the courageous journalists who help to ensure that the truth is not the first casualty in conflict situations.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003Resumption1 (2013) · source
“This application enables citizen and professional journalists in conflict areas to immediately tell and share their stories by mobile phone with millions of people around the world without endangering their online privacy and security. The application also includes an interactive training guide on independent and safe reporting. It is available for free and can be downloaded through www.storymaker.cc. We are promoting our second priority, protection, by establishing the Freedom Online Coalition. This cross-regional coalition, now numbering 21 countries, was set up in 2011 and is committed to respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms offline and online alike.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003Resumption1 (2013) · source
“And we need more voices to be heard, not fewer. Thanks to the advent of the Internet, that is exactly what is currently happening. Everyone can now reach large audiences with their story or footage. Citizenjournalism has become an important source of information during conflict and real-time images often have enormous impact, which also makes them an attractive instrument for manipulation for some. The Netherlands has therefore decided to encourage new forms of journalism and to contribute to the protection of its messengers. We provide such encouragement by financially supporting the development of the StoryMaker application.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The media play an important role in preventing conflict by ensuring that their reporting separates facts and tangible realities from assumptions and spin. And after a conflict has broken out, the media also have a responsibility to provide a reliable account of what is really going on. Their stories and images show what is actually happening, which can help a community to understand the conflict that is taking place. Real insight may also help to generate international commitment to conflict resolution. Resolution 1738 (2006) summed it up well. Intentional acts of Violence against journalists are unacceptable and should be condemned and prosecuted by the authorities, because attacks on the media have the sole and illegitimate purpose of curtailing freedom of expression, and through that the people's voices.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003Resumption1 (2013) · source
“I would like to begin by aligning myself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union. Journalists, including bloggers, are still all too often the targets of aggression, harassment, arbitrary detention and even extrajudicial killings. The adoption ofresolution 1738 (2006), though an important step, has not put an end to attacks on reporters, so more must be done. This open debate will be instrumental to that, in our View, and I would therefore like to thank you, Mr. President, and through you to commend the United States delegation for organizing this important event. The role of journalists before, during and after conflict is indispensable. The very fact that they are intentionally being targeted testifies to that.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003Resumption1 (2013) · source
“When they participate in peace processes and other formal decision-making processes, they can play an important role in initiating and inspiring progress on human rights, justice, national reconciliation and economic revitalization. They can also build coalitions across ethnic and sectarian lines and speak up for marginalized and minority groups. Investing in women's leadership is therefore smart security as well as smart development.”
2013-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6984 (2013) · source
“For example, the Netherlands has funded the Bell Bajao campaign, which combats violence against women with a very successful media effort. Started in India, it consists of small clips that are nested in various popular television talk shows and programmes such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The clips have become very popular and have spread to other countries in the region. My third example is that in the Middle East and North Africa region we have started, with a Dutch non-governmental organization and an accounting firm, a new fund with a budget of about â‚¬5.8 million, designed to strengthen the financial and organizational management of women's organizations in the region. In conclusion, women can be powerful actors for peace, security, and prosperity.”
2013-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6984 (2013) · source
“In Afghanistan, a group of Dutch signatories to the plan are working with a local telephone and Internet provider to start a programme connecting poor rural women and men with more modern young people in large towns via an SMS platform. The objective is keep the rural poor better informed about national women's issues and to foster dialogue between them and urban young people on issues such as Violence against women and the role women can play in fighting it. My second example is that together with the Funding Leadership and Opportunities for Women's Fund and the Human Rights Fund, the Netherlands supports many women's organizations in their struggle to combat Violence against women. When women's political and economic empowerment is supported, their vulnerability to sexual violence is reduced.”
2013-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6984 (2013) · source
“Through policies such as its human rights and gender strategies, the Netherlands pays particular attention to issues such as gender equality, women's political role and leadership, economic empowerment and ending trafficking of and violence against women in post-conflict countries and unstable areas. In that regard, we are actively implementing resolution 1325 (2000) through a second national action plan for 2012- 2015, signed by three Dutch ministries and 41 civil organizations. The plan focuses on six countries: Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Sudan, Burundi, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as on the Middle East and North Africa region. I will cite three examples.”
2013-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6984 (2013) · source
“Thirdly, there is a need for a comprehensive multisectoral response for survivors, including medical care, in accordance with international humanitarian law, and access to emergency contraception, safe abortion and HIV treatment, as well as access to justice and psychosocial health care services for women and girls. Lastly, and equally important, is strengthening the gender components of security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, not least through ratification and full compliance with the Arms Trade Treaty, which gives substantive attention to gender dimensions.”
2013-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6984 (2013) · source
“The Netherlands considers sexual violence in conflict as a sign of a failure to implement all the elements of the agenda for women and peace and security. In today's debate, therefore, we would like to stress four points. First is the importance of taking urgent action in key areas, especially those of women's participation and equality and of prevention, response and accountability. Another important area is national and regional efforts to end impunity, including through referrals to the International Criminal Court, and by emphasizing the importance of reparations. Secondly, we should give specific attention to the importance of providing effective support and protection to women-led organizations and defenders of women's human rights, particularly given the threats such defenders face and their lack of resources.”
2013-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6984 (2013) · source
“On the one hand, we see women as victims of such Violence, from the perspective of violence against women. On the other hand, however, we often tend to underestimate the role that women can play in finding solutions through conflict prevention, resolution and transformation - in fact, by using the reverse perspective, of women against Violence. That capacity is underutilized, decreasing the effectiveness and likelihood ofsuccess ofany peace and reconstruction process. The Netherlands recognizes that women play active roles as peacebuilders, politicians, activists and quite often also as combatants. We should listen, therefore, to the priorities that women define, and we should understand the barriers that women perceive. Their participation in finding solutions to conflicts and in reconstruction processes is indispensable.”
2013-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6984 (2013) · source
“My delegation welcomes this debate and would like to make a few remarks in addition to the statement to be delivered by the observer of the European Union, with which my delegation aligns itself, and to others that have underlined the importance of the topic of women and peace and security. The recent cases of sexual and gender-based violence in countries in conflict such as Syria and Mali continue to illustrate that fighting such violence remains a priority. It is evident that sexual violence exacerbates conflict and perpetuates insecurity. It holds entire communities hostage and has an economic, social, cultural and inter-generational impact. Women are excluded from communities and cannot engage in economic activity or access markets; girls cannot go to school safely. Sexual and gender-based violence can be seen from two perspectives.”
2013-06-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6984 (2013) · source
“It involves a multi-stakeholder approach in which the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, NGOs, the Tin Research Institute in London, Germany's Geological Service and the United States Agency for International Development were also involved. It is just one example of what is possible, and more is needed. The debate here today will help us to build on such initiatives. It should promote further cooperation, resulting in an all-inclusive process at all stages of the value chain of natural resources, thereby contributing to preventing conflicts and improving livelihoods in resource-rich countries.”
2013-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6982Resumption1 (2013) · source
“That pilot initiative was launched in October and has already resulted in the first exports of conflict-free tin. The Netherlands Development Cooperation financed a local non-governmental organization (NGO), Pact, which tags and traces the tin ore. Dutch diplomats served as neutral brokers to bring the whole international supply chain together, from mining cooperatives in a validated conflict-free mine in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to exporters, to a Malaysian smelter - because there are no tin smelters in Africa - and to companies such as Philips, Tata Steel, Motorola Solutions, Nokia and FairPhone. Those exports have led to the first certified conflict-free earnings from tin exports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That initiative builds on the expertise and skills of many organizations.”
2013-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6982Resumption1 (2013) · source
“As stated by the United Kingdom in its concept note for this debate (S/20l3/334, annex), the Ruggie Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights have provided a common framework since their endorsement by the Human Rights Council in 2011. The Netherlands is fully committed to their integral implementation. Let me end by citing a practical example of a contribution the Netherlands has made to preventing conflicts related to natural resources. The armed conflicts in the mineral-rich eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have often been described in their relation to income from the illicit trade in minerals. To contribute to the shared goal of regulating the flow of conflict minerals, with the aim of preventing further armed conflict, the Netherlands has created a conflict-free tin-supply chain.”
2013-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6982Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The Netherlands was among those countries that proposed considering the establishment of a neutral international forum on resources, particularly metals and minerals, comparable to the already existing International Energy Forum. Such a forum should involve countries that produce, trade or consume resources. In March, the Netherlands hosted the annual meeting of the participants in the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights initiative in the extractive industries. In that multi-stakeholder initiative we engaged in a dialogue on security and human rights. Together we have developed a set of voluntary principles to guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
2013-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6982Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The European Parliament approved the new EU Accounting and Transparency Obligations Directives, which include financial transparency requirements for the extractive and forestry sector. Thirdly, Friday saw the publication of the United Nations report World Population Prospects, the 2012 Revision. The report projects that the current world population of 7.2 billion will reach 9.6 billion by 2050. The resulting increase in consumption will put even greater pressure on natural resources. In October, the World Resources Forum organized a conference in Beijing that focused on the need for better international resource governance, which leads to greater stability and lower prices.”
2013-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6982Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The increasing scarcity of water is just one aspect of the relationship between conflict prevention and natural resources. I would therefore like to thank the United Kingdom for putting the relationship between conflict prevention and natural resources on today's agenda. Let me start by briefly reviewing three events of the past week, which I believe are all relevant to our debate today. Last Monday, the International Energy Agency presented its latest report, entitled "Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map", which shows that the path we are currently on is likely to result in a temperature increase of between 3.6 and 53Â°C, far above the maximum of 2Â°C we had agreed on. The second relevant event was last Wednesday.”
2013-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6982Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Let me begin by expressing my condolences to the Government and people of Somalia and to the families of the victims of this morning's terrible terrorist attack. I would also like to align myself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union (EU). In 2025, two-thirds of the world's population will face water scarcity, and 2.4 billion will face absolute water scarcity, to the extent that it may impede, or even reverse, economic and social progress. There are numerous examples where transboundary waters have proved to be a source of cooperation rather than conflict, as is the case in my own country, for instance. However, greater scarcity in the future, owing to economic and population growth, combined with cross- border pollution and climate change, may well alter that dynamic.”
2013-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6982Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Within the United Nations, the Netherlands wants to continue its proactive role within the United Nations Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and the Commission on the Status of Women. We are also committed, and a long-term supporter of, the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“Thirdly, we support the recommendations on increasing attention given to the role of small arms, as was successfully done in the negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty. Fourthly, we favour strengthening the role of the International Criminal Court as the ultimate resort in fighting impunity against the most serious crimes. Because of the important role of women, since 2007 the Netherlands has invested in national action plans, together with civil society organizations, research institutions and other Government institutions - altogether more than 40 partners. The objective of those partnerships is to create an enabling environment in which women are better able to take a leading role and to participate in political decision-making processes.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“Violence against women, especially sexual violence, has an enormous impact on many aspects of family and society. For example, it is used to this day as a weapon of war to break down societies. The Netherlands welcomes the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Sexual violence in conflict" (S/2013/149) and in particular supports its recommendations in four areas. First, we support enhancing monitoring, research and reporting, as well as putting in place an appropriate mechanism or procedure by the Security Council to systematically monitor commitments by parties to conflict so as to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence. Secondly, we advocate involving civil society organizations and effective cooperation with the signatories of national action plans.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“My delegation welcomes today's debate. While we align ourselves with the statement made earlier by the observer of the European Union (EU), we would like to make some remarks in our national capacity that complement those made by the observer of the EU and other speakers underlining the importance of the topic of women, peace and security. The Netherlands has for decades put gender equality at the heart of all its policies. Internationally, we support female leadership, the follow-up of resolution 1325 (2000), women's economic empowerment and the elimination of sexual violence against women. Equal rights and opportunities for women and their full participation in society and decision-making are important not just for the security of women; women are powerful agents for peace, stability and prosperity in any society.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“She met with Dr. Denis Mukwege, a human rights activist and doctor who has been repeatedly attacked and threatened because he spoke out for women who were raped and violated. Later on during her visit, Minister Ploumen spoke to the Minister of Defence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo about the sexual violence committed by members of the armed forces and urged him to hold suspected perpetrators accountable. The protection of civilians is an important normative element in international relations, but in the end, it is in the implementation on the ground that we make a difference. People like Dr. Mukwege and his clients should be able to count on protection and security to live a life free of violence and fear.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Let me add that we are pleased that the Security Council reaffirms the provisions of the 2005 World Summit Outcome (General Assembly resolution 60/ 1) regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including its paragraphs 138 and 139 regarding the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. This is, as far as I am aware, the first reaffirmation of the responsibility to protect since the intervention in Libya and will, we hope, provide an opportunity to have a positive impact on the further operationalization of the concept and the application of the responsibility to protect in real-life politics. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, Lilianne Ploumen, visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo last week.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The practice of United Nations bodies, States and other actors of recording civilian casualties can be further improved through joint monitoring and data analysis. We also support the use of international commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions as mechanisms to verify and investigate allegations of serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Sadly, in Syria the counting of casualties continues at a horrendous pace. I would like to take this opportunity to call upon the Security Council to overcome its disagreement on the situation in Syria and take concrete action by referring the situation in Syria to the ICC while respecting the integrity of the Rome Statute in its referral.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“We firmly support the ICC, and we call upon States to ratify the Rome Statute and the Kampala amendments and ensure their full implementation. Meanwhile, the international community must call upon the Government of the country where the crimes were committed to strengthen the security sector as a whole and assist that country in doing so in order to establish the prerequisites for the protection of its civilians in the future. To facilitate domestic prosecution, the Netherlands, together with Belgium and Slovenia, has started an initiative to strengthen the international legal framework covering inter-State cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. One way to document violations is through casualty counting.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Too often, the absence of accountability creates an atmosphere in which people think they can get away with raping women, torturing children, threatening doctors and nurses, and using disproportionate force. We therefore cannot let these atrocities go unpunished. The threat that those crimes pose to peace, security and the well- being of citizens must be addressed by prosecuting the perpetrators and those who order or condone those crimes. Preferably, the investigation and prosecution of international crimes are executed on a national level, but if a State is unable or unwilling to do so that duty falls on the international community. On the basis of the principle of complementarity, the International Criminal Court (ICC) functions as a court oflast resort.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels (see A/67/PV.3), held in September 2012, emphasized the importance of the rule of law as one of the key elements of conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. States should respect and promote the rule of law and justice and ensure equal access to justice for all, including members of vulnerable groups. Raising awareness about legal rights is an important element of that. That also means that we have an obligation, in our view, to engage with and give assistance to all parties to armed conflicts in order to remind them of their responsibility to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights law.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“While aligning myself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union, I would like to thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Kim Sung-hwan, for having taken the initiative of convening this debate. I would like to focus my comments today on two issues: first, the accountability of those who violate international humanitarian law and human rights law; and, secondly, the prevention of conflicts through the strengthening of human rights instruments and the rule of law. Those two subjects are, of course, interrelated. Accountability based on the rule oflaw provides a solid basis for justice being done.”
2013-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6917Resumption1 (2013) · source
“The same is true for women and their organizations working in fragile countries. Women across the world involved in peacebuilding, reconciliation and democratization will continue to find the Netherlands at their side.”
2012-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6877 (2012) · source
“Finally, a new fund is being established with the Dutch NGO HIVOS and the accounting firm of PriceWaterhouseCoopers to strengthen the financial and organizational management of women's organizations in the Middle East and North Africa regions. In that way, we hope to be able to share and support the commitments made during the Equal Futures Partnership event hosted by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last month. In conclusion, the potential role of women's organizations in any social or political transformation is huge. Women can and should play a pivotal role in their societies, and they deserve our support in helping them to take the lead more effectively. Transition processes like the ones in the North Africa region are an opportunity for women to translate their influence into formal roles.”
2012-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6877 (2012) · source
“In Libya, we support a capacity- building programme to enable women to make a meaningful contribution to the development of the new constitution. The Dutch Government also attaches a high priority to the financial implementation of its second national action plan. An amount of â‚¬2 million is available annually for the period 2012-2015 for programmes in the six partner countries, with the same amount reserved for the Middle East and North Africa regions. Last year, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the Funding Leadership and Opportunities for Women fund (FLOW), the largest women's fund in the world. Between 2012 and 2015 FLOW will invest â‚¬78 million in women's organizations, many of them in conflict-affected areas.”
2012-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6877 (2012) · source
“Similarly, in Burundi as well as in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the signatories to the Dutch national action plan will support a regional organization programme that will cooperate with local women's and media organizations to increase public support for women's political participation and to strengthen the capacity of women's organizations to campaign, including by using media technologies. In Afghanistan, a group of signatories is working with a local telephone and Internet provider to start a programme connecting poor rural women and men with more modern youth in the main towns via an SMS platform, using SMS-based blogging. The objective is to keep the rural poor better informed on national women's issues and to foster dialogue between rural poor and urban youth.”
2012-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6877 (2012) · source
“As a result of that approach, the Dutch national action plan includes many joint activities that benefit from the complementarity between Government bodies and civil society in the Netherlands and their partner organizations in the focus countries. I would like to mention a few examples in that regard. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Netherlands will support the national women's fund in promoting Congolese women's participation in the coming elections. We will also support women in the eastern part of the country who can play a mediation role in the conflict that is still raging in the Kivus.”
2012-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6877 (2012) · source
“It brings together Dutch Government ministries and research institutions and 32 civil society organizations, including multinational non-governmental organizations (NGOs), women's peace movements and diaspora organizations. Our national action plan is based on many different sources of knowledge and experience and is designed to be both ambitious and feasible. It has a thematic and a geographical focus. Thematically, it is fully dedicated to enhancing female leadership and political leverage in conflict-affected societies. Geographically, it focuses on six countries - Afghanistan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, the Sudan and Colombia - as well as on the Middle East and North Africa region.”
2012-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6877 (2012) · source
“My delegation welcomes this debate, and would like to make a few remarks in addition to the statements by the observer of the European Union and others underlining the importance of women's civil society organizations in contributing to the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). The Netherlands has placed gender equality at the heart of its policies for decades. On the international level, we support female leadership, the follow- up to resolution 1325 (2000), women's economic empowerment and the elimination of violence against women. In December 2011, the Netherlands launched its second 1325 national action plan, covering the period 2012-2015. As we see it, the plan is unique of its kind, since it is based on and encompasses close cooperation between Government, civil society and research institutions.”
2012-11-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6877 (2012) · source
“Belgium and the Netherlands truly appreciate the efforts that have been made so far to improve the working methods of the Security Council. The long list of ideas and suggestions in the concept note deserves our careful attention; some of them could, and should, be swiftly implemented. Let me add that, in addition to those ideas, we would like to underline the importance of the Council giving continued attention to the cases it referred to in the International Criminal Court and to improve its cooperation with the Court, as has just been argued by our colleague Ambassador Ulibarri. We count on the Security Council members, in particular the permanent members, to make a joint effort together with the wider membership to continue enhancing the transparency, legitimacy, effectiveness and interactivity of the Security Council.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870Resumption1 (2012) · source
“After hearing from such a country, the Council could still discuss the issue at stake in a restricted debate among its members, without the country concerned being present. We also see merit in the proposal to promote more and more interactive open debates. The suggestion to invite non-Council members to speak among Council members is noteworthy. At the same time, we would like to receive further clarification on some of the other suggestions. The suggestion to enhance the role of the Military Staff Committee is thought-provoking. It would be interesting to explore whether the Military Staff Committee could provide military advice when the Security Council considers the mandate of a military operation.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We also support the proposal of a more flexible use of available meeting formats, such as Arria Formula meetings or informal interactive dialogues. Furthermore, we support the suggestions on increasing the transparency and inclusivity of the work of the Security Council's subsidiary bodies. We would also like to repeat our plea to improve country-specific debates by inviting the country at stake in the discussions. Countries that are being debated, but that are not members of the Council, should be given the opportunity to contribute to Council debates at the moment when they really matter and under a formula to be decided on an ad hoc basis. By doing so, the Council would give a fair and decent chance to countries to put their points of view forward.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870Resumption1 (2012) · source
“President, you invite the wider membership to come up with a range of practical suggestions that could make a real difference in the day-to-day business of the Security Council. You, Sir, then sum up a list of concrete and operational ideas and suggestions, some of which were actually been put forward by the Netherlands and Belgium during the previous debate in November 2011, and I thank you for that. We welcome those different suggestions in the Indian-Portuguese paper aimed at increasing the involvement of States and other parties non-members of the Security Council in the Council's work, especially the suggestions aimed at enhancing the participation of the chairs of the country-specific configurations of the Peacebuilding Commission and of the troop- and police-contributing countries in relevant debates and discussions.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870Resumption1 (2012) · source
“In May, we witnessed the withdrawal of the initiative of the group of five small nations (S-S) on the improvement of the working methods of the Security Council. At that point in time, the permanent members of the Security Council indicated that they were ready to seriously consider the recommendations put forward in the 8-5 draft resolution (A/66/L.42/Rev.2). Belgium and the Netherlands hope that they will do so. We studied the Indian-Portuguese concept note that was sent to us in preparation for this debate, as it contains an interesting overview of recent events and repeatedly stresses the right principles. This debate should lead us to real and concrete measures that simultaneously enhance transparency, efficiency and interactivity within the Council and with the wider membership. In the concept note, Mr.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870Resumption1 (2012) · source
“Moreover, as is also explained in the concept note, real and encouraging improvements have already been made in recent years. The debates on the working methods have already produced results, and it is good to remind ourselves that today the Council is operating under other, better and more transparent working methods than before. The Netherlands and Belgium would like to commend both the permanent and the successive elected members of the Council for their efforts in that regard. The Netherlands and Belgium want to stress that fact because we do not want the further development of better working methods to become hostage to a lack of progress on the wider debate about Security Council reform.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870Resumption1 (2012) · source
“We feel a strong sense of urgency to make progress on the improvement of the working methods and on broader Security Council reform, for that matter. As has been said, we think it is high time to enhance the Security Council's accountability to the wider membership and to increase the transparency, legitimacy and effectiveness of its decisions. In our view, concrete results on this issue can only be achieved through a meaningful dialogue between the Security Council and the General Assembly. That is the path we should follow, and today's debate is an excellent example of how we should proceed. We fully agree with the statement at the very beginning of the concept note that working methods "concern the States Members of the United Nations as a whole" (S/2012/853, annex, para. 1).”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870Resumption1 (2012) · source
“I have the honour to address the Council on behalf of the Netherlands and Belgium. First of all, I would like to thank India, as President of the Security Council, for convening this debate and for preparing, together with Portugal, what we consider to be an excellent concept note (S/2012/853, annex). We would also like to express our gratitude to Portugal, and in particular its representative Ambassador Moraes Cabral, who organized the previous open debate in 2011 (see S/PV.6672) and has been a driving force behind this important subject as Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions. Belgium and the Netherlands attach great importance to this open debate, which provides the wider United Nations membership with an opportunity to interact with the Security Council members on this matter.”
2012-11-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6870Resumption1 (2012) · source
“To ensure its effective functioning, the Office of the Ombudsperson should promptly be provided with all resources necessary to fulfil its mandate, including funds for translation and interpretation. Finally, regarding the scope of the mandate of the Ombudsperson, only individuals and entities listed on the Al-Qaida sanctions list currently have access to the Ombudsperson process. Yet similar due process concerns exist in other United Nations sanctions regimes. In our opinion, the Security Council should therefore consider the extension of the competence of the Office of the Ombudsperson to other relevant regimes on the occasion of their next mandate renewals.”
2012-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6862 (2012) · source
“Procedural transparency could be increased if the Office of the Ombudsperson were to inform the petitioner, upon request, about the state of play of his or her request for delisting, where necessary, to ensure the transparency of the process. Material transparency could be enhanced if all Committee decisions, regardless of whether they maintain a listing or delist an individual or entity, contained adequate and substantial reasons that could be conveyed to the petitioner by the Ombudsperson. Thirdly, we believe that to ensure the independence and impartiality of the Ombudsperson process, the length of the mandate of the Ombudsperson should be extended to an unlimited period.”
2012-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6862 (2012) · source
“First of all, we would like to call on all Member States to enhance their cooperation with the Office ofthe Ombudsperson for information-gathering by providing her in a timely manner with all relevant information on persons and entities applying for delisting, including confidential and classified information or declassified documents. In that regard, Member States should be encouraged to conclude confidentiality agreements and arrangements with the Ombudsperson and to abide by the time limits, as set forth in annex II of resolution 1989 (2011). Secondly, in the view of the group of like-minded States on targeted sanctions, improving the transparency of the delisting process is of the utmost importance to increasing its acceptance.”
2012-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6862 (2012) · source
“Against that background, and with a view to the adoption in mid-December of the follow-up to resolution 1989 (2011), we sent a letter to the President of the Council at the beginning of this month, outlining several proposals that we believe would merit close consideration by the Council in its continued efforts to improve and strengthen the system. The letter is being distributed as an annex to the written copy of this statement as I speak. In the interest of time, I will highlight only some of the proposals today.”
2012-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6862 (2012) · source