YouSaid · the spoken record

Schwalger

lines on the record: 237
first: 2014-04-25
most recent: 2023-10-24
sittings or episodes: 43
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

“This has rung true in our experience of peacemaking efforts in the South Pacific, including the very recent operations in the Solomon Islands. Thirdly, the power of diverse teams not only improves performance but also promotes inclusion and equality, and this is a key hallmark of New Zealand’s approach in peace and security and beyond. The Wahine Toa leadership programme, designed to increase women participation in the New Zealand Defence Forces, including peacekeeping operations, provides a proven model.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949 (2022) · source
“In the context of today’s debate, based on lessons we have learned, New Zealand recommends the following initiatives for consideration to enhance the operational effectiveness of peacekeepers. First, we recommend the adoption of an initiative to support gender analysis. From the outset of any process, gender analysis is fundamental to understanding and supporting decision makers within peacekeeping operations and the host country. Understanding gendered cultural dynamics helps to identify challenges and potential solutions to the complex issues of peacebuilding and peacemaking. Secondly, New Zealand has seen first-hand the immense value of promoting gender-sensitive peacekeeping personnel that understand the local environment and the people they are deployed to serve.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949 (2022) · source
“This includes the need to strengthen protection measures for women peacebuilders, human rights defenders and civil society representatives. Today’s debate is an opportunity to collectively take stock of how far we have come and what more remains to be done. States Members of the United Nations must be bold, and they must be consistent in their condemnation of those who silence women involved in peace processes or any other context and hold perpetrators to account without exception. New Zealand calls on all Member States to continue to seek innovative and sustainable ways to create safe and enabling environments for women and girls in all of their diversity. Unambiguous, resourced, responsive and operationally focused initiatives based on Member States’ shared best practices should be implemented in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949 (2022) · source
“I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of New Zealand. New Zealand thanks Norway for choosing to focus on women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace and security processes as today’s theme. We fully support Norway’s commitment to elevating participation during its Council presidency and are committed to advancing the shared goal across all United Nations forums. Despite the fact that resolution 1325 (2000) urges all actors to increase the participation of women and the incorporation of gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts, the 2021 report of the Secretary-General on women and peace and security (S/2021/827) highlights persistent and troubling gaps in delivery on the resolution.”
2022-01-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8949 (2022) · source
“We know it is an uphill battle to sustain active engagement by Member States on this issue, including by those sitting at this table, but it is ajob that they must do and we will always support them.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“The Council should continue to demand compliance with international law and take decisions to do everything possible to protect civilians caught up in armed conflict. Together with the Secretary-General's path to protection and action on this issue by all Member States, we hope that some relief will be brought to the millions of innocent civilians suffering in armed conflicts around the world. New Zealand pays tribute to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Human Rights Watch, Me'decins Sans Frontieres and all international humanitarian [NOTE: speaker did not say "humanitarian"] organizations for the work they do in supporting civilians and the medical community they serve.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“For New Zealand's part, we continue to build a strong understanding of international humanitarian law at all levels within our Defence Force. We are using practical and innovative tools to ensure that all members of the New Zealand Defence Force have ready access to a concise code of conduct, whether they are in an office or in the field on active duty. This includes fundamental provisions of international law pertaining to the protection of civilians and the medical mission. But we have to take this one step further. Our troops, in New Zealand, are also required to prevent violations, and where they do occur, to report them. Resolution 2286 (2016) established a reporting architecture which will ensure that the question of attacks on the medical mission will continue to receive regular attention by the Council.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“Rather than providing care to those wounded in conflict, doctors and nurses continue to be counted among the casualties in significant numbers. Hospitals have been levelled. Central tenets of international humanitarian law are routinely violated with impunity in some parts of the world. All Member States, not only those who are parties to armed conflict, have a responsibility to take action. Violations of international humanitarian law must continue to be condemned and violators brought to justice. We encourage all Member States to implement the recommendations made by the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 2286 (2016) in order to better protect the wounded, medical personnel and medical facilities in armed conflict.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“We commend the Secretary-General's determination to mobilize the United Nations system towards this goal in a holistic manner. We also welcome his focus on protecting the medical and humanitarian mission and tackling the challenges associated with the mass displacement of civilian populations affected by conflict. We sit in this Chamber, a year since resolution 2286 (2016) was unanimously adopted by the Security Council, with a historic number of sponsors. As one of the drafters of resolution 2286 (2016), New Zealand was pleased to work with four other Security Council members to develop this response to attacks on health-care workers and facilities. However, since that resolution was adopted, we have continued to witness outrages that shock our collective conscience.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“The use of indiscriminate explosive weapons in populated areas is a distressing illustration of the disrespect for international humanitarian law demonstrated by some parties to armed conflict. Explosive weapons in populated areas have destroyed hospitals, schools, places of worship and vital infrastructure. Millions of civilians have been displaced and those who remain struggle to access essential services, including medical care. The consequences can be catastrophic and will be felt long into the future. Given these negative trends, we welcome the Secretary-General's leadership on protecting civilians in armed conflict and his path to protection. We are pleased that he is focused on this critical issue. We are convinced that there is more that the United Nations can and should be doing to prevent conflict.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“I thank all the briefers and I commend Uruguay for organizing today's debate. New Zealand aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Spain. As we have already heard today, millions of civilians living in areas of armed conflict around the world face grave dangers. All too often parties to armed conflict are placing military advantage ahead of international humanitarian law. This fact, combined with the increasing trend for hostilities to take place in urban settings, has devastated civilian populations. In some cases their suffering has been exacerbated through the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid and violent attacks on medical facilities.”
2017-05-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7951 (2017) · source
“The challenges faced by the National Unity Government in achieving long-term peace and security are many and daunting, but it will not have to walk that road alone, as many have reassured Afghanistan this morning. For its part, New Zealand will remain a partner to Afghanistan in 2017 and beyond.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“These tensions filter down to the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011), where consensus decision-making regularly allows politically motivated stalling to prevent the most basic and necessary of actions from being taken. The freezing of assets to prevent them from being used to fund the Taliban's insurgency has been blocked. Even proposals to meet with regional States have been denied. Such behaviour has time and again frustrated practical action that could support peace and reconciliation efforts on the ground. It also undermines the credibility and effectiveness of the 1988 Committee and, by extension, the Council itself. We urge all parties to make a concerted effort to rebuild trust. The alternative will be extremely costly for all involved.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces have a vital role to play in meeting these challenges. Beyond the battlefield, the Taliban's ability to wage war needs to be constrained. There is an urgent need to tackle the flow of narcotics, funding and personnel to the Taliban and other insurgents. The same can be said of funding from illegal mining. We also need to see concerted, good-faith efforts by others in the region to halt the supply of funding, weapons and personnel to the Taliban and to support the establishment of a viable peace process. In particular, the enormous trust deficit between Afghanistan and Pakistan needs to be bridged.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The cost of failure would be too great. History has shown us that no amount of international support can by itself bring peace and security to Afghanistan. As my Minister stressed to the Council in September (see S/PV.7771), the future of Afghanistan lies in the hands of its Government and its people. A unified and effective National Unity Government - one that puts the interests of its people first - will be essential for success. We recognize the scale and complexity of the challenges the Government faces. Key among them is tackling an emboldened Taliban insurgency. The insecurity brought about by the continued offensive undermines progress across the board. Experience tells us that peace and reconciliation with the Taliban demands a multifaceted approach.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“September marked the two-year anniversary of the National Unity Government. Efforts over the past few months to provide a more united leadership have been welcome, but divisions within the Government remain evident, as witnessed by the Parliament's recent dismissal of seven ministers. The conclusion of a peace agreement with Hezb- i-Islami also represented a positive, if modest, step towards long-term peace and reconciliation. However, prospects for peace talks with the Taliban appear to have dimmed in the near term. On a more positive note, we welcome the international community's recommitment of support to Afghanistan for another four years at the NATO Warsaw Summit and the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan. New Zealand stood with others to demonstrate its enduring commitment to the people of Afghanistan. We did so without hesitation.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“New Zealand too thanks Special Representative of the Secretary- General Yamamoto for his dedication to delivering on the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, particularly in such a difficult operating environment. The year 2016 has seen its share of ups and downs for Afghanistan. As we have heard this morning, the Taliban's offensive has intensified over the past year, with armed clashes at record levels. The cost of weathering this storm has been considerable. The Afghan economy has faced severe challenges in 2016, including a significant drop in investment. A sharp increase in the number of internally displaced persons, resulting from ongoing insecurity, and a large increase in returnees from Pakistan will place additional stress on the already challenging humanitarian situation.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The Committee therefore welcomes the various commitments made by the Government of Afghanistan during the visit to engage more actively with the sanctions regime, including to provide the names of narcotics smugglers who financially support the Taliban and to request the listing of the Taliban leadership. In turn, the Committee is working on providing forms to assist with applying for exemptions from the assets freeze and travel-ban measures and hopes to have those available on its website shortly. The Committee looks forward to continued close engagement with UNAMA, Afghanistan and regional States, under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan for 2017-2018.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The legal frameworks are in place to implement the sanctions measures, for example, the Central Bank of Afghanistan outlined a comprehensive framework for the tracing and freezing of assets of listed individuals and entities. However, such structures are effective only against listed individuals, who are identifiable. There are many associates of the Taliban who are not on the list and others lacking sufficient identifiers. Such structures are also effective only within Afghanistan. Cross-border flows of money, narcotics, arms and foreign terrorist fighters are challenges that extend to the wider region.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“That is one of the reasons I recently travelled to Afghanistan as Chair of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee and the Security Council Committee establishsed pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, to engage directly with interlocutors and the Afghan Government. I was pleased with the level of engagement the delegation received while in Kabul, including meetings with President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah, the Minister of the Interior and the Governor of the Central Bank of Afghanistan. The meetings in Kabul showed that there is potential for greater use of the 1988 sanctions regime to deter the Taliban and to support the peace process.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The Committee received briefings on counter-narcotics efforts from Afghanistan's Deputy Interior Minister, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Monitoring Team. Such efforts help to identify individuals who may be suitable for designation on the 1988 list. The overall effectiveness of the 1988 sanctions measures also relies on close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and with the region.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The Committee would also like to encourage Member States to play a more active role in providing information that would help to keep the sanctions list as up-to-date as possible. If Member States provide that information, it will support their own implementation efforts. War could also be done to target narcotics smugglers financially supporting the Taliban. The Taliban's income from narcotics is estimated at around $400 million per year. Cutting off that financial stream could have a significant impact on the Taliban's ability to resource its offensive against the Government of Afghanistan. Six of the Committee's meetings this year were focused on the nexus between narcotics smuggling and the Taliban.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“The Taliban's positions on peace talks with the Government of Afghanistan have hardened and clashes between the Taliban and Government forces have increased between 10 and 13 per cent, as compared to those in 2015. Such clashes continue to be funded mainly by the narcotics economy and the illegal extraction of natural resources. The situation is also complicated by the presence of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and foreign terrorist fighters in Afghanistan. While there are many structures and frameworks in place, the implementation of the sanctions measures can be uneven. The Committee continues to receive reports of listed Taliban travelling without approved exemptions from the Committee. That issue clearly needs to be addressed.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“Removal from what the Taliban call the United Nations blacklist is consistently in the top three demands of the group. The Taliban also follow developments in the 1988 Sanctions Committee closely, often issuing statements on reports of the Monitoring Team and activities of the Committee. However, despite the sanctions measures, the Taliban have retained the ability to conduct attacks on Afghan forces, the Afghan people and the international presence in Afghanistan. The latest report (see S/2016/842) of the Monitoring Team, which was presented to the Committee in October, outlines how the Taliban continue their offensive against the Government of Afghanistan following the leadership transfer from Akhtar Mohammad Mansour and Haibatullah Akhundzada in May of this year.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“I thank Special Representative Yamamoto and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for their support of the work of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011). Close coordination with UNAMA is important to the overall effectiveness of the 1988 sanctions regime. The 1988 Sanctions Committee aims to deter the Taliban and associates through tools such as an assets freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo. At the same time, the 1988 sanctions regime is intended to support the peace and reconciliation process, including through the use of the delisting process and the process for granting exemptions to enable a list of persons to engage in peace and reconciliation negotiations and other approved activities. The existence of the 1988 sanctions regime matters to the Taliban.”
2016-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7844 (2016) · source
“New Zealand also encourages the international community, particularly those States with an established relationship with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to engage the Pyongyang authorities on human rights issues where possible, and to encourage its cooperation and participation in human rights dialogue. We must make our concerns known and be clear that we expect tangible improvement. Finally, we call on the Council to remain seized of the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, given its clear link to Pyongyang's weapons-of-mass-destruction programme and the continued absence of meaningful engagement or any discernible progress by the authorities in addressing the Council's concerns.”
2016-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7830 (2016) · source
“We should also be prepared to support practical options for pursuing accountability against those within the Democratic People's Republic of Korea system who bear primary responsibility for the worst crimes that have been committed. New Zealand reiterates its call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to take immediate steps to bring an end to all human rights violations and to meaningfully cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and other international human rights mechanisms. We urge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to review its policies, remove constraints on the United Nations and other international organizations, and ensure that meaningful assistance is provided that can make a practical difference to the lives of its citizens.”
2016-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7830 (2016) · source
“In that regard, we welcome the important work being undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Seoul. We also welcome the appointment of a new Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation, Tomas Quintana, who recently completed his first visit to the region. The Special Rapporteur has emphasized the importance of efforts to both engage the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and pursue accountability. Those are not mutually exclusive goals. Engagement is important in order to ensure that we improve the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In that regard, there have been some small positive developments, such as improvements in the rights of persons with disabilities.”
2016-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7830 (2016) · source
“As noted by others this morning, Democratic People's Republic of Korea nationals are being sent abroad by their authorities to work under conditions that reportedly amount to forced labour. That is one of the ways in which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is able to subvert United Nations sanctions and fund its weapons- of-mass-destruction programme. New Zealand finds the diversion of domestic funds towards weapons of mass destruction, and away from desperately needed humanitarian support, simply deplorable. Despite the time that has passed since the release of the commission of inquiry's report (A/HRC/25/63), the urgency of its recommendations has not diminished. We must ensure that our picture of the situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remains up-to- date.”
2016-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7830 (2016) · source
“We must not stand by and let that rejection of internationally accepted norms, under the guise of this being a so-called internal matter, go uncontested. To do so would be to fail the people of North Korea. To do so would be to fail the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's neighbours, which are faced with a heightened security threat resulting from Pyongyang's reckless development of weapons of mass destruction - a programme advanced on the back of the suffering of its people. And, to do so would be to fail ourselves, given the regime's continued defiance of the Council's resolutions. As the Council stressed in resolution 2321 (2016), there is an urgent need for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to respect and ensure the inherent dignity of people within its territory.”
2016-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7830 (2016) · source
“The Democratic People's Republic of Korea leadership maintains tight control over its population - control grounded in terror instilled by egregious and widespread human rights violations. It is a regime that executes its citizens, without due process, for acts as minor as watching or distributing foreign media. Torture and ill-treatment at detention facilities, including in its extensive prison camp system, are routine, as we have heard this morning. Harsh restrictions remain on the freedom of movement by ordinary North Koreans. The continuation of such gross violations of human rights demonstrates that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea authorities do not feel bound by the rules of the international system. Pyongyang's weapons-of-mass-destruction programme exemplifies that attitude.”
2016-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7830 (2016) · source
“New Zealand shares the concerns outlined by Deputy Secretary- General Eliasson and Assistant Secretary-General Gilmour, as well as those expressed by other Council members, about the severity and systematic nature of human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Sadly, we have seen no discernible improvement since the Council last discussed this agenda item. Some of the most serious human rights violations of our time, including murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortion, other sexual violence and starvation continue to be reported. It is no surprise that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea regime works so hard to restrict an independent assessment of the situation.”
2016-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7830 (2016) · source
“In that regard, we would also be open to considering a possible restructuring of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo to reflect the improving realities on the ground with the passage of time.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“We look forward to the court becoming operational as soon as possible and contributing to the broader process of reconciliation. Finally, and as we have said throughout our Council term, we believe the Council should take a more flexible approach as to how and when it considers this agenda item. The current frequency of meetings is not justified by the situation on the ground, especially when contrasted against other pressing issues on the Council's agenda. We say that not to diminish the range and strength of views that exist on the question of Kosovo or to suggest that everything is perfect in Kosovo. Rather, we believe that the Council has a responsibility to organize its work in a manner that directs its time and energy towards the peace and security challenges that most urgently demand our attention.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“We are, therefore, disappointed to see a recurrence of such incidents, including disruptive tactics in the Kosovo Assembly. When elected representatives engage in such behaviour, what example does that set for the communities they represent? We encourage those parties who oppose the use of violence to achieve political objectives to continue to distance themselves from that behaviour, to send a clear message that concerns must be addressed through peaceful and normal democratic processes. Previously, New Zealand has welcomed progress towards the establishment of a specialized court to try cases brought forward by the European Union Special Investigative Task Force. We are therefore pleased to see another step taken in that direction with the recent appointment of a specialist prosecutor.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“We were pleased to learn about the recent agreement relating to telecommunications and we look forward to seeing progress on Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo. We encourage both sides to make progress on other issues identified in the Secretary-General's report (S/2016/901), including those of internally displaced persons and of missing persons. Implementation of agreements reached within the dialogue is in the best interest of all of Kosovo's communities. Therefore, we hope that both sides can focus on delivering on their commitments and refrain from taking actions which unnecessarily divert energy away from constructive dialogue. The previous report of the Secretary-General (S/2016/666) noted a significant reduction in aggressive protests and political violence.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“I, too, welcome First Deputy Prime Minister Dacic' and Ambassador Citaku to the Security Council today, and thank Special Representative Tanin for his briefing. New Zealand strongly supports dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina aimed at normalizing relations, and the European Union's support for that process. We encourage the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to engage constructively in that dialogue with sincerity and determination to achieve concrete results for their people. We reiterate the Secretary-General's call for both sides to seek fair and lasting compromises. While a number of agreements have emerged from the dialogue, the pace of implementing them has been relatively slow in some instances.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“Disagreements should be dealt with through dialogue. We hope that divisive and inflammatory actions will be left behind and that leaders will choose to focus on what can be achieved by working together constructively. Divisive rhetoric also serves to undermine reconciliation efforts. More than two decades after the Dayton Peace Accords brought an end to a devastating conflict, true reconciliation remains an unfinished project. We hope that all political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina can move beyond their points of difference and focus on fulfilling the aspiration of all ofits citizens for stability and prosperity. An inclusive and united society will ultimately make the country stronger and more stable and will improve the welfare of all of its peoples. That is the future we wish to see for Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“As Bosnia and Herzegovina pursues EU membership, we look forward to regional and international partners supporting the implementation of the reform agenda for the benefit of all of its citizens. We also hope to see accelerated progress on the five objectives and two conditions that are necessary for the closure of the Office of the High Representative. As we have heard today, the High Representative has reported actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina that directly challenge the authority of the State judicial institutions and the General Framework Agreement for Peace, including the holding of a referendum in contravention of a ruling of the Constitutional Court. Those activities are destabilizing and undermine the rule of law. We urge all political actors to respect State institutions and constitutional order.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“In September, another milestone was reached when the European Commission was asked to conduct an assessment of Bosnia and Herzegovina's membership application. While there is along road ahead, it is another sign of what Bosnia and Herzegovina can achieve when its leaders unite around a common purpose. We wish the country well as it pursues this path of integration in the months and years to come. We welcome the progress Bosnia and Herzegovina has made on its reform agenda. That agenda provides a road map for strengthening public administration and improving socioeconomic conditions. However, maintaining momentum in the implementation of the agenda will require persistence and determination in the face of difficult decisions.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“I too welcome High Representative Inzko and the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are pleased that the Council has today reauthorized the European Union (EU) military presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU-led mission continues to play an important role in supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment. The mission also offers capacity-building that helps to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the tools it needs to respond to security threats. As we heard this morning, Bosnia and Herzegovina has continued to make significant progress toward its goal of EU membership since the Council last discussed the situation in the country (see S/PV.7688).”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“We all benefit when the women and peace and security agenda is fully realized: the operational effectiveness of our peacekeeping missions improves, our peacekeeping efforts are more likely to take hold and we improve the chances of sustainable peace being achieved. Those are goals to which we all should aspire.”
2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source
“Ongoing United Nations leadership to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence will be essential. New Zealand has also consistently supported the Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers. It is time for an honest conversation among the Secretariat, contributing countries and Member States about why this continues to be a problem, how to stop it and, when it occurs, how to respond. New Zealand has full confidence that the Secretary-General-designate will take forward this important agenda. We appreciate the strong signals he has sent about his commitment to gender equality within the Secretariat, and his acknowledgement that full participation of women is essential to peace and prosperity.”
2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source
“That also means deploying more women in United Nations missions. And it means ensuring that those deployed - male and female - have the knowledge and training required to respond to challenges related to a lack of gender equality or women's empowerment. That requires making greater effort within our national military and police forces. New Zealand is actively increasing the recruitment, promotion and retention of senior women within the police and the defence force. We are determined to deploy women at all levels of decision-making in conflict-resolution processes. My final point is the need to combat conflict-related sexual violence. Like others, New Zealand condemns the use of sexual violence, including as a method of warfare, and supports measures to tackle this challenge.”
2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source
“My second point is that the Security Council should match rhetoric with action. That includes doing better in the mandates we set for peace operations, ensuring that United Nations missions have the right specialized personnel and skills sets, and being more open-minded about who briefs the Council. Thirdly, the United Nations system must ensure that gender perspectives are integrated across activities. Appointments across the United Nations, including at senior levels, must reflect the world around us. If not the United Nations, who will take responsibility for improved representation of women at all levels? That is especially important for those operating in conflict, fragile and post-conflict environments. We should monitor and review such issues in the Fifth Committee when we approve and fund posts.”
2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source
“As we have heard, Colombian women have successfully advocated for the inclusion of women and ensured that the peace process adequately addresses crucial issues, including violence against women and community displacement. That must be maintained in the ongoing dialogue towards a final peace agreement and encourage contributors to the United Nations Mission to respond to the call to deploy women. We also commend the initiative of the Secretary- General's Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to establish a women's advisory board to ensure that the voices of Syrian women are reflected in the peace process. Unfortunately, however, such positive outcomes remain rare, and we have yet to achieve the meaningful participation of women as a natural and necessary element for all peace processes.”
2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source
“We know that gender equality is critical to maintaining international peace and security. We know that women and girls have a significant role to play as leaders and decision-makers in the prevention and durable resolution of conflict. As the Secretary-General mentioned, we have the data. Women's participation increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years by 20 per cent. That percentage rises to 35 per cent after 15 years. But all too often, that is not reflected in our peacebuilding activities. On a positive note, the peace process in Colombia has provided a best-practice example of women's participation.”
2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source
“I too thank our briefers and the Secretary-General for his personal commitment to advancing the Women and Peace and Security agenda. I have four key points to make today, but frankly it is disappointing that I have to make any of them in 2016. It is my personal hope that by the time New Zealand presides over the Security Council again, there will no longer be a need for a separate women and peace and security agenda. It is also my hope that, by then, my colleagues will not feel the need to point out how special it is to thank "Madam President" because women presiding over the Council will no longer be considered a novelty. In any case, let me go back to the points that I am here to make in my national capacity. First, the meaningful participation of women at all stages of conflict is essential to achieving sustainable peace.”
2016-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7793 (2016) · source
“We hope that in the coming months Haiti will recover from Hurricane Matthew and complete a peaceful political transition. We also hope that the Council will remain united in supporting Haiti through this critical period.”
2016-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7789 (2016) · source
“That adds further urgency to the need to ensure that a duly elected and legitimate President is inaugurated early in 2017. In any event, we urge the United Nations to do all it can to engage relevant Haitian stakeholders when assessing its future presence in Haiti. We regret the impact that cholera continues to have on the people of Haiti. The United Nations has a responsibility to help address and end the outbreak and to provide appropriate support to the victims of cholera. We thank the Secretary-General for his efforts to improve the United Nations response to the cholera crisis and look forward to the new United Nations approach having a direct and positive impact. Haiti is once again at a critical point on its path to restoring an inclusive and representative democracy.”
2016-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7789 (2016) · source