YouSaid · the spoken record

Secretary-General

lines on the record: 2,998
first: 1995-09-26
most recent: 2021-05-16
sittings or episodes: 363
sources: un-security-council

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“Additionally, peacekeeping missions and other partners must continue to strengthen national institutions so that they are able to discharge their primary responsibility for enhancing security and the rule of law by the time the mission leaves. Fourthly, we need improved humanitarian access to affected populations. That means refraining from attacks against humanitarian workers and eliminating excessive bureaucratic requirements on the entry and movement of assistance and workers. It means cooperation between humanitarian actors and parties to conflict. And it means action against those who systematically obstruct assistance. Last but not least, we must see enhanced accountability. Those in breach of the law must be held to account. Perpetrators must be able to see that we are serious about that.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“Moreover, demands for compliance should be backed by the threat of targeted sanctions and intense scrutiny, including through commissions of inquiry or referrals to the International Criminal Court. Secondly, we need to more consistently and effectively engage non-State armed groups in order to improve their compliance with the law. Member States need to recognize and accept the fundamental necessity of this engagement. Thirdly, we need proactive, well-trained and appropriately resourced peacekeepers who can use a full spectrum of tools - military, police, justice, corrections and human rights * in a cohesive fashion.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“Let us remember that civilians suffer such horrors not because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time and become what is still euphemistically referred to as collateral damage. Civilians suffer more and more frequently because they are deliberately targeted. My past two reports (S/2007/643 and S/2009/277) to the Security Council on the protection of civilians sought to guide the Council, Member States and parties to a conflict on the steps they could, should and must take. The five core challenges I identified remain painfully relevant today. First, we need to see enhanced compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law. Violations must be met with appropriate action from the Council, including strong condemnation where clearly warranted.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“I thank Portugal for convening today's debate on the protection of civilians. I very much welcome the presence here today of His Excellency President Mr. Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva - a clear sign of the commitment of Portugal to this very important issue. All of us share a fundamental responsibility to do more to protect civilians caught up in the horrors of war. In conflicts throughout the world, women, girls, boys and men continue to be subjected to blatant and frequent violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The violations include killing, torture, kidnapping, rape and mutilation. We see forced recruitment, including of children, and the denial of access to medical care and life-saving assistance. And we see displacement, which is so often the precursor to lasting dependency, destitution and lost opportunities.”
2011-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6650 (2011) · source
“We must hold those responsible to account. Let us make women's dignity, safety and needs a priority. 1 am committed to working with the Council to ensure the full implementation of resolution 1325 11-56959 (2000) and its related resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010). I look forward to hearing members' proposals for bringing women from the margins of conflict prevention and mediation into the centre, where they belong.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“It has targets and indicators for 2014 and 2020, and a baseline is being assembled to track progress and ensure accountability. I will welcome further improvements in the flow of information to the Council on progress in the situation of women in armed conflict. I also urge Member States to do more - including through additional funding - to implement the strategic framework's priorities and protect the rights of women and girls. While there has undoubtedly been progress, I am deeply concerned about the persistence of serious abuses of women's rights. Last year at this time, I lamented the mass rapes that had occurred in Walikale, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My alarm has not diminished. We must respond swiftly and effectively to such crimes wherever and whenever they occur.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“The United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan is working with women parliamentarians in that country to enhance the role of women in conflict resolution, mitigation and peacebuilding. In turn, I encourage Member States to increase the number of women in senior positions in international and regional conflict prevention. This means more women in senior governance roles, at the top of security institutions, and serving as diplomats. The next few months will see international meetings to support recovery in South Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan and Libya. Let us use these opportunities to ensure that women's voices are heard. As members of the Council know, I have presented a strategic framework to accelerate the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“A gender and inclusion expert is now serving in the United Nations Standby Team of Mediation Experts, and guidance will soon be issued for UN mediators addressing conflict-related sexual Violence in ceasefire and peace agreements. 11-56959 In the field, our teams are supporting women so they can engage in peacebuilding and conflict prevention, management and reconciliation in West Africa, Central Asia, the Balkans and South-East Asia. In Afghanistan, our Mission continues to engage with women's networks struggling against the abuse of women. We have also worked for the inclusion of women in the High Peace Council and in provincial peace councils. In Darfur, our Mission worked to ensure that more than 30 per cent of civil society representatives at the Doha peace negotiations were women.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“The Executive Director of UN-Women, Michelle Bachelet, will present my report on women, peace and security (S/2011/598*). As it indicates, women's participation remains low both in official and observer roles. This has to change, and I am determined that the United Nations system should lead by example. In the past year, the number of women leading United Nations peacekeeping, political and peacebuilding missions has risen from six to 33 missions. My Special Representatives for Children and Armed Conflict and on Sexual Violence in Conflict are female, too. The Department of Political Affairs has increased the proportion of women candidates in its roster of senior mediators, team members and thematic experts to 35 per cent.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“I commend Nigeria's choice of theme for today's debate, and I thank the President and Council members for agreeing to start earlier than usual to allow me to participate in this very important meeting. The Security Council has emphasized repeatedly that involving women in conflict prevention and mediation is essential to building peace and reinforcing the foundations of democracy. This understanding was further acknowledged by the award of this year's Nobel Peace Prize to three extraordinary women peacemakers: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee of Liberia; and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen. Their examples should inspire us to intensify our efforts to ensure women's full participation in all conflict prevention and resolution processes.”
2011-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6642 (2011) · source
“The recent deployment of naval vessels to support antipiracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea attests to the readiness of the region's States and their partners to address this threat. I call upon other Member States to join these efforts. As we have learned from our experience in Somalia, we must approach the issue in a holistic manner, focusing simultaneously on security, the rule of law and development. Responses that fall short of these requirements Will only exacerbate the problem. Let us therefore work together to forge a balanced and coherent strategy that addresses the roots of the problem and deterrence on land and at sea.”
2011-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6633 (2011) · source
“11-55462 The mission Will include representatives of the Departments of Political Affairs and Peacekeeping Operations, the United Nations Office for West Africa, the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Maritime Organization. It will work in close consultation with national authorities, the European Union and other international partners. I will arrange to present the mission's report to the Council once I receive it. Piracy transcends national boundaries and economic interests. It has a negative impact on West Africa's trade with the rest of the world, especially with its principal trading partners in the Americas, Asia and Europe.”
2011-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6633 (2011) · source
“As the Council was informed in August, I have decided to deploy an assessment mission to the region in November, following a request by President Boni Yayi of Benin. Earlier this month, my Special Representative for West Africa, Mr. Said Djinnit, met with Beninese authorities, who stressed that the country's economy could be severely affected if piracy were not addressed adequately and quickly. The forthcoming United Nations assessment mission will examine the scope of the threat and the capacity of Benin and of the West African subregion as a whole to ensure maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. It will also make recommendations on antipiracy, including in the broader context of organized crime and drug trafficking.”
2011-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6633 (2011) · source
“I understand that ECOWAS plans to convene a summit of the Gulf of Guinea States and that ECCAS plans to hold an international conference. I urge the two regional organizations to work together to develop a comprehensive, integrated strategy, in close cooperation with the Commission of the Gulf of Guinea and the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa. I also encourage them to build on the existing memorandum of understanding on maritime law enforcement developed by the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa and the International Maritime Organization with the support of United Nations agencies. That memorandum has already been signed by 15 States from the region.”
2011-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6633 (2011) · source
“In their statements to the General Assembly, a number of heads of State highlighted the need for a concerted regional and international response. I therefore commend the States in the Gulf of Guinea and their partners for working together to tackle this security threat. Recently, Benin and Nigeria launched joint patrols to secure the waters off Benin. Similarly, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe have launched a joint strategy to secure the vital interests of members of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). I am also encouraged by the initiatives taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States to coordinate regional responses.”
2011-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6633 (2011) · source
“I would like to commend Nigeria for initiating this timely discussion. Since Under-Secretary-General Pascoe briefed the Council last August, the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has continued to grow. New cases of piracy and armed robbery aboard vessels along the West African coast are being regularly reported, with significant potential consequences for economic development and security. The threat is compounded because most Gulf States have limited capacity to ensure safe maritime trade, the freedom of navigation, 2 the protection of marine resources and the safety and security of lives and property. I discussed this issue with many leaders from the region and beyond during their visits to United Nations Headquarters last month.”
2011-10-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6633 (2011) · source
“Finally, we must continue to support national institutions and mechanisms for mediation and dialogue. Including civil society organizations, especially women and youth who can lead the charge for peaceful change, in preventive efforts is critical. Preventive diplomacy may not be effective in all situations. Uncertainty, risks and evolving challenges come with the terrain. Yet I firmly believe that better preventive diplomacy is not an option; it is a necessity. Prevention will remain a fundamental priority in my second term as Secretary-General. I count on the support of Member States, regional organizations, civil society and other partners. I know that this is what they expect of me, and it is what people everywhere expect of the United Nations.”
2011-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6621 (2011) · source
“Secondly, we must continue to invest in and better equip the women and men who lead our preventive diplomacy efforts on the ground. Thirdly, while prevention is infinitely cheaper than cure and is one of the smartest, most cost- effective investments we can make, it still needs adequate investment if it is to deliver results. At the same time, we will continue to maximize the impact of the resources we already have. Fourthly, we must further strengthen our strategic partnerships with regional and subregional organizations. In crisis situations, we must be able to decide quickly on who can do what to help. Sometimes, preventive diplomacy is getting the international community to speak with one voice. The Security Council has a key role to play in that regard.”
2011-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6621 (2011) · source
“But this should not deter us from trying to resolve underlying tensions and, when conflict does erupt, to stop its spread and mitigate the damage it can cause. My report (S/2011/552) outlines several areas of focus. First, we must prioritize early action. Too often, we find ourselves scrambling to manage emergencies that could have been prevented from spiralling out of control in the first place. It is incumbent on all of us - Member States, regional organizations and the United Nations - to act early and decisively. The Security Council can do much to address an emerging threat, whether or not it is on its formal agenda, precisely to avoid it ending up there. I or my representatives come before this Council virtually every day to talk about conflicts we are trying to resolve.”
2011-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6621 (2011) · source
“From Afghanistan to the Middle East, from West Africa to the Sudan and Somalia, our missions are carrying out preventive diplomacy every day, helping to sustain complex political, peacekeeping and peacebuilding processes. However, we still have a long way to go. Violent conflict continues to wreak a shocking toll on individuals, societies and economies. Every day, we can see the costs of the failure to prevent. Despite recent advances, preventive diplomacy continues to face long odds and numerous challenges. A critical factor is political will. If the parties do not want peace or are unwilling to compromise, it is extraordinarily difficult to persuade them or impose it from the outside. For this and other familiar reasons, we are still too often unable to act until a situation visibly deteriorates.”
2011-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6621 (2011) · source
“We have sought to reinforce our missions abroad, strengthen our envoys and their teams, improve our expertise, deepen our partnerships and reshape the Department of Political Affairs to make this vision a reality. Today, preventive diplomacy is being conducted by a broader array of actors, including regional and civil society organizations, using a wider and more innovative range of tools. There is growing global support for prevention, coupled with the creation of new preventive capacities in multilateral organizations and Member States. The pace, intensity and increasing professionalization of our preventive efforts are beginning to pay off. We have used diplomacy to 3 ensure a peaceful referendum in the Sudan, a democratic transition in Guinea, and an end to the violence in Kenya and Kyrgyzstan.”
2011-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6621 (2011) · source
“Preventive diplomacy's time has come once again. I am grateful to the presidency of Lebanon and to President Sleiman for this opportunity to take stock and chart the way forward. I also want to thank Nigeria, which helped re- energize and refocus our discussion on this issue during its presidency in July 2010. When I took office almost five years ago, it was clear to me that we needed to raise our ability to act early and preventively against emerging threats to an entirely new level. Building on the ideas and accomplishments of my predecessors, I saw significant untapped potential for what we could help achieve through preventive diplomacy.”
2011-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6621 (2011) · source
“Their needs and priorities for national unity, reconciliation and inclusiveness will be the foundation of our efforts in the days and months to come.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“In turn, that will require Libya's transitional authorities to provide clear short- and longer-term priorities. Our teams on the ground will work closely with the country's leadership to ensure that confusion and duplication of effort are kept to a minimum and that time and financial resources are not wasted. We are all acutely conscious of the magnitude of the challenge in Libya and of the enormous opportunity to help the Libyan people to build a more democratic, prosperous and stable future. In coming to their assistance, we must speak and act as one. In our response to the post-conflict challenge, we must be proactive and effective. Yet, at the same time, we must be sensitive to the complex needs and desires of the Libyan people themselves. As I said earlier, the future of Libya must be led and owned by the Libyan people themselves.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“It appears from our consultations with the National Transitional Council that such requests will focus mainly on five areas: restoring public security and order and promoting the rule of law; leading inclusive political dialogue, promoting national reconciliation and determining the constitution-making and electoral process; extending State authority, including by strengthening emerging accountable institutions and the restoration of public services; protecting human rights, particularly of vulnerable groups, and supporting transitional justice; and taking immediate steps to initiate economic recovery. Our third principle is effective coordination. Our most important job will be to ensure that multilateral, regional and bilateral efforts are complementary and correspond to Libyan wishes.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“My aim is to get United Nations personnel on the ground as quickly as possible, under a robust Security Council mandate. My Special Adviser, Mr. Ian Martin, has been consulting daily with the National Transitional Council and other Libyan stakeholders, as have I and other senior members of our team. In our response, the United Nations will operate under three fundamental principles. The first principle is national ownership. Libya's future is for Libyans to decide. We will act in accordance with their needs and desires, not vice versa. The second principle is rapid response and delivery. Mr. Martin and his team have been engaged in a preparatory process to enable the United Nations to respond swiftly to the requests of the Libyan authorities.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“Also on the humanitarian front, let me note that the International Organization for Migration successfully evacuated approximately 1,000 migrants and third-country nationals from Tripoli on 28 August. Lastly, with regard to human rights, during recent days we have seen growing evidence of summary executions, torture and human rights violations. They will be looked into by the International Commission of Inquiry for Libya, which is expected to submit its first oral update to the Human Rights Council on 19 September. I cannot overstate the urgency of this moment. Time is of the essence. The people of Libya are looking to the international community for help. The transitional Government will outline specific requests in the coming days.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“It is essential that sufficient fuel and spare parts be available if we are to avoid further shut-downs of the water system. Meanwhile, we are working urgently to mobilize other resources for the delivery of water, including tanker trucks. In the coming days, we will likely request urgent international assistance in that matter. It was vitally important that the Sanctions Committee acted to release $1.5 billion in frozen Libyan assets for humanitarian assistance. The first allocation of these assets - $110 million - has just been made. Further action will be needed in the coming days. I appeal to the Council to continue to be responsive to the requests of the transitional authorities for funding.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“The World Food Programme has sent in a large humanitarian convoy from Tunisia, carrying water, medical supplies and blood donated by the Government of Tunisia. The World Health Organization is sending 45 tons of medical supplies as part of that same effort. Tripoli's seaport is now open and functioning - an essential step forward in getting international relief supplies and workers into the country. However, water supplies are critically short. According to our latest reports, an estimated 60 per cent of Tripoli's population is without water and sanitation. UNICEF engineers are working to repair the pumping stations that conduct water from the Great Man-Made River to the capital and other areas, but we do not know how long it will take to restore service. Clearly, ongoing security concerns make the situation precarious at best.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“The meeting also called on the United Nations to allow the National Transitional Council to do the same at the United Nations itself. Also, on 26 August, the Deputy Secretary- General participated at the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa. There, too, African leaders stressed the need for national reconciliation and underscored the AU's commitment to working with all Libyan stakeholders to stabilize the country. We must act quickly and decisively to meet the considerable challenges ahead. The humanitarian situation in Libya demands urgent action. We are beginning to see signs of progress. According to some reports, large caches of medical supplies and food were discovered over the weekend by the transitional authorities, apparently stockpiled by the former regime. Hospitals are reopening.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“11-48382 Meanwhile, on Friday 26 August, I held a video teleconference meeting with the heads of the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union and the European Union. All agreed that, at this critical moment, the international community must come together with an effective, well- coordinated programme of action. All agreed, as well, that the United Nations should lead that effort. Following that meeting, the Council of the League of Arab States held an extraordinary ministerial session in Cairo on 27 August. I understand that there, the League of Arab States agreed that the National Transitional Council should fill the seat of Libya in meetings of the League of Arab States.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“Yet I think that we may now hope for a quick conclusion to the conflict and an end to the suffering of Libya's people. Over the past week, I have spoken on several occasions with the Chairman of the National Transitional Council, Mr. Mustafa Abdel J alil, and with many other world leaders. We discussed the United Nations role in Libya in the months ahead, including such areas as election assistance, transitional justice and policing, as well as urgent humanitarian needs. We will continue these discussions in Paris on Thursday at the summit-level meeting of the Libya Support Group. My Special Adviser on post-conflict planning for Libya, Mr. Ian Martin, and my Special Envoy for Libya, Mr. Abdel-Elah Al-Khatib, will accompany me, along with the Under-Secretary- General for Political Affairs, Mr. Lynn Pascoe.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“I would like to close by thanking His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan and the Government of Nigeria for their assistance in the aftermath of the attack. Once again, I extend my deep sympathies and condolences to the victims and their loved ones, and I salute the courage and dedication of our United Nations team in Abuja, for Whom this is such a sad and terrible blow. Council members have seen the latest reports from Libya. I think we can all be encouraged by the current trends. Yesterday, we received confirmation that members of Muammar Al-Qadhafi's family have sought asylum in Algeria. The National Transitional Council appears to be largely in control of Tripoli and other cities. Fighting continues in some parts of the country, most notably in Sirte, Sabha, Zuwarah and points south.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“That will include trauma counselling for those who might need it. This afternoon I will report to the General Assembly, and on Thursday the Deputy Secretary- General will hold a town hall meeting in New York to discuss the tragedy. Clearly, the United Nations and our people are being targeted more and more often by terrorists worldwide. Too often, it seems, we are considered a soft target. The security of our staff working overseas must be paramount. We must draw the lessons to be learned from Abuja. And together, we must commit the effort and resources to implement them. Our goal must be to stay, and not to leave, in difficult security conditions. We must continue to carry out our vital work and not lock ourselves behind fortresses. We must manage risk, not become risk-averse.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“They returned yesterday and have briefed me. What we know is that this attack was the work of a suicide bomber who rammed a sport utility vehicle at high speed through the exit gates of the United Nations compound. United Nations House in Abuja, home to 26 United Nations agencies and programmes, is a well- built structure with robust security measures. This attack, therefore, is cause for a serious reassessment, not just in Nigeria and not just in high-threat locations, but worldwide. We will be undertaking a full review of the incident itself and of our security measures at United Nations House. We will also be initiating a global threat review shortly. I will share the results with the Council at the first opportunity. Meanwhile, we are doing everything possible to assist the victims and their families.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“Let me begin with an update on the terrorist attack on United Nations House in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. We have all condemned this terrible act. As many of us have noted, it was an assault on those who have devoted their lives to helping others. This has been the second major terrorist attack on United Nations premises this year. The first, of course, was in Mazar-e-Sharif, where seven people died, including three United Nations staff. In the Abuja incident, a total of 23 people were killed, 11 of whom were United Nations staff, including one international - a young Norwegian woman named Ingrid Midtgaard, from Oslo. More than 80 were wounded. Within minutes of the initial reports, I asked the Deputy Secretary-General, Asha-Rose Migiro, and our head of security, Under-Secretary- General Gregory Starr, to go to the scene.”
2011-08-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6606 (2011) · source
“Early peacebuilding tasks have also become an integral part of many operations and should be implemented in an integrated manner. Partnership is the cornerstone of peacekeeping. Let us build on the relationships that now exist, and overcome potential frictions that could hinder our work. Through increased engagement, extensive dialogue and a shared understanding of our common goals, we can uphold the aims of the Charter and live up to the expectations of the people who look to us in their time of need. In closing, I would like to acknowledge the sacrifice of the thousands of colleagues and friends 3 who have given their lives in the line of duty, and to pay tribute to all those working in peacekeeping today for their commitment to this noble cause.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“This is a comprehensive response to key logistical and administrative challenges, and is aimed at enabling timely mission start-up and drawdown, improved provision of support, and increased transparency and accountability for resources. The enormous role of civilian peacekeepers is also critical. Close to 20,000 civilians within peacekeeping operations are currently implementing activities in support of peace processes, encompassing security sector reform, rule of law and local governance development, human rights monitoring, disarmament, demining and the provision of complex mission support. The implementation of the findings of the recent civilian capacity review will increase our capabilities in this regard, and we look forward to the Council's support for this effort.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“One way forward is outlined in the draft presidential statement to be adopted today, in which the Council requests that the Secretariat ensure that troop and police contributors are engaged early, with appropriate information, to enable effective consultations between the Council and the Secretariat. I agree with this approach and look forward to working with the Council to implement it. We also recognize the restrictive context in which we operate, such as that presented by the global financial situation. The impact on Member States is well understood. The Secretariat will continue to seek ways to yield efficiencies. The global field support strategy is a central part of this picture. The strategy is designed to optimize efficiencies in the management of resources entrusted to the Organization by Member States through a global approach.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“The current financial climate, differing perspectives on mandated tasks, and, in some instances, the loss of host Government consent have all created tensions in our relationships. Achieving a collective response is also complicated when key stakeholders - such as those who mandate missions, those who contribute uniformed personnel and those who are major funders - are separate groups. If these groups remain distinct even as mandates become more demanding, tensions and divisions are inevitable, with potentially negative impacts on our operations. We must continue to improve the peacekeeping partnership. We have a common responsibility to make sure that our 11-48151 peacekeepers are up to the task, which means ensuring both adequate support and equipment.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“Notwithstanding the responsibility of host Governments, peacekeepers are increasingly tasked to take on the protection of civilians - placing higher demands on their work, greater scrutiny on their performance, and a growing need for sufficient resources to properly carry out such mandates. With these shifts in mind, the New Horizon initiative of 2009 set out an agenda for strengthening peacekeeping. This has served to build a common Vision and stronger partnership linking the resources of the Secretariat, the Security Council, troop- and police-contributing countries and the wider membership of the Organization. Unfortunately, some aspects of this partnership are under increasing pressure.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“Where this has occurred, we have seen considerable success, such as in Liberia and Timor- Leste, or with the referendum in the Sudan. Where we have struggled, we have also learned. Since 2001, the number of uniformed personnel has doubled, reaching a high point of more than 101,000 early last year. Although the rate of growth slowed in 2010, the complexity of missions remains high, requiring ever more flexible and adaptable uniformed and civilian personnel. Indeed, we may be entering a new phase, with diverse and multifaceted situations where peacekeeping may play a role. Peacekeeping will need to evolve to meet specific demands in a variety of environments and to flexibly and nimbly bring together multiple capabilities in a coherent and effective manner.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“This outrageous and shocking attack is evidence that United Nations premises are increasingly being viewed as soft targets by extremist elements around the world. Peacekeeping is one of the most visible, difficult and critical roles played by the United Nations. It is also a role that only the United Nations can play in a truly global sense. Peacekeeping is an essential tool for overcoming threats to international peace and security and supporting complex transitions from conflict to stability. It requires a variety of approaches to respond to various local needs and a wide range of political 11-4815] realities. To be successful, peacekeeping operations must have a clear and achievable mandate, unified political support from the Security Council, and adequate, predictable human, material and financial resources.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“Nigerian and international search and rescue teams have mobilized and are moving the injured to hospitals and providing emergency aid. I have asked the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Asha-Rose Migiro, to go Nigeria immediately, and I am mobilizing the United Nations system to respond to this emergency. The Deputy Secretary-General will be accompanied by the United Nations security chief, Under-Secretary-General Gregory Starr, and will meet with Nigerian authorities upon arrival in Abuja. On this very sad occasion, I extend my deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. The United Nations will undertake every possible effort to assist them during this difficult time. Let me say clearly: These acts of terrorism are unacceptable. They will not deter us from our vital work for the people of Nigeria and the world.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“I thank the Government of India and Ambassador Puri for their leadership and initiative in scheduling this debate on peacekeeping. But let me begin with this morning's most immediate developments. As members of the Council know, United Nations House in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, was struck by a car bomb around 11 a.m. local time this morning. These buildings house 26 humanitarian and development agencies of the United Nations family. I met with our staff in Abuja during a visit just two months ago. In a statement to the media, I described this terrible act as an attack on those who devote their lives to helping others. We condemn it utterly. We do not yet have precise casualty figures, but they are likely to be considerable. Many people are dead; many more are wounded.”
2011-08-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6603 (2011) · source
“I thank you again, Sir, for having organized this debate and for lending the political weight of the Security Council to raising awareness of this important issue. I have called climate change the defining issue of our time. Indeed, we must go even further. We must make sustainable development for all the defining issue of our time, because it is only in that broader framework that we can address climate change and the needs of our citizens. Rewriting this history falls to us all.”
2011-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6587 (2011) · source
“The members of the Council bear a unique responsibility to mobilize national and international action to confront the very real threat of climate change and the specific threats to international peace and security that derive from it. Of course, nothing would build a more lasting foundation for a peaceful world than securing sustainable development for all of our citizens. In this regard, I urge all United Nations Member States to fully utilize the opportunity provided by next year's United Nations Conference on Sustainable 11-42259 Development. In Rio, we need to close the gaps between energy security, food and nutrition security, water security, climate security and development so that all our peoples can enjoy prosperity, peace and international security.”
2011-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6587 (2011) · source
“The Durban meeting must provide a clear step forward on mitigation commitments and actions by all parties according to their responsibilities and capabilities. Developed countries must lead, while at the same time emerging economies must shoulder their fair share. We cannot ignore history. But we must clearly recognize that there can be no spectators when it comes to securing the future of our planet. Given that the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires next year, a political formula must be found without delay to ensure that existing commitments and needed future commitments and actions are not delayed by negotiating gamesmanship. The Security Council can play a vital role in making clear the link between climate change, peace and security.”
2011-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6587 (2011) · source
“Those agreements provide an important, but incomplete, foundation for action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enabling all countries to adapt. We now need accelerated operationalization of all the agreements made at Cancun, including on protecting forests, adaptation and technology. Climate finance, the sine qua non for progress, must move from a conceptual discussion to concrete delivery of fast-start financing and agreement on sources of long-term financing. The next Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Durban in December, must be decisive in that regard. Minimalist steps will not do. Negotiations cannot stop there. We need ambitious targets that ensure that any increase in global average temperature remains below 2Â° C.”
2011-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6587 (2011) · source
“That undermines the most essential foundations of local, national and global stability. Competition between communities and countries for scarce resources, especially water, is increasing, exacerbating old security dilemmas and creating new ones. Environmental refugees are reshaping the human geography of the planet, a trend that will only increase as deserts advance, forests are felled and sea-levels rise. Mega-crises may well become the new normal. Those are all threats to human security, as well as to international peace and security. 11-42259 Since I delivered my report (A/64/350) to the General Assembly in 2009, the international community has reached certain agreements, in Copenhagen and Cancun, in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.”
2011-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6587 (2011) · source