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Secretary-General

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1995-09-26
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2021-05-16
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  1. “But we still have further to go. I see four areas that require our particular attention. First, we need to get the right people in the right place at the right time. We now deploy special representatives and other United Nations leaders more rapidly to crisis situations. All senior staff now have managerial compacts to define their goals and priorities and to improve their accountability. The demands on leaders in crisis situations are growing. They are now expected to implement broader Security Council mandates, provide a strategic vision, ensure proper coordination and undertake joint planning. We need to give them the properly trained and equipped support teams that will enable them to perform the full range of their responsibilities right from the very beginning.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396Resumption1 (2010) · source

  2. “It was in that spirit that my report last year on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (S/2009/304) set out an agenda for action to help the United Nations deliver more rapid and effective support to national peacebuilding efforts and to ensure that the impacts of those activities would endure. We are making progress in Burundi, Haiti, Nepal, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. Let us remember that for people who have suffered through conflict, progress cannot come fast enough. The ultimate test is how well 10-57830 we deliver on the ground and how well we give people signs of hope, beyond mere words and promises. One year since I issued that report, I am pleased to report that we have made real gains in carrying forward the specific recommendations I put forward aimed at better organizing our peacebuilding efforts.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396Resumption1 (2010) · source

  3. “One of the most difficult and important tasks facing the United Nations is to ensure that nations emerging from devastating conflicts are not allowed to slide back into violence. Building peace may sound straightforward, but we know from painful experience that it is not. Success requires patience, long-term commitment and the involvement of a wide range of actors working together. We face real difficulties every day as our field missions, funds, programmes and agencies, each in their own way, work to provide the kind of help that nations need to rebuild after war. We feel keenly and constantly the need to do better.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396Resumption1 (2010) · source

  4. “There is no set sequence of peacemaking, followed by peacekeeping, followed by peacebuilding, but rather a need for us to be flexible and bring our tools into play at the appropriate moments. It is essential for us to develop the peacebuilding architecture and promote greater coherence within the United Nations system. Meeting these challenges will bring us closer to our overarching goal of building sustainable peace. I will continue to rely on the Council's support and cooperation in that endeavour.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  5. “In such situations, women are vital to ensuring that the basic survival needs of families and communities are met. I have therefore stipulated that all peacebuilding funds managed by the United Nations will henceforth allocate 15 per cent of their funds to projects that address women's specific needs, advance gender equality or empower women. Advancing the cause of women and peace and security enhances the legitimacy of peace processes and governance structures. It must be an integral part of our peacebuilding efforts, not an afterthought. The work of rebuilding societies broken by conflict requires long-term commitment, a truly integrated approach and significant amounts of human, financial and institutional resources.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  6. “While their voices are critical for ensuring that the foundations of peace are just and equitable, women are still not systematically included at all stages of the peace process. My new report on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/20lO/466) provides a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges. It identifies the hurdles women confront in seven key areas: mediation, 3 post-conflict planning, financing, civilian capacity, post-conflict governance, the rule of law and economic recovery. It makes specific commitments for each, thereby providing a framework for the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). But that did not happen without dedicated funding for women's needs. Conflicts leave States severely weakened and social structures decimated.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  7. “A closer collaboration can help the Council to support peacebuilding more effectively from the very start, including by enabling peacekeeping operations to have an impact as early peacebuilders and by ensuring that integrated peacebuilding offices institutionalize these early achievements. With respect to the recent review of our peacebuilding architecture, I look forward to the outcome of discussions by the Council and the General Assembly. Fourthly, we need to put women at the heart of peacebuilding. That is where women should be, not only because of their peacebuilding needs, but above all because of their capacities. Yet we have not truly achieved this, nor have we fully implemented resolution 1325 (2000).”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  8. “Partnerships work best when roles are clear. Greater clarity and deeper capacities are being established in core areas such as mine action, mediation and electoral assistance, but we still need to review the institutional arrangement in areas such as security sector reform and the rule of law. To this end, I am encouraging a frank examination of the comparative advantages of various United Nations actors and other partners, based on available capacities and presence. This will be an important priority in the coming months, and I rely on the support of the Council. One of the most important partnerships is the one between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  9. “In fragile transition situations, the Peacebuilding Fund can quickly finance early action, which can in turn prompt other sources to provide longer-term funding. The Fund has streamlined its procedures, enabling it to respond more swiftly to urgent needs. I encourage Member States to contribute to its replenishment. But the Fund is only one among many. Many other efforts are under way, aimed at making all 10-57830 peacebuilding financing more flexible and tolerant of risk. I urge Member States to support these as well. Thirdly, we need more effective partnerships. Greater cooperation and joint approaches within the United Nations are important, but they are not enough. We must build deeper strategic partnerships. With that in mind, we have begun strengthening cooperation and developing closer institutional links with the World Bank.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  10. “Such demands underpin the review of international civilian capacities that is currently under way. The review is anchored in the need to ensure that international assistance in the aftermath of conflict is driven by national needs and priorities, that we make better use of the capacities of women and the global South, and that our responses become faster and more flexible. I look forward to the recommendations of the Senior Advisory Group for the Review of International Civilian Capacities, led by Jean-Marie Guehenno, early next year. Meanwhile, I encourage all Member States to be engaged in and contribute to the outcome of the review. Secondly, we need predictable financing. Whatever type of United Nations presence there is, we and our national partners need sufficient and timely funding, especially in the middle of a crisis response.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  11. “But we still have further to go. I see four areas that require our particular attention. First, we need to get the right people in the right place at the right time. We now deploy special representatives and other United Nations leaders more rapidly to crisis situations. All senior staff now have managerial compacts to define their goals and priorities and to improve their accountability. The demands on leaders in crisis situations are growing. They are now expected to implement broader Security Council mandates, provide a strategic vision, ensure proper coordination and undertake joint planning. We need to give them the properly trained and equipped support teams that will enable them to perform the full range of their responsibilities right from the very beginning.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  12. “It was in that spirit that my report last year on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (S/2009/304) set out an agenda for action to help the United Nations deliver more rapid and effective support to national peacebuilding efforts and to ensure that the impacts of those activities would endure. We are making progress in Burundi, Haiti, Nepal, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. Let us remember that for people who have suffered through conflict, progress cannot come fast enough. The ultimate test is how well 10-57830 we deliver on the ground and how well we give people signs of hope, beyond mere words and promises. One year since I issued that report, I am pleased to report that we have made real gains in carrying forward the specific recommendations I put forward aimed at better organizing our peacebuilding efforts.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  13. “One of the most difficult and important tasks facing the United Nations is to ensure that nations emerging from devastating conflicts are not allowed to slide back into violence. Building peace may sound straightforward, but we know from painful experience that it is not. Success requires patience, long-term commitment and the involvement of a wide range of actors working together. We face real difficulties every day as our field missions, funds, programmes and agencies, each in their own way, work to provide the kind of help that nations need to rebuild after war. We feel keenly and constantly the need to do better.”

    2010-10-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6396 (2010) · source

  14. “With respect to the Security Council itself, I welcome the enhanced coordination between the 3 Council's subsidiary organs and partner entities in the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. All of us should broaden engagement with bodies that deal with measures listed under pillar l of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, such as the Alliance of Civilizations. The Alliance is a central part of the United Nations response to extremism and intolerance, and a necessary voice of moderation to counter the incitement and hatred that are such prominent parts of terrorism's playbook. No cause or grievance can justify terrorism. Let me stress again the determination of the United Nations to rise to a global, cross-border challenge that seeks to do such harm to us all.”

    2010-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6390 (2010) · source

  15. “In Central Asia, the United Nations is already working on capacity-building in the areas of law enforcement, criminal justice and international cooperation. I would also like to stress the importance of supporting victims of terrorism. It will be recalled that two years ago we held a very moving seminar here at Headquarters at which many victims of terrorism spoke about their experiences. On 8 October, again here at the United Nations, we will screen "Killing in the Name", a documentary that not only highlights the plight of terrorism's victims but also, we hope, will help empower them and others towards greater levels of engagement in bringing an end to such crimes.”

    2010-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6390 (2010) · source

  16. “No counter-terrorism approach would be complete without a full commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Both the Security Council and the General Assembly have consistently endorsed the protection of human rights as an integral component of any effective counter-terrorism policy, and I welcome the attention the Council has devoted to this topic. Several States - including those that have been victimized by terrorism - are eager to implement their obligations under the counter-terrorism frameworks but lack the resources and other capacities to do so. Capacity-building is therefore a priority for the United Nations. Considering the gravity of the situation in the Sahel-Maghreb region, I am committed to working with the region's leaders on strengthening State capacity for counter-terrorism.”

    2010-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6390 (2010) · source

  17. “Education, development, intercultural dialogue and conflict prevention all have growing relevance in addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism. 10-55136 Thirdly, we must do more to better understand the reasons people are drawn to violence so that we can do more to prevent others from following that path. Fourthly, we need to continue strengthening the legal regime, building on existing international counter-terrorism instruments and relevant resolutions of the Security Council. The value of these measures and of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy lies in their consistent and equal implementation. Fifthly, we must improve the way we share information and best practices. That means establishing national focal points and regional networks and mobilizing civil society, the private sector and the media.”

    2010-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6390 (2010) · source

  18. “Over the past five years, the United Nations has expanded its counter-terrorism activities, increased inter-agency coordination and enhanced partnerships with a wide range of international and regional organizations. Joint initiatives with Member States in many regions - including the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and South and Central Asia - have shown that there is much we can do. Countering terrorism demands a broad approach. First, we must continue our efforts in the fields of security and law enforcement. That includes measures to further deprive terrorists of financial resources and mobility, and to prevent them from acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction. Secondly, other areas deserve more attention.”

    2010-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6390 (2010) · source

  19. “I thank you, Sir, for your very kind, warm words. I also thank the Turkish presidency of the Security Council for its initiative in convening this debate, and I extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Foreign Minister Davutoglu. I also warmly welcome the other ministers who are participating in this very important meeting of the Council. Terrorism poses a grave threat to international peace and security. Many of the countries represented around this table have first-hand experience of this menace. There have been so many attacks, lives lost and families destroyed. The United Nations has been targeted, too, from Iraq to Pakistan and Algeria to Afghanistan. Terrorism may be a gathering storm, but the international response is gathering steam.”

    2010-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6390 (2010) · source

  20. “In closing, allow me to note that just yesterday we gathered to recommit ourselves to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Let us recognize the close links between that summit and this, and between the MDGs and the work of this Council. Building peace and advancing development are mutually reinforcing. On all these fronts, the Security Council's leadership will be crucial. Its unity is essential. I pledge my full support as we move forward together.”

    2010-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6389 (2010) · source

  21. “The United Nations core business must be helping people to solve their conflicts, not just serving as a band-aid to keep troubles in check. Thirdly, we need to further develop the peacebuilding architecture, empower the Peacebuilding Commission and Fund, and promote greater coherence among the many pieces of the United Nations system that make up the peacebuilding picture. Fourthly, we must expand our work on prevention, in particular to improve our ability to read the warning signs and trigger early action. The world needs the Security Council to uphold its responsibility for maintaining international peace and security fully, fairly and without delay. We must do more, and be equipped to do more, to fulfil this cardinal mission.”

    2010-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6389 (2010) · source

  22. “These incremental yet significant changes are making our engagement in troubled areas more and more effective. But we must do more. Let me focus on four critical areas. First, we should move beyond the idea of a clear- cut sequence of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. These tools should be deployed in integrated fashion, not kept in separate silos. Conflict seldom follows a tidy path. We must continue to evolve towards a faster and more flexible architecture of response that allows us to customize our assistance to the real and immediate needs on the ground. With respect to peacekeeping, we will continue to work in close partnership with the Security Council and others to advance the New Horizon initiative. Secondly, there is no quick fix for broken societies. It demands patience, resources and a long- term commitment.”

    2010-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6389 (2010) · source

  23. “They continue to deliver on wide-ranging mandates. We have strengthened peacebuilding in order to ensure the sustainability of such efforts. Allocations from the Peacebuilding Fund are increasingly targeted and timely. We are working to protect civilians in armed conflict, both as part of peacekeeping mandates and in our humanitarian assistance. Last month's shocking mass rapes in Eastern Congo remind us of the difficulty of this challenge. I have asked my Special Representative on this matter, Ms. Margot Wallstrom, to help us develop more Vigorous mechanisms in tackling these atrocities. We have also taken steps to improve the security of the many thousands of our own 10-54839 staff who risk their lives every day to improve the lives of others.”

    2010-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6389 (2010) · source

  24. “We continue to make our peacekeeping operations more efficient and effective, including through the New Horizon process. That initiative - which includes the global field support strategy - is designed to help us better adjust to complex situations involving difficult terrain and volatile political contexts, and to better address the resource and technological implications of this work. We have more instances in which peacemaking and peacekeeping are being carried out simultaneously, as in Cyprus. We continue to enhance our pool of envoys, deepen our cooperation with regional partners, help Member States build up their capacities, and support our field missions and regional offices. We have deployed 122,000 civilian and uniformed personnel in 15 peacekeeping missions, and a further 4,000 personnel in 14 political field missions.”

    2010-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6389 (2010) · source

  25. “I commend the Government of Turkey for having convened this Security Council summit and for its focus on preventing and ending conflict and building peace. Since the end of the cold war, Violent conflict has declined. Success in peacemaking and peacekeeping has played an important role in this development. Yet, we still live in a troubled world, with new threats and flashpoints. Often, when Violence breaks out, the world turns to the United Nations. We are at the centre of crisis management in hotspots throughout the world. We - this Council and we in the Secretariat - have come a long way in responding to these diverse challenges. We have reinvigorated preventive diplomacy and upgraded the United Nations mediation capacity. We are more nimble in responding to brewing trouble from Guinea to Kyrgyzstan.”

    2010-09-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6389 (2010) · source

  26. “Communities should not suffer the indignity of knowing that human rights abusers and war criminals can continue to behave with impunity. We must speak out and we must act.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  27. “I am dispatching Assistant Secretary- General Atul Khare of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to work with Special Representative Roger Meece and report back. And I have asked my Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Margot Wallstrom, to lead the United Nations response. But I also request that you, the members of the Security Council, seriously consider what more we can do - in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere - to ensure the successful protection of civilians in the context of peacekeeping operations. Last year I met some of the victims of appalling crimes of sexual violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Women and children should not have to live in fear of rape.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  28. “I have called on the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to investigate this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. I have also called on the Government to renew efforts to bring security and stability to the people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and for all armed groups in the country to lay down their weapons and join the peace process. Yet I am compelled to ask: what more can we do to protect civilians from such wanton violations of international human rights and humanitarian law? The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo does what it can within its mandate, working with limited resources in an exceptionally difficult environment. But at such times we should always ask if we could have done more.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  29. “Let us always remember that reducing and eliminating piracy in the region means a sustained response not only at sea but also on land, where piracy originates. The security of international navigation requires that we continue to support peace and stability in Somalia. I therefore thank the Security Council for convening today's meeting. While I am here, I would also like to say a few words about the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The recent savage rape of and assault on at least 154 Congolese civilians is another grave example of the levels of sexual violence and insecurity that continue to plague the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is one more brutal reminder of the challenges of keeping the peace and protecting civilians in conflict zones. Meeting these challenges is our collective responsibility.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  30. “I would also like to thank the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the regional authorities of Somaliland and Puntland for establishing a technical cooperation mechanism on counter-piracy. It is important that such initiatives are fully integrated into our overall efforts to boost Somalia-based solutions to this problem. In January 2010, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia established a trust fund. It has already provided resources to several counter-piracy projects, both in the area of prosecution and initiatives on land. I am grateful to all Member States that have generously contributed to this fund, and I call on the international community, including the shipping industry, to continue to support these crucial projects.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  31. “I am also encouraged by investigations and prosecutions in 11 Member States, which are prosecuting or have convicted nearly 600 Somali men of piracy in the past 18 months. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have developed several programmes to assist States in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia itself, and the regional authorities of Somaliland and Puntland, in order to strengthen their criminal justice systems to cope with the added burden to prison and court systems. The UNDP's long-term assistance programme to the Somali courts and police is now complemented by the UNODC's work in the corrections sector. Such efforts depend heavily on partnerships. Our collaboration with the African Union, the European Commission, INTERPOL and NATO has been indispensable.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  32. “Furthermore, in considering the establishment of such a mechanism, a host State will need to be identified, which in turn will require adequate arrangements for transferring those convicted to third States for their imprisonment. This aspect is particularly relevant given the large number of suspects apprehended at sea. To further explore these issues, I intend to appoint a special adviser on legal issues related to piracy off the coast of Somalia. In recent months, the international community has made great strides in strengthening the capacity of other States in the region, such as Kenya and Seychelles, to respond to piracy. I welcome indications from Tanzania and Mauritius that they will also contribute to this effort.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  33. “Option 7 would be a full international tribunal, established by the Security Council acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. All these options present serious issues for consideration, which Ms. O'Brien will introduce in her detailed briefing. Let me now turn to broader challenges. The Council has clearly emphasized the need to achieve and sustain substantive results in combating piracy. To do so, whether it be through a new or existing judicial mechanism, will require political and financial commitment from Member States. We will need both to establish the mechanism and to ensure that it has the capacity and resources to prosecute a large number of suspects while ensuring due process.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  34. “The first option is to enhance ongoing efforts to assist regional States to prosecute and imprison those responsible for acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea. The second would involve locating a Somali court applying Somali law in a third State in the region. The third and fourth options would involve assisting a regional State or States to establish special chambers, embedded in the State's or States' national court structures, to conduct piracy trials. Option 5 would require active engagement by the States of the region and the African Union to establish a regional tribunal to address the scourge of piracy. Option 6 would be an international tribunal analogous to existing hybrid tribunals, with national participation by a State in the region.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  35. “In the past seven months, there have been 139 piracy-related incidents off the coast of Somalia. Thirty ships have been hijacked. Seventeen ships and 450 seafarers are being held for ransom. I therefore welcome the Security Council's continued engagement on this issue. Over the past three years, the international community has made concerted efforts to combat the problem, including by establishing a contact group and deploying significant naval assets to the region. Nonetheless, we can do more. In particular, we need to implement the existing legal regime so that the fight against piracy in international waters is effective. My report is now before the Council (S/2010/394). It sets out seven options. My Legal Counsel, Ms. Patricia O'Brien, will describe these options in detail, but I would like first to outline them.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  36. “Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this very important meeting at this time. Before beginning, I would like to join you as President of the Council in welcoming His Excellency Ambassador Nishida as the new Permanent Representative of Japan. I wish him great success in the future. Before I turn to the topic of our collective efforts to combat piracy, allow me to express my condemnation for yesterday's deadly attack on the 10-49378 Muna hotel in Mogadishu. This attack, in the holy month of Ramadan, is an affront to Muslims and peace-loving people everywhere. It is a sad but pointed reminder of our collective responsibility to support the Somali Government in bringing stability to this war- torn nation. I join the Security Council in extending condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Somalia.”

    2010-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6374 (2010) · source

  37. “Armed conflict, particularly the intra-State disputes that are now the norm, is often the result of a lack of good governance, competition for scarce resources, or the complex interaction of factors, including ethnicity, or all of these combined. Climate change, desertification and land disputes can be additional drivers of conflict, and a lack of effective security and rule of law mechanisms can exacerbate the problems. These are the broader challenges the Security Council must address with determination to prevent and resolve conflicts. That, in the longer term, is the best way of bringing about real protection for civilians.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  38. “Earlier this year, and in consultation with regional organizations, I dispatched a commission of inquiry to Guinea to help bring accountability for crimes committed during violence there in September 2009. In Sri Lanka, I have emphasized the importance of an accountability process for alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law by all sides to the conflict that ended there in 2009. I have appointed a panel of experts to advise me on these issues. Over the past decade, the protection of civilians agenda has advanced considerably, thanks in great part to the work of this Council. While the conduct of hostilities and their immediate consequences must remain a major focus, that alone would mean treating symptoms rather than causes.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  39. “Acts of omission, including the hindering of humanitarian access, can be just as or even more damaging. Those who create such obstacles must also be held accountable, be they State or non-State actors. This is a crucial part of our work - to rid the world of zones where humanitarian needs go unmet. There have been significant advances in the normative capabilities of national and international systems. Much of this progress derives from the work of the International Criminal Court and its beneficial effects, including the integration of the Rome Statute crimes into national legal systems. But here, too, more must be done to increase the expectation that violators will have to face the consequences of their actions.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  40. “This is necessary so that States can overcome their reluctance to engage for fear that doing so is tantamount to according recognition or status to such groups. It is also essential, since even armed groups that violate basic international norms as a matter of routine can and should be brought into dialogue for purely humanitarian purposes, including humanitarian access. Indeed, States and non-State actors alike must be encouraged to provide and permit greater humanitarian access. In too many cases, States lack capacity or, worse, are inclined to deny their responsibilities, deny the existence or degree of humanitarian need, and construct unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles. This brings me naturally to another core challenge: accountability. Violent crimes are not the only ones that harm civilians.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  41. “In Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, respectively, we face the withdrawal and drawdown of United Nations peacekeeping operations. While I welcome the wish of host Governments to uphold their sovereign responsibilities to their civilian populations, we must fully consider the effects of a premature drawdown in situations that are still fragile. Clear benchmarks should be set for the achievement of 10-43853 civilian protection goals. Once set, they should be achieved before peacekeepers leave. A second core challenge is increased compliance by non-State armed groups with international law. With non-State armed actors figuring in every armed conflict today, there is clearly a need to engage such groups on humanitarian issues. Let us recognize the distinction between dialogue for humanitarian purposes and for political ones.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  42. “Certainly, we would like to be able to protect all people from all threats at all times. But that is a very difficult task even for national Governments in times of peace. The dialogue on those issues has made positive progress within the Council, as well as within this year's meeting of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. The recently published joint independent study by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations also offers important suggestions for bridging the gaps between mandates and action on the ground. I count on Member States' support as the Secretariat continues to address the areas in which its performance vis-a-vis the protection of civilians must be improved. Developments in two missions warrant particular attention.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  43. “However, in order for peacekeeping operations to successfully implement those challenging mandates, it is essential that the Council provide missions with the sustained political support they require. The Council's engagement is vital to make certain that peacekeeping operations are adequately resourced and to ensure that mission leadership is fully empowered to take forward that complex mandated task on the international community's behalf. Similarly, troop and police contributors must arrive to the mission area with a common understanding of what protection of civilian mandates entails, and with the capabilities and willingness to implement them. As we seek to protect civilians from the effects of violence, it will also be critical to manage expectations.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  44. “The aide-memoire (S/PRST/2009/J, annex) is bringing greater consistency to efforts to address protection concerns. The informal expert group that has been established has become a valuable forum for providing the Council with essential and timely perspectives from the humanitarian community. But there is more that the 10-43853 Council can, and must, do. With that in mind, today I will focus on specific aspects of the core challenges I identified in my report of May 2009 (S/2009/27fl. The first is to maximize the impact of peacekeeping missions in protecting civilians. I welcome the Council's efforts in designing peacekeeping mandates to increase emphasis on the protection of civilians.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  45. “I would like to thank the Government of Nigeria for convening this debate, and I commend the Security Council for its continued engagement on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The wilful targeting of civilians, disproportionate attacks, sexual violence, forced displacement and the denial of humanitarian access remain widespread in armed conflict and are often carried out with impunity. Ongoing or recent events and conditions in Kyrgyzstan, Gaza, the Sudan, Sri Lanka, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and elsewhere remind us that the protection of civilians remains a huge common challenge. The Council has adopted important measures designed to put civilians first. It has been especially encouraging to see the institutional steps that the Council has taken to improve its ability to respond.”

    2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354 (2010) · source

  46. “I urge the members of the Council to draw more on these experiences and share the lessons they have learned. Intercultural dialogue is an important tool in the diplomat's toolkit. I urge Council members to make greater use of it. I thank Prime Minister Hariri once again for focusing our minds on strengthening this important work.”

    2010-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6322 (2010) · source

  47. “We all 10-37690 recall the General Assembly's high-level meeting on the culture of peace two years ago, held at the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. We all agree on the importance of intercultural dialogue and shared values for peace and security. The challenge now, for the Security Council in particular, is to follow up on today's discussion by incorporating intercultural dialogue more fully into its efforts to maintain international peace and security. Many members of the Council have ample experience in the problems that can ensue from cross-cultural tensions and perceptions of injustice, but they are also well versed in the benefits of dialogue and the great strength to be found in diversity.”

    2010-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6322 (2010) · source

  48. “We need to strengthen education systems so that young people can benefit from cultural diversity and not be victimized by those who exploit differences. Increased exposure to information and communications technology makes this more critical. We must also cast a wide net of engagement. Solutions will require the active partnership of local Governments, civil society, the media, young leaders and many others. This is our common responsibility. The General Assembly proclaimed 2010 to be the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. Many summits and commendable efforts have likewise sought to bridge the world's dividing lines.”

    2010-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6322 (2010) · source

  49. “Dialogue is a force for conflict prevention, management and resolution. It can contribute to peacebuilding. It can move us towards peaceful coexistence - the fundamental human project. But this work requires action on many levels. There is a need to protect cultural diversity. That is a basic human right, enshrined in many legally binding instruments. Just five days ago, to mark the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, seven human rights rapporteurs released a joint statement calling on States to uphold their responsibility under international law to create an environment conducive to the enjoyment of cultural rights, including the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples. Education must also be a priority. It has been said that knowledge is power.”

    2010-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6322 (2010) · source

  50. “Local challenges can easily spill over national and regional borders. In the same way, local solutions can be shared and inspire change elsewhere. This underscores the need to build space for cooperation and to strengthen mutual understanding and respect. This should not be done as a feel-good exercise, but because it is essential for achieving peace and security in the broadest sense. Dialogue can defuse tensions and keep situations from escalating. It can promote reconciliation in the aftermath of conflict. It can introduce moderate voices into polarized debates. At a time when prejudice and hatred are all too common, extremists seek new recruits through incitement and identity-based appeals, and politicians use divisiveness as a strategy to win elections, dialogue can be an antidote.”

    2010-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6322 (2010) · source