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

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

“Many people are still trapped inside, including my Special Representative in Haiti, Mr. He'di Annabi. United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) troops have been working through the night to reach those trapped under the rubble. So far, several badly injured casualties have been retrieved 10-20793 and transported to the MINUSTAH logistics base, which remains largely intact. I have been informed that some of our staff have been confirmed alive and safe, and that some of them have been transported to hospital. I will dispatch Assistant Secretary-General and former Special Representative of the Secretary- General to MINUSTAH, Mr. Edmond Mulet, to Haiti as soon as possible. MINUSTAH has around 3,000 troops and police in and around Port-au-Prince to help maintain order and assist in relief efforts.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“The remaining areas of Haiti appear to be largely unaffected. Buildings and infrastructure were heavily damaged throughout the capital, and basic services such as water and electricity have collapsed almost entirely. The number of dead or injured among the population has yet to be established, although the figure is likely to be in the hundreds or even thousands. There is no doubt that a major relief effort will be required. I am grateful to those countries that are sending emergency relief and rescue teams. I urge all members of the international community to come to Haiti's aid in this hour of need. Many of our United Nations colleagues on the ground are, as yet, unaccounted for. The United Nations headquarters at the Christopher Hotel collapsed in the quake.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“Before I begin, please allow me to say a few words on the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti. I thank the members of the Council for their expression of sympathy, condolences and solidarity at this time of need. (spoke in French) I am deeply grieved by the disaster that has just struck Haiti. This is a tragedy for the people of Haiti and for the United Nations. We are prepared to work together with the international community in order to provide the necessary assistance and aid to the people of Haiti. (spoke in English) Information on the full extent of the damage remains scant. Initial reconnaissance and aerial assessments have been undertaken. It is clear, however, that the earthquake has had a devastating impact on the capital, Port-au-Prince, and on the western part of the country.”
2010-01-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6257 (2010) · source
“Their courage, dedication and, often, outright heroism are an inspiration to us all. At this moment, I wish to recall those who have paid for this service with their lives. We can expect more terror attacks, and I again ask for the Council's full support in doing everything possible to ensure the well-being ofthe Mission's personnel. Let me close with a word on Special Representative Kai Eide. His intrepid spirit, strong determination and selfless dedication have sustained the Mission during these past critical months. His contribution will be remembered with gratitude both by this Organization and the people of Afghanistan.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“Better coordination based on the strong political willingness of donor countries and strong local effort is key to resolving the current situation. We need strategies that meet the requirements of building sustainable institutions to deliver services to the Afghan people and to develop the Afghan economy. At a time of increasingly challenging security conditions and a more demanding political environment, our task is that much more difficult. But if it is more arduous for us, imagine how it feels to the average Afghan. Despite the uncertainties, the United Nations remains firmly committed to supporting the men and women of Afghanistan in finding the path of stability and peace. We are also committed to ensuring the safety and security of our local and international staff in this increasingly dangerous Mission.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“In this regard, I welcome the new approach by United States President Obama that seeks an optimal balance between military and civilian efforts, and that would strengthen cooperation with the United Nations. It is clear that there is a need for broader and more effective civilian efforts, which will require much better international coordination. UNAMA is mandated to lead this coordination, and Special Representative Kai Eide has suggested exploring the viability of a dedicated civilian coordination structure, in consultation with the Afghan Government and international stakeholders. Ultimately, however, the main obstacle is not the lack of structures or even a shortage of resources, although both of these play a part. Rather, the main problem is a question of political will.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“The forthcoming International Conference to be held in London on 28 January offers an important opportunity for fresh impetus, both to the international effort and to that of the newly established Government in Kabul, to provide greater stability and support to the security and development needs of Afghanistan. While external assistance can help, it is for the Afghans to take ownership of these efforts through strong commitment and good governance. I appreciate the initiative taken by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Germany in convening this meeting. I also commend the important contribution made by the group of friends of Afghanistan.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“The sharpened strategies demonstrate a clear understanding that continued pursuit of the same policies will not lead to success, but if these strategies are to be implemented in an efficient and timely 3 manner, the new Afghan Government must fulfil its far-reaching pledges. At the same time, the relationship between Afghanistan and its international partners must be re-evaluated. Well-prepared international conferences, both inside and outside Afghanistan, can help to ensure the sustainability of the international community's efforts.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“The vulnerability of civilians is a serious issue, with great implications for the standing of the Government and its partners in steering the country towards stability and peace. I urge all parties to do their utmost to uphold international human rights and humanitarian law. Afghanistan is at a critical juncture. All key players, Afghan and international, have drawn important lessons from controversial experiences and missed opportunities. I appeal to both the Afghan Government and the international community to make the best possible use of the next few months. The international community has reaffirmed its resolve to complete the task of erasing the terrorist threat.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“That is especially important given that conditions across the country have deteriorated further. While the Violence was caused by a politically driven insurgency, it has also been exploited by criminal groups, drug traffickers and others. There have been increased civilian casualties and greater risks for UNAMA and other Afghan partners. Efforts by the Taliban and insurgents to prevent people from participating in the electoral process have also destroyed social structures and traditional security mechanisms. This insecurity remains the single biggest impediment to progress. Last year, about three times as many civilian deaths were attributed to anti- Government elements as to pro-Government forces. Most resulted from suicide attacks and improvised explosive devices used by anti-Government elements or air strikes by pro-Government forces.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“More generally, we hope that the tremendous political energy released during last year's elections will now be directed towards forging a meaningful, realistic and 10-20219 renewed compact between the Afghan Government and its people. President Karzai's inaugural speech was encouraging. The priorities that he set out reflect the real issues facing Afghan society: security, good governance, corruption, national unity and the need to expand cooperation with the country's neighbours so as to address drug trafficking and other cross-border threats to stability. President Karzai also made an explicit commitment to ensuring measurable achievements, allowing for the start of a gradual transfer of responsibilities from international actors to Afghan institutions, particularly in the field of security.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme, alongside other international organizations and bilateral representatives, played an instrumental role in helping the Afghan authorities to conduct last year's presidential and provincial council elections. The electoral process was problematic, to say the least. That should have been no surprise, given the security conditions and institutional limitations. Still, the elections did produce results that were ultimately accepted. Preparations for this year's parliamentary elections are expected to start soon. Should the Government ask for United Nations assistance and if the Security Council agrees, the United Nations is ready to support the process through technical assistance and institution-building.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“Following my remarks, Special Representative Kai Eide will provide an update. Last year was another extremely challenging period for Afghanistan and for international efforts to assist the Government and its people. Difficult elections, deteriorating security and doubts about the current strategies of both the Government and the international community all combined to produce further violence and uncertainty for a country facing immense challenges. There can be no doubt that Afghanistan will remain one of our main priorities in 2010. Let me focus on two aspects in particular: first, strengthening the role of the Afghan Government, and secondly, coordinating international civilian efforts under the United Nations umbrella.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“Let me begin by offering my warmest greetings for the new year, 2010. I hope and trust that it will bring greater peace and serenity, to both the public and private affairs of peoples and nations around the world. 10-20219 I welcome the new members of the Council: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Lebanon, Nigeria and Gabon. I wish them a fruitful and distinguished tenure on the Council. I also wish to commend the contributions made by Burkina F aso, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Viet Nam as non-permanent members of the Council during the past two years. Of course, I would like to congratulate the Permanent Representative of China on his assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. I welcome this opportunity to brief the Council on the situation in Afghanistan.”
2010-01-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6255 (2010) · source
“I have just concluded a very productive meeting with the Visiting delegation, in the course of which we agreed on the importance of continuing close African Union-United Nations cooperation on the Sudan. Beyond our co-management of the African Union- United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, we must make every effort to ensure that the activities of the United Nations in the Sudan and the work of the African Union's High-Level Implementation Panel are mutually supportive. It will be the Sudanese people who solve the Sudan's problems. But working together, the United Nations and the African Union can provide them with critical assistance on their difficult journey towards lasting peace and prosperity.”
2009-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6251 (2009) · source
“Beyond that, the Panel can make an invaluable contribution to the soft landing we are all working towards after the election and referendums by helping the parties to the CPA to bridge their differences. That is an outcome that is badly needed not only for the Sudan itself, but also for the Sudan's neighbours and, indeed, for all of Africa. The High-Level Panel also addressed the difficult issues of justice and reconciliation in the Sudan. Its efforts to develop creative and pragmatic proposals are highly commendable. We must keep sight of the importance of compliance with resolution 1593 (2005), which refers the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court.”
2009-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6251 (2009) · source
“Representatives of civil society and armed movements have agreed to resume consultations in Doha on 18 January 2010, which will be followed by 09-66048 direct talks between the Government and the movements on 24 January 2010. Efforts must continue to encourage the Government, and more especially the rebel movements, to make concessions and embrace the consensus that Mr. Bassole is building. In my view, the High-Level Implementation Panel and the international community at large have a critical role to play here. By giving Mr. Bassole' our unequivocal support, we will send a strong message to all parties that they must engage in the negotiations that he is leading.”
2009-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6251 (2009) · source
“The National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), as the two parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, have taken steps to prepare for these major events, but there is still much to be done. We must remember that neither the election nor the referendums are ends in themselves. Managing the results - whatever the outcome - will require genuine cooperation between the NCP and the SPLM. In the meantime, violence, in South Sudan in particular, is occurring at a disturbing scale and frequency. In Darfur, the peace process has reached a critical point. Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole' has been working with the Government of Qatar to generate momentum by giving civil society a strong voice at the peace talks.”
2009-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6251 (2009) · source
“The report of the High-Level Panel provides a frank assessment and insightful analysis of the situation in the Sudan and offers numerous proposals for the way forward. Perhaps above all, the Panel members have insisted on seeing the Sudan in its totality. They have clearly articulated the links between the crisis in Darfur and broader efforts to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Their insights come at a critical moment. In little more than three months, elections are scheduled to take place. In just over a year, the two referendums that will determine the future shape of the Sudan are scheduled to be held.”
2009-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6251 (2009) · source
“I am honoured to be here today and to welcome this esteemed delegation. Today's meeting is an important symbol of collaboration between the African Union and the United Nations. It is also another concrete demonstration of our common commitment to work with the Sudanese people in addressing the serious challenges they face. Today, the Panel will brief the Security Council on its report (S/2009/599, annex I), which has been adopted in its entirety by the African Union Peace and Security Council. The Peace and Security Council also established a High-Level Implementation Panel comprised of former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Pierre Buyoya and retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar. We are privileged to receive their first-hand briefing.”
2009-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6251 (2009) · source
“Drug trafficking does not respect borders. Most of all, it does not respect people. It is a menace to the health of societies and individuals alike. It is associated with the horrific abuse of women, in particular. Those who run trafficking operations are ruthless and often murderous. We must pursue them and thwart them with the full force of the law and international resolve. I call on Member States to work with each other and to support the United Nations in this crucially important endeavour. Finally, I welcome the presidential statement (S/PRST/2009/32) that has just been adopted.”
2009-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6233 (2009) · source
“The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is seen as the authoritative source of information on trends in drug production, consumption and trafficking. It also provides capacity-building in the areas of countering drug trafficking, money laundering and corruption, and those efforts must be properly resourced. We should draw encouragement from the many promising and innovative initiatives that are taking place. These include regional partnerships with the Caribbean Community, the Economic Community of West African States and others, and strategic cooperation with INTERPOL and other organizations. From West Africa and the Caribbean to Central and Western Asia, these efforts are improving drug control cooperation, building consensus on cross-border issues and promoting security and the rule of law.”
2009-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6233 (2009) · source
“Thirdly, we need a more balanced approach to drug control. Such an approach should focus on reducing the demand for drugs and the harm done by them; on promoting alternative development and the rule of law at the source of the supply; and on disrupting trafficking routes. The United Nations plays an important role in providing a framework for international cooperation in addressing this challenge. This framework is built around strong United Nations-backed legal instruments, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. But more needs to be done to ensure that all States become parties to those instruments and that they are implemented more effectively. The United Nations is also a centre of expertise.”
2009-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6233 (2009) · source
“Drug trafficking also threatens to reverse advances in our peacebuilding efforts in Afghanistan, Haiti, Guinea- Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and elsewhere. This sobering reality underscores three fundamental points. First, drug trafficking is evolving into an ever graver threat that is affecting all regions of the world. It will require sustained political will and significant resources to counter this challenge. Secondly, the transnational nature of the threat means that no country can face it alone. This fight requires a comprehensive international approach based on a strong sense of shared responsibility. States must share intelligence, carry out joint operations, build capacity and provide mutual legal assistance. So far, cooperation among Governments is lagging behind cooperation among organized crime networks.”
2009-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6233 (2009) · source
“I thank the Burkina Faso presidency for putting this important subject on the agenda of the Security Council. In recent years, drug trafficking has emerged as a leading threat to international peace and security. We see this most clearly in Afghanistan, Colombia and Myanmar, where the production and trafficking of illicit drugs fuel brutal and long-standing insurgencies. But in many other places, too, in West Africa, Central Asia, Central America, the Caribbean and parts of the Mekong region, criminal groups spread violence, fear and insecurity in their effort to control trafficking routes. These groups undermine State authority and the rule of law. They spread corruption, compromise elections and hurt the legitimate economy. In some countries, the huge profits generated through drug trafficking can rival gross domestic product.”
2009-12-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6233 (2009) · source
“Last but not least, we must enhance accountability for individuals who commit war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and other serious violations of international human rights law. There is a need for consistency and perseverance in this regard. Through criminal prosecutions and other resolute action, we must hold to account those who violate the law - law, I should stress, that we have worked so hard to put in place. As we mark the tenth anniversary of the Security Council's consideration of the protection of civilians, let us not dwell too long on what has been achieved, significant though that is. We must focus on the future and on how to ensure more effective protection of civilians in armed conflict.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“This requires improved operational guidance, training, equipment and appropriate resources, especially those that allow our forces mobility. In this connection, I welcome the recently completed independent study on the implementation of protection mandates by United Nations peacekeeping missions commissioned by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. I call on the Council and Member States, including troop- and police-contributing countries, in cooperation with the Secretariat, to consider the recommendations for implementation. Fourthly, humanitarian actors must have better and safer access to civilians in need of assistance. The Council must be prepared to respond when such access is not forthcoming.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“I now welcome members' thoughts on what we have learned from these mechanisms that could be applied to the broader task of protecting civilians. Secondly, we need more consistent engagement with non-State armed groups in order to ensure their compliance and our safe access to populations in need. Member States must accept the fundamental necessity of such engagement. Thirdly, peacekeeping missions must be enabled to discharge their protection mandates more effectively. Protection mandates place very distinct and enhanced responsibilities on peacekeepers and reshape the requirements of our missions. Most obviously, protection mandates can involve not only the static protection of a line separating forces, but the active policing of territory.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“It requires the Council to guard against the perception that only some situations are of concern. And in practical terms, it requires us to meet f1ve core challenges. First, we need to strengthen compliance by all parties to conflict with international law, particularly in the conduct of hostilities. This means ensuring access to conflict zones and reporting on the way conflicts are conducted. That in turn means making better use of existing instruments and machinery. But the Council may also wish to consider ways of improving what we do and how widely we do it. At the moment, under mandates from this Council, we are able to examine and report on the impact of armed conflict on children and, soon, on sexual violence perpetrated against women wherever there is conflict and without additional procedural hurdle. This has been a welcome step.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“However, even conflicts that are not perceived by all Council members to have implications for international peace and security could have a dramatic impact on civilians and therefore warrant Council attention. We must find ways to better address these situations as well. The past 10 years have seen some major conflicts come to an end, but others have persisted and new ones have broken out. In old and new alike, we see appalling levels of human suffering and a fundamental failure of the parties involved to respect their obligations to protect civilians. This failure demands a reinvigorated commitment by the Security Council, Member States and the United Nation to the principles of international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“This has raised global awareness and advanced what is, after all, a key part of this Organization's cardinal mission - saving and protecting people from the horrors of armed conflict. Not so long ago, many Member States questioned whether internal armed conflict posed a threat to international peace and security. Today, the regional dimensions and destabilizing effects of internal conflicts have been firmly recognized. Not so long ago, Member States questioned whether the United Nations Charter contemplated the protection of civilians as a legitimate subject of a peacekeeping mandate. Today, the Council readily demonstrates its willingness to address the protection needs of civilians in situations on its agenda. This is a welcome evolution.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“I thank the Government of Austria for convening this ministerial debate to mark the tenth anniversary of the Security Council's engagement on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. I commend Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger for his leadership. Over the past decade, this issue has come to occupy a prominent place on the Council's agenda. We see this in the biannual open debates; we see it in the thematic resolutions on the subject; and we see it in the Council's adoption of an aide-memoire and convening of an informal expert group. Most importantly, the protection of civilians increasingly permeates the country-specific deliberations and decisions of the Council.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216 (2009) · source
“My recent report to the Council (S/2009/362) offered a series of mutually reinforcing recommendations for action. Sexual violence - in armed conflict or, indeed, at any time - should have no place and find no haven in the world. We must all do our part to fight and end discrimination against women and girls. The new gender entity recently agreed by the General Assembly should strengthen our work for women's empowerment; I have asked the Deputy Secretary- General to lead efforts to put that entity in place. I will also continue to do everything in my power to advance gender equality among United Nations staff, including in my senior appointments. Women's empowerment must be at the heart of our global work for peace and development.”
2009-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6195 (2009) · source
“The international community must do more to prevent violence, protect individuals, punish perpetrators and provide redress to victims. With its resolution 1888 (2009) today, the Security Council is sending an unequivocal message - a call to action. It is an ambitious platform for intensifying this struggle. It builds on resolution 1820 (2008), which itself set a important precedent by recognizing the links between sexual violence and sustainable peace and security. I am fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of both resolutions are implemented, in partnership with all relevant stakeholders. I will continue to ensure effective follow- up by the United Nations system. The Security Council's continued engagement will be crucial.”
2009-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6195 (2009) · source
“I am pleased to address the Security Council again on the subject of resolution 1820 (2008). At the outset, Madam President, I would like to welcome you again to the United Nations. I would like also to commend your leadership and commitment on all the major goals and ideals of the United Nations, including this very important issue of women and peace and security. Despite some progress in responding to sexual violence in armed conflicts, the deliberate targeting of civilians continues unabated, including on a widespread or systematic basis. Parties to armed 09-53396 conflict continue to use sexual violence with efficient brutality. The perpetrators generally operate with impunity. States and other parties to conflict must uphold their international legal obligations.”
2009-09-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6195 (2009) · source
“At the same time, we must ensure that the International Atomic Energy Agency has the resources and support it needs to implement its growing safeguards responsibilities. For too long, a divided international community has lacked the will, vision and confidence to move ahead. Together, we have dreamed about a nuclear-free world. Now we must act to achieve it. That starts now. I congratulate the Council on convening this summit. I welcome the adoption of today's resolution, and again salute the leadership of President Obama. I pledge my continued support and look forward to future meetings on these vital issues here in this Council and beyond, including the crucial 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This summit truly adds a new page to the history of this Council.”
2009-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6191 (2009) · source
“I hope, for example, that the Conference on Disarmament can advance the programme of work it adopted this year, including negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty. For its part, the Council could promote universal membership in key treaties, work to improve compliance, and assess the need for new agreements, including a nuclear weapons convention. It could also strongly reaffirm the need for early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Thirdly, disarmament and non-proliferation must proceed together. I encourage nuclear-weapon States here to consider additional measures to enhance security as a way of leading to total elimination. These could include, for example, ways to achieve the effective verification of the disarmament process.”
2009-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6191 (2009) · source
“Now, some might dismiss the goal of nuclear disarmament as utopian. The cynics say, "Stop dreaming. Be realistic." They are wrong. Nuclear disarmament is the only sane path to a safer world. Nothing would work better towards eliminating the risk of use than eliminating the weapons themselves. The Russian Federation and the United States are leading by example. I urge the Security Council to make the most of this moment. This should not be a one-time event. We must sustain the momentum. First, we need new ways to increase transparency and openness regarding the weapons programmes of the recognized nuclear-weapon States. I urge the Council to start consultations on this matter. The Secretariat is ready to serve as a repository. 3 Secondly, we must make the best use of the United Nations disarmament machinery.”
2009-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6191 (2009) · source
“This is a historic moment - a moment offering a fresh start towards a new future. I extend a warm welcome to President Obama. We salute his leadership. This is the first Security Council summit on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. I have long advocated a stronger role for the Security Council. This was a major element of the five-point nuclear disarmament plan I announced in October last year. The need for action is clear. Thousands of nuclear weapons remain on hair-trigger alert. More States have sought and acquired them. Nuclear tests have continued. And every day, we live with the threat that weapons of mass destruction could be stolen, sold or slip away. As long as such weapons exist, so does the risk of proliferation and catastrophic use, as does the threat of nuclear terrorism.”
2009-09-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6191 (2009) · source
“I also draw the Council's attention to the brutal, predatory and deliberate targeting of civilians by the Lord's Resistance Army, whose activities have destabilized civilians in the Sudan, the Central African Republic, Uganda and the Democratic People's Republic of the Congo. I am prepared to submit an annual report on resolution 1820 (2008). I want to help ensure that all parties respect their obligations under international law and are held accountable when they violate them. Victims of sexual violence are among the world's most vulnerable and traumatized people. For the sake of these innocent women and men, their families and their societies, we must come together and act. That will help victims in war-torn countries and set us on a course for a better world.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180 (2009) · source
“Those recommendations are also designed to provide the Council with more consistent, evidence-based and timely information to help it in addressing that challenge. Towards that end, I urge the Council to immediately authorize the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry, supported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It would be tasked with investigating and reporting on violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in ongoing conflict situations in Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Sudan. That independent commission of inquiry should recommend to the Council the most effective mechanisms to ensure accountability for those egregious crimes.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180 (2009) · source
“I am considering that in the light of the General Assembly's discussions and existing mechanisms, such as the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and the Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict. I am also studying the additional costs that this would entail. Fourthly, we must improve monitoring, investigation and documentation to address the many challenges that we face in gathering information and reporting on sexual violence. We will also continue to promote a greater understanding of resolution 1820 (2008) in all United Nations missions and duty stations and to adapt our approaches and systems, including for 09-44842 monitoring and reporting, to support its effective implementation. The recommendations in my report are mutually reinforcing. If they are carried out together, we can foster greater progress.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180 (2009) · source
“Yesterday, in my meeting with force commanders, I gave a clear and strong instruction that military leaders should keep that issue as the top priority in working to maintain peace and security. I call on Council members and other States, as well as civilian and military leaders, to join forces to address that grave problem. I repeat: N0 act of sexual exploitation and abuse by any United Nations personnel will be tolerated. Thirdly, I urge the General Assembly to conclude its deliberations on the creation of a United Nations institution to advance gender equality and women's human rights. I am also in discussions with the United Nations system partners on appointing a new senior system-wide official to address sexual violence.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180 (2009) · source
“I am committed to strengthening the United Nations system to ensure that we deliver as one. Secondly, sexual violence should be addressed from the planning to the implementation of mandates. Our actions must be focused and sustained over time to achieve results, as the causes and consequences of sexual violence are often intractable. I am pleased that the issue will be included in the terms of reference for technical assessment missions and the integrated mission planning process. Peacekeeping missions and United Nations country teams will establish joint priorities in that regard through integrated strategic frameworks. I am also working with my top advisers to ensure that the United Nations gives priority attention to preventing and responding to sexual violence.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180 (2009) · source
“Beyond its enormous toll on victims, sexual violence in armed conflict hurts recovery and peacebuilding. In Burundi, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the fighting may have ended but sexual violence persists on a very serious scale. We are helping those countries to recover, but we must also do more to prevent others from suffering the same fate. My report (S/2009/362) highlights where States and other parties must act. I also call on the Security Council to focus on concrete actions. Allow me to briefly underscore four areas. 09-44842 First, preventing and responding to sexual violence requires a multisectoral response, the pillars of which are interdependent. The efforts of the United Nations system reach across our main work areas from the normative to the operational.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180 (2009) · source
“I commend your initiative, Mr. President, to convene this Security Council debate on one of the important priorities of the United Nations: women, peace and security. Despite some progress over two decades, the deliberate targeting of civilians through acts of sexual violence continues on a widespread and systematic basis. Parties to armed conflict continue to use sexual violence with efficient brutality. Like a grenade or a gun, sexual violence is part of their arsenal to pursue military, political, social and economic aims. The perpetrators generally operate with impunity. I have met victims of sexual violence. I am haunted by their testimony, and I will not relent in calling on States and non-State parties to prevent those terrible crimes.”
2009-08-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6180 (2009) · source
“I am committed to driving the necessary changes through the United Nations system, but I need the Security Council's support and commitment if we are to achieve real change. I look forward to working with Council members to meet these challenges.”
2009-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6165 (2009) · source
“I encourage the Council to look carefully at these issues as they pertain to existing and future mandates, and as part of initiatives already under way to review peacekeeping mandates. I also encourage members, in the context of next year's review of the Peacebuilding Commission, to consider how they can make more effective use of that body. My current report is part of a series of initiatives, including my recent report on mediation and the ongoing work on peacekeeping. These efforts share a common goal - to enable the United Nations and its international partners to respond more effectively to countries in crisis in ways that are better tailored to needs on the ground. I am determined to do my part.”
2009-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6165 (2009) · source
“09-41769 Almost a decade ago, in its debate on the theme "No exit without strategy", the Security Council articulated the many challenges associated with the later stages of peacebuilding, when it is time to wind down an international peace operation. In Sierra Leone, as was discussed in this Chamber very recently, we have seen many of the "no exit" lessons being applied. In asking for the report before us, the Council recognized that it also needs to support peacebuilding more effectively from the outset. This requires the engagement and coordination of many different actors, and it requires adequate funding. Some key United Nations actors face serious challenges in securing timely financing.”
2009-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6165 (2009) · source
“To that end, we need a clearer understanding of responsibilities within the United Nations, outlining who will respond in each of these key areas. We also need a deeper and more diverse pool of international civilian expertise. We need prepositioned pooled funding, such as the Peacebuilding Fund, to jump-start action, followed by faster funding from other sources. And we need more and better strategic partnerships with the World Bank, regional organizations, civil society and the private sector. Member States, for their part, have a crucial part to play. I urge them to speak with one voice across different multilateral forums and to align bilateral support with the common strategy in each country.”
2009-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6165 (2009) · source