YouSaid · the spoken record

Seger

lines on the record: 350
first: 2010-10-26
most recent: 2015-06-18
sittings or episodes: 42
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

“In particular, the following emerging issues would benefit from our attention, and the Group of Friends stands ready to act as a platform to advance them. First, we need to address the arbitrary withholding of consent to relief operations. The Group recalls that international humanitarian law obliges all parties to a conflict to protect civilian populations from the effects of such conflicts. One way that that can be achieved is by allowing and facilitating access for humanitarian relief operations, including by simplifying and expediting procedures for the rapid and unhindered delivery of life-saving assistance. The Group is concerned about intimidation, threats, arrests, detentions, injuries and killings of humanitarian workers.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“Member States and peacekeeping missions should continue efforts to train and support peacekeepers so as to address the challenges and scenarios they may face in the field, drawing on materials that have been developed by the United Nations. The Group also encourages the Secretariat to continue its work in developing further guidance for peacekeeping missions to work alongside host Governments to build the long-term capacity to protect civilians. While the core challenges in the protection of civilians identified in the previous reports of the Secretary-General still need our sustained attention, the latest report (S/2013/689) also identifies several protection policy priorities that need to be explored.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“The Group of Friends also notes the Under- Secretary-General's assessment in her briefing today that "Mandating peacekeeping missions to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence remains among the most significant actions taken by the Security Council to enhance protection". Resolution 2086 (2013) recognized the importance of that mandated task in the context of modern, multidimensional peacekeeping missions. The Group welcomes the normative progress that has been made through the development of training, guidance and policies, and acknowledges the need to translate that into action. Mission assessment and planning processes, where appropriate, should prioritize the protection of civilians and the resources and capabilities that are required to address them.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“While all civilians may be victims of conflict in various ways, women and children are particularly exposed during all stages of armed conflict. The full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions is crucial in that regard. The Group of Friends also welcomes the adoption of today's presidential statement (S/PRST/2014/3), which endorses the revised aide-memoire, reflecting important developments since the adoption of resolution 1894 (2009), whose implementation remains the overall way forward for ensuring the effective protection of civilians. In the same vein, the Group of Friends notes with interest the Secretary-General's "Rights up front" action plan, which places the imperative to protect people and preventive efforts at the heart of United Nations strategies and operational activities.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“I am pleased to take the floor on behalf ofthe Group ofFriends on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, which is comprised of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Uruguay. I would like to thank the Lithuanian presidency of the Security Council for organizing today's important debate. The Group of Friends welcomes the latest report of the Secretary-General under review today (S/2013/689). In the past couple of months, crises have emerged, re-emerged or have been amplified in many different places, and it is with great concern that we observe that the number of civilians affected by armed conflict has significantly increased over the period covered by the report in almost all of the countries reviewed.”
2014-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7109 (2014) · source
“When I read the title of your proposal for the theme of today's discussion, Sir, it reminded me of the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, who wrote a tract on eternal peace. I did some research into that philosopher and found that he had the idea of writing a tract on eternal peace by looking at the text of an innkeeper's sign called simply "Eternal Peace". It was interesting to me that the sign at that inn showed it to be a cemetery. It showed that the only eternal peace that we will find is after our mortal lives are ended. I hope truly that this debate will help to ensure that eternal peace will be seen by the living world, and not just in the afterlife. I am pleased that this debate is making such a big contribution.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“Last November, a seminar was held in Geneva in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, during which the High Commissioner shared its guidelines for the very first time. Finally, Switzerland would like once again to stress the commitment of the Security Council to the settlement of disputes by peaceful means and the promotion of necessary preventive action to settle disputes in accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations. Preventing armed conflict is a more desirable strategy to ensure lasting peace and security than having to react to violent clashes. Stepping away from my written text, I should like to make a quick personal comment in conclusion.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“Several years ago, Switzerland launched a project with the objective of protecting and preserving archives related to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The project provides technical assistance to States and civil society organizations that request support in protecting their archives and creating databases that could contribute to the establishment of the facts and to the preservation of historical memory. Thanks to a bilateral agreement, for instance, Switzerland has on file a backup copy of the national police archives of Guatemala. Switzerland has also taken specific initiatives regarding the dissemination of good practices of fact-finding and investigation commissions.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“That is why, returning to the problem of truth and historical memory, we strongly support the establishment of fact-finding commissions and commissions of investigation, such as the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic. We also want to recall that, on the initiative of Switzerland, close to 60 States formally petitioned the Council one year ago to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. As atrocities spread, truth and justice, as well as reparations and institutional reforms, are more important than ever. Those measures are central to any lasting peace. In line with the practical suggestions made by the Jordanian presidency about what the Council and the international community can do, I should like to mention some of the efforts that Switzerland has undertaken.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“In other words, ensuring sustainable peace requires righting past grievances. Switzerland acknowledges and supports the efforts of all Governments that are courageously tackling those difficult issues and are trying to develop their own national strategies for dealing with the past. We also commend the work of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. With regard to Syria and all other ongoing conflicts, the search for lasting peace entails combating impunity. To prevent further atrocities, it is crucial to re-establish a system whereby each person assumes their responsibility and is accountable.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“We therefore have a moral imperative to fight against impunity, to develop strategies for transitional justice and to face up to the past, so as to embark on the path of truth. The international community has made considerable progress in developing norms that make it possible to ensure victims the right to truth and justice, as well to receive reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence. The combination of those four elements contributes to a higher degree of accountability for the perpetrators, and to addressing the needs of the victims. Guarantees of non-recurrence in particular, for instance through institutional reforms, pave the way towards coexistence and reconciliation. Experience shows that reconciliation is a long-term endeavour that requires significant work involving memory.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“Mr. Seger (Switzerland) (spoke in French): Everyone is familiar with the saying that "truth is the first victim of war". If that is so, then it is reasonable to assume that the foremost task in the post-war order should be to restore truth. Yet that is a formidable task. What constitutes truth in a post-conflict context that is torn apart by divergent historical narratives? The tragic legacy of violence and atrocities not only results in the immeasurable loss of human life and property, but also is in violation of the conscience of humankind, as mentioned in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. When nothing is done to overcome the legacy of conflict, it can dramatically affect future generations.”
2014-01-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7105 (2014) · source
“I would like to conclude by saying that I share the optimism expressed by Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga about the future of the country. We do not need very much for things to move in the right direction. And in the spirit of prevention and of concluding the peacebuilding successfully, we must maintain that support. I think that, with that, we shall succeed.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“IfI understand correctly, the Government wants to continue to work with the United Nations, but in another form. Therefore, let us make sure that the transition occurs in a way that would allow the United Nations to take up those duties through the country team and other functions. Instead of creating artificial deadlines now, in my opinion we need to think about duties. What do we need to do to allow the United Nations to take up new duties in a smooth and unproblematic way? I wouldjust like to tell the Council that, I, as Chair, and the configuration remain at the country's disposal, if it would like more support. However, I would also like to tell the Security Council that we cannot replace a permanent political presence of the United Nations on the ground. Let us be aware of that fact, and of the configuration's limitations.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“I reached the twentieth kilometre and could go no further. At one point, a friend came out of the crowd and accompanied me for the last two or three kilometres, which made it possible for me to finish the race. I think that we are in exactly the same situation with respect to Burundi. We still need some support to finish the race, and I am sure that with that support we are all going to be winners. Obviously, when it comes to the principle of national ownership, as the Special Representative said, Burundi has every right to demand that the mandate of the United Nations Office in Burundi come to an end. But if that is the case, I would urge everyone in the Chamber, Burundi and the Security Council that this outcome and transition be undertaken in a way that ensures the continuity of United Nations support.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“A political commission like ours making such an analysis is one thing but if a bank, which by definition is not a political institution, reaches the same conclusion, I think that that is something that should make us listen. What is also interesting is that the representatives of the banks told me that the political support of the United Nations, for them, is an assurance for the investment that they are making in the well-being of the country. Something that we should also perhaps bear in mind is that it is really good for the country for economic and social reasons that it be supported by the United Nations. I come back to the image of the marathon that I mentioned earlier. When I was younger and my knees would allow it, Iran half-marathons, not full marathons. I remember that during the first one I ran, it was very hot.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“It is important that justice be rendered but also that it be done in a fair and just way that respects the principles of reconciliation and peace. Everyone told me that there is a significant ethnic connotation to that dimension. That is truly something that we must bear in mind. It is part of what the Arusha accords achieved. I myself have said, and the President of the Republic has reiterated - it is perhaps a rather common saying - that there is no peace without development and no development without peace. In that context, when I spoke with the development banks - the African Development Bank and the World Bank, with whom I spoke in order to mobilize resources - the two banks also told me that they have some concerns about the country's future in the context of the investments that they have made and continue to make in the country.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“However, precisely in order to enable everyone to participate in the electoral process fairly and openly, the environment and the political and legal framework must be truly fair, open and transparent. There, as Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said, with regard to the Imbonerakure youth league, the unrest that sometimes occurs must come to an end. Thirdly, another aspect that I also believe to be important for peacebuilding and unity is the issue of land and other property. As the Council probably knows, a new law that gave the National Commission for Land and Other Property new powers was adopted on 31 December. All that, to put it in a sentence, in the context of restoring the property of those who were deprived of it in 1972 and later.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“It is truly crucial for us, the Government and the country to uphold that spirit of consensus and also of the Arusha accords. We must focus primarily on the parts of the Constitution on which there is consensus. Moreover, the Burundi configuration wrote a letter to the President of the National Assembly precisley to encourage him along those lines. That is my first piece of advice. My second piece of advice, which the Special Representative of the Secretary-General also mentioned, concerns the 2015 elections. There, I think that we are also on the right track. The opposition parties with whom I spoke are ready to take part in the 2015 elections and not to make the same mistake that they committed in 2010.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“What we must do now - and it is even more important at this stage - is to stay the course and to maintain what I call the gains of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi and of the Geneva Partners Conference of October 2012. If we stay that course, I am sure that we will succeed and come out as winners. But, as in a marathon, the last kilometres are always the most difficult and I believe that we are now in our final kilometre. That is why it is so important to stay the course. Here, I would like to mention three elements that I think are particularly important in that regard. As Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga has already said, an important aspect is the constitutional review that is currently under way.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, who is not only an excellent Special Representative but also a friend. I think that our success to date in building peace in Burundi is certainly also due to the fact that, as Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Peacebuilding Commission, we have worked hand in hand and, I hope, will continue to do so. But that success is thanks, too, to the excellent cooperation with the Government of Burundi. Here, I would also like to thank my neighbour on my right, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Burundi, with whom I have truly had the privilege of having an excellent relationship. I would like to step back a little. Last June, I wrote that the country had made considerable, or exceptional progress.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“Like Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, I would first like to warmly congratulate you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. As I have the privilege of knowing you personally, I know that you do not like Permanent Representatives to use a written text so this time I will not use such a text. On the one hand, I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for his briefing and to simply recall that the report of the Secretary- General on the issue of Burundi (S/2014/36) is fully relevant. Yesterday, I also submitted my own report to the Security Council. I do not wish to come back to that now but would just like to make two or three additional comments. Before doing so, I would once again like to thank Mr.”
2014-01-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7104 (2014) · source
“Our country therefore urges the Security Council, among other matters, to ensure that gender advisers are deployed in all peace missions and that effective mechanisms are introduced so that information concerning the situation of women and girls can be presented in a systematic manner in reports and transmitted in Security Council debates. In that regard, Switzerland welcomes resolution 2122 (2013), adopted earlier today, which broadly accommodates the concrete recommendations in that sense. Nonetheless, it would have been better yet to have adopted the resolution after this debate in order to more fully take into account the views expressed by the participants.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“While Switzerland supports the Secretary- General's proposal to draft an independent study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), the implementation of commitments made almost 15 years ago is one of our chief concerns, which leads to my final remark. It is well known that Switzerland is one of the 22 States members of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group, a transregional initiative that seeks to improve the working methods of the Security Council. My country notes that when resolutions on specific crises are adopted by the Security Council, they do not always take into account all the commitments made with regard to women, peace and security. Furthermore, their implementation differs greatly from one context to another.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“Switzerland welcomes the work of the experts convoked at the initiative of the British Government on the prevention of gender-based violence, which makes good use of archives in order to expose sexual Violence committed in conflict situations and to investigate crimes. Switzerland has seconded an expert to the working group and stands ready to contribute further expertise. Thirdly, Switzerland welcomes the fact that the Secretary-General's report (S/2013/525) mentions the importance of access to safe abortion for women and girls who are Victims of rape. Switzerland firmly believes that all women and girls have the right to control their own bodies and to be free from coercion and sexual violence. Given the increased exposure to sexual Violence in conflict and post-conflict settings, those rights must be strictly guaranteed.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“As we know from experience, violent conflict affects women and men differently, not only with respect to the types of Violence suffered, especially sexually-based violence, but also based on their different biological and social roles and identities. Prosecutions for gender-based and sexist violence at the national and international levels are thus key to achieving reconciliation and reintegration in post-conflict societies. For example, when truth commissions investigate violations from a gender viewpoint, they identify the impact of those violations on women and men alike and can make recommendations that lead to specific gender- sensitive initiatives in terms of justice, reparation and institutional reform. Secondly, archives are key to the fight against impunity, especially to the full realization of the right to be informed.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“Mr. Seger (Switzerland) (spoke in French): Allow me at the outset, Mr. President, to thank you for organizing this debate and for having made us give up our lunch for this good cause. In the interests oftime, I shall deliver an abbreviated version of my written statement, with a focus on four points to which my country attaches particular importance. First, Switzerland puts particular stress on a gender-sensitive implementation of the transitional justice mechanisms. As Ms. Balipou pointed out earlier, women's perspectives and needs should be included in all four principles against impunity: the right to be informed, the right to justice, the right to reparations and the guarantee of non-recurrence.”
2013-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7044 (2013) · source
“The regional dimension is one more reason why the international community and the United Nations in particular should continue its engagement in Burundi. With a peaceful, secure and prosperous Burundi, the Council will not have to worry about yet another situation in that volatile region. I will conclude my remarks by calling on the representatives of the members of the Security Council to keep Burundi in mind during their discussions next Thursday. Burundians very much deserve a prosperous future.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“I am aware that BNUB's mandate will not be under discussion for another six months, when we will also have the results of the strategic assessment mission, but I know already that I would strongly recommend BNUB's continued presence at least until the 2015 elections. 1 have also said as much to the authorities in Bujumbura. That personal conviction, which I expressed the last time I spoke here (see S/PV.6909), was further strengthened by the impressions produced on my last visit to Burundi. We have not yet reached a point when we can disengage. In three days, the Security Council will discuss the situation in the Great Lakes. It goes without saying that the security situation in the region influences the situation in Burundi and vice versa.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“We should closely monitor the implementation of the press law and the drafting of other bills; continue to support Burundi in the spirit of our mutual commitments and in compliance with the pledges made in Geneva; follow developments relating to the land issue and support the Government's efforts to establish a framework for dealing with the past, based on the will of the Burundian people. In any event, the PBC will remain engaged in all these areas. My role as an advocate for Burundi depends largely on the presence of BNUB and especially on the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga. Their untiring work, day after day, for the good of Burundi is essential.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“In particular, I encourage the authorities to translate the consensus of the two political workshops into improving the electoral code, to employ a liberal interpretation of the new press law while respecting freedom of expression, to ensure that other legislation complies with international standards, to implement the poverty reduction strategy paper in accordance with the commitments made in Geneva and to implement the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund for improving the country's fiscal situation. At the same time, my message to the international community is to step up its commitment to Burundi and to maintain constructive, open and forthright communication with the Government.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“Every marathon runner knows that the last 10 kilometres are always the hardest. Like the Special Representative, I therefore encourage the Government to stay the course, given that the country has made so much progress towards stabilization in recent years. My message to the Burundian Government is that it should display political leadership and redouble its efforts to tackle major reforms in the areas of good political and economic governance and the rule of law.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“The President of the Commission, minimizing the number of cases of landowners who acquired their land unaware of its illegal origins, favours reconciliation through restitution. Given the importance of landownership in Burundi and its potential ethnic repercussions, this issue is very relevant to peacebuilding and deserves our attention. I have specifically informed the authorities that the Burundi configuration of the PBC is ready to facilitate the establishment of a compensation fund, should the Government so desire. I left Bujumbura with mixed feelings. The country has made impressive progress, but what is needed is to maintain the momentum that has prevailed since the Geneva Conference. I realize that the peacebuilding process is arduous and requires perseverance.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“The Special Representative mentioned the process of dealing with the past, and I will simply refer the Council to his discussion ofthe issue. He also discussed the handling of the land question by the Commission nationale des terres et autres biens (CNTB), which has recently shaken up public life in Burundi. As the Council is aware, most of those cases date from the tragic events of 1972, when a large part of the population, mostly Hutus, were forcibly evicted from their land. I have learned that the various stakeholders have differing opinions on how the President of the CNTB has dealt with this complex and politically sensitive question. The controversy has chiefly to do with the notion of purchasing in good faith.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“The political situation is thus a difficult one, and the same goes for the financial situation, which continues to deteriorate. As the Special Representative said, the results of the Geneva Conference of Development Partners must be implemented, particularly since the time is ripe to take bold, major measures. In order to do that, new energy is needed on the part ofthe Government, particularly in the area of good governance. It is also important that the Geneva spirit of mutual commitment be maintained by both the Government and the international community. I am, incidentally, looking forward to participating at the end of October in the second sectoral conference, which will deal with the challenges of peacebuilding in Burundi, among other issues.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“The same applies to the Imbonerakure, the youth wing of the governing party, the Conseil national pour la defense de la de'mocratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie. The Special Representative also mentioned this point, which was indicated to me across the board as an issue in need of greater attention. It seems that these young party members sometimes take over the role of State security institutions and resort to intimidation methods and threats against the population and members of other political parties. And various people I spoke to mentioned the risk that the other political parties might also mobilize their own youth members. That is why programmes targeting young people, particularly job- creation programmes, should be given more weight.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“Moreover, the fragility of the Burundian economy requires urgent action. As the Special Representative said, we are seeing positive developments but also problems at the political level. On the positive side, it should be noted that the two most recent workshops on elections promoted a democratic, transparent and open dialogue between the Government and the opposition, and prompted the return of several politicians from exile. By contrast, the recent enactment of a new press law, along with other bills currently being drafted - particularly those on non-profit associations and public demonstrations -has drawn a lot of criticism. Some rather vague provisions in these pieces of legislation are thought to be potentially harmful to peacebuilding.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“Last month I visited Bujumbura, where as usual, in close cooperation with BNUB, I met with senior representatives of the Government, including the President of the Republic, the principal political parties, and interlocutors from civil society and the international community, including the international financial institutions. The main topics discussed were the political situation, particularly in the context of the 2015 elections, the socioeconomic situation, human rights, the issue of how to deal with the past, and the land issue. My impression confirms that of the Special Representative, which is that although the country has made significant progress, several challenges remain. I saw a real risk of a gap between the expectations of the Government on the one hand and those of the international community on the other.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“And, lastly, I will make a pitch for extending the presence of the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) beyond its current mandate, ideally until the 2015 elections. Before I begin, let me first take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, and his team at the United Nations Office in Burundi for their exemplary work and excellent cooperation with the Burundi configuration of the PBC. I would also like to thank the Government of Burundi for welcoming me warmly once again and for the spirit of trust and cooperation it has always displayed.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“First, I will summarize the results of my most recent visit to Burundi, from 24 to 28 June, which aimed to take stock of the situation in the country; discuss the follow-up to the Geneva Conference of Development Partners; and, address the issue of the next steps to be taken by the Burundi configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). As I sent member States of the Council my full report by letter last week, I will simply give a brief summary of the peacebuilding situation. Following the excellent briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, I will be able to make my statement even more concise. Secondly, I will share the main messages and conclusions from my visit.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“A Burundian proverb says, "Even if there is no rooster to crow at dawn, the day will dawn." Undoubtedly, the day will dawn, but will people also wake up on time? Peacebuilding in Burundi has made significant and impressive progress, but a critical point has also been reached that requires a higher level of commitment from both sides, the Government and the international community, to take the final steps. The rooster would therefore do well to continue crowing for some time more. My briefing will focus on the following three points.”
2013-07-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7006 (2013) · source
“Moreover, during armed conflicts, reliable and independent information is essential for the international community to play its role. The work of journalists can, for example, make an important contribution to gathering information on violations of international law. In that way, representatives of the media play a non-negligible role in preventing such Violations and participate in the fight against the impunity of their perpetrators. As long as journalists continue to be harassed or even killed because of their work, freedom of the media will remain but an empty promise. Not only do journalists have the right to be protected, but the acts of Violence against them must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Switzerland recalls that journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict are civilians and should not be taken for targets unless they are directly participating in hostilities. We also recall resolution 1738 (2006), which calls on States to prevent attacks on journalists and emphasizes the importance of protective legal instruments such as the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions. Impunity, often a result of the political impact of the work ofjournalists, can be seen as one of the major causes of repeated attacks on them. And the media cannot be free if journalists are deliberately targeted or if those who attack them go unpunished. That is why I thank the United States for organizing today's debate. Without freedom of opinion and expression there can be neither democracy nor good governance.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003Resumption1 (2013) · source
“Mr. Seger (Switzerland) (spoke in French): I was recently interviewed by Swiss journalist Patrick Vallelian. The interview would not have taken place if the journalist in question had not been extremely lucky. Indeed, he miraculously survived an incident in Homs last year. If one believes his story, the incident was nothing less than a trap. His French colleague, Gilles Jacquier, however, was killed in the same incident. That is but one example among many that demonstrate that around the world journalists face threats, assaults, abductions, disappearances and even murder. A worldwide increase in murders and imprisonment ofjournalists has been noted during the past few years.”
2013-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7003Resumption1 (2013) · source
“In cooperation with UN-Women and the Institute for International Criminal Investigations, the initiative has set up a roster of sexual and gender-based violence experts from various backgrounds. Switzerland is one of the countries that initiated the Justice Rapid Response initiative, which can contribute to the implementation of obligations arising from resolutions 1888 (2009) and 1960 (2010). In conclusion, I would like to recall the significant thematic connection between the discussions on sexual violence in armed conflict and the protection of civilians. We commend the fact that the Security Council takes into account the link between those two topics through a consistent approach.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“As UN-Women explained in a recent document, reparations are the most victim-centred transitional justice measures. In that connection, we are obliged to think beyond the traditional approach. Humanitarian aid, peacebuilding and development must be effectively linked in order to achieve a real impact, namely, the empowerment of women. Thirdly, and finally, Switzerland heeds the Secretary-General's call for the recruitment of women's protection advisers as members of United Nations assessment teams. We draw attention to the Justice Rapid Response initiative. It is an intergovernmental support mechanism that can provide the international community and the Security Council with rapidly deployable expertise.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“First, we strongly welcome the fact that the Secretary-General expresses the need for the women and girls who have been victims of rape to have access to emergency contraception and safe abortion services. They should not be forced to continue a pregnancy as a result of a serious crime against them. All too often, they receive no reparation or any kind of support from their own communities or from the international community. At the same time, where women and girls who have decided to continue their pregnancies cannot look after their children, steps to protect the rights of those children, including providing for national adoption, must be taken. That leads me to my second point, on reparations. They can have a transformative effect and should be an integral part of post-conflict transition initiatives.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“It highlights the need to better understand what causes the differences in wartime sexual violence rates from one conflict to another. We furthermore welcome the fact that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General has added to her priorities the fostering of national ownership, leadership and responsibility in combating sexual violence. We note with interest the important link that the report makes between sexual violence and active population displacement. It brings to light the link between sexual violence and forced displacement and the exploitation of natural resources. The Secretary- General makes useful recommendations. Allow me to highlight three of those.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“Mr. Seger (Switzerland) (spoke in French): Switzerland would like to congratulate and thank the Secretary-General and his Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, as well as her entire team, for the work that provided the basis for the Secretary- General's report (S/2013/149). We welcome the Special Representative's commitment to continuing the work started by her predecessor. We think that recognizing sexual violence as a tactic and a consequence of war remains vital to undertaking the real preventive action that is so urgently needed. The Human Security Report Project, in its report entitled "Sexual violence, education and war: beyond the mainstream narrative", provides a valuable recommendation in that regard.”
2013-04-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6948 (2013) · source
“Due to its difficult economic and financial environment, Burundi risks encountering considerable problems in meeting even the most basic budgetary expenses. That concern has been brought to my attention not only by the Government, but also by international partners. I therefore urge all donors to seriously consider increasing their development assistance in the form of budgetary support. I remain at the Council's disposal for any questions.”
2013-01-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6909 (2013) · source