YouSaid · the spoken record

Sergiy Kyslytsya

lines on the record: 79
first: 2020-04-27
most recent: 2021-04-30
sittings or episodes: 7
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

“Time and again, we urge Russia to uphold all its obligations under applicable international law as an occupying Power, in particular to ensure proper and unimpeded access for international human rights monitoring missions and human rights non-governmental organizations to Crimea, pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 71/205, 72/190, 73/263 and 74/168; immediately release without preconditions Ukrainian citizens who have been unlawfully detained; end the practice of transfers of its own population to the occupied territories and forcible transfers and deportations of protected persons, including detainees, to areas outside the occupied territory; and refrain from compelling residents of Crimea to swear allegiance to and serve in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, to name but a few.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Russia takes a similar approach to evading responsibility vis-à-vis the implementation of European Court of Human Rights decisions. In the light of all the above, the dangerous trend of Russia’s abdication of its legal obligations has to be duly reflected and assessed in the next Secretary- General’s report.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Last year, Russia recalled the statement made at the ratification of Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts. That statement recognized the competence of the International Fact-Finding Commission, which is a key mechanism for achieving the objectives undertaken by States parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and to Protocol I to respect and ensure respect for the provisions of those treaties. That move was quite revealing in that it exposed Russia’s disregard for international humanitarian law and its aversion to the Commission’s mandate to investigate alleged facts of grave breaches, as defined in the Conventions and the Protocol, or other serious violations thereof.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Ukraine pays special attention to issues related to compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights in armed conflicts, as well as to preventing and responding to forced displacement and protecting women and children affected by armed conflict, including combat conflict-related sexual violence. As a party to core international instruments related to the protection of civilians, we constantly promote and support all efforts aimed at strengthening their implementation and advocate respect for human rights and international humanitarian law be ensured at both bilateral and multilateral forums. In contrast, the other party to the conflict, the Russian Federation, ignores General Assembly resolutions and OHCHR recommendations, taking a cherry- picking approach to its obligations under international humanitarian law.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Given this situation and in order to enable the provision of the necessary medical assistance to the civilian population in the occupied areas, we demand that the Russian Federation ensure unhindered access there to Ukrainian competent authorities and medical staff, and provide, on a constant basis, exhaustive information on the spread of COVID-19 in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and on measures it is undertaking to assist the population of these territories to cope with the pandemic. Russia should make all efforts to prevent the spreading of the COVID-19 from the occupied territory to other areas and neighbouring States. Last year, we celebrated the seventieth anniversary the Geneva Conventions, the cornerstone documents that brought greater protection of each individual from the scourges of war.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Moreover, for more than three years, the occupying Power has shown the utmost disrespect for the International Court of Justice by ignoring its order, which demands the restoration of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and the protection of the identity of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar communities under temporary occupation. In addition, Russia continues to block proper and unhindered access for international monitoring missions, primarily by OHCHR, to the occupied territories.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“As party to the conflict, Russia persists in disregarding its duty as occupying Power under international humanitarian law to ensure and maintain the public health of the population, and is using the recent aggravation of the humanitarian situation as a smokescreen for further attacks on the rights and freedoms of the residents of Crimea. The spread of the pandemic did not stop the Russian authorities from announcing another conscription into the occupying army of the Russian Federation, which is a war crime. In March 2020, a decree by the Russian President to deprive Ukrainian citizens of the right to own land in Crimea became yet another uncouth demonstration of Moscow’s disregard for its responsibilities under international humanitarian law.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“We are particularly concerned at the latest reports of shelling of civilian infrastructure by the Russian occupation forces, as well as the use of civilian facilities to hide military equipment. It reminds us of a well-known practice of the Russian armed forces of hiding behind the civilians, widely used in the orchestrated occupation of the Crimean peninsula back in 2014. In the context of the spread of the acute respiratory coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the state of the protection of the life and health of civilians in the temporarily occupied territories has become even more alarming and requires special attention from the international community.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Furthermore, the harassment by the Russian Federation of commercial vessels passing through the illegally constructed Kerch Strait bridge between Russia and temporarily occupied Crimea and its restriction of international shipping there further aggravate the economic and social situation and the suffering of the civilian population in the broader region already affected by the attempted annexation of Crimea and the ongoing armed conflict in Donbas. More than 3.4 million people are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2020. Over half a million people live in the areas directly affected by the armed conflict, while another 2 million people are exposed to landmines and explosive remnants of war. This area, according to the United Nations, has already become one of the most mine-contaminated stretches of land in the world.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“The armed conflict continues to affect the civilian population’s enjoyment of economic and social rights, especially by the more-than 5 million residents of the conflict-affected areas and internally displaced persons. Children, older persons and persons in vulnerable situations are at increased risk of being left behind in achieving sustainable development because of the conflict, the OHCHR report stated. The dire humanitarian situation in the conflict-affected areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions continues to deteriorate.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Referring to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and Additional Protocol I thereto, of 1977, the General Assembly qualified Russia as an occupying Power and urged it to uphold all of its obligations under applicable international law. Meanwhile, according to the twenty-ninth report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the human rights situation in Ukraine, during the entire conflict period OHCHR recorded a total of 3,052 conflict-related civilian deaths: 1,812 men, 1,056 women, 98 boys, 49 girls and 37 adults whose sex is unknown. Taking into account the 298 persons who perished on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 on 17 July 2014, the total death toll of the conflict on civilians has reached at least 3,350. The number of injured civilians so far is estimated to exceed 7,000.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“Unfortunately, Ukraine has become an example of the consequences of the violation by a permanent member of the Security Council of norms and principles of international law, including international humanitarian law. For more than six years, Russian aggression has continued to claim the lives of civilians in my country. That international armed conflict and the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol turned the protection of civilians for my country from an academic subject to a very practical daily issue. In the resolutions of the General Assembly on this question, special emphasis is placed on the necessity to ensure respect for international humanitarian law.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“This is one of the main preconditions for achieving sustainable peace. We agree with the Secretary-General that these figures clearly signal to the international community the need to change the approach to accountability and to strengthen collective responsibility to prevent, stop and ensure non-repetition of attacks against civilians in conflict situations. At the same time, we regret that the report did not pay due attention to the protection of civilians in occupied territories or to the insufficient implementation of relevant thematic United Nations resolutions. In the second part of my statement, I will address some of these gaps.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“In this regard, we value the reference to the International Law Commission draft principles on the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts, in the deliberations on which Ukraine took an active part. Unfortunately, since the first Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (see S/PV.4312), the situation has not improved, and hundreds of recommendations presented over the past 20 years remain unimplemented despite their enduring relevance. As a result, this year’s report records unprecedented figures for losses among civilians. In 2019 alone, more than 20,000 civilians were killed or injured in 10 conflicts, including that caused by the Russian aggression against my country. Accountability for each loss of life should be established.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“This initiative is an important part of our common fight against the pandemic, which has already adversely impacted the international community’s efforts in the maintenance of international peace and security. The Secretary-General’s report this year provides a detailed description of both current risks as well as opportunities in the area of protection of civilians, including the role of digital technologies and social media in conflict situations. We know from our own experience how damaging the impact can be of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, of blockades against alternative sources of information, of the deliberate spreading of disinformation and of incitement to violence. We note the emphasis in the report on the environmental impact of conflicts on civilian suffering.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“I would like to express my appreciation to the Estonian presidency for holding this important debate to discuss the current state of and challenges to the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including implications connected to the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. I would also like to thank Secretary-General António Guterres for presenting his report on the issue (S/2020/366) as well as his timely initiatives aimed at protecting the most vulnerable from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The call for an immediate global ceasefire, which Ukraine, whose population suffers from an ongoing foreign armed aggression, immediately supported, is directly linked to our today’s discussion.”
2020-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/465 (2020) · source
“The environment in which they live today, and the possibilities we create for them to realize their potential and put to use their energy and creativity, will define their role in ensuring peace and security tomorrow. In this regard, I call for the full and effective implementation of the youth and peace and security agenda.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“Taking into account that the report I mentioned did not cover the negative impact of COVID-19 on youth in the long run in the same way that it considered the situations of women and children, we would be grateful for the preparation by the Secretary-General of a targeted policy brief with urgent measures to minimize the impact of this pandemic on youth. In our view, such a document should devote special attention to youth affected by conflict and occupation amid the worsening epidemiological situation as COVID-19 and its consequences spread. In conclusion, I would like to highlight that, by protecting youth and their rights, we are investing in our future, development and progress.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“Unfortunately, the spread of COVID-19 has become an additional concern for the life and health of the population in the temporarily occupied territories.Therefore, we recall the obligation of the Russian Federation as an occupying Power under international humanitarian law to take all the necessary measures to protect the life and health of the population of those territories, to ensure and maintain in the occupied territories satisfactory health care and hygiene conditions, and to take the prophylactic and preventive measures necessary to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“Another flagrant violation of international humanitarian law — which prohibits Russia, as the occupying Power, from forcing protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces — is the plan to send almost 3,300 people from the territory of the Crimean Peninsula for so-called “military service”. Most cynically, most of them are expected to serve outside the Crimean peninsula, primarily in the Southern Military District, whose military units and command are directly involved in carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine in Donbas.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“Youth and student organizations also became active in delivering aid and humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the ensuing hostilities. Six years have passed, but a multitude of threats and challenges for youth in Ukraine continue to grow in the temporarily occupied territories. The occupying authorities engaged in a massive campaign of human-rights violations, including against young representatives, activists and human-rights defenders. They seek to erase Ukrainian national and cultural identity and the identity of children and young people as citizens of Ukraine.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“It was young people who initiated the peaceful demonstrations in Kyiv in November 2013, protesting against the decision of the political leadership to put on hold Ukraine’s further integration with the European Union. After almost three months of the stand-off, a new Ukraine emerged. Following the Russian military aggression against my country in 2014 and the resulting temporary occupation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, young people were among the first to face this threat and protect their motherland. Tens of thousands actively volunteered to provide support to our armed forces in the fight to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“In this regard, we would like to call for continued efforts to fight the COVID-19 threat, while ensuring the best possible balance between the introduction of urgent exceptional measures to counter the threat and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, with a focus on attention to vulnerable populations, including youth. Youth have traditionally played an instrumental role in Ukraine’s political and public life. Back in October 1990, Ukrainian students conducted non-violent public protests, which later forced the Soviet authorities to address the concerns of the Ukrainian youth, cemented the foundations of our emerging civil society and accelerated the disintegration of the Soviet Union.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“Given our well-developed higher education system, Ukraine provides broad opportunities for foreign students to receive quality education and become acquainted with European culture. During the 2019-2020 educational year, more than 63,000 foreign students, mostly from Asian and African countries, are receiving education in my country. It is also worth noting that, in many countries affected by conflict or occupation, young people face permanent threats and danger. This situation is unacceptable, and the States concerned should end violations, ensure protection and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. This call is especially relevant given the gravity of problems and challenges exposed by the current global pandemic.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“At the same time, too many young people remain jobless and struggle to access public resources and quality social services. They remain excluded from policy formulation. Engaging young people is central to the successful implementation of the transformative agenda in Africa. In Asia, the largest generation of young people in history should ensure the region’s dramatic socioeconomic growth is sustained and even improved. At the S/2020/346 S/2020/346 same time, youth in Asia still face particular issues of engagement in education, employment and training. Ukraine understands the need to create and adopt an inclusive and integrated education policy that equitably supports and develops the diverse categories of young people in Africa and Asia.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“While witnessing some positive elements of the implementation of the agenda at the national level, we should not forget that the scale of problems and actions in response to different regions and States are incomparable. Africa’s young people have the potential to be the driving force behind collective prosperity yet to be revealed. Africa has the world’s youngest population, and it is growing rapidly, projected to account for over 40 per cent of the world’s young people within three generations. Over recent decades, we have seen advances in terms of policy commitments to youth development in Africa at the national and regional levels alike. Africa’s Agenda 2063 underscores the importance of promoting the rights of young people and meeting their needs, in all their diversity.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“Ukraine is committed to strengthening the potential of young people, creating equal opportunities and guaranteeing equal rights. Returning to the Secretary-General’s report, we note that there has been tangible progress in the implementation of the youth, peace and security agenda with the crucial involvement of key actors in this process, in particular representatives of civil society organizations and young people themselves. At the same time, it is too early to celebrate our success. Unfortunately, the most serious challenges for young people continue to impede positive changes, even in the five pillars mentioned by the Secretary-General. All regions of the world deserve a more peaceful and sustainable environment for young people that enables them to realize their potential, creativity and aspirations for a more prosperous future.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“The first report of the Secretary-General on youth, peace and security (S/2020/167) provides an analysis of the five pillars: participation, protection, prevention, disengagement and reintegration, and partnerships. We took note of that analysis and support the report’s findings on the growing recognition of the role of young people in peace and security, as well as on the remaining core challenges for young people, including the violation of their human rights. In that regard, we see a further need to reinforce our actions to respond to the aspirations of young people for peace, justice and human rights. We would like to affirm that the Ukrainian Government is carefully studying the recommendations contained in this report and will consider them in the process of the further adjustment of its national youth policy.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source
“We appreciate the initiative to hold this open debate on the issue of youth, peace and security, including the role of young people in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak response. This year we mark the fifth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 2250 (2015), on youth, peace and security, as well as celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. The appropriate observance of these milestones is now even more important than before due to the global pandemic. We consider that a united and targeted response to the coronavirus disease would be incomplete without the inclusion of representatives of young people in this process.”
2020-04-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/346 (2020) · source