YouSaid · the spoken record

Sison

lines on the record: 852
first: 2014-12-22
most recent: 2018-01-23
sittings or episodes: 124
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

“The lack of a consensus final document at the latest Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty does not change that central fact or the role the Treaty will continue to play in promoting global security. Turning to counter-terrorism, I must stress that, despite the significant blows to Al-Qaida's leadership, terrorist threats persist around the world. We are also deeply concerned about the evolution of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the emergence of groups that have pledged allegiance to ISIL in Libya, Egypt, Nigeria, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and the tens of thousands of foreign terrorist fighters who exacerbate conflicts and then return to pose a threat to their home countries.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“Since the last Council briefing on this topic (see S/PV.7331), the United States has continuedto strengthen its efforts to combat proliferation. Notably, the United States has moved towards the ratification of four important international non-proliferation instruments, namely, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, and two protocols to the Convention for the Suppression on Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation. We urge all Member States to cooperate with the 1540 Committee in supporting the review. With regard to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the United States remains unwavering in its support for the NPT and for achieving the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“The United States views monitoring the status of implementation as the most important task of the Committee, as it creates a solid foundation on which depend all the rest of the work of the Committee and our efforts to foster the full implementation of the resolution through effective assistance efforts. In that regard, we appreciate the work of the Committee and its Group of Experts to revise the matrices of all United Nations States Members, which is nearly complete. We welcome the response to the Committee's efforts to increase its direct engagement with States, which we believe has produced an increase in submissions of new and additional 1540 national implementation reports, particularly in the form of national action plans and effective national practices.”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“The United States would like to thank the Chairs of the three Committees, the Ambassadors of Spain, Lithuania and New Zealand, for their briefings. I would like to start with some observations on the Committee established pursuant to resolutionin 1540 (2004). We congratulate Spain for its active leadership role since assuming the Chair in January - particularly its focus on planning for the comprehensive review. The fact that 174 countries have submitted national reports since the resolution came into effect, in 2004, is a strong testament to the global effort to prevent non-State actors from acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction. We believe that the Committee's efforts have prompted States to take measures that will lead to improved implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).”
2015-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7463 (2015) · source
“We further remind the parties of the ongoing need for the Council to receive reports from the United Nations on the situation on the ground in Western Sahara and in the refugee camps near Tindouf. We encourage the parties to continue to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and its visits to the region, as well as to continue to promote and protect human rights in both areas. The United States remains committed to the United Nations efforts for Western Sahara, including those led by Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Christopher Ross, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Kim Bolduc and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United Nations has our unwavering support for its efforts to achieve a political solution.”
2015-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7435 (2015) · source
“Over the past year, the United Nations also suffered a significant and regrettable loss of diplomatic engagement. The loss of valuable time and diplomatic engagement must not be repeated. The United States is determined to see that parties make significant progress towards a mutual political solution and to improve the human rights situation throughout the next year. We encourage the resumption of family reunification visits, which underscore the vary real human dimension to this conflict. We also look forward to the United Nations briefings in October, and we hope we will hear of greater progress at that time. We call upon the parties to demonstrate their resolve in implementing all the elements of this resolution, including facilitating full access for MINURSO staff to all interlocutors.”
2015-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7435 (2015) · source
“The United States is hopeful that the adoption of this resolution will encourage the parties to demonstrate their serious and genuine commitment to the United Nations-led political process to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara and to engage in negotiations as soon as possible. We look forward to both sides bringing forward new ideas to that dialogue. We witnessed several developments of concern this past year: stalled family Visits, dwindling humanitarian assistance and rising tensions inside Saharaoui refugee camps, as well as greater security concerns in the region, which illustrate that the status quo is clearly untenable.”
2015-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7435 (2015) · source
“The United States supports the Security Council's adoption of resolution 2218 (2015), which renews for another year the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). MINURSO is indispensable in its role of supporting stability and security in Western Sahara, as it has for the past 24 years. The United States believes that the United Nations has the legitimacy and impartiality necessary to facilitate a lasting political solution to this conflict.”
2015-04-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7435 (2015) · source
“We must protect all people from the crimes of sexual violence and improve measures to protect those most at risk. Preventing sexual violence is not about politics. It is about our common humanity and about respect. We must all stand united in taking urgent action to combat sexual violence in conflict and in reaching out to support survivors around the world.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“I invite the United Nations Secretariat and the international community to think thoroughly about that challenge and to join us in New York in October with a renewed commitment to stopping the sexual predations committed by non-State actors. We also applaud the Secretary-General for including in his report the disproportionate and unique impact of sexual violence on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Pre-existing political disenfranchisement, social exclusion and violence against LGBT individuals intensifies in situations of conflict, often with complete impunity. Where individuals are targeted for conflict-related sexual violence based on their real or perceived identity, it is not only appropriate but necessary for the United Nations and the international community to identify ways to halt such predation.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“In Iraq, the devastating plight of minority communities rocked by ISIL, especially the sexual slavery faced by women and girls, is a call to action. As so compellingly detailed by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Bangura, the tools at the disposal of the international community require further refinement in the approach to non-State actors. The threat ofprosecution, while necessary, does not, by itself, deter groups like Boko Haram or ISIL, nor are such groups necessarily responsive to international censure. Consequently, we must consider stronger, more innovative and more aggressive approaches to address the use of sexual violence by those groups.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“These groups utilize conflict- related sexual Violence not only to terrorize women and children, but as a war tactic to suppress opposition and punish those whose beliefs differ. Sexual and gender- based Violence has become an ingrained aspect of their overall strategy for controlling territory, destroying the social fabric and recruiting new supporters. Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the kidnapping of 276 girls from Chibok in Nigeria and, heartbreakingly, as Ms. Allamin has just reported, their fates remain, for the most part, unknown. Boko Haram's gross violence against women and girls - abduction and rape, often exercised under the cover of false terms, such as "marriage", or the use of girls as suicide bombers * is a symbol of its toxic ideology.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Ofthe five States cited as having security forces suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict that are on the Security Council's agenda, four have committed to adopting specific measures to address conflict-related sexual violence. Unsurprisingly, the Syrian armed forces, intelligence services and pro-Government forces stand apart from international norms in that regard. Among the violations faced by Syrians daily are reports of sexual Violence against women, men, girls and boys in flight, house searches, checkpoints and, especially, detention. A significant challenge also lies in curtailing the violence and crimes of non-State actors, such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Daesh.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“They agreed that the way forward must include capacity-building and a focus on the rule of law in order to create a sustainable and secure system of justice. The United States unveiled its new accountability initiative at the June Summit, which supports specialized justice sector mechanisms and reflects our commitment to move sexual violence out of the shadows and into the sphere of justice. However, we must not forget that we have come a long way. In the period since the Council took up the issue of conflict-related sexual violence in resolution 1820 (2008), many Member States have made significant strides, as demonstrated by the Secretary-General's recent report on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2015/203).”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“And in the Central African Republic, our efforts to support survivors' recovery through economic empowerment are intricately tied to ensuring the future safety and protection of those courageous women. Across the world we are working with women through leadership programmes, small grants and professional training to demand better, safer lives through legislation that protects the rights of women and men from gender-based violence. Unfortunately, there are severe gaps in many local justice systems and international accountability that must be remedied in order to hold all perpetrators accountable. At the June 2014 Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, representatives from over 120 different countries committed to strengthening accountability.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Women leaders have been dynamic agents for change in combating sexual violence, and we are inspired by their work around the world. They not only support survivors in their work, but also promote prevention, recovery and resilience through efforts that champion women's active participation in decision-making in society. They are women such as Landy, a 28-year-old law student in Haiti, who volunteered with a Unites States-funded programme and has since committed herselfto using the law as an important tool for preventing violence, and Sri Lankan peace activist Shreen Saroor, who, through her non-governmental organization, has fostered critical grass-roots peacebuilding and reconciliation activities and provided essential support for survivors of sexual violence.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“As we know from experience, women and children are disproportionately affected by such Violence, and the use of sexual violence as a tool of war too often serves to marginalize women and obstruct their participation in peace processes. Over the past several years, the international community has galvanized around this issue, denouncing the culture of impunity surrounding sexual violence and supporting judicial and legal reforms among other interventions. We have seen progress in that regard, but there is much more that remains to be done. Special Representative Bangura has demonstrated admirable leadership in tackling this difficult issue head on. Her personal efforts, along with those of many individuals here today, have already resulted in significant changes in the way we approach conflict-related sexual violence.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Thank you, Madam President, for organizing today's debate. We appreciate greatly the remarks and leadership of Special Representative Zainab Bangura and Ms. Hamsatu Allamin on the critical issue of combatting sexual violence in conflict. Fifteen years ago this October, the Security Council acknowledged the critical importance of women in the maintenance of international peace and security. This October the Council will convene at the ministerial level to take stock of our progress over the past 15 years and determine a way forward. As we look ahead to the high-level review in October, today's debate can be seen as an opportunity to assess the progress made and the challenges ahead of us related to protection against conflict-related sexual violence.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Together, we condemn the targeting of civilians of any religious affiliation for any kind of Violence and likewise condemn the destruction of religious sites and property. There must be accountability for the individuals responsible for these despicable acts. In conclusion, I would like to thank the entire French delegation for its excellent and patient stewardship of the Council during the month of March. To our colleagues from Jordan, we assure them of our cooperation and support in the month to come.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“Non-governmental organizations and independent media have been driven out. We continue to call for an immediate end to the Russian occupation of Crimea, which comes against a backdrop of continuing Russian interference in eastern Ukraine. We continue to believe that compliance with the September Minsk agreements and the February implementation package provides a road map to peace in Ukraine. Finally, we welcomed Friday's Council open debate on protecting ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East, presided over by French Foreign Minister Fabius (see S/PV.7419). Promoting religious freedom is a priority for the United States and it remains a core value that influences United States diplomatic engagement worldwide. In recent days and months, the brutal persecution of religious minorities has shocked us all.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“In addition to Yemen, we saw attacks this month in Tunisia, where gunmen killed 19 people and wounded more than 20 others, and the attack in March in Mali, where five civilians, including personnel from UNMISS, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and the European Union, were killed in Bamako. The United States condemns this violence in the strongest possible terms. March marked the one-year anniversary of Russia's forcible seizure and occupation of Crimea and staging of an illegal referendum. Over the past year, the human rights situation in Crimea has deteriorated. Members of Crimea's ethnic minorities, human rights activists and those who oppose the annexation have suffered systematic human rights abuses. Local residents have been detained, interrogated and disappeared.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“Houthi actions undermined the efforts to achieve a political resolution by continuing to take unilateral actions that are not conducive to achieving a political solution. The United States, alongside the broader international community, hopes that the insurgents will stop their unilateral actions and participate in the United Nations-led effort to try to resolve the differences of all the parties there. Just 10 days ago, we were all shocked and saddened by the attacks on mosques in Sana'a that killed scores of worshippers. In fact, it is heartbreaking that we cannot get through a month without confronting such tragic and despicable terrorist acts.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“Her briefing drove home the grave decline in humanitarian, economic and social conditions for Syrians inside of Syria and in neighbouring countries, as well as the Al-Assad regime's significant failure to the Council's resolutions. Humanitarian actors, including the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations, must be able to deliver all necessary humanitarian aid, not just food, to Syrians in need. We remain particularly concerned about the regime's consistent removal of medical and surgical supplies from United Nations convoys prior to reaching their intended destinations despite explicit authorization to deliver medical and surgical supplies through resolutions 2165 (2014) and 2191 (2014). This was, of course, also an especially challenging month with respect to Yemen.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“Through United Nations-facilitated talks in Libya, particularly since the start of the year, the parties have made progress towards bridging the political divisions that have prevented the country from providing for its people and impeded efforts to counter terrorist and criminal groups. Libyan parties must fully invest in these talks, and we maintain our complete support for Special Representative Leon and his efforts. The United States will continue to engage with its Council colleagues in looking how the existing sanctions regime can best address concerns over the illicit flow of weapons into and out of the country. On Syria,just a few days ago, we heard from Under- Secretary-General Valerie Amos (see S/PV.7418).”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“The United States has supported the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the region in their efforts to facilitate talks to reach a comprehensive and inclusive peace agreement and to establish a transitional Government. We hope that this resolution will enhance IGAD's leverage and improve its chances of success. As has been noted, the situations in the Middle East and North Africa have caused us concern this month. It is essential that the next phase of Libya's transition, the formation of a national unity Government, take hold before the entire country is lost to violent extremists.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“Some 2.5 million people are in urgent need of food assistance, and more than 2 million have been displaced. The United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) is providing shelter to more than 100,000 internally displaced people seeking refuge from violence perpetrated by both the Government and armed groups that oppose it. To address this situation, we welcome the adoption of resolution 2206 (2015), which establishes a framework for targeted sanctions in the form of travel bans and asset freezes on individuals and entities that undermine the country's political stability or perpetrate human rights abuses.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“Of the 436 mosques in the country, 417 have been destroyed, and some international forces were recently closed or are drawing down. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic is approaching its full strength, but we must be wary of losing capability just as stability emerges. In Burundi, the Council witnessed a worrying situation. The country's leader is at a crossroads. Opposition parties, civil society and human rights activists have all warned of a potential for Violence if the president seeks a third term. The Council delivered a unified message on the centrality of the Arusha Accords, and we reiterate the calls to respect the letter and spirit of the Agreements and for more inclusive political space. South Sudan also remains central to our work.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“Several notable issues captured our attention in the Security Council this month. Africa was naturally a major focus, including the Council's first trip to the Central African Republic. In the Middle East, we continued to concentrate on Yemen, Libya and Syria. This month also marked one year since Russia used its military to forcibly seize and occupy Crimea. I would like to touch on these issues here this afternoon. Much of our time this month was spent addressing security challenges in Africa. The Council trip to the Central African Republic, Addis Ababa and Burundi was instructive and useful. In the Central African Republic, the armed groups are still armed, and disarmament needs to be a priority. Massive displacement has not been addressed. Nearly 1 million people out of a total population of 4.5 million have been displaced.”
2015-03-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7422 (2015) · source
“With our vote today to renew the mandate for Special Representative Leon's efforts, through the mandate renewal of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, we signal our continued commitment and determination to support a political resolution to the crisis in Libya.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7420 (2015) · source
“The United States stands firmly behind the United Nations-led political dialogue process, Special Representative Leen and his efforts to usher the parties towards a lasting and peaceful settlement to Libya's political and security crisis. In recent months we have seen how violent extremist groups, such as Daesh, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Ansar al-Sharia elements and Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, are the only ones who benefit from a divided Libya. The most effective, comprehensive and sustainable way to counter-terrorism is through a unified Libyan effort, supported by the international community. It is therefore critical that Libyans form a National Unity Government as soon as possible.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7420 (2015) · source
“The United States reaffirms its unwavering support for the critical work of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Bernardino Leon, in his tireless efforts to facilitate the formation of a National Unity Government as part of the next phase of Libya's political transition through United Nations-led dialogue. Today's Security Council resolutions - resolution 2213 (2015) and 2214 (2015) - reaffirm support for Leon's efforts to facilitate a political dialogue in order to form a National Unity Government. The Council also urges all parties in Libya to engage constructively with Leon's efforts and calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7420 (2015) · source
“These attempts failed, however, when a prominent religious leader of the Yazidi community, Baba Sheikh, called on all Yazidis to welcome these girls back, even accepting into his home two girls who had escaped ISIL. We believe that our nations are strongest when we uphold the the equality of our people. We in every country around the world must therefore be relentless in turning the tides against any effort to sow hatred along sectarian or religious lines, or deprive anyone of equal respect, dignity or rights based on the beliefs they hold. Many of us are already committed to diversity and respect for freedom of belief and conscience for all women and men, but all of us must recommit by speaking out on behalf of the religious minorities that are fighting for their rights, their lives and their humanity today.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“The United States Government also continues to be a primary donor to displaced Iraqis, contributing over $219 million since 2014. We also expect to make another major contribution to the Syrian humanitarian crisis at the upcoming pledging conference later this month in Kuwait. Of course, while religious differences can be exploited to divide societies, religioun can also be a powerful motivator for bringing people together. We saw how religion can bind and help heal a community when ISIL brutally used sexual Violence against Yazidi women and girls as a tactic of war, attempting to exploit the destructive power of the stigma attached to rape.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“The Baha'i are another example of a minority group that has long suffered at the hands of Virtually Government in the region, either from onerous registration laws or active and violent Government persecution. All that remains of the once vibrant and extensive Jewish population in the region is a handful of small, isolated communities. The United States continues to seek every opportunity to assist those suffering under the threat of extremist groups, including ISIL. The United States remains the single largest donor to the humanitarian response for Syria, contributing over $3.1 billion since the civil war began. That assistance is being provided to all individuals on the basis of need, regardless of religious identity or political affiliation, and to meet the needs of all Syrians, including religious minorities.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“We cannot turn to the dangers that religious minorities now face from the Al-Assad regime and extremist groups such as ISIL without first recognizing the role that the systematized marginalization of religious minorities vis-a-vis State institutions, legal structures or Government practices has played in depriving citizens of their civic rights, due solely to their religious identity. Blasphemy laws, registration laws, societal discrimination and plain outright violence have served to marginalize such groups, making them unwelcome in their own communities. For instance, Muslims who practice Sufism have faced persecution from some Governments in the region.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“In the city of Homs, for example, the number of Christians has dwindled to as few as 1,000, down from nearly 160,000 before the war began, after the city was completely emptied of all but a few residents following a merciless siege by the Al-Assad regime that prevented food, water and medicine from entering the city for almost two long years. Al-Assad's regime has indiscriminately bombed residential areas across the country and killed thousands and thousands of Syrians of all backgrounds. It has bombed dozens of churches, mosques and an ancient Syrian Jewish synagogue, highlighting the regime's cynical efforts to violently suppress its opponents at any cost.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“The persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East, however, extends beyond these heinous acts carried out by ISIL. In Syria, the Al-Assad regime's brutal, heavy-handed tactics in violently suppressing a peaceful protest movement have fueled the growth of ISIL and other extremist groups. As throughout the Middle East, the Christian community's presence in Syria has dropped precipitously. After four years of civil war, hundreds ofthousands of Christians have fled the country to escape the ongoing violence perpetrated by the Al-Assad regime and extremist groups alike.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“The actions we took on Mount Sinjar in Iraq last summer exemplify that commitment. Tens of thousands of Yazidis - men, women and children - fled ISIL's advances on their Villages around Mount Sinjar. Others were trapped on the mountain with no food, water or escape route in the scorching August heat. In light of those dire circumstances, President Obama decided to take targeted military action and provide critical assistance, at the request of the Iraqi Government, to avert further atrocities. Since that time, we have remained keenly attentive to the ongoing threats against Yazidis, including the fate of the 4,000-5,000 women and girls taken captive by ISIL - a situation described so very powerfully by the honourable member of the Iraqi Parliament, Mrs. Vian Dakhil. We remain in close touch with representatives of the Yazidi community.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“The mass executions of over 700 Sunni Arabs from the Al-Sheitat tribe in eastern Syria last August, over 600 members of the Abu Nour tribe in western Iraq in October, and at least 1,000 detained Shia Iraqi Air Force cadets at Camp Speicher in June attest clearly to this fact. With more than 60 coalition patrtners, many of which are represented in the Chamber today, we are working to degrade and ultimately defeat the common threat ISIL poses to the world. We are providing security assistance to combat ISIL, and working to disrupt the flow of foreign fighters and ISIL's financial resources. But I also want to specifically note that protecting religious minorities in the face of the threat that ISIL poses, notably in Iraq and Syria, is and will remain one of the key priorities in our strategy to counter ISIL.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“My Government has repeatedly condemned the targeting of civilians of any religious affiliation for any kind of Violence, and likewise has strongly condemned the destruction of religious sites and property. Let me be clear that there must be accountability for the individuals responsible for these terrible acts. The threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIL or Daesh, transcends all cultures, religions and borders. Vulnerable communities across Egypt, Iraq and Syria are in danger of ISIL's abuses. We condemn the despicable and cowardly murder of 21 Egyptian Copts by ISIL last month in Libya. ISIL's atrocities are not solely targeted against the region's religious minorities, however.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“We have all heard today, and some in this Chamber have witnessed with their own eyes, the horrific atrocities commited by non-State actors against targeted religious groups in the Middle East. We have seen how Governments have been unable or unwilling to protect members ofthose groups or grant them the benefits and protections accorded to other citizens. Without that, those marginalized communities face an existential threat. Solely because of the faith they practice, Shia Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, Jews, Ismailis, Druze and others have been forcibly converted, killed or evicted from the places where their ancestors have lived for hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of years. Some face abduction, and others have been forced into sexual slavery.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“I would like to begin by thanking Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, His Beatitude Louis Raphael I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, and Mrs. Vian Dakhil, member of the Iraqi Parliament, for sharing their valuable insights with us today. Promoting religious freedom is a priority for President Obama, and it remains a core value that influences United States diplomatic engagement worldwide. In recent days and months, the brutal persecution of religious minorities has been metastasizing at an alarming rate. We thank you, Mr. President, for France's presiding over this meeting on such an important issue. We also note with great interest the Secretary-General's announcement of a United Nations action plan and intention to create an advisory panel on the matter.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“I would like to thank Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea and Rwanda for their service to the United Nations and the international community over the past two years. My delegation truly appreciates the spirit of cooperation and professionalism which they and their Council teams have all exhibited. We wish them well in the New Year and hope that long vacations for all are in order. To our incoming Council colleagues from Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela, we say "welcome". We have much work to do together. I wish everyone happy holidays and a happy new year.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source
“Unfortunately, the vicious attack last week in Yemen was not the only senseless, large-scale act of brutal violence perpetrated against children. We were all horrified by the attacks on the school in Peshawar, Pakistan, last week that took the lives of so many innocent children. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this horrific attack. By targeting students and teachers, those terrorists have once again shown their depravity. We stand with the people of Pakistan and reiterate the commitment of the United States to supporting the Government Pakistan in its efforts to combat terrorism and extremism and to promote peace and stability in the region. Despite these and other crises faced over the past year, my delegation continues to believe that through our collective efforts, we can achieve success in overcoming these challenges.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source
“The use of violence by any party to achieve political objectives is unacceptable. This month, the Council sent a strong message that the international community is serious about the implementation of sanctions against those obstructing Yemen's political transition. We will continue to identify individuals who fuel violence and interfere with the transition, and will impose further targeted sanctions on them. We also strongly condemn last week's bomb attack in Rada, Yemen, which killed dozens of people, including at least 15 girls riding a school bus. The Yemeni people have lived with senseless violence for too long. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula remains the gravest threat to Yemen's security, and we remain committed to our partnership with Yemen to counter the shared threat posed by Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source
“We understand that MONUSCO will be in a difficult position in the months ahead as the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has pushed for a significant reduction in the Mission's troop strength, while simultaneously needing significant logistical support from the Mission to assist in elections and to combat the Allied Democratic Forces and the FDLR. Any coming changes to MONUSCO's size should be based on a military assessment, and not on political considerations. We also urge Council members to continue to support the Government of Yemen in its efforts to restore the country's stability. The peaceful participation ofthe Houthis, and that of all of Yemen's diverse communities, is important to the ongoing political process, but the Houthis must engage with the Government in good faith.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source
“In the absence of the establishment and implementation of a credible peace agreement, the risks of famine, State failure and the regionalization of the conflict are all too real. It will be incumbent on all of us to make peace in South Sudan a top international priority in 2015. On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) will need to pursue operations against the Forces democratiques de liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) once the 2 January deadline passes.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source
“Over the past 12 months, in South Sudan the Council has witnessed tragic, deplorable and heartbreaking events caused by the country's political and military leaders. The young nation has plunged into a man- made political, security and humanitarian catastrophe. The international community has responded with a united voice, strong regional leadership through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union, hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian assistance, and a United Nations peacekeeping mission - the United Nations Mission in South Sudan - made up of 68 troop-contributing countries, resulting in thousands of lives being saved and famine averted in 2014. But the coming weeks and months will be critical.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source
“The United States supports any ceasefire that would provide relief to Syrian civilians and is consistent with humanitarian principles, but ultimately there can be no genuine and long-term stability so long as President Al-Assad remains in power. This year we saw the illegal annexation of Crimea and the deaths of 298 people in the shoot-down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in Ukraine. We have held 27 meetings in the Security Council this year on Ukraine, and while the situation has indeed evolved over the year, the root of the problem remains the same. We are similarly concerned about the situation in Georgia, and we will need to watch carefully the ramifications of Russia's treaty with the Abkhaz region. The United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source
“The Al-Assad regime's brutal tactics remain the root cause of Syria's problems today, including 12.2 million people in need, nearly 5 million displaced and the rise of ISIL. The humanitarian situation remains grim, with nearly 10 million people food-insecure and 11 million in need of clean water and sanitation. Meanwhile, ISIL's terror in northern Syria continues to reduce humanitarian access to 2.7 million Syrians in need of aid. We and our coalition partners will continue our efforts to degrade ISIL forces in Syria and Iraq. We support Special Envoy De Mistura's efforts to help reduce violence and alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.”
2014-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7352 (2014) · source