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

“I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Zerihoun for his briefing. We welcome the opportunity to highlight the importance and potential of sanctions, which comprise one of the few non-violent tools that the Council has to protect international peace and security. Someone once said that patience is the art of concealing impatience. There are times when I think that the saying can be very appropriately applied to the United States. We feel strongly about our principles and our sovereignty because they come from us, the people. When we see a threat to our national security or when we see violations of human dignity, we want to act sooner rather than later. Most often we stifle that urge and show patience. However, beneath our patience is a fundamental unwillingness to passively accept insecurity and injustice.”
2017-08-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8018 (2017) · source
“In response to the last speaker's statement, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Assistant Secretary-General Mueller and the dedicated and brave teams of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations agencies. They and their implementing partners on the ground are saving lives and helping the Syrian people every day, while the Syrian Government continues to terrorize its people and cause unimaginable suffering. OCHA has our support.”
2017-07-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8015 (2017) · source
“When those young kids were asked what they wanted, one child put it very simply: "I want to beg our leaders, let them bring peace to South Sudan, so that South Sudanese children will enjoy their life like the one of long ago". Those kids are facing impossible challenges, and they have not given up on a dream of peace for South Sudan. Neither can we. We in the international community can and must act to make the promise of peace a reality.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8008 (2017) · source
“The bottom line is that we want this regional mediation to succeed, and we need to see South Sudan's leaders truly engaged in it at long last. The people of South Sudan deserve leaders who live up to their promises. Even facing extreme hardship, the people have not given up hope of something better. There is one town a few hours south of the capital where 70 per cent of the population reportedly fled after fighting broke out. But a small group of children, including many orphans, stayed and found shelter at a local Catholic school. At that school, according to a report from the United Nations, 14 teachers are volunteering to help the kids. The school's motto is: we cannot surrender.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8008 (2017) · source
“The forum has broad support from South Sudan's international partners, including endorsement from the African Union. Tragically, the support for a new forum shows that international partners do not have confidence that South Sudan's leaders are taking meaningful steps to live up to their obligations as signatories to the 2015 peace Agreement. It is high time for action. The revitalization process is the last chance for salvaging the peace Agreement. The United States very much hopes that it will lead to a realistic and meaningful outcome. If South Sudan's leaders do not participate in the high-level forum in good faith and stick to its deadlines, the United States will need to review its position and priorities with regard to support for the peace agreement and its implementing bodies.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8008 (2017) · source
“We called on the parties to stop fighting, commit to a political process and allow for unfettered humanitarian access - but virtually none of those steps happened. The Council must be prepared to hold the parties accountable for their inaction and for the continued suffering of South Sudan's people. The Council must put real pressure on the parties to change their behaviour. That should start with additional targeted sanctions and an arms embargo. Those measures would show that the Council is serious about pushing for an end to the fighting and a return to the negotiating table. The United States appreciates that the region has appointed a new Special Envoy and will convene a high-level revitalization forum to support a ceasefire in a political process.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8008 (2017) · source
“A total of 1.7 million people are on the brink of starving to death because of the inability of aid agencies to reach them. According to United Nations statistics, June was the worst month for access by aid workers so far this year. Despite promising to stop, the Government is still asking humanitarian groups to pay high fees just to continue operating in the country. The humanitarian community is in a position to help, but the Government and fighters on the ground need to allow them to get to the people in need. In short, another month has passed with no improvement on the ground. In March, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2017/4) with a number of specific demands.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8008 (2017) · source
“Commitment to a ceasefire is just one broken promise and the protection of civilians is another. A few weeks ago, United Nations peacekeepers tried to reach an orphanage to help get 250 kids out of harm's way. The United Nations was doing its job, but authorities would not allow the peacekeepers to pass. It is hard to believe, but it is true. Fortunately, the United Nations was eventually able to get there after a delay, but thousands of other civilians cannot be reached. They remain trapped by fighting and are unable to receive any assistance whatsoever. Humanitarian aid has eased famine in certain parts of the country, but the overall trend is getting worse, not better. Hunger in South Sudan has reached unprecedented levels. More than 6 million people are now severely food insecure - half of South Sudan's population.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8008 (2017) · source
“United Nations peacekeepers continue to face obstacles in carrying out their mandate to protect civilians. And humanitarians are blocked from delivering life-saving assistance. For the people of South Sudan life is worse than ever before. The Council needs to hold the parties on the ground accountable for their broken promises. Consider first the violence - the Council has been calling for a ceasefire in South Sudan since the fighting escalated more than a year ago. In May, the Government declared a unilateral ceasefire but, rather than hold their fire, Government forces have been opening up new battlefronts. Those military operations are forcing thousands of people from their homes. The fighting has forced dozens of humanitarian workers to be evacuated, leaving even more civilians without any help. It is a travesty, truly a travesty.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8008 (2017) · source
“I thank Assistant Secretary-General Wane and President Mogae for their briefings. When it comes to South Sudan, we have heard lots of promises. We hear promises from South Sudan's leaders that they will finally get serious about pursuing peace. We hear promises that they will allow aid to reach the starving and the sick, as well as promises that humanitarian workers will not be harassed when they try to do theirjobs. And on the basis of those promises, the Security Council waits and waits. We wait for things to change in South Sudan, but nothing is changing in the country. The violence continues. Horrific atrocities are reported so often that they become almost routine. People continue to flee across South Sudan's borders to neighbouring countries.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8008 (2017) · source
“In order to do so, it is essential that we build strong partnerships with civil society, faith leaders, youth and local communities. ISIS, along with similar groups, threaten not just our security, but also our values, such as tolerance, human dignity and freedom. For that reason, in every region of the world, people of all faiths have come together to condemn terrorism. The United States will continue to lead that effort. Today's unanimous vote reinforces the global resolve to defeat terrorism wherever it is found.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8007 (2017) · source
“In order to make the best use of this tool, the Security Council should regularly add to the sanctions list the names of any new ISIS- or Al-Qaida-affiliated individuals or groups, wherever they may be in the world. But while implementing the sanctions is essential, it is only one part of a broader strategy for defeating ISIS and the violent, extremist ideology that feeds it. All States Members of the United Nations should work together to prevent groups from declaring allegiance to ISIS and becoming one ofits affiliates. We must mobilize action to address the issue of former ISIS fighters who return or relocate to other countries. We cannot allow them to become a new threat elsewhere. And we must do more, especially here at the United Nations, to help countries prevent and counter violent extremism before it takes root.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8007 (2017) · source
“In order to help ensure that those sanctions are being fully and fairly implemented, we have reaffirmed our support to the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities and to its Ombudsperson. In another important step, in today's resolution the Security Council added eight new individuals and entities to the 1267 Committee's sanctions list. They include ISIS leaders in South-East Asia, foreign fighters from the Caucasus, illicit money exchange businesses and ISIS-affiliated terrorist groups in Syria, and there will be more designations to come.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8007 (2017) · source
“It will create new offshoots in new places; fighters who trained with ISIS in Syria are now starting to return home. The Security Council has to show that it can adapt to such changing threats, and that is the goal of the resolution we have adopted today. Its provisions recognize the importance of focusing not just on ISIS but also on its affiliates, wherever they may emerge. We have also redoubled our commitment to enforcing these measures. The resolution urges for more international cooperation in cutting off terrorist funding, preventing terrorists from travelling and stopping such groups from acquiring arms.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8007 (2017) · source
“With today's adoption of resolution 2368 (2017), the Security Council is taking another important step towards helping to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) and Al-Qaida. We thank the other sponsors ofthe resolution for their support. There is no higher priority for the United States, which is why we are leading a 72-member coalition that is making great strides in liberating territory from the grip ofISIS. The United States has been supporting the Iraqi Government in its effort to push ISIS out of Mosul, and ISIS's last strongholds in Syria are coming under intense pressure. But even as it is losing ground in Syria and Iraq, the threat that it represents is far from over. ISIS will continue looking to spread its ideology and radicalize new groups around the world.”
2017-07-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8007 (2017) · source
“Together with the Government of Haiti and the international community, we continue to support the strengthening of Haiti's overall security, democratic development and economic growth.”
2017-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8005 (2017) · source
“The entirejustice system, including corrections and the judiciary, needs significant reform, and focusing on the rule of law is especially critical at this juncture. As the police and the judiciary go hand in hand, strengthening the capacity of both sectors is necessary to entrench the rule of law in Haiti and to address such urgent challenges as high pre-trial detention rates and prison overcrowding. We also call for increased attention to Haiti's economic situation and challenges related to humanitarian and disaster preparedness, which should be prioritized so that Haiti is prepared for the next crisis. The United States stands ready to assist however it can. We have been one of Haiti's strongest international partners for more than 30 years.”
2017-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8005 (2017) · source
“We are pleased to hear that good progress had already been made. To date, half of the military component and one of the 11 police units have withdrawn from Haiti without incident. In fact, there has been a reported decrease in the levels of criminality and civil protests. We applaud the transfer of tasks from the military to the Haitian National Police in the northern part of the country and in some of the most security-sensitive areas ofPort-au-Prince. We also commend the transfer oftasks from MINUSTAH to the host Government and the United Nations country team. Secondly, I want to emphasize that the work begun by MINUSTAH is not over yet. MINUJUSTH's core mission will include the rule of law and police development, as well as human rights.”
2017-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8005 (2017) · source
“I thank Special Representative Honore Braithwaite for her briefing, which together with the Secretary-General's report (8/2017/604) clearly outlines that the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) is successfully on the path to closing and that the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH) is on track to replace it by 16 October. I would like to begin by recognizing Special Representative Honore Braithwaite, as well as the troop- and police-contributing countries, for their support to the United Nations mission over the past 13 years. Thanks to their leadership and the dedication of the men and women serving in MINUSTAH, Haiti has made strides towards democracy and stability. First, I would like to underscore the importance of a smooth transition between the two missions, MINUSTAH and MINUJUSTH.”
2017-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8005 (2017) · source
“I would like to highlight an important addition to this year's mandate, that is, the first-ever external review of a special political mission's staffing and resources, whereby the Secretariat will engage a third- party consultancy to identify efficiencies and delineate responsibilities between UNAMI and the United Nations country team. While this is a new tool for the Security Council, that unbiased third-party review should set a gold standard for improving efficiency and accountability in the field, and will enable UNAMI to more effectively deliver on its mandate. The United States is proud to join the rest of the Council in supporting UNAMI's work towards durable and sustainable peace for Iraq. We thank all of our counterparts on the Council for their productive engagement, discourse and consensus on this Mission.”
2017-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8003 (2017) · source
“The United States salutes the role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) in engaging the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government and other stakeholders on national reconciliation. We would also urge UNAMI to invigorate its ongoing efforts, in coordination with Iraqi authorities, to increase transparency in the protection of Iraq's most vulnerable groups, such as internally displaced persons in transit, and encourage Iraq to hold accountable those who committed atrocities against such groups.”
2017-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8003 (2017) · source
“The adoption of resolution 2367 (2017) comes at a milestone in Iraq's fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). As Member States, we join the Iraqi people in celebrating the liberation of Mosul earlier this week. The Iraqi security forces have dealt ISIL a devastating loss, and the United States and the coalition will support Iraq as that momentum continues through the liberation ofthe remaining Iraqi territory still under ISIL control. Over the course of negotiations, Council members recognized that the need for reconciliation, at both the national and the local levels, would grow more acute as the ultimate defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham drew nearer.”
2017-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8003 (2017) · source
“There is no time to delay. We urge the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure the rapid start and completion of voter registration in the Kasais. We also welcome the efforts of MONUSCO to help support voter registration in the Kasais, in line with its mandate. For the United States, our bottom line is clear. The United States supports holding elections on time, per the terms of the 31 December agreement of 2016. There is a narrow window of opportunity for all of us to press the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to stay true to its commitments. All of us need to seize this chance now. We already know what mass violence and horror look like in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We cannot let history repeat itself.”
2017-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7998 (2017) · source
“We have seen videos of the Democratic Republic of the Congo military summarily executing civilians, many of whom are children. We have heard reports of Government personnel executing children as young as five years-old, as well as reports of widespread sexual violence committed by the forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There is no doubt about who is perpetrating violence in the Kasai regions and what their motives are. At the same time, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo there have been violent clashes, and around the country we have seen a surge in prison breaks. Those events, while not necessarily linked, reflect a lack of State authority or, as some have suggested, more deliberate efforts on the part of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to advance the strategy of chaos.”
2017-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7998 (2017) · source
“This return to horrific violence is an outcome that no one on the Council should want to see, but in the past few months approximately 1.3 million Congolese have been displaced, having fled violence in the Kasais, including nearly 30,000 who are now refugees in neighbouring Angola. Just five days ago, the Council heard the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, relay the sickening reports coming out of the Kasai regions. We were told that the conflict is "spreading and intensifying", and that hundreds, if not thousands, of children had been forcibly recruited to join the ranks of militant groups.”
2017-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7998 (2017) · source
“We are ready to take additional action to sanction those who stand in the way of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's first democratic transition of power. The Security Council should also consider targeted sanctions to reduce the violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and help pressure all stakeholders to play a more constructive role in moving the country forward. Those responsible for undermining the peace and security of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and democratic institutions must be held accountable. Thus far, stakeholders have felt few consequences for perpetuating instability. The alternative to supporting a democratic transition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a return to violence, which is what we are seeing today in the Kasai regions.”
2017-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7998 (2017) · source
“But an essential step to ensuring that history does not once again repeat itself in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is to help the Congolese people complete a transition of power and make their voices heard through a credible, peaceful and inclusive presidential election this year. Election delays cannot continue. The international community must step up and apply more pressure, not only on President Kabila and his Government but also on the Independent National Electoral Commission. The Commission must immediately publish an electoral calendar, and specifically the date for the presidential election. The United States has already demonstrated that it will take action against those who delay and obstruct the implementation of the 31 December agreement and preparations for credible, peaceful and inclusive presidential elections.”
2017-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7998 (2017) · source
“When we consider the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we far too often have witnessed scenes of unspeakable violence and human cruelty. The United Nations and the wider international community have worked tirelessly for years to help bring peace to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We commend the efforts of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to protect Civilians and support implementation of the 31 December agreement. The MONUSCO peacekeeping mission has the very challenging task of helping keep people safe, and we remain committed to ensuring that it is able to effectively fulfil its mandate.”
2017-07-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7998 (2017) · source
“Our own ongoing assistance to Colombia will focus on, among other things, security, including the Colombian Government's counter-narcotics efforts, as well as its support for the reintegration of ex-combatants, expansion of State institutions and presence in former rebel areas, including rural economic development, justice services, the military's civil engineering units, and humanitarian demining. We recognize that the road ahead will pose challenges, but I assure you that the United States is fully committed to the implementation of the peace accord and to the promotion of security, justice, prosperity, and respect for human rights for all Colombians.”
2017-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7997 (2017) · source
“I welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia back to the Chamber. We welcome this morning's unanimous adoption of resolution 2366 (2017). Last year, we witnessed the entry into force of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. The accord represents a historic agreement that paves the way for lasting peace for the Colombian people. We commend the parties for their determination to persevere through the implementation of the Peace Agreement. With the near completion of the disarmament process, we now enter a critical next stage. The Security Council has recognized that the successful reintegration of ex-combatants and expanding the reach of the Colombian Government to remote areas of the country are both necessary to ensure the long-term success of the peace process.”
2017-07-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7997 (2017) · source
“There will be no peace or security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo without elections and a democratic transition of power. All parties, both the opposition and the Government, must remain committed to the 31 December agreement and take action to expedite the implementation of the agreement, including much needed confidence-building measures. The Council and the United States Government stand ready to hold accountable those that foment violence, undermine peace and increase instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7981 (2017) · source
“Just yesterday, we read reports that over 3,000 people had been killed in the Kasais region in the past eight months. The Democratic Republic of the Congo military has notjust engaged in violence against civilians, it has actually filmed summary executions. We have heard numerous reports of villages being burned and looted, rape used as a weapon of war, and children being targeted and executed in their homes. Approximately 20,000 people have fled the Kasais since early April, and yet the Democratic Republic of the Congo has rejected offers for international support to investigate the violence. Zaida and Michael lost their lives seeking the truth in the Kasais. We cannot let that search end, particularly as the reports coming out of the region grow increasingly disturbing and the refugee flows continue unabated.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7981 (2017) · source
“To the families of Michael and Zaida, the members of the Groups of Experts, the personnel of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and Special Representative Sidikou, let me say that our expressions of support and praise are just not enough. We know that they deserve our commitment to finding out the truth and holding those who target United Nations personnel accountable. Today we took a small, but important, step to do that. Just as important, the resolution is for the Congolese, who have witnessed far too much violence, corruption and far too many human rights abuses. The gruesome reports coming out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically from the Kasais, should prompt us into action not only in the Security Council, but also in the Human Rights Council.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7981 (2017) · source
“Resolution 2360 (2017), which we have just adopted, reaffirms the Council's commitment to continue the work started by Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan, two members of the Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo who tragically lost their lives in March while on mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. By renewing the Group of Experts' mandate, the resolution sends a clear message that the Council will continue to advance Michael and Zaida's work to advance peace and address human rights Violations and abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The resolution also underscores the Council's commitment to take action against those who seek to harm United Nations personnel, including the Group of Experts.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7981 (2017) · source
“UNAMA plays a critical role in supporting peace and reconciliation, empowering women, defending the human rights of all Afghans and coordinating humanitarian assistance. We look forward to the completion next month of the Secretary- General's strategic review and to discussing ways to strengthen the Mission's efficiency, cost-effectiveness and core competencies.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7980 (2017) · source
“The Taliban, along with the Haqqani Network and affiliates of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham and other armed groups, is increasing its attacks, killing and injuring thousands of Afghans and delaying the progress that Afghanistan so desperately needs. And while development assistance remains robust, a precipitous drop in domestic and foreign direct investment has stalled the private-sector-led growth that Afghanistan needs in order to employ its youth, reduce poverty and give communities hope. In the context of those and other challenges Afghanistan continues to face, we strongly support the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan as an essential partner of Afghanistan and the international community.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7980 (2017) · source
“Progress in implementing the peace agreement with Hizb-i Islami gives us hope for similar progress towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict with the Taliban. Such talks are essential. There is no military solution that will bring a durable peace. The path to a negotiated settlement is available, and the Taliban must choose to take it. In fact, a durable peace and genuine stability in Afghanistan can come only with the commitment of Afghanistan's neighbours and near-neighbours to those goals. We welcome the commitments made during the Kabul process meetings and call on Afghanistan's neighbours to unconditionally cease their support for armed and violent-extremist groups. Those commitments are important right now.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7980 (2017) · source
“The first meeting of the Kabul process for peace and security cooperation, convened by the Afghan Government on 6 June, reaffirmed the commitment of Afghanistan, its neighbours in the region and the international community to supporting an Afghan-led and -owned political process for achieving peace in Afghanistan. The United States joined the 27 countries and organizations represented at the meeting to call on armed and extremist groups to announce an immediate end to their attacks and their entry into peace talks with the Afghan Government. In that context, we commend the Government for its continued commitment to an inclusive, Afghan-led peace process, despite the ongoing attacks.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7980 (2017) · source
“The United States is reviewing its engagement and security posture in Afghanistan. It is appropriate to take the time to make sure that we are carrying forward our commitment to Afghanistan in the most effective way possible. While the review continues, there can be no question that the United States remains wholly engaged in supporting the Afghan Government, diplomatically and militarily; supporting the development of the Afghan security forces, including through the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission; continuing its generous provision of civilian assistance; doing its part diplomatically to strengthen the international and regional consensus; and working to advance an Afghan peace process. That leads me to a point I want to make about the political process in Afghanistan.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7980 (2017) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative Yamamoto for his briefing and the courageous dedication of the entire United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) team to supporting governance, development and reconciliation in Afghanistan. I would like to begin by offering our deepest condolences to the victims of the recent violence in Kabul and their families. Such events are a sad reminder of the unacceptable toll that the conflict in Afghanistan continues to take on its people. The 31 May bombing sought to divide the Afghan Government and people, as well as Afghanistan's international partners. As armed groups inflict suffering on innocent civilians, our resolve to stand with the people and the Government of Afghanistan in pursuing a peaceful resolution of the conflict and stability in the country will not waver.”
2017-06-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7980 (2017) · source
“However, there remains the potential for confusion about the role of humanitarian mine action implementers and military and security personnel who are operating in evolving conflict areas to mitigate IEDs. In order to best protect mine action personnel, it is important that Member States not conflate IED clearance with military counter-IED activities. Affected States, donors, the United Nations and humanitarian mine action implementers should work together to make sure that all personnel searching for and disposing of IEDs have the appropriate skills to do the job. The aim should be to ensure the safe, effective and efficient disposal of IEDs. The United States will continue to support the efforts of the United Nations and others to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of landmines, unexploded ordnance and IEDs.”
2017-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7966 (2017) · source
“Nowhere are these challenges more prevalent than in our ongoing efforts to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS). Many of the areas that have been liberated or are in the process of being liberated from ISIS are severely contaminated with landmines and IEDs. Some of these explosive devices operate as booby traps meant to spread terror even after ISIS fighters have departed. An important part of defeating ISIS involves clearing these landmines, IEDs and unexploded ordnance so internally displaced persons and refugees can return to their homes. This also involves ensuring key infrastructure points are free of landmines and IEDs so that water service can be restored and sanitation services resumed.”
2017-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7966 (2017) · source
“We have provided more than $2.8 billion in such aid since 1993 in more than 99 countries for conventional weapons destruction, which includes the clearance of my landmines and unexploded ordnance, including in Colombia where we are the largest donor in the sector. We urge other Member States to join us in a robust international partnership to reduce the humanitarian impact of landmines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices on vulnerable communities around the world. Today public and private sector organizations are playing a Vital role in clearing IEDs and other explosive devices often before conflict and violence have completely ceased. These partners will continue to provide essential support to ease the safe return of civilians in areas where fighting has taken place.”
2017-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7966 (2017) · source
“I thank Assistant Secretary-General Zuev and Ms. Ochoa Nifio for their very informative briefings today. We, too, would like to extend our appreciation to those brave individuals and organizations that put their lives on the line to mitigate landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and unexploded ordnance in conflict-ridden areas. We hope that today's discussion will help us continue to highlight the importance of humanitarian mine action, countering the threat of improvised explosive devices and mitigating the danger of explosive remnants of war. The United States has been the world's single largest financial supporter of such efforts.”
2017-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7966 (2017) · source
“Therefore, as we pursue more engagement with the Sudan and greater relief and protection for the survivors of the conflict, we must also recommit to supporting accountability to bring a just and lasting peace to the people of Darfur.”
2017-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7963 (2017) · source
“Beyond Africa, senior former Khmer Rouge officials in Cambodia have been sentenced for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and leaders responsible for Dirty War era crimes in Latin America and atrocity crimes in the former Yugoslavia have also been held to account. The Council should not let the Sudan be an exception. Having referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC over 10 years ago, we must continue to demand the Sudan's compliance with the Council's decisions. While victims have not yet seen justice and refugees and internally displaced persons continue to struggle years after the conflict began, it is unacceptable that President Al-Bashir still travels and receives a warm welcome from certain quarters of the world and unacceptable that none of the Sudanese officials with outstanding arrest warrants have been brought to justice.”
2017-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7963 (2017) · source
“If we do not address the victimization that has occurred and the magnitude ofthe violations and abuses inflicted, any peace will be hollow and easy to shatter by those seeking revenge for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. In the years since the conflict in Darfur began, we have seen inspiring examples of accountability across the globe, where those leaders who targeted their own citizens in order to maintain a stranglehold on power have been forcedto facejustice. Former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo is now in court in The Hague, while Charles Taylor and Hissene Habre' are serving lengthy prison sentences.”
2017-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7963 (2017) · source
“We cannot simply turn our backs on the victims of genocide who were forced from their homes and left to die of thirst or starvation or on the thousands of women and girls who suffered acts of brutal sexual violence or on those who were targeted on the basis of their ethnic identity. There will be no stable and lasting peace in the Sudan without justice for the many victims of crimes related to the conflict. As Ambassador Nikki Haley has said here in the Security Council, "[i]n case after case, human rights violations and abuses are not merely the incidental by-products of conflict, but the trigger of conflict" (S/PV. 7926, p. 4).”
2017-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7963 (2017) · source
“The Government of the Sudan has also worked closely with our own to begin to address regional conflicts, improve humanitarian access, combat the threat of terrorism and eliminate the threat of the Lord's Resistance Army. There is certainly more progress to be made on these fronts, but these are welcome steps towards a better future. Indeed, we now see the possibility of long-term progress that we hope will lead to more respect for human rights, more accountability, more rule of law and more justice for Sudanese victims. But as we see encouraging signs ofa new approach to addressing long-standing conflict and hope that further engagement will spur additional progress, we must also be clear: we must neither forget the victims nor the perpetrators of the crimes in Darfur.”
2017-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7963 (2017) · source
“At the same time, recognizing that the people of Darfur yearned for fewer bombings, less bloodshed, less conflict and greater stability and safety, we have also focused on seeing an end to the conflict. Through bilateral engagement, we identified concrete steps to make tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Sudanese and have seen results. The Government of the Sudan has taken meaningful positive steps with respect to the conflict, including committing to a unilateral cessation of hostilities, and while some violence persists, we have not seen Government military offensives in this period as we have in every other year since these conflicts began.”
2017-06-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7963 (2017) · source