YouSaid · the spoken record

Skinner-Klee Arenales

lines on the record: 76
first: 2017-11-21
most recent: 2019-08-02
sittings or episodes: 11
sources: un-security-council

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“In May, Guatemala endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, joining the 89 countries that have signed on to that initiative, through which strong political support is expressed for the protection of every child and young student, teacher and school buildings. We call on all the countries that have not yet done so to join the initiative. Defending children is a moral and political imperative that sends a message of hope and a clear sign of our collective will. If we continue working together, we will be able to fully live up to our responsibility to protect children 4 the most cherished part of our population.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“We must also support the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, in collaboration with UNICEF and other United Nations system agencies. We welcome the Council's adoption of resolution 2475 (2019), on the protection of persons with disabilities, including children, which not only highlights the deep concern about the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on persons with disabilities, including the potential for abandonment, violence and a lack of access to basic services, but which also addresses the assistance and protection needs of all affected civilians. To conclude, my delegation wishes to underscore our commitment to ensuring and protecting the rights of every child.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“It is indispensable to undertake significant efforts to ensure the protection of children in any broad prevention strategy, including the rehabilitation and reintegration of children in their communities, which would foster sustainable peace, in line with General Assembly resolution 70/272 and Security Council resolution 2282 (2016). This is also a timely occasion to recall the importance of cooperation and assistance among Member States, as established by the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, which my country, Guatemala, ratified on 9 May 2002, in order to coordinate actions and share best practices to prevent, document and address violations against children in armed conflict.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“It is not enough to be aware of the barbarism afflicting children; we must take drastic steps to prevent those terrible vicissitudes. It is imperative to take additional action to prevent impunity for those who commit serious crimes against children, especially acts of sexual violence and servitude, common abuses in various situations included in the Secretary-General's report (S/2019/509). We therefore must redouble our efforts to develop effective protection mechanisms focused on the defence of children and to implement the tenets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The devastating consequences of armed conflicts can destroy the social fabric of a country. That is why we believe that the approach on prevention must be reinforced by taking steps to entrench a culture of peace, respect and tolerance.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“The macabre scenes of indiscriminate attacks on hospitals and schools, direct attacks on civilians with explosive weapons, air strikes and the use of chemical weapons, which claim numerous civilian casualties 4 including thousands of children, who are also deprived of their basic rights, if not subject to death 4 should be sharply sanctioned by the Security Council as the despicable acts that they are. Guatemala therefore reiterates its commitment to peace and expresses its strong condemnation of the recruitment of children, who are compelled by armed groups to serve as soldiers and, worse still, as human shields in warlike confrontations between parties to conflict, robbing them of their innocence and even their lives.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“The Security Council has taken a particular interest in preventing children from suffering the tragic consequences of armed conflict. It is clear that comprehensive development cannot be achieved, let alone peaceful societies, without the comprehensive protection of children. Despite the efforts of the international community to prevent any threat to children, we continue to learn of serious abuses committed against children by armed groups, which not only constitute a grave violation of their human rights, but are also testament to a clear disregard for human life. We are concerned that we are currently witnessing an increase in civilian casualties in armed conflicts, with children falling victim to atrocious and ruthless violence.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“Mr. Skinner-Klee Arenales (Guatemala) (spoke in Spanish): Allow me to commend your delegation, Mr. President, for organizing this open debate on a topic of high relevance in the context of today's world. We are grateful for your concept note (S/2019/605, annex), which provides valuable guidance for this debate. We further extend our thanks to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and the Executive Director of UNICEF for their valuable briefings, as well as to the other speakers. Since 1999, the Security Council has adopted specific resolutions on children and armed conflict. Each of those resolutions contains increasingly stringent provisions on the protection to be accorded to children.”
2019-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8591 (2019) · source
“We believe that the Council, in accordance with its responsibility to maintain international peace and security, must take into account the main links between the two scourges in such a way as to address the root causes in a comprehensive manner.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Let us remember that threats to international peace and security are largely the cause of the proliferation and possession of weapons of mass destruction and light weapons that jeopardize innocent populations and undermine international peace and security. Our countries must therefore ensure the correct implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) and urge States to adopt and enforce effective laws that prohibit the provision of such weapons and the lending of support of any kind to non-State actors that seek to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery. Finally, we urge the international community to redouble efforts to collectively counter transnational terrorism and organized crime.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Therefore, the United Nations, in general, and the Council, in particular, should combine efforts for the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and contemplate shared actions to attack this scourge. I reiterate that such efforts will be insufficient if the international community does not achieve more rigorous control of the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons, as well as their ammunition, since the illicit trade and indiscriminate use ofsuch weapons make it easier for terrorist networks and organized crime to acquire them for their own perverse purposes. The Arms Trade Treaty provides specific regulations to prevent their misuse, as does the Inter-American Convention.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“As members are well aware, one of those milestones is also a regional achievement, namely, the adoption of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing ofand Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and other Related Materials, ratified by the vast majority of States in our hemisphere. Its objective is for the countries that produce, export or import weapons to adopt measures to eradicate its illicit production and its attendant trafficking. Although the international community has valuable legal instruments at its disposal to combat terrorism and organized crime, the general perception of our people is that such instruments are insufficient in the face of the devastating consequences of terrorism and transnational crime.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Both benefit from the clandestine nature of illicit arms trafficking, which weakens democratic institutions, undermines the rule of law and subverts life in society. Of course, both branch out and sometimes feed off one other, taking on a symbiotic relationship that causes anxiety in our peoples. This pernicious link between the two phenomena is the issue that we must address. That is why, in our view, there has been some progress but also some setbacks to strengthening multilateral mechanisms that promote better coordination in combating terrorism and transnational organized crime.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“When we see how innocent civilians are attacked by radical extremists who, in an atrocious and cowardly way, snatch innocent lives through a perversity taken to the extreme, we must urgently reflect on joint actions that would prevent or counteract this scourge. For that reason, Guatemala reiterates that terrorism is a global phenomenon that, apart from causing anxiety, trauma and desolation, must be addressed at its roots. International terrorism and transnational organized crime present some similarities, despite being two different phenomena. While terrorism is a form of violent struggle that victimizes civilians indiscriminately in order to grab attention and confuse and frighten populations, all with political, ideological or sectarian ends, organized crime is a way of committing planned crimes in order to profit financially.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Despite the enormous efforts that my Government is making to strengthen and modernize the justice sector, thus allocating more resources and reinforcing the prosecution of crime and the operational capacities of the Office of the Prosecutor, we are still victimized by international networks that overwhelm our capacities, because not only do they possess high- calibre firearms and other tools of violence, their financial power is inexhaustible, all of which only increases their criminal behaviour. We recognize that, when weapons fall into the hands of criminal organizations, the threat against our civilian populations looms, despite existing legislation. The abject behaviour of terrorists takes aim at what is most important to the human being: one's integrity and one's life.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“Mr. Skinner-Klee Arenales (Guatemala) (spoke in Spanish): This open debate is of particular relevance because terrorism is a criminal scourge that continues to affect us all. The evidence of that, Mr. President, is in your organization of this open debate. Due to the geographical position of my country, the Central American region, and Guatemala in particular, has been besieged by transnational networks that generate crime in all its forms, especially drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, money-laundering and the indiscriminate and illicit use and trafficking in arms.”
2019-07-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8569 (2019) · source
“We call for all States Members to strictly abide by that commitment and put aside indifference to the commission of serious crimes and human suffering.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“It is therefore necessary for the Security Council to remain committed to protecting civilians in armed conflict and foster full respect for international law in order to put an end to impunity for serious Violations committed against civilians. Against that backdrop, and in order to support the protection of civilians, Guatemala is honoured to be a country that contributes to maintaining and sustaining peace. From our national perspective, the responsibility to protect is a standard that coincides with our own constitutional principles, as the State is organized to protect individuals and families, with the overarching goal of achieving shared well-being. Lastly, my country reiterates its commitment to the responsibility to protect.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“Guatemala therefore takes this opportunity to reiterate that peacekeeping operations should receive sufficient resources and training to execute their tasks, including personnel, mobility assets and capabilities to gather timely, reliable and actionable information on threats to civilians, including analytical tools to use that information. Any type of attack against civilians, hospitals, schools, cultural goods or churches, as well as the recruitmentofchildrenandthehinderingofhumanitarian access, is a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law and Security Council resolutions.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“For my delegation, it is also important that a clear, objective and timely assessment of the human and material resources be carried out, together with the available capacities, in each peacekeeping operation. The implementation of mandates depends up on a number of critical factors, including, among others, that they be well defined, realistic and achievable; that there be political will and leadership of the mission's performance and accountability at all levels; as well as planning and operational guidelines.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“As a country that contributes troops to peacekeeping operations, in particular our special forces in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we note the launch of the pilot protection-through-projection model, which stipulates that both military and civilian personnel should be highly mobile and, at the first sign of deterioration in the security situation, be able to deploy temporarily to prevent conflict and avoid violence. My delegation requests that the Secretariat provide detailed information on compliance on the ground and the impact and implementation of each of those mandates.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“With regard to the civilian protection component of United Nations peacekeeping operations, my delegation recognizes that the implementation of those mandates should be considered part of an integral peace process, bolstered by national ownership and involving relevant stakeholders, and should be decisively supported by the international community. Guatemala stresses that the protection of civilians in peacekeeping operations must be carried out in accordance with missions' mandates and be applied to all prevention activities and responses to acts of violence against civilians, including the use of force as a last resort when necessary, as well as to clear rules of engagement in order to provide security to civilians under threat of physical violence and within the areas of operations.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“It is important to stress that the Latin American and Caribbean region expressed its unwavering commitment to the protection of civilians in the Santiago communique, in which 23 States, including Guatemala, together with international organizations, agreed on additional actions to address this problem at the national, regional and international levels. To a large extent, threats to international peace and security remain the cause of the proliferation and possession of weapons of mass destruction, which pose a threat to human safety and innocent populations.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“We therefore strongly condemn the use of those weapons in populated areas, not only because of their grave consequences but also because they violate the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Protocols Additional, as the Secretary-General reminded us this morning. In that regard, we address an urgent appeal to the international community to adopt all the measures necessary to provide a protection and security framework for those who suffer from the consequences of the indiscriminate use of those deadly weapons, and at the same time offer them protection and relief, especially for the most vulnerable.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“Mr. Skinner-Klee Arenales (Guatemala) (spoke in Spanish): I thank the Republic of Indonesia, in particular Minister Marsudi for convening this open debate, for circulating the concept note (S/2019/385, annex) that serves as the basis for our deliberations. Guatemala reaffirms that the protection of civilians and all other peacekeeping tasks must be implemented in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the guiding principles governing peacekeeping operations. Armed conflicts are increasingly taking place in urban centres. We all know that explosive weapons in populated areas cause serious injuries to civilians and affect services that are essential to their survival.”
2019-05-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8534 (2019) · source
“My country reaffirms its commitment to continuing to participate in peace missions in Africa, since our vocation is peaceful and our history reminds us of the priceless value of the absence of conflict and, consequently, of building peace.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“For that reason, the strategic partnership is key to the ongoing task of peacekeeping. In real terms, our contributions to the Organization of personnel who are deployed in such operations are symbolic in comparison to the resources that are invested in war or punitive operations. History itself is testament to that. Stabilization can come from a peacekeeping operation, but it should be harnessed, taking into account the priorities of the country where it is located and highlighting the fact that they are not permanent missions, while of course trying to address the root causes of the conflict in subsequent efforts to build peace.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“From our perspective, the active and strong relationship between the African Union and the United Nations reaffirms regional and national leadership in peacebuilding, which means that the responsibility for the stabilization of a society is not the task of only the international community, but also the host country and subregion concerned, even if deployment is temporary. Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations indicates that cooperation among regional organizations and the United Nations to address peace and security issues is a task that should be fulfilled. For that reason, we believe it is important that, at the next session of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, to be held in February 2019, the General Assembly be able to strengthen African peacekeeping capabilities.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“As stated in the concept note, peacekeeping is stronger when there is a greater sense of ownership and joint cooperation. That is precisely what we have noted in recent years regarding the participation of the African Union as an essential partner in efforts to protect civilian and vulnerable populations in conflict situations. Through the African Union's peace support operations, the ability ofthe UnitedNations, in particular the Security Council, to maintain international peace and security is also strengthened, which highlights the importance for both organizations of working more closely in the field ofpeace and security, includingjoint cooperation, operational evaluation and joint reporting, when appropriate.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“The sacrifice of our troops is a sign of the great value of protecting the most vulnerable civilian populations who are at the greatest risk. Those who fall while on peace missions are heroes for the entire international community. One of the most noble tasks of the Organization is peacekeeping, in which my country is honoured to participate. The positive strategic partnership for peace among Member States, which, despite great asymmetries, share a common objective, demonstrates the irreplaceable value of multilateralism, concerning which a debate was just held on 9 November (see S/PV.8395). For more than two decades, Guatemala has actively participated in peacekeeping, and even made the ultimate sacrifice in an ambush by elements of the so-called Lord's Resistance Army, as we mentioned.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“Mr. Skinner-Klee Arenales (Guatemala) (spoke in Spanish): Guatemala thanks your delegation, Mr. President, for convening this debate and for preparing the concept note (S/2018/1004, annex). We also thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Mr. Sma'il Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, for their briefings. Before beginning, allow me to first strongly condemn the attack on the bases of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Governments and the peoples of Malawi and Tanzania for the hapless murder of their Blue Helmets. I recall that in 2006, Guatemala also suffered the irreparable loss of soldiers who were fulfilling their mandate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
2018-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8407 (2018) · source
“That public good, as it was called by the Ambassador of the United Kingdom said, which goes by the name of the United Nations, must be at the service of humankind, and that is why it is called on to discharge its duties through solidarity and collective consultations, upon the basis of the greatest possible consensus.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“Allow me to conclude by saying that Guatemala deeply values multilateralism and treasures peace. We are witnesses to the fact that in difficult periods of our history, the friendly hand of the international community has enabled us to advance along the path of democratization with social inclusion. That is why we believe that it is not through hostile actions or impositions that we will achieve a more just and secure world, but through cooperation and collective action to prevent the outbreak of conflicts and entrench international security.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“Beyond theory, multilateralism is praxis and action, and has an evident impact on every inhabitant of the planet. One of the noblest tasks of the Organization has been peacekeeping, which my country is honoured to support. Peacekeeping is a positive strategic partnership among States that, even with large asymmetries, share a common goal. Similarly, conflict prevention through the concept of sustainable peace is another concept that promotes a better world. That is why, despite the imperfections of multilateral initiatives, the United Nations remains the only universal forum where the world converges and the most cherished hope of peoples, not only those afflicted by conflict but particularly those of us that yearn to achieve the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals prevails.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“The international order based on a system of generally recognized rules and practices requires Powers to work together, instead of antagonizing one another or competing for influence. It is therefore necessary to re-establish mutual trust among them, as well as the international community's trust in the Security Council. Our common destiny and the survival of the human species require a basic consensus on intrinsic principles, as well as the due observance of human rights, mutual respect among nations and economic progress in freedom, all of which fertilize the progress of nations. To that end, international cooperation is a sine qua non condition and requires scrupulous observance of the tenets of the Charter of the United Nations, which is entered into freely but must be complied with once agreed to.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“That is why we must reverse the negative tendencies that separate us and instead foster mutual trust on the basis of an international order based on respect for common rules built on reason, justice and mutual benefit, with the supreme goal of ensuring the common good and the sustainability of the planet. The defence of multilateralism as an option for addressing and resolving global problems must be preached according to the principle of good faith in the fulfilment of international obligations, since the imposition of unilateral criteria contradicts an international order based on rules that aspire to enjoy sustainable peace, not only from the point of View of the absence of conflict, but also as an expression of the political will to achieve peaceful and useful coexistence.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“When, in recent history, we were able to reach basic consensuses that sustained fruitful alliances and institutions that promoted collective security, it was on the basis of good faith and known truth. Today, on the other hand, the major determinants of international relations that threaten peace are characterized by mistrust, unilateral action and a relative or an alternative reality, as it were, that is built on the basis of post-factual revisionism. Despite the challenges facing global governance, people organized in States are called by international law to attain international peace and security, and the Security Council cannot abdicate its essential responsibility or be a passive spectator when entire populations are at risk or suffer the violence of war.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“Although the League of Nations was not able to avoid war, that was not an excuse, after the ensuing world war, for nations to obviate the option of maintaining peace through multilateralism, in the belief that the solution to all wars necessarily depends on the collective action of the international community. Not only is the contemporary landscape complex, but today's world is facing the polarization of ideas, the clash ofgeopolitical interests, the imposition ofinterests and the consequent breakdown of trust among Powers and cultures. Peaceful coexistence often fails and human rights are violated due to an incessant struggle to impose spheres of influence or abject domination.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“Mr. Skinner-Klee Arenales (Guatemala) (spoke in Spanish): Guatemala thanks your delegation, Mr. President, for organizing this critical debate, as well as for the concept paper (S/2018/982, annex) that you have provided. We also thank the Secretary-General for his statement and briefing this morning. It is necessary to recall that the Organization was created to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and that those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it. Neglecting multilateralism is tantamount to returning to the era before the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Exactly a century ago, the armistice of 11 November 1918 was signed, which, as the Ambassador of India mentioned, ended the war that was supposed to end all wars.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“We therefore recognize that the magnitude and nature of the challenge of sustaining peace calls for close strategic and operational partnerships among the United Nations, Governments and other key stakeholders with a view to jointly achieving sustainable peace on the ground. Accordingly, Guatemala reiterates its position that, within the framework of international human rights, in particular the obligations of States signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides a solid basis for sustaining peace, we as an Organization are clear that the collective work of the United Nations system to promote human rights should help identify root causes and prevent conflict through the greater participation by women.”
2018-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8382 (2018) · source
“We are convinced that the strategic alliances that have been generated within the Network are of special importance to achieving the goal of a world with inclusive peaceful societies that advocate for protecting and strengthening women's rights in all their aspects. We wish Namibia, which will host the next meeting of Focal Points Network, a successful and fruitful meeting. Finally, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. To achieve that goal, it recognizes the need for a set of mechanisms and instruments applicable according to the situation and circumstances.”
2018-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8382 (2018) · source
“In that regard, my delegation wishes to reiterate that the proper implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) requires political will on the part of all the competent bodies of States. Owing to the importance that my country attaches to the proper implementation and application of the resolution, we actively participated in the two meetings of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, the first having taken place in Alicante, Spain, in 2016, and the other in Berlin, Germany, in April 2018. The meetings made it possible to establish a platform for the exchange of experiences and best practices at the international level on the global women and peace and security agenda.”
2018-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8382 (2018) · source
“Once again my delegation reiterates to the Council the importance of the leadership and participation of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and peacebuilding. We believe that it is necessary to increase women's representation at all levels of decision-making in such institutions as national and regional mechanisms set up for conflict prevention and resolution and that, above all, it is important to examine issues related to women's participation in peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We have witnessed that gender discrimination remains an obstacle to women, and consequently is also an obstacle to their overall human development. Greater participation by women has a positive impact on addressing some of the most urgent challenges of our time, including migration, climate change and, indeed, conflict prevention.”
2018-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8382 (2018) · source
“It is precisely through debates like the one that brings us together today that we contribute added value to ensuring the full implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. During our membership in the Council during the 2012-2013 biennium, Guatemala deemed it important to discuss this issue, taking into account the fact that violence against women in armed conflicts is a flagrant violation of human rights that requires the appropriate attention to prevent such abuses. During this debate, we have broached strategies that would allow us to diminish the tragic effects of armed conflicts on women and girls, particularly - and sadly - murder, systematic violations of their rights, sexual slavery and forced pregnancies, among others.”
2018-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8382 (2018) · source
“Mr. Skinner-Klee Arenales (Guatemala) (spoke in Spanish): At the outset, I should like to thank the Plurinational State of Bolivia for organizing this important debate, as well as for the concept note that your delegation has prepared (see S/2018/904, annex). I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. I also thank Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Ms. Randa Siniora Atallah for their remarks. Eighteen years have passed since resolution 1325 (2000) was adopted. Its adoption was a recognition of the participation of women, whose contribution is very significant to peacebuilding. Each year, the Council has witnessed the relevance of resolution 1325 (2000), which reminds us that without the safety of women and girls, lasting peace cannot be achieved.”
2018-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8382 (2018) · source
“Likewise, peace missions must have a clear, viable and realistic mandate that includes mediation with a defined time frame among its objectives. In conclusion, we can only highlight the importance of resolution 1325 (2000), which points out that women are essential actors in the resolution of any conflict. Women are agents of positive change and are efficient and knowledgeable administrators of the reality of their environment. As such, their participation in peace processes as mediators is essential. We are pleased to note that in recent years their contribution to peacekeeping operations has been highly valued.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“(spoke in Spanish) This Organization, the United Nations, continues to be the best reference for peace and represents the hope that the world has of achieving it. No other organization has that mandate or the moral or political authority to fulfil it. That is why we firmly believe that the concepts of sustainable peace and prevention pre-emptively resolve the unmet needs of the population, which, when not met, can degenerate into conflict, including the violation of human rights, the denial of opportunities, and social exclusion. Therefore, it is also crucial to provide sufficient resources to any peacekeeping operation agreed by the Security Council, which must be free of foreign interference not authorized by the Council.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“Indeed, this morning, the Secretary-General said: "Successful mediation and the peaceful settlement of disputes requires a deep understanding of leaders and their constituencies and strong political will." On the other hand, sustaining peace means the engagement ofpeople of goodwill, including mediators, so that the social discontent of a population is not exacerbated into conflict. Furthermore, sustaining peace proposes a preventive scheme to ameliorate the conditions that beset the development and the welfare of the people - a state of affairs that, if it is not addressed, may be conducive to conflict. I again cite the Secretary-General this morning, saying that a call for diplomacy for peace is a call for sustaining peace.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“Effective mediation produces good results when the those circumstances are properly considered so that the efforts are not either misdirected or wasted, as improvisation is of course not advisable. There is no silver bullet in mediation methods, and certainly there is no conventional practice that may be imposed from abroad unless there is a keen and conversant mediator with a deep knowledge and an awareness of the root causes and the nature of the conflict, as well as the composition and the expectations of the conflicting parties. However, ideally, a mediator must also possess an acumen of good practices and confidence-building measures. Notwithstanding what I have just said, we add that an able mediator must also have a sense of belonging and identify with the population concerned and its plight.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“Although mediation is one of the most important tools, it is rarely implemented at an early stage in the development of any potential source of struggle. If Violence is the dominant characteristic of a controversy, mediation ought to play a very important dissuading role at the onset in order to prevent the escalation of hostilities, and not, as is usually the case, when violence is already rampant. Indeed, when international law recognizes mediation as one of the most important means to prevent or to resolve disputes or conflicts, it does so on the basis that any effort predicated on mediation must take into account the root causes and the dynamics of the conflict, along with the interests, needs, traditions and sociopolitical idiosyncrasies of the population concerned.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source
“My delegation thanks you wholeheartedly, Mr. President, for having convened this crucial debate on mediation and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. This open debate is a distinct opportunity to exchange views on how Member States can best support mediation as a means for attaining the peaceful settlement of disputes. We also want to thank the United Kingdom delegation, of course, for the concept note prepared as a basis for our deliberations (S/2018/586, annex), as well as the briefers. Guatemala recognizes the critical importance of Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the pacific settlement of disputes, along with the provisions set forth in Chapter VII to prevent conflict.”
2018-08-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8334 (2018) · source