YouSaid · the spoken record

Skoog

lines on the record: 1,817
first: 2015-03-16
most recent: 2023-12-29
sittings or episodes: 248
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

“Such barbaric and illegal weapons kill indiscriminately and have no place in the world. We must ensure that the integrity of the Chemical Weapons Convention is fully respected.”
2018-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8203 (2018) · source
“We stand by the United Kingdom and, like other European Union partners, express our strong solidarity with the Government of the United Kingdom and support its efforts in dealing with this grave security issue. We note that, in her letter to the Secretary-General (S/2018/218, annex), the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom states that the class of chemical warfare agents used was originally developed by the Soviet Union and inherited by the Russian Federation. Given that fact and taking into account the principal Victim's background, we support the request of the United Kingdom that Russia provide an account of how the agent could have come to be used in Salisbury. Let me also take this opportunity to stress the importance that Sweden attaches to the ban on chemical weapons.”
2018-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8203 (2018) · source
“I thank the delegation of the United Kingdom for updating the Security Council on the use of nerve agents in Salisbury on 4 March. Sweden condemns in the strongest terms the use of a nerve agent in an attempted murder on British soil. We stress the seriousness of that incident, which is unprecedented in Europe in recent years. Those responsible for the attack must be identified and held to account for their heinous actions. Given that a nerve agent developed as a chemical weapon has been used and the possibility that the attempted murder has links to State actors, Sweden supports the decision of the United Kingdom to bring the issue to the attention of the Security Council and other relevant bodies, such as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.”
2018-03-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8203 (2018) · source
“If the draft resolution is adopted today, it can de-escalate violence, save lives, alleviate suffering and break the deadlock on humanitarian access and sieges. Since the first call for a cessation of hostilities, the situation has gotten dramatically worse, particularly in eastern Ghouta, as we have heard from the Secretary- General and from Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock. After seven years of war, the situation for innocent civilians in Syria has never been worse. But we have an opportunity to turn things around today to avert the disaster unfolding before our eyes. The draft resolution before the Council represents a resolute and very urgent attempt for the Council to take decisive and meaningful action. Today, we count on each and every member to do the right thing.”
2018-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8188 (2018) · source
“This in no way relieves the parties to the conflict in Syria from upholding their obligations under international law at all times, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. The draft resolution is not a comprehensive peace deal on Syria; its aim is purely humanitarian. There are already ceasefire agreements in force for the areas where fighting has escalated the most. They need to be complied with. There are existing monitoring mechanisms that can be utilized. The role of the Council is to push the parties to the conflict to comply with the proposed cessation of hostilities in order to urgently enable needed alleviation of suffering for the people of Syria.”
2018-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8188 (2018) · source
“The key components in our draft resolution are a nationwide cessation of hostilities for at least 30 days, weekly United Nations humanitarian aid convoys to all areas in need, and immediate emergency medical evacuations. The United Nations convoys and evacuation teams are ready to go. The draft resolution also calls for the immediate lifting of sieges of populated areas, including eastern Ghouta. It reiterates its demand, reminding in particular the Syrian authorities that all parties have an obligation to act in accordance with international law to protect civilians and hospitals and other medical facilities. The draft makes an exception for military operations directed against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, Al-Qaida, the Al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups designated by the Security Council.”
2018-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8188 (2018) · source
“Sweden and Kuwait earlier this week put forward a draft resolution to respond to the desperate calls of the United Nations and the humanitarian community in Syria for a cessation of hostilities for an initial period of 30 days, in order to allow for much-needed humanitarian relief. We have been working intensely with all Council members to operationalize the concrete requests of the United Nations, the humanitarian community and, above, all the civilian population on the ground. We have done our utmost to accommodate Council members' concerns. It is now time for the Council to unanimously shoulder its responsibility and show that meaningful action is possible.”
2018-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8188 (2018) · source
“The draft resolution that we are putting forward is not a comprehensive peace deal. Its aim is a much-needed humanitarian pause for an initial period of 30 days. There are already ceasefire agreements in force for the areas where fighting has escalated the most recently. They must be complied with. There are existing monitoring mechanisms that can be utilized. The role of the Council, I believe, is to push the parties to the conflict to comply with the proposed cessation of hostilities. Compliance is on the shoulders of the parties. I think that we can make a difference, and I think that we are tested today - notjust as Ambassadors representing our countries, but as human beings. That is a massive responsibility.”
2018-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8186 (2018) · source
“Our draft resolution also calls for the lifting of the siege directed against eastern Ghouta. We plead to all Council members to come together to support the draft resolution and to urgently adopt it so that we can halt the incessant attacks against eastern Ghouta and beyond, and we can avert a situation that is beyond words in its desperation. We, Sweden and Kuwait, furthermore urge the parties to the de-escalation agreement in eastern Ghouta to comply and implement it. We call upon the Astana guarantors - Russia, Iran and Turkey - to spare no effort and bring all their influence to bear on the parties to that end to avert the human disaster unfolding before our eyes. In response to our Russian colleague on our draft resolution, the United Nations convoys and evacuation teams are ready to go, subject to standard security procedures.”
2018-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8186 (2018) · source
“His appeal to all of us in the Council was to act - to immediately suspend all war activities in eastern Ghouta, allowing for humanitarian aid to reach all of those in need, allowing for the evacuation of the hundreds of people that need urgent treatment and that cannot be provided for and allowing the possibility for other civilians to be effectively treated. I want to take this opportunity to remind all parties, as Mark Lowcock just did, of their obligations under international law to protect civilians and hospitals and other medical facilities. The co-penholders, Sweden and Kuwait, have put forward a draft resolution to respond to the constant legitimate calls from the United Nations for a nationwide cessation of hostilities for 30 days in order to allow for humanitarian access and emergency medical evacuations.”
2018-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8186 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank the Russian Federation for calling for a meeting on the horrendous situation in eastern Ghouta, and Mr. Mark Lowcock for his briefing. I will now make some brief remarks on behalf of Sweden and Kuwait. In seven years of war, the situation in the besieged area of eastern Ghouta has never been worse. I would like to thank the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for another briefing reminding us of the horrific reality for citizens in eastern Ghouta and of the Council's responsibilities. Yesterday, in this Chamber, the Secretary-General said that the 400,000 inhabitants of eastern Ghouta live in hell on earth.”
2018-02-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8186 (2018) · source
“I would therefore like to conclude by again stressing that the Security Council is central to upholding the rules-based international order, as reflected in the Charter. This means that Member States are expected to act in accordance with the Charter, and that the Council must ensure that States, as well as individuals, are held accountable for the most serious of violations of the Charter. This wonderful and visionary text - a copy of which I have here in highlighted colour, which I hope will help in its implementation * is still very valid, but we need to make better use of its provisions and the instruments that it offers.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“We welcome the joint United Nations and World Bank study Pathways for Peace on inclusive approaches to preventing violent conflict, and we strongly support the Secretary-General's reform agenda, which aims to put sustainable development, conflict prevention and sustaining peace at the centre of the United Nations work. Violations and abuses of human rights can be the first indicators of a nascent conflict. Conversely, respect for and the protection of human rights contribute to addressing the root causes of instability, thereby helping to prevent and resolve conflicts and sustaining peace. We fully support the Secretary-General's Human Rights Up Front initiative as a tool for early warning and prevention. It is more important than ever for Member States to act on principles and to base their decisions and actions on international law.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“The Secretary-General took this step in relation to Myanmar late last year, bringing our attention to the situation there and its potential implications beyond the borders of that country. Former Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in 2005 that "we will not enjoy development without security, or security without development. But we will not enjoy either without universal respect for human rights". Therefore, the role of the Council in preventing conflicts must be seen within the broader context. Prevention requires addressing the root causes of conflict and instability long before they reach the Council's agenda. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - with its aim of peaceful, inclusive and sustainable societies - together with the sustaining peace agenda, represents the masterplan for prevention.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“The Council should more actively consider the possibility of recommending referrals to the Court. In addition to the International Court of Justice, the number of dispute settlement mechanisms and resort to such mechanisms are increasing. The International Criminal Court, as a deterrent of international crimes, has a key role in preventing conflict. The decision to activate the Court's jurisdiction over the crime of aggression arises directly from the United Nations Charter. Finally, we call upon the Secretary-General to make even greater use of his prerogatives, including under Article 99, to bring to the attention of the Council any matter that, in his opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security. Of course, we encourage Council members to be responsive to such petitions.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“The Council should make full use of Chapter VIII of the Charter and encourage the settlement of disputes through regional arrangements and be kept informed of how the Council can support regional efforts to prevent conflict. In this context, we welcome regular meetings between the Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, as well as cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union. The Helsinki process in Europe can serve as a model for building trust and confidence where such assets are missing, such as in the Middle East. Fourthly, judicial bodies, such as international courts, contribute to resolving disputes based on the rule of law. The International Court of Justice continues to play an important role in this regard.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“The collective security system worked and the rules-based international order was upheld. Secondly, the Council should support mediation and good offices in an engaged, supportive and united manner. We welcome the formation of the Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation, and the Council should examine how it can be supported. Women's meaningful participation in conflict prevention and resolution is key. The Swedish Women's Mediation Network is contributing to peace processes around the world, and we are happy to bring that experience to the table. Thirdly, regional organizations are key actors in preventing conflict and the settlement of disputes at the regional level.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“We repeat the need for reform of the Council in order for it to reflect the realities of today's world. The provisions on peaceful settlement of disputes, as laid out in Chapter VI of the Charter, contain powerful instruments to resolve disputes before they escalate into serious conflicts. I would like to highlight five tools that the Council should make better use of. The first is early action to resolve conflicts peacefully, in accordance with Article 33. A recent example was the Council's response to the crisis in The Gambia last year. Early and swift Council action contributed to preventing a potential outbreak of violence. A unanimous Security Council, working closely with the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union, adopted resolution 2337 (2017), defending democratic principles.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“Under Article 24 of the Charter, the Council - elected and non-elected members alike - acts on behalf of all members of the United Nations and must do so in in accordance with the Charter, its purposes and principles. The permanent members have a special responsibility. That is why the use of the veto to protect narrow national interests in situations of mass atrocities is totally unacceptable. I call on all members to adhere to the code of conduct put forward by the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group and the Franco-Mexican initiative on restraint in the use of the veto, especially in the event of mass atrocities. In addition, the global world order must be based on a fair and just system in which States have equitable representation.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“It is contingent upon each Member State to abide by and defend the rules-based order prescribed by the Charter. This is notjust a question of political will, but a legal obligation. Under the Charter's provisions much has been achieved, but we must also recognise that for many, the aspirations captured in its purposes and principles - to live in peace and security without violence - remain elusive. The continued aggression and illegal annexation in Ukraine, the intolerable suffering inflicted on the civilian population in Syria, our inability to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the continued violence and humanitarian crises in the conflicts in Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Libya, and the horrendous reports of violations in Myanmar are all an affront to this system.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“We strongly underscore and echo his call for an urgent cessation of hostilities to allow for humanitarian relief in eastern Ghouta and elsewhere in Syria. We are working very hard, together with Kuwait and other States members of the Council, to ensure that we can take a meaningful decision on that issue very soon. The Charter of the United Nations was adopted in in the shadow of two world wars. At that time, the purpose of the Charter was clear. As Secretary-General Guterres told us when he assumed office: "The United Nations was established to prevent war by binding us in a rules-based international order" (S/PV7857, p. 3). The Charter is the foundation of our collective security system. However, making this system work for all means that every Member State must play its role.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to Kuwait for convening this important debate on the anniversary of its liberation in 1991. This remains an excellent example of how the Security Council shouldered its responsibility by taking collective measures in line with the Charter. The fact that Kuwait just hosted a donor conference on Iraq shows a deep understanding of how the prosperity and stability ofones neighbor contributes one's own security and well-being. Regional cooperation is enlightened self-interest and represents one of the cornerstones of international peace and security. I should like to pay tribute to the presence here today of former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all his work to reinforce the values of the Charter. I also want to pay tribute to the Secretary-General for his briefing this morning.”
2018-02-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8185 (2018) · source
“Furthermore, Sweden, Jordan and Egypt, together with UNRWA and the Secretary-General, have decided to co-host a ministerial conference in the spring on the Agency's pressing financial situation. We are indeed at a crossroads. Our final destination - the two-State solution - is getting further away by the day. The political and even physical space for a two-State solution is drastically shrinking. The choices that we all make - Israelis, Palestinians and as members ofthe Council - will determine where we end up. The Council also has a responsibility to act, including by supporting the parties in moving from words to action. Difficult choices need to be made. What is needed now is political leadership and courage to make the bold choices and pick the right path to break the long-term deadlock and restart a genuine peace process.”
2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source
“That is why Sweden engages closely and widely with civil society, in particular women's groups and youth, in both countries. As previously stated, including in the Council last week, a significant reduction of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is deeply worrisome and must be urgently and sustainably resolved. Failure to resolve the funding situation will have serious humanitarian and security consequences in the region. For that reason, Sweden has already made our payment of $59 million for 2018 to UNRWA, and we urge others to step up their funding, including by making their payments as early as possible.”
2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source
“For sustainable progress, efforts towards the re-establishment of Palestinian Authority control in Gaza and intra-Palestinian reconciliation are crucial, as are continued efforts to strengthen inclusive and democratic institutions and processes in Palestine. As Special Coordinator Mladenov said, the peace process needs to be inclusive in order to advance and achieve sustainable results. Women's fair representation and full and meaningful participation in the peace process is a prerequisite for progress. The younger generations must also be included and given hope of a better future and an alternative to the current situation. The private sector also has a role to play. In both Palestine and Israel, civil society plays a crucial role in advancing peace.”
2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source
“The Council is central to upholding the rules- based system, and the debate tomorrow will also focus on the significance of this system and respect for the Charter of the United Nations. The aim remains two States living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both. That is also the policy of the European Union. There is no alternative, and that is why no action should be taken that prejudges the final-status issues. Such issues can be taken off the table only as part of negotiations between the parties. That includes Jerusalem and refugees. In this regard, the Council has a duty to uphold its resolutions on the special status of Jerusalem. We were pleased to see President Abbas in the Security Council today, as I said earlier. Sweden recognized Palestine in 2014 and fully supports Palestinian state-building.”
2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source
“If we are to be able to reach a sustainable peace, humanitarian, economic and political actions are all needed, but their full engagement will not suffice if the illegal occupation of Palestine does not end. As we work on the steps ahead, this perspective must be kept in mind. Sweden remains fully committed to the two-State solution, based on international law, known parametres and relevant resolutions of the Council, including resolution 2334 (2016). Respect for international law and United Nations resolutions remains at the core of the peace process. It is therefore more important than ever to be principled and to base our decisions and actions on international law.”
2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source
“Accelerated illegal settlement expansion, harmful Israeli legislative measures, resurgent violence including rocket attacks, the grave and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza - which we dealt with in detail last week - and a threat to the specific status of Jerusalem, as it is embodied in, inter alia, resolution 478 (1980), are among the many examples. At the same time, our commonly agreed destination is as clear as ever. It is two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. In order to contribute to the two-State solution, we must acknowledge the fundamental root cause of the conflict, which the occupation.”
2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source
“I thank the Secretary- General and the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process for their, as always, detailed but sobering briefings to the Security Council. I want to say too that we fully support the work on the ground of Mr. Mladenov and his team and the work that they do every day to search for peace in the Middle East. We were also pleased to see President Abbas in the Chamber today and to hear his message. For many years, we have spoken about the Middle East peace process as being at a crossroads. This statement has never been more accurate than it is today. And at every crossroads there is a choice to be made. At this moment in time, there are a number of worrying developments in terms of the choices we see being made.”
2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source
“It is now time to move forward with the full implementation of the Conakry Agreement and preparations for the holding of inclusive elections. The international community, together with the region, must stand ready to support the country on its path towards long-term peace and development.”
2018-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8182 (2018) · source
“We welcome in particular that the integration of gender- sensitive perspectives into the work of UNIOGBIS and the United Nations country team has been accorded the highest priority by the United Nations in Guinea- Bissau. We look forward to hearing more about how that process is being taken forward. During the Peacebuilding Commission's meeting on Guinea-Bissau on Monday this week, all key actors, including Guinea-Bissau, expressed the view that the Secretary-General's recommendation for a one-year extension of the UNIOGBIS mandate should be authorized. A one-year extension would allow for longer-term planning and more effective support for the implementation of the Conakry Agreement and the holding of elections. The political crisis in Guinea-Bissau has gone on for far too long.”
2018-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8182 (2018) · source
“Let me also take a moment to welcome the military's neutrality and its posture of non-interference in the political process. Concerning the role ofthe United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), it has a crucial role to play in coordinating international efforts to support Guinea-Bissau, not least of which is supporting preparations for the holding of elections. There is a need to immediately refocus the Office's resources where they can be used most effectively, particularly with regard to resolving the political deadlock and supporting the electoral process so that it moves forward. We strongly support the Office's work to strengthen women's participation as active peacemakers in resolving the political crisis, including by encouraging women's mediation efforts.”
2018-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8182 (2018) · source
“Constitutional reform, reconciliation and political dialogue, strengthening the rule of law through strong and inclusive institutions, and ensuring equal access to economic opportunities are all critical in that regard. It is also essential that all parts of society have their voices heard. In particular, ensuring the full and effective participation of women is crucial. We agree with the Secretary-General that the promotion of, and respect for, human rights is fundamental to sustaining peace and ensuring long-term stability and development in Guinea-Bissau. We echo the Secretary- General's call on national authorities to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to refrain from any further acts that undermine the rule of law.”
2018-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8182 (2018) · source
“ECOWAS is playing an essential role on behalf of the region, and we welcome its continued efforts to reach a consensual implementation of the road map and Conakry Agreement. We welcome the ECOWAS decision to impose sanctions on those impeding the Agreement's implementation. It is important that the international community fully support regional efforts in a concerted and coherent manner. In that regard, we welcome the statement issued yesterday by the African Union in support of ECOWAS, including regarding sanctions. Long-term peace and security in Guinea-Bissau will be achieved only when the root causes of the conflict are addressed.”
2018-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8182 (2018) · source
“A lack of progress in resolving the stalemate undermines peacebuilding efforts and is holding the country's social and economic development hostage. Resolving the crisis is therefore a prerequisite for the consolidation of peace in the country. The six-point Bissau road map and the Conakry Agreement remain the only legitimate way forward, and must be implemented. The appointment of a consensus Prime Minister, as stipulated in the Agreement, is essential. National leaders must live up to their commitments and meet their responsibilities. We strongly commend the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to mediate among the parties to find a solution to the political crisis.”
2018-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8182 (2018) · source
“There is therefore a deep and historic friendship between Sweden and the people of Guinea-Bissau, and it is in that spirit of friendship that we are engaging in support for Guinea- Bissau in meeting its current complex challenges. Moreover, we welcome the opportunity to draw upon the strategic advice of the Peacebuilding Commission and its longer-term perspective, which are essential for sustaining peace in Guinea-Bissau. The activities financed by the Peacebuilding Fund to that end are also important. An integrated approach from the United Nations family in Guinea-Bissau can contribute positively to overcoming peacebuilding challenges. Accordingly, we welcome the efforts outlined in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/110). We are concerned by the ongoing and increasingly protracted political crisis in Guinea-Bissau.”
2018-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8182 (2018) · source
“I would like to begin by thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Modibo Toure, for his briefing. I commend him and his team for the valuable work being undertaken in support of the people of Guinea-Bissau. Let me also extend my thanks to the Permanent Representative of Brazil, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, in his capacity as Chair of the Guinea-Bissau configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission. As Ambassador Vieira mentioned his country's long-standing relations with Guinea-Bissau, I thought that I would take this opportunity to point out that Sweden recognized Guinea-Bissau in 1974, and we began supporting General Assembly resolution 2911 (XXVII), concerning its self-rule, in 1968. In the 1970s and 19805, Guinea-Bissau was one of our largest development partner countries.”
2018-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8182 (2018) · source
“The transnational nature of many terrorist activities makes the prevention of terrorist acts by any one country alone more difficult. My Ethiopian colleague just mentioned that. The meeting will therefore be an important opportunity for our respective operational agencies to meet. Let me also underline the importance that we attach to the review of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which is set to take place in June. We hope that the negotiations will be productive and will result in strengthened cooperation.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“Women play multiple roles in relation to terrorism, including those of perpetrator, supporter, facilitator, victim and preventer. In a recent study of 15 countries, the Women's Alliance for Security Leadership concluded that women's rights groups were often the first to warn about the signs of increasing violent extremism. We welcome the attention paid to that issue in the Secretary-General's report. We also note with satisfaction that, in the wake of resolution 2395 (2017), we are already seeing the issue of children and the rights of the child increasingly reflected in the work of CTED and in the Secretary- General's report. Finally, looking forward, we welcome the Secretary- General's decision to hold a meeting of the heads of Member State counter-terrorism agencies in June.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“Last year, an individual was also sentenced to prison for using social media to provoke members of the public to commit a terrorist offence. That incident underlines how the use of information and communications technology and social media by terrorists is a great concern. We can, and must, deal with that phenomenon very seriously but without impinging on respect for human rights or on the rule of law. That is the challenge before us: protecting our citizens while simultaneously safeguarding global connectivity and the open, free and secure flow of information. The same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, including the freedom of expression. Secondly, special attention is needed with regard to the gender dimension in counter-terrorism.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“There are three more concrete issues that I would like to address regarding our response to the terrorist threat. First, on accountability, we must hold perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of terrorism to account. In doing so, it is of course important that the prosecution of suspected terrorists be carried out with full respect for human rights and the rule of law. We look forward to an agreement as soon as possible on the terms of reference for the investigative team for Da'esh crimes in Iraq, consistent with the United Nations procedures for sharing evidence. The prosecution of terrorism- related offences and war crimes in Swedish courts is increasing. We were among the first countries to prosecute suspected perpetrators of war crimes in Iraq and Syria, based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“Sweden has worked on that issue both at home and abroad, including in Somalia, where staff from the Swedish Prison and Probation Services have been seconded to support the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and the Somali prison authorities in reintegrating convicted Al-Shabaab prisoners and in reducing the likelihood of them returning to violent extremism after release. I thank the Under-Secretary-General for his ongoing and unwavering commitment to the important prevention of violent extremism agenda, in line with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the Secretary-General's Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism. It is essential that relevant agencies and organs, including the Security Council, pay increased attention to the need to prevent violent extremism.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“In addition, it is worth recalling that since the year 2000, 99 per cent of deaths resulting from terrorism have taken place in countries either in conflict or with a high level of political instability. Efforts to combat terrorism cannot therefore be viewed in isolation but must be seen within the broader context. Fully implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the sustaining peace agenda should be seen as a core part of our efforts. Preventing violent extremism remains critically important and must be viewed as a long-term endeavour. For instance, as underlined in the report (S/2017/1125), it is essential to manage the spread of violent extremism in prisons.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“The Security Council has been proactive in that regard by adopting last year a significant number of resolutions with a bearing on counter-terrorism, including resolution 2396 (2017), on foreign terrorist fighters. However, as Under-Secretary-General Voronkov stressed, in order to have the desired effect, such resolutions must be fully implemented. In that regard, we welcome the support being provided by the United Nations to Member States, particularly in relation to capacity-building. The fight against terrorism is integral to the Security Council delivering on its responsibility to maintain international peace and security. The link between terrorism and conflict is clear. Of the 22 countries most impacted by terrorism in 2016, all were defined as being in conflict.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“Despite the strategic setbacks in Syria and Iraq, thanks to the resolve of the global coalition, to which we proudly belong, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) remains a serious threat to international peace and security. The ongoing transformation of the group from having territorial ambitions to a networked global organization, with less control over its affiliates, is a clear trend. That will present new challenges to combating its activities. At the same time, the organization remains locally embedded in a number of protracted conflicts, for example, in Afghanistan and Libya, as we have heard this morning. Adapting to the changing nature of the threat from ISIL will be essential ifwe are to respond successfully.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank Under- Secretary-General Voronkov for his informative briefing. The fact that we now have a dedicated Under- Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism to brief us on such matters and to help us to move forward on the all-of-UN approach to counter-terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism is very welcome. In addition to the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee and the Counter- Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), as well as the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, are key partners in that work. As we heard from Mr. Voronkov this morning, the list of countries recently struck by terrorist attacks is long.”
2018-02-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8178 (2018) · source
“In conclusion, improving the working methods of the Security Council serves the purpose of creating an environment that allows the Council to take meaningful action in an effective, efficient, results-oriented and accountable way. We will continue to work to ensure that elected and non-elected members have equal means to shoulder their responsibility under the Charter. In that vein, the elected members recently requested that their representatives be invited to participate in the missions of the Military Staff Committee. We look forward to cooperating actively with Kuwait and other partners, both inside and outside the Council, to continue making the Council more efficient, transparent and accountable. We very much look forward to hearing from the broader membership, our constituency, about their expectations from the Council.”
2018-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8175 (2018) · source
“As a final point, and as a member of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group, I would like to touch briefly on the use of the veto. As a collective security body, we have a duty under the Charter of the United Nations to shoulder our primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The veto is not a right, but a responsibility. The use, or rather misuse, of the veto to protect narrow national interests against the will of the broad majority of the membership diminishes the Council's efficiency and credibility. It is only when the Council comes together and works as a whole that we are able to do ourjob.”
2018-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8175 (2018) · source
“That includes the Secretary-General using mediation, good offices and his full powers under article 99 of the Charter, and the Council being very supportive towards him and responding to his calls. Better and more frequent use should be made of the situational awareness briefings. We hope that, with the reformed Secretariat, the input from the Secretary-General can be more holistic as regards peace and security. Note 507 further points out the preventive role of Security Council missions, which should be further explored, including through the use ofmini-missions by a smaller number of Council members. I think this morning Ian Martin raised one very concrete example ofa successful such mission from the late 19905.”
2018-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8175 (2018) · source
“We must think about how to make better use of the open debates as a means for a genuine dialogue between the Council and the broader membership. Should we allow for open debates where Security Council members do not speak at all, but just listen to the broader membership in preparation for subsequent decisions by the Council? In addition, the relationship between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission should become a closer and more strategic one. As we have discussed previously, we have to actively operationalize the Council's preventive role, as foreseen in the sustaining peace resolutions, and I would also argue in the Charter of the United Nations.”
2018-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8175 (2018) · source