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

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“The Liberia configuration, whichI chair, intends to soon host a meeting with all relevant stakeholders involved in peacebuilding efforts with the aim ofidentifying needs, discussing capacity and potential gaps, and looking at where funding is falling short and where donors could do more. Such a meeting would constitute an opportunity for the Liberian Government to brief on the progress made under its transition plan and for UNMIL to provide an update on the security transition. The meeting will also help shed light on local perspectives of civil-society organizations and grass-roots actors. We hope that these discussions will complement and add to the work undertaken in the joint implementation group in Monrovia, which is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Government's plan for the UNMIL transition.”
2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source
“However, we are still experiencing significant gaps in political attention, as well as in the financing of critical processes, programmes and institutions. We could certainly do better when it comes to transitioning between different modes of United Nations engagement on a general level. In this regard, we are fortunate to have had two recent reviews on how to strengthen peace operations that offer a detailed analysis. The PBC stands ready to learn from these analyses and to do our utmost to provide effective and relevant support to Liberia in its crucial next phase. The Peacebuilding Commission will continue to act as a convener and to advise and help mobilize resources for Liberia's key longer-term peacebuilding priorities.”
2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source
“Early and proper planning is needed. Only by identifying longer-term peacebuilding needs can we now jointly ensure that the required capacity and support structures are in place to reinforce national efforts. The Peacebuilding Commission will continue to stress the imperative of greater focus on institutional reforms and capacity-building, socioeconomic development and the strengthening of the justice sector in the context of consolidating Liberia's peace efforts. The international community has generated experience and a body of knowledge on United Nations mission transitions, upon which we should now seek to draw. In our view, there are no excuses for not learning from past successes as well as failures. We know that the drawdown of United Nations missions constitutes a defining moment on the path to sustainable peace and development.”
2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source
“As the Secretary-General has pointed out in his report (S/2015/620), the assumption of responsibility for security in the country by the Government of Liberia will be an important milestone in post-conflict Liberia and a demonstration of confidence that the country has turned the corner from conflict, as Mr. Ladsous just pointed out. In this regard, the leadership of and ownership by the Liberian Government will be absolutely essential as the national authorities prepare to take over. The international community will, of course, have to maintain an important role in supporting and accompanying Liberia in this transition phase. At the same time, it will be important to not only focus attention on what needs to happen until June 2016, but equally so on what needs to follow the conclusion of the security transition.”
2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source
“The crisis exposed gaps in the peacebuilding and State-building efforts made to date, including in the area of building trust between citizens and the State, and with regard to strengthening the social fabric. The economic downturn that followed after the Ebola crisis must be met with increased support from the international community for revitalizing socioeconomic development. Let me turn to the main focus of today's briefing: the continued drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the handing over of security and stability tasks to the national authorities at the conclusion of the security transition, by 30 June 2016.”
2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source
“Mr. Skoog: I thank you, Mr. President, for the invitation to address the Council this morning on behalf of the Liberia configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). I wish also to thank Under- Secretary General Ladsous for his very pertinent briefing this morning. First, I, too, wish to congratulate Liberia on having been declared Ebola-free last week by the World Health Organization. The Peacebuilding Commission has been very impressed by the steadfast determination of the Liberian people and the Government, represented here by the Minister, to fight the disease, and I am heartened by the fact that full attention can now be geared towards recovery. As we have continuously stressed, peacebuilding must form part and parcel of rebuilding after the Ebola crisis.”
2015-09-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7519 (2015) · source
“I look forward to this afternoon's informal interactive dialogue on post-conflict peacebuilding. It is an important opportunity for us to reflect on how the relationship between the Peacebuilding Commission and the Security Council can be strengthened. Against the backdrop of the UNHCR report this weekend and what we all know to be the untenable strains on the humanitarian system as a whole, I believe we must unite our efforts now to further enhance the effectiveness and coherence of the international response to post-conflict challenges and better support national efforts to avoid conflict and sustain peace.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“Thirdly, there will be a focus on continued support for and coordination with regional organizations, not least the African Union. By drawing on the work initiated last year by my predecessor, Ambassador Patriota, we will identify ways to deepen the dialogue with regional organizations to see how our different comparative advantages can best be utilized. Fourthly, the Commission will consider the recommendations emanating from the annual session of 2015, held on Tuesday, focusing on the issues of predictable financing for peacebuilding. In addition, the Peacebuilding Commission will continue to move forward with the cross-cutting issues of gender equality and women's empowerment in all peacebuilding efforts. That is a crucial aspect of sustainable peace and development.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“The Commission has been instrumental in ensuring that peacebuilding priorities are addressed as part of the recovery efforts, including the need to accelerate support for institution-building. We will continue to advocate for this, not least at the upcoming high-level meeting on Ebola recovery to be hosted by the Secretary-General in a few weeks' time. Secondly, with respect to the Peacebuilding Review, as previously mentioned, the work of the advisory group is about to come to an end, since it will submit its report in the next few days. We are eagerly awaiting its analysis and recommendations, and look forward to the findings, which will provide important input for the intergovernmental negotiations. That review can tie into the review of resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, as well as the review of peace operations.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“We have to be more effective in addressing the challenge of helping countries transition from war to lasting peace, including by improving strategic planning in the United Nations system; helping countries strengthen their national capacities, including institution-building; ensuring predictable and flexible funding; improving the coordination of international post-conflict activities; and providing a diversified intergovernmental forum that can help ensure greater coherence of support and extend the period of political attention. I would now like to outline the focus areas of the Peacebuilding Commission during the ongoing ninth session. First, let me turn to peacebuilding in Ebola recovery. The three countries most affected by the Ebola disease outbreak - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea - are all on the PBC agenda.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“That review, conducted simultaneously with the peace operations review and the high-level review of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the work of the United Nations in peace and security. I am hopeful that all three will reinvigorate our collective efforts to build and sustain peace. I would now like to turn to the work of the Commission. Iwould argue that its Vision and usefulness remain as valid as ever.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“More than half the people displaced by conflict and persecution are children. It is against that backdrop that we are meeting today, during this peacebuilding week. Peacebuilding is about preventing relapse into conflict by holistically supporting countries emerging from conflict on a path towards sustained peace. It is therefore about establishing the nexus between security and development. To that end, we need to be more effective and coherent in United Nations activities that assist national peacebuilding efforts. The expert group report on the 10-year review of the peacebuilding architecture is expected to be submitted very soon.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“Thank you very much, Mr. President, for the invitation, for convening this meeting and also for the excellent contribution that you presented on behalf of the Security Council at the annual session of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), held earlier this week. And I would like to congratulate the Permanent Representative of Brazil, Ambassador Patriota, for his very strong leadership and commitment during his chairmanship of the Peacebuilding Commission last year. The world today is torn by more violent conflict than it has been in a very long time, leaving in its wake unprecedented suffering and displacement. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported this weekend that more people fled their homes last year than at any time since records began.”
2015-06-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7472 (2015) · source
“At the same time, there must also be tangible reforms and progress within the country. The road map for the way ahead has already been agreed on, most notably in the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework and in the Afghan Government's reform paper "Realizing self-reliance". Sweden's support for Afghanistan has been substantial and long-term. It began several decades ago, and it will continue with our commitment of$1.2 billion throughout the Transformation Decade. The Afghan Government and people can count on our continued support in this critical time, a time for reforms, for keeping commitments made and realizing self-reliance.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“We therefore call for the full implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and for the Afghan Government to continue to pursue and safeguard women's full enjoyment of human rights. An inclusive and meaningful peace process has the potential to be transformative in enabling Afghans to believe in an Afghanistan that can fully meet their legitimate aspirations for a more prosperous and secure life. In 2001, we, the world, were uniquely united around the idea of building a stable future for Afghanistan. In the 14 years since, the world has become more unruly in many ways. There are more conflicts demanding the attention of the international community than ever. Although a lot has been achieved in Afghanistan, much remains to be done. It is therefore important that we reaffirm our support for Afghanistan and honour our commitments.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“In order to stop that trend from having severe and long-term effects and to end the brutal and pointless violence, humanitarian access must be regained and the safety of aid workers guaranteed. The conflict can be solved only through peaceful and meaningful dialogue. A peace process must be carefully planned and implemented. There is no room for compromise on the principles, rights and freedoms that have already been agreed on and that are enshrined in the Afghan Constitution. A successful peace process should be inclusive and representative. Excluding segments of the Afghan population, such as women, from taking part would compromise the very foundation of a peaceful society.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“We would like to express our gratitude to the women and men employed by UNAMA in Kabul as well as in Afghanistan's more remote provinces. The importance of an ambitious presence on the part of the international community, particularly in remote areas of the country, cannot be stressed enough. The situation demands that the international community speak and act as one. Effective multilateral cooperation and coordination within the framework of the United Nations remain Vital. The recent and reprehensible spiral of attacks on aid workers operating in Afghanistan is appalling. We are currently witnessing a shrinking of the humanitarian space on a large and devastating scale, where aid workers are being prevented from providing basic humanitarian aid or seeking sustainable solutions for the Afghan people.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“Sweden takes particular note of the horrific effects of the conflict on the civilian population that their statements highlight. The continuing rise in civilian casualties is deplorable and worrying. It has been said many times before, particularly in this Chamber, that this is a critical year for Afghanistan and the Afghan people. It is also a critical year for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The reduced presence of international security forces in the country and the upcoming review of the UNAMA mandate give us a unique chance to strengthen it in the areas where it can have the greatest effect in the years ahead, including ensuring broad geographical outreach to Afghanistan and a meaningful and successful peace process. Our support for UNAMA remains strong.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“We align ourselves with the statement to be delivered later on behalf of the European Union, and particularly with its emphasis on the need for electoral reform in Afghanistan, which is fundamental for safeguarding the country's growing political participation and stronger civil society. In addition, I would like to make a few remarks. First of all, of course, we firmly condemn the attack on the Parliament in Kabul, which is an attack on democracy. Our support for those building a democratic and peaceful Afghanistan must be unwavering. I would like to thank Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and his staff for his briefing and for the work they are doing on the ground; I also thank Ambassador Tanin for his remarks.”
2015-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7467 (2015) · source
“Before concluding, we would like to once again congratulate the Special Representative and UNICEF on a successful first year ofthe "Children, Not Soldiers" campaign. They have our wholehearted support, but, as today's debate has shown, we have a lot ofwork in front of us.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“The International Criminal Court plays an important role in ensuring accountability and we welcome the initiative of the Prosecutor's Office to develop a comprehensive policy paper on children. Thirdly, and lastly, we must have a stronger policy for protecting children's rights in peacekeeping operations. The recent serious allegations in the Central African Republic bear tragic witness to that. It is essential that personnel deployed in the field have adequate training in the rights of the child. Two of the many steps needed could be the inclusion in all missions of child protection structures, including child protection focal points, and making predeployment training of peacekeepers in child protection mandatory.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“Secondly, there is still a lack of accountability for violations of international law committed against children in armed conflict. It is crucial to fight impunity and ensure that victims have access to justice. Crimes against children must be independently and impartially investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Individual responsibility must be upheld; that means that all perpetrators must be held accountable and punished accordingly, regardless of their status or capacity. The Children in Armed Conflict Accountability Framework is a step in the right direction and provides a methodology to both redress past violations and prevent future violations. My own country, Sweden, will launch this tool in cooperation with the Democratic Republic ofthe Congo in Kinshasa this autumn.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“It is therefore all the more disturbing that there were attacks on education facilities in at least 70 countries between 2009 and 2013. Since then, the problem has only escalated in a number of conflicts. We must intensify our efforts to uphold the right to education, even in conflict situations. By making schools safer for children today, we are protecting the future. The Safe Schools Declaration expresses a commitment to protecting education from attack. It merits our full consideration and we hope that it will be endorsed by as many States as possible. We are also concerned by the severe impact on children of the continued use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Such indiscriminate use of weapons is prohibited under international humanitarian law and we would support practical steps to stop it.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“In thata regard, we thought that interesting proposals were presented at the open debate presided over by France in March (see S/PV.7414). In 2014, the world bore witness to several appalling cases of mass abduction of children in armed conflict. We therefore particularly welcome the addition of abduction as a fifth trigger violation in the report, which we hope will send a strong signal to all parties to armed conflict around the world. I want to highlight three areas of particular concern to us. First, the right of children, particularly girls, to high-quality education in war and disasters is vital to the protection of children during conflict, because attendance at school can create a sense of normality and a vision for a better future in an otherwise chaotic situation.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“In addition, during the hostilities in Gaza last summer, civilians, including children, bore the brunt of the suffering. At least 540 Palestinian children were killed and hospitals and schools, including United Nations facilities, were severely damaged or destroyed. The scale of the impact on children was unprecedented and unacceptable. These facts and all other incidents listed in the report are profoundly disturbing and raise serious concerns regarding the observance of the rules of international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality, and respect for international human rights law, including, let it be said, in the Security Council. Given that armed non-State actors account for the vast majority of Violations, further reflection on forms of engagement is needed.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“The unprecedented challenges we see today for the protection of children growing up in countries affected by conflict illustrate the enormous importance of that resolution. We very much welcome today's adoption of resolution 2225 (2015), which we are all proud to sponsor. The Secretary-General's annual report (S/2015/409) paints a very gloomy picture of the situation around the world for children in armed conflict. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been listed as committing all the trigger violations involving Violence against children, a result of their appalling atrocities. In Syria, the systematic use of indiscriminate aerial weapons, such as barrel bombs, accounts for the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties, including children. This cannotbe allowedto continue.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“I have the honour to speak on behalf of Finland, Iceland, Norway and my own country, Sweden. At the outset, we would like to warmly thank the Malaysian presidency, and particularly the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dato Sri Anifah Aman, for taking the initiative of holding this open debate and for showing leadership on this important topic. We would also like to acknowledge the crucial role played by the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, and her Office, as well as the important work of UNICEF and other United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organizations in the field. We would like to thank the Secretary-General and the other keynote speakers for their valuable contributions this morning. In 2015 we celebrate the tenth anniversary of resolution 1612 (2005).”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“In a way, media freedom is a litmus test for any society and its absence can serve as an early warning sign of emerging conflict. The United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, with its focus on national capacity-building, deserves to be highlighted in that context. We of course encourage its full implementation.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“It is primarily the responsibility of Governments to protect journalists, human rights defenders and others promoting freedom of expression, including our new media, and to allow them to carry out their work independently, without undue interference and without fear of violence or persecution. But protection alone is not enough and States must ensure accountability when crimes have been committed. The most serious deficiency is not a lack of rules but a failure to implement existing ones and to systematically investigate, prosecute and punish violations. Thirdly, preventive action is needed in order to promote the safety of journalists and to fight impunity. We also need to address the root causes of violence againstjournalists. Well functioning and open institutions are fundamental in that regard.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“We welcome the adoption once again by the Third Committee of a draft resolution on the safety of journalists and the issue of impunity, in November 2014, as well as the resolution on the protection of journalists adopted by the Human Rights Council this past September. The Security Council, as well as the entire United Nations peacebuilding architecture, can also play important roles by including protection of journalists as part of the support to rule-of-law institutions in peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts, and by reacting when violations are being committed. Secondly, impunity must not be tolerated.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Syria provides a tragic illustration of, inter alia, the perils associated with reporting from areas of conflict. Swedish journalists were abducted but were recently freed. However, we fully realize that others have been less fortunate, and we are appalled by the number of journalists who have lost their lives, including a Japanese journalist at the hands of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant earlier this year. We, the international community, have an obligation to react and to take further steps to prevent violence and to promote a safe environment for journalists and other media actors. I would like to highlight three points in particular. First, we must continue to demand and explore ways to ensure that the protection awarded to journalists under international law is fully respected and upheld.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“It is an essential part of democracy and helps shape our understanding of the world, but is not to be taken for granted; it has to be fought for every day. We all know that journalists in areas of armed conflict are to be considered as civilians under international humanitarian law and therefore respected and protected as such. Resolution 1738 (2006) recalled this fact and promised increased attention to the issue of protecting journalists in armed conflict. Unfortunately, the safety of journalists is becoming increasingly threatened. Journalists who are reporting from conflict areas, but also human rights defenders and others promoting freedom of expression, including new media, are ever more frequently falling victim to attacks, persecution and abuse.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“I thank you, Madam President, and once again congratulate Lithuania for its very effective and impactful tenure in the Security Council. I wish also to thank you for holding this important debate on the protection of journalists in conflict situations and thank the Deputy Secretary-General for his valuable briefing and Mr. Christophe Deloire and Ms. Mariane Pearl for their compelling testimonies, each of which underscored the indispensable role that journalists play in bearing witness to conflict and the increasingly heavy price that is paid for conveying information. Sweden fully associates itself with the statement to be made later by the observer of the European Union. We remain deeply concerned by the high number of acts of violence against journalists and other media professionals. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right.”
2015-05-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7450 (2015) · source
“Close coordination with the Security Council will be important in the coming months to help ensure a responsible and seamless transition of UNMIL, including by coordinating with relevant Ebola recovery efforts and helping to mobilize support and resources for the Government transition plan. The Ebola crisis exposed how volatile the situation in Liberia still is. But it also demonstrated the determination and resilience of the people of Liberia. The success that we hope to celebrate on 9 May is much thanks to Liberian political, religious and traditional leaders uniting in collective action. We should build on this experience and seize the opportunity for change as we take the next steps in support of a peaceful and prosperous Liberia.”
2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source
“The crisis has given new impetus to regional cooperation. The decision of the Mano River Union leaders to join efforts in a regional Ebola recovery plan should be welcomed and supported. Such regional cooperation, including at the highest level, will also be important for the future maintenance of regional peace and security. Relevant regional initiatives and organizations deserve greater attention and support, and we should more systematically consult and coordinate with these organizations as we frame our own engagement. The priority for the Peacebuilding Commission is to safeguard that peacebuilding gains can be sustained and strengthened.”
2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source
“But State capacity is not enough to build trust; continuing to deal with some of the outstanding grievances from the civil war, including by accelerating the implementation of the National Reconciliation Roadmap in an inclusive manner, will also be critical. This will be important not least in the context of starting to prepare for peaceful and credible elections in 2017. It is important in this regard to continue to empower women and to guarantee their full and equal participation in the electoral process, noting that the percentage of women in the Legislature decreased in the latest senatorial elections. Thirdly, there is a need for a stronger regional perspective and approach. The Ebola crisis has clearly demonstrated that what happens in one country in the region has a direct impact on the others.”
2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source
“Secondly, there is a need to address State-society relations and trust in State institutions. A major part of this is to focus more on strengthening accountability, legitimacy and institutional capacity, including through empowering the various independent commissions. This also includes enhancing State presence and capacity to deliver basic services in the communities as part of the decentralization process. As UNMIL draws down and turns over security responsibility, targeted efforts must be made to strengthen the justice and security sectors, including the software of security, and to improve civilian-security relations.”
2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source
“This includes increasing access to primary education, deploying social safety nets and creating employment opportunities for youth. The conditions were already dire before the crisis, with 64 per cent of the population living below the poverty line and only 34 per cent of children attending primary school. The situation has now further deteriorated as a result of the Ebola situation. The crisis has increased the burden on households and destroyed the livelihoods of many, in particular women and young people engaged petty trade. Providing opportunities, especially for young people and women, is a critical priority for ensuring future peace and stability. The swift recovery of the economy, including through the resumption of cross-border trade, the return of international flights and economic stimulus, will be key to these efforts.”
2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source
“High- level international attention must also be maintained to ensure that the broader recovery process can bring tangible improvements to the people of Liberia as quickly as possible. Having been elected Chair in early March, I travelled to Liberia from 5 to 7 April to get a first-hand impression of the situation on the ground. The purpose of that visit was to draw lessons from the crisis and to see how the Peacebuilding Commission could best support peacebuilding priorities in the Ebola recovery and in the transition processes of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). I have shared my report with the Council in advance, but let me take this opportunity to highlight three points. First, there is an urgent need to improve the socioeconomic situation in Liberia.”
2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source
“Mr. Skoog: Congratulations to you, Madam President. It is really a thrill to see you and Lithuania acceding to the presidency of the Council this month. I have a few points to make on behalf of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Liberia configuration. First, as Special Representative of the Secretary- General Karin Landgren just pointed to us with regard to the very significant Ebola situation, if no new cases are reported, Liberia will officially be declared Ebola- free this Saturday, 9 May. But this is not the time to lower our guard. Focused efforts will still be needed to ensure that Liberia stays at zero, including by improving basic health-care services in rural communities.”
2015-05-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7438 (2015) · source
“Lastly, the important role of media and civil society, including women's rights organizations, should not be underestimated. We need to draw on their knowledge and experience and recognize the pivotal role they play in changing social norms, attitudes and behaviours and help ensure that women's rights are upheld and that their voices are fully heard.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Women protection advisers and gender advisers have a central role to play in ensuring competence and knowledge in order for United Nations missions to meet actual needs in the field. A11 missions should have a gender adviser with a sufficiently high level of authority and who should work directly with the mission leadership. Gender advisers, gender focal points and women protection advisers should be funded from the regular budget. Nevertheless, the ultimate responsibility to secure the gender dimension naturally lies with the leadership of the mission. The Nordic countries are firm supporters, including financially, of United Nations Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict. We believe that United Nations Action makes the United Nations system work in a more holistic and coordinated way.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Sexual violence and the denial of rights and freedoms, including the right to control their sexuality and reproduction, are integral to the ideology of extremist groups and used as part of a strategy to spread terror, persecute ethnic, religious and sexual minorities, and suppress whole communities that oppose these groups' ideology. It is clearly a tactic of terror and needs to be addressed in the international community's response. We therefore welcome the recommendation that efforts to prevent and address sexual violence and promote human rights of women should be closely and strategically aligned with efforts to prevent Violent extremism. Conflict-related sexual violence should be a topic fully integrated into the work of relevant Security Council sanctions committees.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Evidence suggests that violent notions of masculinity not only perpetuate gender-based violence but can also fuel armed conflict, while more positive notions of masculinity could be instrumental in promoting peace. Thirdly, we note the rise of violent extremism and terrorism, which are often built on perceptions that deny women their enjoyment of human rights. More attention on the human rights of women is therefore needed, particularly in the context of terrorism and counter-terrorism, especially with regard to the specific consequences of violent extremism on women's and girls' rights.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“It is urgent that we take further concrete steps to ensure accountability and end impunity, as many around this table have said today. We welcome and support the efforts of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and the ongoing work of Justice Rapid Response and UN-Women for enhancing the capacity to investigate sexual and gender-based violent crimes which deny women and girls their human rights. Secondly, there is a growing recognition that men should be involved to a larger extent in the work in favour of gender equality, as it cannot be left to women alone. There is a need to look at the impact of masculine identities on gender inequality, conflict and Violence.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“Therefore, a systematic and broad gender approach, which includes increasing women's empowerment through political participation and influence, strengthening women's economic rights and empowerment, promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights, improving women's and girls' security and furthering the education of women and girls, needs to be applied. These issues are fundamental. I would like to raise three more points. First, measures dealing with the consequences of sexual violence need to be stepped up. Assistance to survivors and witnesses, including sexual and reproductive health services and psychosocial, legal and livelihood support, is crucial, as was stressed by my Colombian colleague.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“I would also like to commend the Team of Experts on Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict in strengthening the capacities of States to address such violence, but despite rising recognition and attention to this issue, the picture is appalling. Nothing less than zero tolerance is acceptable in this area. The fight to prevent and eradicate conflict-related sexual Violence must be pursued on several levels. These crimes do not emerge in a vacuum; they take place against a backdrop of structural, gender-based discrimination. Sexual violence is a reflection of gender inequalities.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“I would like to thank you, Madam President, for your initiative in organizing today's debate. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway and my own country, Sweden. First, I would like to thank the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura, for her statement and for her activities and hard work. I would also like to thank Ms. Hamsatu Allamin for her participation in today's meeting. The role and influence of civil society in preventing conflict, building peace and promoting human rights is essential and it should be supported. We warmly welcome the report of the Secretary- General (S/2015/203) and its concrete and specific recommendations on actions, and we commend Special Representative Bangura and her Office for their work in this regard.”
2015-04-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7428 (2015) · source
“We stress the importance of restarting peace negotiations in order to achieve a comprehensive peace agreement based on a two-State solution. As the tragic events during the past few years have shown, no part of the world, including the Nordic countries, is free of the ailments of sectarian and gender-based violence. We are all confronted with the challenges of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of xenophobia. The strongest countermeasure against polarization is inclusive participation. We welcome the intention of the Secretary-General to convene an advisory panel on today's important topic.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source
“My own country, Sweden, has offered a new home to more than 70,000 Syrians since the outbreak of that conflict. The conflicts in Iraq and Syria need political solutions and highlight the need of inclusive governance. The Nordic countries provide strong support for United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in his efforts. Policies must be inclusive and offer political space for all - majority as well as minority populations. Reconciliation efforts are key. The increasing threat of radicalization in parts of the region makes the need for a solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict all the more pressing. As the facts on the ground are rapidly changing, we urgently need to send a clear and convincing message to younger generations that there is an alternative to violence and the status quo.”
2015-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7419 (2015) · source