YouSaid · the spoken record

Sowa

lines on the record: 30
first: 2023-03-07
most recent: 2023-11-20
sittings or episodes: 4
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

“Furthermore, as Member States of the United Nations, we need to recommit to the principles of freedom, justice, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, cooperation and dialogue, and must demonstrate tolerance to secure our shared peaceful future. In conclusion, let me emphasize that Sierra Leone remains committed to the vision and goals of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs for achieving sustainable development. We therefore recommit to working with development partners on the ground — ranging from the United Nations family and international financial institutions to bilateral partners and non-governmental organizations — in our efforts to transform our economy, build resilient systems and, ultimately, achieve sustainable peace through the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“These are all are urgently required for much-needed progress on sustainable development. We must maintain the importance of SDGs at the core of peacebuilding. Moreover, the peace-development-humanitarian nexus cannot be overstated, and adequate financing is needed to support the Peacebuilding Fund. The critical role of international financial institutions in that regard is crucial. It is our fervent hope that the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace can leverage greater investment in prevention and peacebuilding, as well as provide support for countries on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), including by delivering continued financial assistance to countries that have exited from the PBC’s formal agenda, in order to build resilience and sustain peace through common development.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“However, we must now strengthen unity and solidarity among the countries of the global South and increase collaboration in the fields of science and technology. We believe that this will help to create a fertile ecosystem for development, innovation and diffusion of knowledge and inventions related to science, technology and innovation. We should work collectively to safeguard universal, affordable and equitable access to the Internet and broadband connectivity for all. Going forward, it is important to note that peace cannot be sustained in any country or region if there is widespread economic and social deprivation and lack of enjoyment of basic human rights, such as freedom of expression, transformative actions, adequate financing and cooperative work across the entire peace, security and development nexus.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We equally welcome the Secretary-General’s call for A New Agenda for Peace, including its 12 concrete sets of proposals for action in five key priority areas. We also support the Secretary-General’s call, in the Agenda, for the international financial institutions to align funding mechanisms to help address the underlying causes of instability through inclusive sustainable development. The developed countries continue to make advancements in technologies associated with the fourth industrial revolution, while countries in the global South, particularly the LDCs, struggle to catch up with the first- and second-generation technologies. In addition, the alarming technological and digital divide is further widening inequalities. Countries of the South have made tremendous progress in the field of science, technology and innovation.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Further, we would like to underline the crucial imperative for stronger global cooperation in order to address rising public debt burden; the consideration of debt cancellation, especially for vulnerable and fragile countries; and the allocation of special drawing rights in order to allow for the rechannelling of all unused special drawing rights to developing countries that need it. Sierra Leone would like to reaffirm its strong support for the Secretary-General’s proposal for an SDG stimulus for developing countries, as well as the need for the international community to work together and adhere to a new international financial architecture that would ensure that funds are automatically invested to support just, inclusive and equitable transitions for all countries.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In a context of heightened uncertainty and persistent financial stability risks, the growing high debt burden on least developed countries (LDCs) continues to undermine our ability to make sufficient investments to achieve the SDGs. In addressing those global challenges, we would like to emphasize the need for developed countries to partner with LDCs and countries in fragile situations to build peaceful and prosperous societies through enhanced development assistance, climate financing and technology transfer. To that end, we would also like to highlight the need to sustain and implement commitments within the framework of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Accordingly, we must recommit to our obligations, under the Charter of the United Nations, to prevent and resolve conflicts, pursue sustainable development by managing economic uncertainty and be resilient in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That will equip States to effectively counter challenges to global peace and security. The global uncertainties and overlapping crises have driven more people around the world into extreme poverty, with widening inequalities and increased vulnerabilities. That makes it harder to close the existing gap between the rich and the poor. Thus, eradicating extreme poverty and lowering inequality within a period of only seven years to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is becoming increasingly impracticable.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The delegation of Sierra Leone congratulates China on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. We further commend you, Mr. President, for organizing this important open debate. We thank the briefers for their important contributions earlier today. With the proliferation of conflicts and multiple global crises, promoting sustainable peace through common development resonates with the call for collective action, through solidarity, to address the development-related root causes of conflicts and promote shared interests. There is therefore a need to address today’s complex global challenges and to effectively deal with the interconnected threats through partnership and multilateralism.”
2023-11-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9482Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Secondly, we recommend that the Security Council’s Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security consider conducting field visits that focus on monitoring the situation of women and girls in the months or years after the withdrawal of large United Nations peace operations. In addition, the Informal Expert Group can play a crucial role in the Security Council’s assessment of the situation of women and girls, as well as gender issues on the ground, by providing expert insights, facilitating information exchange and promoting a more comprehensive understanding of gender dynamics in conflict and post-conflict settings. It is our belief that this will positively contribute to shining a light on trends in women’s rights and gender equality in a transitional context, which is sorely needed in these unpredictable and uncertain times.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“We also commend the strengthening of capacities and knowledge of all personnel, civilian police and military to advance the gender responsiveness of peacekeeping operations, as well as the strengthening peacekeeping engagements and partnerships with other United Nations entities and partners — internally and externally, at Headquarters and in missions — to achieve gender equality and other results related to the women and peace and security agenda. Allow me to conclude with some concrete recommendations, in line with the questions contained in the concept note (S/2023/733, annex) for this debate. First, we call on the United Nations to collaborate with regional organizations in order to provide, in real time, transparent information on and about the level of women’s involvement in peace negotiations and mediation processes.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“In the context of the United Nations, we wish to make efforts alongside the United Nations to promote gender equality and the women and peace and security agenda through different approaches, including through strengthening managerial leadership and accountability, particularly on the implementation of the women and peace and security mandate across United Nations peacekeeping operations and further strengthening systems and mechanisms for monitoring progress and producing analytical evidence-based progress reports.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“Sierra Leone is on record for having submitted to the African Union its consolidated resource framework on the women and peace and security agenda, a report that is now being used as a model for other countries, particularly at the level of the Economic Community of West African States subregion, through lessons learned on information-sharing relating to the women and peace and security agenda. Sierra Leone serves as a board member of the Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action and, in our tenure as a member of the Security Council, will also sign the statement of shared commitments to advance the women and peace and security agenda.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“There has been significant progress in women’s participation in the military, and specific police units have been formed to address gender issues. With the passage of the gender equality and women’s empowerment legislation in Sierra Leone, we have made concrete our aspiration to accelerate women’s full, equal and meaningful participation at all levels and in all governance processes, including international peace and security, as the surest path to stability and prosperity. Sierra Leone has maintained its firm commitment to the women and peace and security agenda as part of our contribution to the international community.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“The voice that was regained by the women of Sierra Leone in the peace processes has been sustained in the post-conflict phase through peacebuilding, democratic governance and pursuit of sustainable development. With our first-hand experience of the importance of meaningful participation of women in peace processes, we came to realize that investing in women’s participation for the peaceful resolution of conflict is critical to the maintenance of peace and security everywhere. Sierra Leone has therefore shown demonstrable commitments in tackling barriers to the deployment of women in its peace operations missions. There is a good-faith endeavour to expand training and the meaningful participation of women within the security services.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“The gender perspective, as described in the present context, had a major influence, during the political transition, on the transitional justice mechanisms. That led to the Head of State offering an apology to women victims of the 10-year civil war, as part of the truth and reconciliation process. With the apology, Sierra Leone took that important symbolic step as a fundamental reparation to recognize the wrong done to the women of Sierra Leone. The Special Court for Sierra Leone also focuses on sexual and gender-based violence, owing in part to the gender perspective in the peace process, reinforcing the peace with justice paradigm. The Sierra Leone Special Court was, in fact, the first international criminal court to recognize the new crime against humanity of forced marriage as an additional inhumane act.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“As a result of women’s intervention, a negotiated peace settlement became a respectable option that offered both Government and warring factions the opportunity to climb down from entrenched positions without loss of face. Much like women peacemakers and peacebuilders everywhere, their activism was relentless, even when they were barely supported, recognized or acknowledged. The Women’s Movement collective action that grew out of the civil war in Sierra Leone included taking the agenda of peace to the Government and warring factions. They shaped the women and peace and security agenda even before the Security Council had a name for it. The forum critically succeeded in opening up public discourse on contentious issues and articulating a politically non-partisan female perspective in the peace process.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“In our national context and following the paradigm of women exerting influence on peace processes globally, the women peacebuilders in Sierra Leone from all economic and social structures came together with one resolve — to achieve lasting peace. The women in Sierra Leone created the Women’s Forum, which became one of the chief advocates for the return to civilian rule and democratic elections in Sierra Leone. The women’s movement, which included Sierra Leone Women’s Movement for Peace, joined the Women’s Forum, with the primary objective of restoring peace in Sierra Leone. From advocacy in the national consultative conferences known as Bintumani 1 and 2, in 1996, to peace rallies, the women in Sierra Leone fought hard to achieve peace in the country, going from one peace process to the next.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“The women and peace and security agenda is an imperative for the Government of Sierra Leone and a priority, as we soon commence our tenure as an elected member of the Security Council for the 2024-2025 term. That is informed by our experience, as women in Sierra Leone were very instrumental in the effort that led to peace in Sierra Leone, following a decade of civil conflict. Women remained a key part of rebuilding the country at the end of the civil war 20 years ago. Sierra Leone believes that conflicts, wherever they occur, continue to have debilitating consequences on the lives and livelihoods of women and girls. Therefore, the participation of women in peacemaking and peacebuilding efforts is compelling.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“Sierra Leone welcomes the convening of today’s open debate on the women and peace and security agenda, under the theme “Women’s participation in international peace and security: from theory to practice”. We also thank the Secretary-General and the other briefers for the comprehensive insights on the women and peace and security agenda, with a specific call for concerted global efforts to do more for the effective implementation of related commitments. Sierra Leone takes note of the Secretary-General’s report (S/2023/725), which provides updates on the implementation of agenda over the past year and underscores the need for all stakeholders to redouble efforts to bring about radical shifts in women’s meaningful participation in peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption2 (2023) · source
“We note with concern the danger of a spillover of the current crisis in the Middle East region. If consolidated action is not taken, a spillover will compound the existing fragile situation in the region. Regrettably, the region is marked by mass displacement and an unimaginable humanitarian crisis, insecurity and loss of civilian lives. With this recent escalation, we are fully convinced that it is only genuine dialogue and negotiations based on the two-State solution that will guarantee lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. In conclusion, Sierra Leone calls for concerted efforts to explore diplomatic and political avenues geared towards finding a peaceful, just and lasting solution to this conflict.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The deteriorating humanitarian situation and the inability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to provide adequate humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza owing to the indiscriminate bombardments, requires a humanitarian ceasefire and the establishment of corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. The humanitarian ceasefire must ensure full, speedy, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access for United Nations humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners. Sierra Leone joins the strong call for the unrestricted provision to civilians of adequate essential goods and services, including electricity, water, fuel, food and medical supplies. That is in strict compliance with international humanitarian law, in order to ensure the survival of civilians.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We deeply sympathize with the families of the victims of the regrettable recent escalation of violence and the ongoing occupation. While we can offer only our deepest sympathies at this stage, the Security Council itself can and must act. While we welcome the diplomatic engagements that have led to the limited flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, Sierra Leone is gravely concerned about the ever-deteriorating humanitarian situation, coupled with the simultaneous escalation of the violence.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“While noting the right to self-defence as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, a right available to all States, we are of the firm view that any response must be in line with international law, in particular international humanitarian law, human rights and other relevant legal norms. We therefore unequivocally condemn attacks on civilians and civilian objects. In that regard, we also condemn in the strongest terms the heinous attack on the Al Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip, which is totally unacceptable. We support the call for an investigation into the matter. In addition to urging for timely investigations, Sierra Leone calls for accountability mechanisms to be fully engaged in preserving any evidence of violations of international law in order to ensure accountability.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this open debate. I also thank the briefers for their contributions earlier today. The current situation in the Middle East and the response over the past weeks are an indication that the Security Council needs to be constructive, deliberate and sincere in its approach to its work and actions. The world is counting on the Council, which must not renege on the fulfilment of its mandate. Sierra Leone unequivocally condemns in the strongest terms Hamas’s indefensible heinous attack on Israeli civilians on 7 October. We condemn equally strongly Hamas’s taking of hostages, and we call for their immediate and unconditional release. We have noted with grave concern the escalation of violence since the attacks of 7 October, particularly Israel’s response.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Significant progress has been made through the concerted efforts of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, continental and regional organizations, national Governments and civil-society organizations. Notwithstanding that progress, women still encounter a myriad of targeted violations. My delegation implores the Council to reiterate its call on Member States to domesticate resolution 1325 (2000), craft national action plans and establish effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It is our hope that our collective resolve will be translated into concrete action for the continued improvement of those mechanisms and the provision of periodic reviews of their implementation, which in turn will lead to the continued improvements in the status of women.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Recognizing the gender-specific impacts of climate change and insecurity on women, men, boys and girls, as well as the importance of women’s full and equal participation in peacebuilding processes, we believe it is imperative that climate security assessments and interventions mainstream gender considerations in all phases. My delegation appreciates Member States’ numerous political statements on sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls in conflict situations. However, those statements must be translated into concrete action, including by ensuring accountability for the perpetrators and reparation and assistance to the victims of that dehumanizing scourge. In conclusion, women and peace and security remains high on the global agenda.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“For instance, in building on progress that has been made, the Government of Sierra Leone is currently focused on strengthening institutional and service delivery mechanisms to properly coordinate and effectively deliver on its policies and the promise of a more secure world for all, particularly efforts to empower women and transform their lives. That was reinforced when our 2021 gender equality and women’s empowerment bill was enacted into law on 15 November 2022. The law is an unprecedented win for the women of Sierra Leone, as it represents the single-largest increase in women’s political participation and access to finance, employment opportunities and equal pay. It also establishes a 30 per cent quota for the participation of women in Government for both appointed and elective positions.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We need to strengthen the meaningful participation of women and the leadership opportunities for them in tackling the root causes and impacts of conflicts and other emerging crises. Within global, continental and regional organizations, we should encourage more gender-sensitive conflict analysis so that we can better comprehend the progress that has been made but also the outstanding challenges to implementation. My delegation recognizes the significant progress that has been made so far on the women and peace and security agenda. The recognition of women’s issues in the higher echelons of global, continental, regional and national institutions has increased exponentially in recent years.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Tension, chaos and conflicts are commonly associated with those societies. The negative effects of such conflicts on women, girls and children cannot be overemphasized. More than 50 per cent of the current global migrant population, refugees and asylum seekers are women, girls and children from conflict-affected societies. The global community therefore needs to adopt a unified solution to address those issues in our efforts to attain our shared goal of international peace and security. The Security Council’s landmark adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) made manifest the global community’s recognition of the disproportionate burden that women and girls bear during conflict situations, as well as the vital role that they play in conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“My delegation congratulates Mozambique on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of March and commends it for organizing this open debate on the women and peace and security agenda, which celebrates the momentous adoption, nearly 25 years ago, of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent related resolutions. We all share a fundamental responsibility for taking regular stock of the progress that has been made in improving the conditions of women and reaffirming our commitment to overcoming the considerable challenges that remain in the full implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. In societies where inequality, poverty and underdevelopment are prevalent, there is a tendency for women, girls and other vulnerable groups to be treated unfairly.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source