YouSaid · the spoken record

Štiglic

lines on the record: 216
first: 2008-01-22
most recent: 2023-10-25
sittings or episodes: 27
sources: un-security-council

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“There have nevertheless been some improvements, among which I would like to highlight the signing of new action plans and the progress made in implementing existing action plans. We welcome the fact that the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict gave briefings to a sanctions committee that resulted in its adding the practice of recruiting and using children as a criterion for sanctions. We hope that this practice will be adopted by other committees. Although positive steps have been taken to hold persistent perpetrators of grave violations against children accountable, we believe that the Security Council should impose further targeted measures on such perpetrators that will prevent them from committing any other grave violations against children.”
2011-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6581 (2011) · source
“Allow me first to thank Germany for having organized this important open debate. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, his Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, and the Executive Director of UNICEF for their briefings and for their tireless efforts dedicated to protecting children affected by armed conflict. I would also like to align Slovenia with the statements of the European Union, the Human Security Network and the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict. Today's debate is based on the Secretary- General's latest report (S/2011/250), which shows that 2010 was not a very positive year for children affected by armed conflict around the world.”
2011-07-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6581 (2011) · source
“It is thus clear that numerous peacebuilding challenges still lie ahead and that we must turn to lessons learned and best practices when tackling those challenges in the future. When embarking upon sustainable post-conflict reconstruction, we should ensure and commit to long-term institution-building, as that will ultimately strengthen the processes and conduct necessary to peacefully manage conflicts at all levels.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“The establishment of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality should further contribute to the effective implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008). Last year, Slovenia adopted its national action plan for the implementation of both resolutions. One of the main objectives of the action plan is to increase the involvement of women in peacebuilding and peacekeeping missions. While the past 20 years have witnessed a decline in the number of international armed conflicts, there has been an emergence of internal conflicts, mostly in low- income countries, due to horizontal inequalities along ethnic, religious and regional lines associated with civil wars.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“We support strengthened institutional arrangements among various United Nations actors, along with closer cooperation between the Security Council and the PBC. In that respect we welcome the statement made by the representative of Belgium on behalf of Brazil, Canada, Jordan and Switzerland in their capacities as Chairs of the PBC's country-specific configurations. It is crucial that we prevent the persistent violence, intimidation and discrimination against women and encourage their participation and full involvement in post-conflict activities, especially as women can be important drivers of recovery and development in peacebuilding processes. Slovenia welcome the 2010 report of the Secretary-General on women's participation in peacebuilding (S/2010/466), including the seven-point action plan.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“International assistance must be allocated to support State institutions with a view to establishing a basis for competent and legitimate governance. In the process, dependence on international assistance must be gradually but steadfastly reduced, and self-reliance promoted. Peacebuilding requires coherent, comprehensive and consistent efforts by many different actors working together. It demands the integration of political, security, humanitarian and development considerations. Security and development partnerships must be strengthened to include global, international, regional and local actors as well as civil society. We recognize the important role of the PBC as an intergovernmental body tasked with developing peacebuilding strategies and providing enhanced coordination for countries that have transitioned from war to peace.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Capacity development is also the main approach to stronger and more resilient State-society relations based on trust and inclusiveness, as it leads to the reactivation of core State functions and helps the State to re-establish legitimate governance throughout the country. It is imperative that national ownership - which must often be strengthened through a step-by-step process - focus on capacity-building of core Government functions and on national actors. In that context, the international community and regional and subregional organizations should partner with post- conflict societies to assist with institutional capacity- building, promoting the rule of law and strengthening civilian institutions, including ministries, the parliament and the judiciary.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“Peacekeepers should be able to contribute in the early stages of peacebuilding, where they are best positioned to do so. A secure environment is crucial to the implementation of peacebuilding tasks, whether by national or international actors. Societies emerging from war face a high risk of relapse into conflict. It is therefore essential that international efforts facilitate and support their transition from short-term stabilization to long-term security. Capacity development is at the heart of peacebuilding. It is crucial to help create national structures to manage tensions and mediate between various societal interests, with a view to preventing a return to violence.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“It is widely recognized that in the aftermath of large-scale violence, the needs of the people tend to be far greater than the capacity of national or international actors to meet them. Given that imbalance, national and international efforts in the early post-conflict period should focus primarily on meeting the most urgent and important peacebuilding objectives, such as establishing security, building confidence and trust in the political process, delivering initial peace dividends and expanding core national capacity. We believe in the importance of providing support for basic safety and security, including the protection of civilians; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; strengthening the rule of law; demining and supporting security-sector reform.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his statement and the Deputy Prime Minister of Timor- Leste, His Excellency Mr. Jose Luis Guterres, for sharing his insights into Timor-Leste's experiences in institution-building. My thanks also go to Ambassador Wittig, outgoing Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), for his contribution to the Commission's role in promoting and supporting an integrated and coherent approach to peacebuilding, including women's participation. Slovenia fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union. I would like to stress the importance of the Secretary-General's 2009 report on peacebuilding in the immediate aftermath of conflict (S/2009/304), as well as to welcome the continuous attention paid to the issue of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“First of all, I would like to thank Bosnia and Herzegovina for organizing this open debate on post-conflict peacebuilding, with a special focus on institution-building, which is a prevalent challenge in a number of societies that have just emerged from conflict. This debate, under Bosnia and Herzegovina's first-ever presidency of the Security Council, has special significance. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with extensive first-hand experience of the subject before the Council. In the 15 years since Dayton, Bosnia and Herzegovina has undergone a difficult process of peacebuilding, transition and recovery, and it continues along the path to ensuring further progress in institution-building, integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and overall prosperity.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472Resumption1 (2011) · source
“This, in turn, can shatter the structures that anchor community values, and with that disrupt their transmission to future generations. Children accustomed to acts of rape can grow into adults who accept such acts as the norm. This vicious cycle must stop, as we cannot accept a selective zero-tolerance policy. Today's adoption of resolution 1960 (2010), on sexual violence, is an important step in that direction. It is for that reason that Slovenia joined in co-sponsoring it.”
2010-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6453Resumption1 (2010) · source
“One of the three main objectives of the plan is to prevent sexual violence against women and girls and to protect them during and after armed conflict. Furthermore, the action plan includes measures to strengthen the role of 6 women in conflict resolution and conflict prevention, as well as in peacebuilding and peacekeeping. In conclusion, I would like emphasize that sexual violence poses an obstacle to peace and security. It impedes women from participating in peace and democratic processes and in post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation. As a tool of war it can become a way of life: once entrenched in the fabric of society, it lingers long after the guns have fallen silent. Many women lose their health, livelihoods, husbands, families and support networks as a result of rape.”
2010-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6453Resumption1 (2010) · source
“We look forward to the strategic framework on civilian protection and the series of scenario-based training modules, which will also address sexual violence, that are being finalized by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support. We support the recent United Nations activities on this issue aimed at finalizing training materials for United Nations and national police, including the development of gender guidelines for military personnel in peacekeeping operations that also address the protection of women and girls from sexual violence. I would like to take this opportunity to inform the Council that, a month ago, Slovenia adopted its 2010- 2015 national action plan for the implementation of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008).”
2010-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6453Resumption1 (2010) · source
“As timely, objective, accurate and reliable information is fundamental in addressing conflict- related sexual violence, Slovenia supports the recommendation to establish a monitoring and reporting mechanism that would build on the experience and practice of the mechanism established under resolutions 1612 (2005) and 1882 (2009), on children and armed conflict. There is yet much to be done in the area of victim assistance. Disabled women face heightened vulnerability to sexual violence and exploitation. It is commendable that, in recognition of the risk faced by women maimed or wounded by antipersonnel landmines, sexual violence has been specifically included in the 2010 gender guidelines for mine action programmes that have been developed by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.”
2010-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6453Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Slovenia welcomes the progress made in carrying out the five-point priority agenda of the Special Representative. We also welcome the recommendations in Secretary-General's report. 5 It is of the utmost importance to prevent the continuing sexual violence by fighting impunity. In that regard, the role of international criminal justice should be recognized, in particular that of the International Criminal Court. Slovenia supports the recommendation to increase pressure on the perpetrators of sexual violence, as well as those in the chain of command responsible for such acts, through the adoption of sanctions and other targeted measures against individuals and entities by the relevant sanctions committees.”
2010-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6453Resumption1 (2010) · source
“The international community was shocked by the reported mass rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo in July and August this year. However, alarming news on sexual violence is also coming from other conflict and post-conflict situations. Sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations takes many forms, not just rape. Under international law, sexual violence constitutes different forms of crimes and acts. Although the victims of sexual violence are predominantly women and girls, we should not forget that sexual violence is also committed against boys and men. The current report (S/2010/604) of the Secretary-General gives a very good overview of the issue of conflict-related sexual violence in general, and specifically about the situations in countries on the Security Council's agenda.”
2010-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6453Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Allow me first to thank the United States for organizing this important open debate. I should also like to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Special Representative of the Secretary- General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Margot Wallstrom and the Council's other invitees for their briefings. I would also like to align Slovenia with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union and the statement to be delivered by the representative of Costa Rica on behalf of the Human Security Network. In contemporary conflicts, sexual violence is not a side effect but, rather, a front line consideration. Civilians, mostly women and girls, are often the deliberate targets of such violence. Sexual violence in conflict situations is frequently invisible but rarely non-existent.”
2010-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6453Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Let me conclude by stressing that the international community should not and must not be indifferent to the plight of civilians in armed conflict.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Slovenia shares the concerns over the impact of explosive weapons on civilians, in particular when used in densely populated areas. We are also deeply concerned about the tremendous challenges still arising from the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance, which continue to constitute an obstacle to the return of refugees and other displaced persons, humanitarian aid operations, reconstruction and economic development, as well as the restoration of normal social conditions. They have serious and lasting social and economic consequences for the populations of mine-affected countries. Slovenia is active in the area of mine action, especially through the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance, established by the Slovenian Government.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Situation-specific resolutions have increasingly called for prioritizing the protection of civilians in the implementation of peacekeeping mandates. They have requested missions to develop protection strategies. The role of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support in developing an operational concept on the protection of civilians in United Nations peacekeeping operations is of great importance in that regard. Lessons learned and the best practices of regional organizations are at our disposal and must be utilized. The challenges ahead also concern the implementation of normative standards. We support the use of benchmarks, which would facilitate monitoring the implementation of those standards and peacekeeping mandates.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427Resumption1 (2010) · source
“The Council must respond to situations where civilians are at risk of systematic and widespread violations of humanitarian law and international human rights law, in particular to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Grave violations of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law should be properly addressed and the perpetrators of, and those responsible for, such violations should be found accountable. Impunity presents a major obstacle to the prevention of the grave violations committed against civilians in armed conflict. The Council should be sensitive to the issue of accountability, including in the country situations on its agenda.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427Resumption1 (2010) · source
“As outlined in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/579), civilians continue to account for the majority of casualties in conflicts and are often the deliberate targets of different forms of violence by all parties to conflict. Special attention should be paid to the most vulnerable, namely, women and children, who continue to suffer extreme violence and hardship during conflict, in particular sexual violence, including rape. Slovenia believes that the Council must increasingly focus on preventing conflict, including through early warning, as failure to do so bears only grave consequences for the affected civilians.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Resolution 1894 (2009) introduced new provisions that focus on humanitarian access, the implementation of protection measures in peacekeeping missions, and monitoring and reporting. In the past year, the Council also took several important decisions related to the special protection needs of women and children. We welcome the fact that the Council has started to address the concerns of the protection of civilians more systematically. We encourage it to continue to address those concerns consistently in its country-specific resolutions and presidential statements. However, the situation of civilians in armed conflicts around the world remains alarming.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Allow me first to thank the United Kingdom for organizing this open debate on the protection of civilians. Slovenia would like to congratulate Ms. Amos on her appointment as Under- Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. I would like to thank her, Under-Secretary-General Le Roy, High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay and the Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Daccord, for their presentations today. Let me stress that Slovenia fully aligns itself with the statements delivered by the representatives of the European Union and, on behalf of the Human Security Network, of Costa Rica. Last year was an important year in the Security Council for the issue of the protection of civilians.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Moreover, we are commemorating the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We fully support the campaign for universal ratification of the Optional Protocols to the Convention. We welcome and encourage further cooperation among the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, UNICEF, other relevant bodies and civil society. Finally, let me take this opportunity to encourage the Security Council to continue to address the issue of children and armed conflict and to seek the most effective means to improve the situation of children.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341Resumption1 (2010) · source
“It is important to efficiently and sustainably address the short-, medium- and long-term impacts of armed conflicts on children in an effective and comprehensive manner. It is therefore not only essential that children be released by armed forces and groups and returned to their families and communities, but it is essential also to address their psychosocial well-being and to ensure their development and their future without fear or threats of recruitment or the commission of other grave violations against them. This year the Security Council celebrates the fifth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1612 (2005), which established the monitoring and reporting mechanism and the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Following the adoption of Security Council resolutions 1882 (2009) and 1888 (2009), it is important to improve collection and verification of data on sexual violence against children and to develop the capacity to document incidents and trends on killing, maiming and sexual violence against children. We have also noted the recommendation in the report that in order to ensure the broad and effective protection of children, including for the purposes of preparing action plans, contacts between the United Nations and non-State actors should be allowed. The issue of children and armed conflict, as a cross-cutting issue, needs a comprehensive approach, where human rights, security and development go hand in hand.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341Resumption1 (2010) · source
“In this respect, we particularly support the recommendation of the Secretary-General to include child recruitment and use in the mandate of all its sanctions committees, to streamline the sharing of information between the Council's Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and its sanctions committees, and to ensure briefings by the Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict to the sanctions committees. We also believe that specific provisions for the protection of children should continue to be included in the mandates of all relevant United Nations peacekeeping operations, as well as political and peacebuilding missions, including by means of the deployment of Child Protection Advisers. We welcome the efforts of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in mainstreaming child protection into peacekeeping missions.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Stronger steps should be taken to address accountability and end impunity for perpetrators of violations, especially with respect to those groups and individuals who persistently commit grave violations against children and have been listed in the report for more than five years. Slovenia is convinced that the work of the International Criminal Court and other international tribunals will help break the culture of impunity for such crimes.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341Resumption1 (2010) · source
“We sincerely commend her for her courage and strength, and we wish her all the best. A great deal of progress has been made since the issue of children and armed conflict was put on the United Nations agenda. However, as we have heard today, the situation of children in some parts of the world is still alarming, and the international community is faced with new challenges in addressing the issue of children and armed conflict. We have noted with regret that new parties engaged in the recruitment of children have been added to the annexes of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2010/181). Slovenia welcomes the latest report and the recommendations contained in it.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341Resumption1 (2010) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for the initiative of Mexico to convene this important open debate and for the personal dedication and leadership of Ambassador Heller in chairing the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict. Slovenia fully aligns itself with the statements delivered earlier by the acting head of the delegation of the European Union, by the representative of Costa Rica on behalf of the Human Security Network and by the representative of Canada on behalf of the Group of Friends of children and armed conflict. We would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the other distinguished guests for their presentations today. My delegation was particularly touched by the testimony, this morning, of a former child soldier, Manju Gurung.”
2010-06-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6341Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Security Council working methods have developed over the years. However they still remain a work in progress and require regular review and implementation to further increase the Council's transparency, accountability and efficiency. Involvement of the wider membership in the work of the Security Council will remain key to better serving the whole Organization.”
2010-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6300 (2010) · source
“We welcome further consideration of ways to improve the transparency and the work of the sanctions committees, such as establishing the listing and de-listing procedures for individuals and entities and establishing an independent office of an ombudsman. We urge the permanent members to consider not casting a non-concurring vote within the meaning of Article 27, paragraph 3, of the Charter in the event of genocide, crimes against humanity or serious violations of international humanitarian law. In conclusion, we support initiatives to improve the efficiency of the Council's work and to improve its daily conduct of business - for example, allowing full participation of all members of the Council in the preparation of decisions, et cetera, and enhancing the capacity of newly elected members to fully discharge their duties.”
2010-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6300 (2010) · source
“Non-members of the Council would also benefit if the President of the Security Council made draft resolutions and draft presidential statements available to non-member States as soon as they are introduced within informal consultations of the whole. The Security Council should emphasize the importance of the rule of law in dealing with matters on its agenda. This embraces references to upholding and promoting international law and ensuring that its own decisions are firmly rooted in that body of law, including the Charter, general principles of law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law.”
2010-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6300 (2010) · source
“We welcome recent innovative approaches, such as informal interactive discussions and dialogue. In debates on situation-specific issues, parties directly affected or particularly interested should be allowed to speak prior to Council members to present their Views. The timing and quality of interaction with troop- and police-contributing countries could be further improved. We would welcome a further increase in the number of public meetings, in particular briefings by United Nations officials, as well as regular and timely briefings by Council members to non-members on the work of the Council and its subsidiary bodies. We welcome the holding of outcome-oriented thematic debates and we support the inclusion of key provisions of thematic resolutions in country-specific resolutions, as appropriate.”
2010-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6300 (2010) · source
“We welcome the progress achieved thus far with regard to regular briefings by the presidency to non-members at the beginning of each month, which provide a useful forecast of and information on the monthly programme of work of the Council. We also appreciate the consultations with non-members that have been organized by Uganda and Viet Nam during the past two years, before the adoption of the annual report of the Security Council. However there is a need for increased and widened interaction and dialogue between the Security Council and other United Nations Members, particularly directly affected, concerned and interested States, in accordance with Articles 31 and 32 of the Charter, and with relevant regional organizations. Arria Formula meetings should be used more frequently.”
2010-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6300 (2010) · source
“We also welcome and support the initiatives of the group of five small countries in this regard. The increasingly numerous activities undertaken by the Security Council have brought with them an enhanced impact on the membership at large. Non-members of the Council should therefore be better informed about the Council's work and should have an opportunity to contribute to that work. Further adapting the Security Council's working methods is one of the most important areas of reform of the Council, and one on which there is a broad sense of agreement. Slovenia welcomes the progress that has been made in recent years, in particular with regard to increasing the Council's transparency and efficiency, as well as its inclusiveness and interaction with non- member States.”
2010-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6300 (2010) · source
“Let me express my gratitude to you, Mr. President, for taking the initiative and convening today's open debate on the working methods of the Security Council and for preparing an excellent concept paper (S/2010/165, annex) to guide our discussion, focusing on the implementation of measures annexed to presidential note S/2006/507 of 19 July 2006. We believe it is both timely and appropriate for the Council and the wider United Nations membership to have this opportunity, since this is only the third time in 16 years that the Council has had a debate in an open format on this important issue. We wish to express our appreciation for Japan's continued leadership and for the efforts of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions that you, Mr. President, currently chair.”
2010-04-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6300 (2010) · source
“Every United Nations peacekeeping mission should include, as a priority, the protection of women and the safeguarding of women peacebuilders and should include information about sexual and gender- based violence in its regular reports to the Security Council. Furthermore, it is essential that all military and civilian personnel serving on United Nations peacekeeping missions receive training on the protection and rights of women. In conclusion, the European Union looks forward to the adoption of a strong and action-oriented draft resolution, with a broad sponsor base as an outcome of this thematic debate. We express our support for developing an effective and comprehensive system- wide approach for addressing the issue of sexual violence in situations of armed conflict with clear monitoring and accountability mechanisms.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916 (2008) · source
“There is a strong need to develop and promote innovative approaches that turn women from victims of rape into rape survivors. Such approaches should ensure their safety and support their access to justice, and should actively support their economic empowerment through income-generating activities. Furthermore, they should also ensure adequate care, recognizing women's sexual and reproductive health needs. On this occasion, the European Union reiterates its strong commitment to the zero-tolerance policy, in the firm belief that under no circumstances can gender- based violence be condoned in peacekeeping or other United Nations-led operations. There should be no impunity for gender-based violence in the United Nations.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916 (2008) · source
“The short- and long-term costs of sexual and gender-based violence were largely underestimated or ignored in the past and there still remains a lack of coordinated and effective action. Such violence is surrounded by a culture of silence and impunity, and the range and complexity of the underlying causes make it a difficult issue to address, particularly in conflict-affected situations, where judicial and security institutions are weak. Impunity for perpetrators and an insufficient response to the needs of survivors are unacceptable. Grave violations of women's human rights through massive rape and other sexual violence require the immediate attention of the International Criminal Court and other relevant tribunals.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916 (2008) · source
“Violence against women and girls, including rape and sexual slavery, is often used as a weapon of war in order to demoralize women themselves or the community to which they belong. Importantly, high levels of sexual and gender-based violence also rarely cease at the end of hostilities and continue well into the post-conflict phase. Examples from the recent past and, unfortunately, at this present moment show the extensiveness and severity of sexual violence against women in armed conflict. Today, armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are using sexual violence as a weapon of war to terrorize the population. In Darfur too, women and girls continue to be affected by high levels of gender-based violence and sexual crimes including rape, while impunity remains a serious problem.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916 (2008) · source
“Human rights and gender issues are being mainstreamed in our development cooperation policies. Through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights, we have supported women's participation in peace processes in Colombia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. Furthermore, the EU Initiative for Peacebuilding will be exploring ways to ensure the effective implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) by the international community, Governments and local civil society organizations. We also have a strong commitment to mainstream gender equality in the European Security and Defence Policy. Sexual and gender-based violence is an area of particular concern to women and girls in armed conflict situations, although we know now that also boys and men may be subjected to such violence and to sexual torture.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916 (2008) · source
“Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), linking gender equality to global security and acknowledging the importance of women's voices in building lasting peace, represents a milestone on the road to more gender-sensitive peace processes and security policies. We must considerably strengthen our efforts to guarantee the protection of women and girls in conflict-affected societies and to ensure their full and equal participation in peace processes at all levels, including negotiations and decision-making, insisting that women be fully engaged in all humanitarian, reconstruction and development programmes. The European Union believes that the best way to promote women's rights and women's empowerment and to respond to the needs of women is through a gender-sensitive approach.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916 (2008) · source
“The presence of the United States Secretary of State today, as well as that of other high- level representatives, shows that the international community understands the urgency of this important issue and stands ready to take it forward. We hope this timely and topical debate will help us do just that. I would like to recall a remark made by Major General Patrick Cammaert in his statement at today's debate, that it is more dangerous to be a woman that to be a soldier right now in armed conflict. Women have always been particularly vulnerable victims during armed conflicts, but in modern history sexual violence has developed into a method of warfare.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916 (2008) · source
“I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union (EU). The candidate countries Turkey, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia, align themselves with this statement. In the interest of time, I will limit myself to an abbreviated version of our statement. The complete and official statement on behalf of the European Union is being distributed in the room. I would like to begin by commending the United States presidency on the initiative to convene this thematic debate.”
2008-06-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5916 (2008) · source
“Finally, the EU commends the outreach programmes of the Tribunals, which disseminate the work of the Tribunals to the wider population in order to assist in achieving our key objective, that is, truth- telling and reconciliation processes in the respective post-conflict regions, and consequently to guarantee peace and security in the international community as a whole. The EU stands ready to take its share of the responsibility to achieve those objectives.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“We would like to underline that national judicial authorities need to carry out fair judicial proceedings and to provide that sentences are served in accordance with the appropriate security standards. The EU therefore attaches importance to the continued monitoring of referred trials to ensure that they are conducted in accordance with international standards. While the transfer of intermediate and lower-rank cases is a feasible solution in the light of an ongoing completion process, the EU remains convinced that, once apprehended, remaining high-level fugitives must be prosecuted and tried before an international tribunal. The EU welcomes the recent signing of agreements on the enforcement of sentences by Estonia and Slovakia and calls on other Member States to follow that example.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source
“The EU further welcomes the work that both the ICTY and the ICTR have undertaken on residual issues, and the EU welcomes the discussion of those issues, under Belgian leadership, within the informal Security Council working group on international tribunals. We acknowledge that the completion strategy has positive impacts on national judicial systems, and consequently on societies. The EU welcomes the creation of specialized institutions for the prosecution and trial of intermediate and lower-rank accused in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The EU also fully supports the strengthening of the Rwandan judicial system and the improvement of its capacity to start prosecuting cases awaiting referral from the ICTR.”
2008-06-04 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5904 (2008) · source