YouSaid · the spoken record

Susan Mwangi

lines on the record: 31
first: 2020-07-17
most recent: 2020-08-12
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“In partnership with other United Nations bodies, funds and agencies, particularly the Peacebuilding Commission, it will be critical to start building on and centralizing the findings and reports of national, regional and international stakeholders on this dynamic of health and peace, including the gendered and disproportionate impact of COVID-19, in order to have informed and contextualized guidelines and recommendations moving forward.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“The pandemic has also put tremendous strain on national health-care systems and economies across the globe, no matter the country’s development level. Consequently, the health crisis also has the potential of exacerbating underdevelopment as a trigger to instability, particularly in already weak economies. Sustainable funding is therefore essential for the sustainability of essential infrastructure. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to harmonize medical, public and political responses to pandemics. In conclusion, the Council also needs to start looking ahead in terms of what the world post-COVID-19 will look like for women, children, displaced persons and marginalized and vulnerable populations in conflict-affected and fragile countries and regions.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“The pandemic-related security situation creates an important opportunity to broaden and hasten the implementation of the existing recommendations contained in the resolutions on women and peace and security and on youth, peace and security, particularly with respect to the pillars of participation, protection, prevention and partnership within the pandemic framework. Additionally, the international community, upon request from national stakeholders, can rally around fragile countries and offer support in building resilient critical governance infrastructure, particularly health-care systems, and ensure the training of personnel and the provision of essential equipment. Access to functioning health facilities can mitigate the risk posed by the health and insecurity nexus.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“The implementation of a global ceasefire will ensure that peace operations continue to deliver on their mandates in times of health crises. National and regional policies that include transparency and accountability measures during pandemics will further ensure the safety of all personnel, including the free movement of humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable. We have also witnessed the essential contribution of women in peace operations. namely, women as community leaders and also as front-line health responders. However, women and girls have also been disproportionately hit by the health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“In that regard, Kenya stands behind the Secretary-General’s call, on 23 March, for silencing the guns globally. We also fully align ourselves with the call of the AU Commission Chairperson, His Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat’s, on 8 April, that all of us focus on collectively fighting COVID-19 as a united global community. The COVID-19 pandemic is also having a huge impact on peace operations in mission settings. Similarly, humanitarian aid flows and ongoing peace negotiations between warring parties have also been negatively impacted, particularly in refugee and internally displaced persons camps. In that regard, my delegation wishes to recognize the sacrifice of peacekeepers, local peacebuilders, community leaders, women and youth organizations, civil society and health personnel in Africa and globally.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“The African Union has continued to champion the region’s work in solidarity with the ongoing mitigation efforts through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure Africa is not left behind when it comes to production of vaccines and essential equipment. Existing fragility and conflict situations are some of the triggers that can transform a health crisis into a security threat. The pandemic’s impact in fragile and conflict-affected countries, for example, in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and other regions that are in protracted conflict situations, is proof that pandemics can be an evolving threat to peace. This health crisis also has the potential to create a platform where violent extremism and terrorism can further thrive, and has proved to create interruptions to ongoing peace negotiations.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“Given the significant impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, there is an even greater possibility of setbacks to the gains that have been achieved in ensuring food security, poverty eradication, the growth of domestic industries and regional integration. We saw significant setbacks during the 2014-2015 Ebola crisis in West Africa, and therefore there is a need to prioritize, invest and identify new security partners, including health and technology experts, to build resilient infrastructure. The role of regional and subregional organizations in addressing the impact of COVID-19 is critical.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“Sarah Cliffe, Director of the Center on International Cooperation, have further demonstrated that pandemics have multifaceted implications on peace and security and are spiking humanitarian needs, not to mention reverting peacebuilding and development gains with a disproportionate impact on the poorest and most vulnerable. Therefore, pandemics cannot be addressed solely as health concerns, particularly in conflict-affected regions and countries emerging from conflict. In that regard, it is indeed critical to strengthen socioeconomic capacities of countries in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU).”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“It is therefore critical for the Council to have an established framework to mitigate the threat of pandemics in future, including in the areas of sustaining peace, health and economic security. Climate change and environmental challenges have also proved to be additional hurdles that countries have to overcome during the pandemic. Kenya and other countries in the Horn of Africa and the Central African region are addressing the pandemic amidst other competing emergencies, including floods and waves of locust infestations. The various briefings by Secretary-General António Guterres, former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Ms.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic persists, Governments across the globe are taking measures to address the unprecedented political and socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic on their populations. For most countries, the challenges are multifaceted. Kenya therefore commends Indonesia for bringing the global reality of pandemics and their implications for peacebuilding and sustaining peace before the Security Council for consideration. Resolution 2532 (2020), adopted on 1 July and regarding COVID-19, is further evidence that we need to act together to address the challenges posed by pandemics in sustaining peace and peacebuilding. Efforts to flatten the curve are happening amid diverse realities in the peace-conflict continuum. The multiplicity of these challenges are indeed a test of international crisis management.”
2020-08-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/799 (2020) · source
“We are also witnessing the phenomenon of so-called lone actors capitalizing on the pandemic circumstances to recruit individuals among vulnerable groups in the society. The Secretary-General has also noted that the pandemic presents opportunities for cybercriminal networks to thrive when law enforcement agencies are stretched in their monitoring capabilities. In conclusion , my delegation recognizes the transboundary nature of the crime-terror continuum and calls on Member States to deepen partnerships, collaboration and the sharing of relevant information in order to effectively address the problem, and to strengthen the Council and relevant United Nations entities to ensure Member States implement the relevant resolutions.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“In line with the FATF recommendations, in March 2019 Kenya established the Task Force on National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in order to implement extensive measures to avert and diminish the threats emanating from crime-terror linkages, which impact the integrity of the international financial system. Despite these measures, the evolving coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has presented new dynamics and challenges in combating terrorism and organized crime. Regrettably while Governments are focused on combating COVID-19, terrorist groups like the Islamic State, Al-Qaida and their affiliates, including Al-Shabaab, have seized the opportunity to stage attacks.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“Kenya has established the Border Management Agency Control Unit to proactively enhance border security and management operations to combat cross-border security threats throughout the 34 border-crossing points while improving legitimate trade and travel with neighbouring countries. International cooperation in countering the financing of terrorism is critical. Kenya is a member of the Eastern and Southern Anti-Money Laundering Group, an Associate Member of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that is mandated to set standards and promote the effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures to combat money-laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“The Government has prioritized this issue and intensified national efforts to counter terrorism and combat organized crime. Terrorism tends to benefit from proceeds and networks of organized crime. The Kenyan Government has therefore consolidated and strengthened existing counter-terrorism and organized crime-related legislative frameworks and enacted new ones, including the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Security Laws Amendment Act. These laws have collectively proved successful in prosecuting terrorist and organized criminal actors. We have also taken steps to strengthen and promote multiagency cooperation through training and joint operations.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“Kenya commends Indonesia for convening us to exchange views on this critical issue, including the informative briefings from the various briefers. The threats of transnational terrorism and organized crime to international peace and security are interlinked. Understanding this dynamic and complex confluence is an important first step in designing appropriate measures to prevent, detect, deter or deny the perpetrators their respective capabilities. Today’s deliberations will afford Member States the opportunity to consider the crime-terrorism nexus and derive insights on how to enhance existing policies and legislative frameworks at the national, regional and international levels. Kenya has taken several measures to address this two-fold threat.”
2020-08-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/791 (2020) · source
“In conclusion, we reiterate Kenya’s continued engagement and commitment in all matters pertaining to the implementation of recommendations contained in resolution 1325 (2000), including subsequent related resolutions and those regarding conflict-related sexual violence.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“A recent example is the 2020 report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (S/2020/525), which contained inaccuracies on this issue and others, including glaring inconsistencies, contradictions and outright impossibilities. When unverified accusations find their way into the Security Council, it is not only unhelpful for the would-be victims of sexual violations, but it puts in doubt the credibility of such reports. To retain the usefulness of reports adopted by the Security Council, it needs to ensure that the reports adopted are factual and meet the evidential threshold. Offices in the secretariat that publish misleading reports should be held accountable.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“The Security Council and its secretariat have an important role to play when it comes to monitoring compliance with its own resolutions and acting upon breaches of same, including listing credibly suspected perpetrators and enacting sanctions. That has to be done in partnership with Member States in order to enhance accountability. However, there are concerns in the manner in which the secretariat has been reporting on suspected cases. In many occasions, the relevant offices in the secretariat have presented cases of suspected sexual and other violations against women and children as facts without proper investigations. Many such allegations have been proved to be untrue.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“Although we have made progress towards the implementation of the various initiatives, we note that we still face challenges. We must expand the scope of prevention to ensure it is the preserve of not just security agencies but the whole of society, including local, grass-roots actors and religious leaders. We must also address the persistent lack of reliable baseline records and inadequate documentation of good practices at the local levels. In addition, the enactment of the Sexual Offences Act has not been matched with adequate legal training of officers and agents. As a result, there are still inconsistencies when it comes to judicial action.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“The AU Continental Results Framework is geared towards monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda in Africa. We are pleased to be among the Member States that validated the Framework in March 2019. Since then, recent efforts have focused on ensuring that Kenya’s national action plan aligns its monitoring and evaluation tools with the Framework. The Council needs to integrate these continental and subregional instruments into their work and decisions. Kenya has also ratified a number of key international instruments focused on addressing sexual and gender-based violence, such as the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“The Nyumba Kumi initiative acts as both a preventive and a protective measure, whereby vulnerable groups, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, can find safe homes and safe reporting platforms. On our commitment to regional and international instruments, Kenya participates and supports African Union (AU) initiatives that address inequalities and sexual violence in conflict, including the African Union Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa and the 2018 African Union policy on prevention and response to sexual exploitation and abuse for peace support operations. The AU Commission has also adopted a zero-tolerance policy on sexual violence in times of conflict and peace.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“In all Government ministries, focal officers have been appointed to champion, monitor and report on the implementation of the women and peace and security national action plan within their sectors. In addition, we have set up a task force on women, peace and security within the Gender Sector Working Group as a platform to bring together public and private actors to advance our national gender priorities. Partnership between the police and civil society in raising awareness about sexual and gender-based violence has reduced barriers to accessing police stations to report cases of sexual and gender- based violence. Community-based programmes to end cultural and structural violence against women have also been critical. For the victim, the stigma and shame attached to sexual violence often prevents disclosure.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“Women have also been involved in the design and implementation of the national conflict early-warning and early- response mechanisms, where women chair at least one third of the 233 sub-county peace committees across the country. Women are also being trained as mediators across fragile and conflict-affected counties. Moreover, the deployment of Kenyan women in peace support operations stands at 19 per cent, surpassing the United Nations-recommended 15 per cent. These are key leadership dockets that are central to the prevention and management of armed conflict. These initiatives also enhance accountability by ensuring that women are not only survivors, but also key leaders in making decisions and formulating strategies pertaining to sexual violence in conflict. We have also established a whole-of-government reporting mechanism.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“There are various initiatives in place aimed at enhancing income generation by women at the grass- roots level, including those recovering from violent conflicts. Some examples of that include the Women Enterprise Fund, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the Uwezo Fund. With regard to women’s leadership and participation in key peace positions, our Government has appointed women as leaders in key positions on the peace- conflict continuum. For the first time, the Kenya Defence Forces has a female major general, who is in charge of personnel and logistics. The President also appointed Kenya’s first woman Cabinet Secretary for Defence.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“Our national guidelines on the management of sexual violence and our training of military and police personnel on sexual and gender-based violence include essential procedures and services for survivors of sexual violence. The review of standard operating procedures for the prevention and response to sexual and gender- based violence includes gender-sensitive desks in police stations, where the first point of contact is a woman officer, as well as the timely referral of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence to seek medical attention. Those efforts have resulted in increased dignity for survivors, reduced silence and greater reporting of sexual and gender-based violence, as well as less stigma towards survivors. We also invest in relief for, and the recovery of, survivors.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“In the semi-arid lands of Kenya, the distances women and girls walk in search for water, for example, increases their vulnerability to conflict and puts them at risk of sexual violence. Kenya’s Government has undertaken critical initiatives and has reached key milestones in translating our commitments into compliance. For example, Kenya has adopted a survivor-centred approach through legal frameworks in place to address sexual and gender-based violence, including Kenya’s Constitution, which contains provisions on gender equality and guarantees a wide range of rights for both men and women. Kenya has also made considerable strides in addressing sexual-based violence, including through the Sexual Offences Act, whose primary purpose is to ensure justice for survivors.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“The 2019 review and assessment process of the implementation of phase I highlighted increased women participation at all decision-making levels in all institutions and mechanisms for conflict prevention, management and resolution. It also revealed enhanced prevention and reporting of sexual and gender-based violence and increased protection of women and girls against violence. Additionally, enhanced accountability and timely and effective access to justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence were observed. Some of the priorities of phase II include addressing climate-related issues that exacerbate the risk of sexual violence and the increased vulnerability of women and girls in conflicts arising from natural disasters and intercommunal and pastoral violence over natural resources.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“In 2016, Kenya inaugurated its national action plan, with strategies for strengthening its judicial mechanisms and ensuring a survivor-centred approach in the fight against sexual violence in conflict, within the framework of resolution 1325 (2000) and the women and peace and security agenda. The operationalization of those strategies has ensured a conflict- and gender-sensitive approach in addressing matters pertaining to gender-based violence. Our national action plan is aptly known as “Kuhusisha Wanawake ni Kudumisha Amani”, or “to Involve Women is to Sustain Peace” — and has been translated into local languages in partnership with civil society. In April, Kenya rolled out phase II of our national action plan for 2020 to 2024, having completed the benchmarks of phase I, which ended in 2018.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“Additionally, the lack of women in leadership roles and the lack of preventive, inclusive and accessible judicial and social protection systems play a key role in propagating sexual violence in conflict. Unaccountability and impunity thrive in such environments. My delegation also recognizes that addressing sexual violence in conflict is a collective endeavour, and not just a women’s affair. Creating awareness, training and ownership of the process must involve the whole of society for sustainable results. We therefore believe that it is critical, despite our diverse cultural and social norms, to take a whole-of-society approach, where young boys and men can also see their role in championing and implementing the women and peace and security agenda.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“As we look back and ahead on our commitments to the mandates regarding conflict-related sexual violence, my delegation welcomes the call by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Pramila Patten, and the other civil society speakers, from the Central African Republic and Myanmar, who reminded us of the need to move from resolutions to results, the centrality of accountability and the need to maintain a survivor-centred approach, in line with resolution 2467 (2019). Gender inequality, the discriminatory perception of gender role and human trafficking and exploitation are among the factors that touch directly on women and contribute to the disproportionate impact on women and girls in both conflict and non-conflict situations.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source
“Kenya extends its compliments to the Federal Republic of Germany for remaining seized on the women and peace and security agenda. Addressing conflict- related sexual violence is a human security issue. Furthermore, no one should ever suffer the scourge and indignity of being sexually violated — in conflict situations or otherwise. We therefore thank both Germany and the Dominican Republic for their continued work as the current co-Chairs of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of landmark resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, championed by Namibia in 2000, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and the review year of Silencing the Guns in Africa.”
2020-07-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/727 (2020) · source