YouSaid · the spoken record

Szczerski

lines on the record: 267
first: 2019-08-27
most recent: 2023-12-29
sittings or episodes: 42
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

“As already indicated by the Ukrainian Administration and further confirmed by the recent report of Human Rights Watch, the forced transfer of civilians from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the from the overrun city of Mariupol to the Russian Federation has been conducted by Russian and Russian-affiliated troops and officials. We express our grave concern about the deportation of civilians to Russia. We are also deeply worried by the establishment of the so-called filtration centres for people evacuated from the besieged and temporarily occupied territories. The accounts of those who were subjected to forced transfers and filtration processes are horrifying. Such practices bring to mind Stalinist methods. Their systematic character leads us to assume that they might have been premeditated.”
2022-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9126 (2022) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for convening this briefing to discuss yet another disturbing aspect of the war in Ukraine. I also thank the briefers for their insightful remarks and alarming information. It is a tragic, yet verifiable, fact that every conflict brings terrible suffering to civilians. After the Second World War, we know that all too well in Poland. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is no exception. Deliberate attacks against the civilian population have forced millions of Ukrainians to seek shelter outside their home country. Evidence has emerged that, in their attempts to flee the territories occupied by Russia, they have been faced with yet another dire choice, which the representative of Ukraine just mentioned, or what is in fact no choice at all — to leave Ukraine for Russia or not to leave at all.”
2022-09-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9126 (2022) · source
“We underline the importance of mainstreaming children’s rights in the areas of early warning, conflict analysis, the peaceful settlement of disputes, transitional justice and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. The most constructive way to empower young people and ensure that they are not radicalized is to invest in high-quality education. We strongly condemn attacks against students, teachers and schools, as well as the use of schools for military purposes. Appropriate and timely reintegration support is crucial for the future of children who were formerly associated with armed groups. Poland is proud to be a member of the Steering Committee for the Global Coalition for Reintegration, as well as the Group of Friends of Reintegration, and we are eager to further engage in the activities of those forums.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The international community should do everything in its power to hold the perpetrators accountable and protect Ukrainian children’s right to identity, including their nationality. We are also deeply disturbed by the tragic situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s leaders have not only failed to keep their promises — as they are blocking girls’ access to second- level education — but also openly stated that they have shut schools indefinitely. The Taliban is stripping away the rights that women have fought for over the past two decades. We in the international community have not done enough to make the Taliban abide by its obligations.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Just this past week, Russian missiles that struck the city of Vinnytsia killed at least 23 people, including three children. Across the country, hundreds of schools have been destroyed by Russian shelling and air strikes. We therefore welcome the decision to include Ukraine as a situation of concern in the next report and call for additional reporting and monitoring in accordance with the children and armed conflict mandate, without further delay. We would like to turn the Security Council’s attention to the thousands of Ukrainian children transferred to Russia against their will. Such actions constitute a violation of both the Genocide Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“For millions of children around the globe, living in a conflict-affected area is tantamount to being deprived of one’s childhood and basic human rights, including the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and to education, which we recently discussed with Mrs. Gamba de Potgieter in a conference at the Polish Mission. Given the return of war to European soil caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as other ongoing crises described in the Secretary-General’s annual report for 2021(S/2022/493), we must continue to scale up our efforts. The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reports that nearly 1,000 children have suffered as a result of massive Russian military strikes.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank Brazil for convening this debate and all of the briefers for their remarks. I would also like to reaffirm Poland’s strong support for the Special Representative’s mandate and thank her for all her efforts to put an end to violations and abuses against children. Poland remains firmly committed to protecting children in armed conflict. We strongly condemn all violations and abuses against children. Parties to conflict should cease violations against children and show compliance with international humanitarian law, international human rights law, international refugee law and international child protection norms.”
2022-07-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9096Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Just as the war in Ukraine has changed our approach to global security, it is similarly important to change our commitment to the women and peace and security agenda. We need more credibility, more practical engagement and more visibility. Poland stands ready to further support such cooperation so that it can fulfil its unquestionably untapped potential.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Furthermore, in view of the tragic events affecting Ukraine and Afghanistan, where the Taliban is effectively excluding half of the population from public life, as well as other conflict- affected societies all over the world, our determination to take more decisive action and go beyond the standard commitments under the women and peace and security agenda should be stronger. Poland believes firmly in the value of regional security cooperation. We support the cooperation of all Europe-based regional organizations with the United Nations, as contact between them contributes to global and regional stability. I would like to once again reiterate that close ties between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations are essential to ensuring the availability of a variety of tactics and solutions to global challenges.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In addition, we would like to highlight that the OSCE takes its commitments seriously, ensuring that supervisory positions related to security issues, such as positions of special representatives and heads of field missions, are entrusted to women. One such example is Olga Skripovscaia, who leads the largest team of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine in Donetsk. The sustainability of the progress achieved so far in the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda remains a priority.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In that spirit, Poland has decided to give financial support to a number of projects implemented by the OSCE that aim to increase the number of women employed in sectors traditionally reserved for men, such as the energy sector and State security services, thereby strengthening women’s participation in policymaking and in bodies dealing with water management and conflict resolution that focus on Central Asia and Afghanistan. We also commend the initiative of the OSCE Networking Platform for Women Leaders, launched in December by OSCE Secretary- General Helga Maria Schmid. The informal platform brings together mediators and experts involved in peace processes in the OSCE region in order to exchange experiences and best practices.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In that regard, NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union and the Council of Europe continue to play prominent and influential roles in conflict and post-conflict environments. We are glad that all those organizations have duly recognized the significance of the women and peace and security agenda for conflict prevention and resolution and have taken active steps to promote it and make it a reality. Poland, as this year’s OSCE Chairman-in-Office, is a strong advocate of the practical approach to the women and peace and security agenda, both in the workings of the organization and in the implementation of its activities.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I would like thank Albania for organizing today’s open debate. My appreciation goes also to the briefers for their insightful remarks and their work to translate the women and peace and security agenda into reality. We welcome the focus of this debate. We share the view that the enormous challenges currently witnessed in global politics have resulted in the increased relevance and role of regional organizations. They are often best positioned and equipped to understand and react adequately to the root causes of armed conflicts in their respective regions. Europe has the longest and most significant record of building collective security institutions at the regional level.”
2022-06-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9064Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Let me conclude by referring to the ranking of States helping Ukraine the most in terms of political, military, financial and other support, just published by Forbes Ukraine, where Poland has ranked first, with the United States and Estonia following. We are thankful for that kind appreciation, but we would prefer to trade it for the end of this war of aggression waged by Russia and, instead, enter the ranking of States helping Ukraine to rebuild stronger and even more resilient.”
2022-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9056 (2022) · source
“We commend the work of the United Nations system in preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence and on its support to Member States aimed at strengthening national responsibilities in that respect. In that context, I would like to mention the important actions by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF, which provide valuable expertise and support in emergency situations. Aside from immediate action, we must ensure accountability for such crimes at both the national and the international levels. It constitutes a key element of prevention and justice for victims, on which we must deliver. It is a matter of urgency not only for the victims, but also for the credibility of the whole international system established by us, the United Nations.”
2022-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9056 (2022) · source
“Moreover, the Polish Government urgently implemented new immigration measures for Ukrainians fleeing the war by adopting a special law in March, effective from 24 February. It stipulates that Ukrainian refugees can obtain a Polish identification number, which entitles them to work legally in Poland and have free access to the public health-care system, schooling and social benefits and support. Ukrainian citizens have access to the Polish health-care system on the same footing, and are subject to the same entitlements as insured Polish citizens, including when it comes to psychological and sexual health care. What is more, all reception centres in the regions neighbouring Ukraine have first-aid medical points and are assigned to specific hospitals and emergency services in the region.”
2022-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9056 (2022) · source
“Relevant information leaflets in Polish, English and Ukrainian are widely distributed among the refugees, local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media and through the Internet. In addition, to prevent human trafficking, the police are deploying officers from anti-crime sections to the border regions, border crossings and train and bus stations, as well as reception centres, in order to help potential victims and identify individuals or groups trying to exploit them. In the case that an alleged crime is reported, the police assist a potential victim who does not speak Polish with an interpreter and other specialized assistance that may be needed. State structures are joined in those efforts by numerous NGOs active on the ground from day one.”
2022-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9056 (2022) · source
“Along with humanitarian aid related to hosting on Polish soil the largest number of refugees in history, we are also undertaking considerable efforts to address the effects of conflict-related human trafficking and sexual abuse. All our efforts are conducted according to Polish, European Union and international regulations in a non-discriminatory manner. The Polish Border Guard and police have implemented numerous measures aimed at preventing and mitigating those effects, including specialized and awareness-raising training for officers, as well as information campaigns for existing and potential victims. Any incident of possible human trafficking and sexual crimes can be reported 24/7 to police officers who speak Ukrainian and Russian. All reported incidents are subject to prompt verification.”
2022-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9056 (2022) · source
“I wish to thank you, Mr. President, for this briefing, which allows us to discuss yet another troubling aspect of the war in Ukraine that needs to be brought to the attention of the international community. I also thank the briefers for their valuable words, but even more for their very valuable deeds on the ground. Every conflict brings terrible suffering to civilians. The Russian aggression against Ukraine is no exception. Civilians, in particular women and children, have become targets of not only Russian rockets and bombs but also the cruel, cynical and merciless perpetrators of trafficking in human beings and gender-based violence. As a neighbouring country and a primary destination for the refugees coming from Ukraine, Poland is especially aware of those harsh realities.”
2022-06-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9056 (2022) · source
“Although the Soviet responsibility for the massacre was finally confirmed after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the victims’ relatives are still seeking justice 82 years later. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past. Assuring justice and accountability is our common obligation in the face of every war crime committed, no matter where in the world.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“It is never too late to do so. Many examples show that victims await justice for decades. The Katyn massacre, during which almost 22,000 Polish prisoners of war were executed by the Soviets in the spring of 1940, is one such example of the most atrocious crimes and illustrates the repugnant process of avoiding international responsibility. It is a blatant example of the denial and distortion of the truth and concealment of the facts, thereby preventing a proper investigation. To date, the families of Katyn victims have not received any sort of redress due to the fact that the perpetrators of the massacre disappeared, first because of the Soviet presence among the Allies and then due to the fog of the Cold War, when the Allied Powers chose to turn a blind eye to it.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“After all, the preservation of international peace and security is not solely the task of the Security Council and requires an active and effective search for legal solutions to ensure that justice is delivered. In a world in which access to the global network of communication is rapidly growing, Poland also attaches great importance to the issue of countering propaganda and disinformation. The work of independent and free media constitutes an effective accountability mechanism used to document gross violations of international law and serves as a platform for bringing the necessary attention to victims. The process of strengthening accountability and justice for war crimes and serious violations of international law cannot be completed without establishing truth, justice and effective remedies for victims and their families.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“In that context, reference should be made to the principle enshrined in Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Charter of the United Nations, requiring that all members fulfil, in good faith, the obligations they have assumed in accordance with the Charter. That principle also applies to the veto power exercised by the five permanent members of the Council. If a permanent Council member uses a veto to avoid responsibility for aggression, as Russia recently did, then such behaviour constitutes an abuse of its veto rights and cannot be considered to be in accordance with international law. In cases in which the Security Council’s work is being obstructed, appropriate actions should be taken by other United Nations organs.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“The Security Council should play a significant role in that process, and a special duty within this organ lies with its permanent members. While pursuing the main goal of the United Nations to maintain international peace and security, the Council also has a track record of strengthening justice and accountability for serious violations of international law. It is unacceptable that there have been instances — including in the context of the Syrian conflict and the current war in Ukraine — in which some Council members have acted against the goals of the United Nations by preventing international lawbreakers from being brought to justice. In doing so, they have obstructed accountability for violations of international law and made it difficult if not impossible to punish the perpetrators.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“I wish to express our appreciation to the Albanian presidency for organizing this open debate and to all briefers and delegations for their important contributions on this timely topic. I say so especially given that Poland is a proud member of the Group of Friends of Accountability following the aggression against Ukraine. Let us be honest with ourselves. We did not succeed, as an international community, in preventing the Russian war against Ukraine. It is therefore not our duty, as some voices are advocating, to search for face-saving solutions for the aggressors — rather, we must do everything we can to save the face of the international community. That strategy should be based on assuring justice and accountability for the crimes and serious violations of international law committed in Ukraine.”
2022-06-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9052 (2022) · source
“On many occasions, Russia used such instruments as weapons in political conflicts, imposing prohibitive tariffs on Polish food products or simply banning them from their markets. Such methods are not acceptable in times of peace, let alone by a country waging a bloody war against its neighbour.”
2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Moreover, in 2021 Poland joined the School Meals Coalition because it understands that school meals programmes help to combat child hunger, poverty and multiple forms of malnutrition. The current food security crisis is not the result of the sanctions imposed on Russia. It is a ripple effect of the ongoing Russian aggression that from day one aimed at disrupting the production and export of agricultural products from Ukraine. Russia might have hoped that the negative consequences felt by many countries would prevent the international community from providing support to Ukraine. The result they achieved was just the opposite, and once again the international community has proved Russia wrong. In general, Poland is against imposing sanctions on food production, as in the past we were actually targeted by Russian sanctions in that area.”
2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036Resumption1 (2022) · source
“That is why Poland contributed financially to World Food Programme initiatives in Kenya and Syria in 2020 and to World Food Programme actions in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Yemen in 2021. Poland is not only an important food producer, but it can also store and process large amounts of food and food products. We are ready to cooperate and share our experience, and extend an offer to help process, preserve and store food. The development and prudent management of such capacities worldwide is crucial in order to avoid food waste, another factor contributing to hunger and food shortages. Poland also contributes to bilateral development projects that increase the food production capacity of local partners. In Kenya, we support a project that aims at creating an efficient irrigation system that is independent of weather conditions.”
2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036Resumption1 (2022) · source
“We therefore remain open to further cooperation and will comprehensively support the Ukrainian side in this difficult situation. Thirdly, we call on the international community to provide immediate support to Ukraine in its efforts to expand its storage and logistics capacities for agricultural and food products damaged by the Russian aggression. Meanwhile, we are convinced that arranging for additional storage capacities in countries neighbouring Ukraine could provide a temporary solution to that problem. Poland is ready to continue its cooperation with the international community in the global fight against the food crisis through Polish development assistance. We are convinced that it is necessary to protect the countries most threatened by famine, namely, in Africa, the Middle East and Europe’s neighbourhood.”
2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036Resumption1 (2022) · source
“It also stressed its deep concern about the threat of the Russian authorities to limit food supplies to countries supporting Ukraine. Secondly, Poland, in close cooperation with Ukraine, works on facilitating the export of Ukrainian grain and food products by means of our transport infrastructure, including railroads and seaports. With that in mind, the agriculture ministers of Poland and Ukraine met this week in Warsaw, along with their United States counterpart, to sign an agreement on the transport of Ukrainian grain through Poland. It is estimated that by using Polish transport infrastructure Ukraine can export up to 2 million tons of grain a month, while a capacity of 5 million is needed to avoid a severe crisis.”
2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036Resumption1 (2022) · source
“First, the repercussions of the Russian aggression against Ukraine on international food insecurity was one of the main themes of the Regional Conference for Europe of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which took place in Poland this week. The thirty-third session of FAO for Europe adopted a decision — almost unanimously — condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. It called upon Russia to immediately cease hostilities in order to allow for the full resumption of agricultural production. It also requested FAO to prepare and implement recovery plans to ensure food security in the countries most affected by the conflict. In the adopted decision, the Conference expressed its solidarity and support for Ukraine, as well as recognition for the countries supporting Kyiv and accepting refugees.”
2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036Resumption1 (2022) · source
“It also strongly condemns “the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival, including wilfully impeding relief supply and access for responses to conflict-induced food insecurity in situations of armed conflict” (ibid., para 6). Unfortunately, this particular appeal needs to be added to a long list of regulations that have been broken by a member of the Security Council itself — Russia — through its aggression against Ukraine. In recent weeks, food security has been raised in multiple forums. Let me share three ways in which Poland works to counter this crisis.”
2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I would like to express our appreciation to all briefers for their valuable and thought-provoking remarks. Poland aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union, and I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity. Let me start by saying that Poland is very proud to recall that, almost exactly four years ago, during Poland’s presidency of the Security Council, the Council voted unanimously to adopt resolution 2417 (2018), mentioned so often today, on conflict-induced food insecurity. The resolution calls on all parties to armed conflicts to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and “strongly condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare” (resolution 2417 (2018), para. 5).”
2022-05-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9036Resumption1 (2022) · source
“In the light of this enormous humanitarian crisis, much more can be done by the international community to respond to rapidly raising challenges. This is why Poland and Sweden have taken the initiative to convene on 5 May a high-level international donor conference for Ukraine to mobilize substantial pledges in support of the United Nations humanitarian response in Ukraine and to discuss how to respond to the challenges created by the Russian war against Ukraine. The event will be an opportunity to show solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people through practical means, which is so greatly needed today. Please show up.”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“Furthermore, to ensure the safety of minor Ukrainian citizens, we developed a special legal procedure for the safekeeping of the records of unaccompanied minors and their actual caregivers. Thirdly, we are deeply concerned at the fate of people who were forcibly taken far into Russia’s territory. According to some reports, there are 500,000 people who share this plight, including over 120,000 children. We see the urgent need for reflection about what can be done by relevant United Nations agencies, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration, to stop and prevent this process. We should make a distinction between those fleeing from aggression and those being forcibly deported. This distinction is currently not being made in United Nations statistics.”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“We therefore encourage the United Nations to take this opportunity to work more closely with our Governments to increase the efficiency of the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine. Secondly, there is an urgent need to adequately respond to and prevent such displacement-related risks as human trafficking and abuse. Poland has undertaken actions to address challenges related to the risks of trafficking in human beings. In this context, the Polish Border Guard, police and other authorities have increased their actions to prevent and counter human trafficking. Relevant authorities have undertaken appropriate information campaigns. For example, special alerts containing comprehensive information about potential threats, possible assistance and dedicated hotline numbers are disseminated to all refugees entering Poland.”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“We would like to encourage the United Nations institutions involved in the relief efforts to use Poland’s infrastructure, as our resources allow us to reach even the most distant regions of eastern Ukraine, as we did a few days ago with the largest shipment of aid yet — 120 container railway cars with 1,500 tons of aid for Zaporizhia and Kharkiv. Poland and Ukraine have well-functioning systems of national and local government institutions and logistics, including transportation and storage facilities, which are ready to be used. Today the Polish Prime Minister opened the first “container town” for internally displaced persons in Lviv, which was fully funded by Poland. He also announced similar projects to be launched in towns around Kyiv, including Bucha. Shelter of this type, which covers 1,000 people, costs around $8 million.”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“The unprecedented scale of the crisis requires increased involvement of United Nations agencies and the support of the international community as a whole. Only a concerted effort will bring relief to those who are suffering, and this help must come not in words, but in deeds. For the sake of time, I would simply like to draw Council members’ attention to the following three aspects. First, with regard to the need for coordination of our efforts, since the beginning of the war, the Polish Government, non-governmental organizations and individual society members have been delivering humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and facilitating deliveries of aid from third countries. In fact, between 1,500 to 2,000 tons of such aid are being shipped from Poland every day.”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“We are trying to be as flexible as possible as we adjust Polish regulations to the current reality. For example, by today, almost 1 million Ukrainian refugees have received a Polish personal identification number, and around 180,000 refugee children have enrolled in Polish schools. This has solved one of the most challenging problems of any refugee crisis, namely, personal registration. At the same time, it is obvious that Poland and other neighbouring countries of Ukraine will not be able to shoulder the burden of this crisis on their own, even though, in Poland, we operate according to a simple principle: we first help with our own means, and only when our resources are exhausted do we ask for international assistance — not the other way around.”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“Let me be 100 per cent frank: the answer is both yes and no. Yes, we have seen an exceptional outpouring of solidarity and political support from many corners of the world. Our societies have opened their hearts and homes to the distressed, and our Governments have strongly condemned the aggressor and followed up with sanctions regimes. The General Assembly has adopted important resolutions. In Poland, we have almost 15 million households. Taking into account that we have welcomed almost 3 million people from Ukraine, that means, statistically, that one in five Polish families lives now with guests from abroad. The reception of such a large number of refugees requires the Polish Government and local authorities to undertake enormous efforts in order to provide shelter, access to health care and education.”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“The rate at which people are fleeing Ukraine is unprecedented, even when compared with the displacement crises in Venezuela, Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. Since day one of the war, Poland has remained open to those fleeing the atrocities of the Russian aggression, and we have registered people of 170 nationalities. All of them are treated equally and accordingly with their legal status. We are now welcoming in our homes most of the 3 million people in question. Estimates show that 75 per cent of them voluntarily decided to stay in Poland, and we welcome their choice. We need to ask ourselves one very simple question. Since we all agree that this crisis is on an unprecedented scale and the fastest-growing one since the Second World War, have we all, as the international community, responded to it on an unprecedented scale, too?”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“I would like to thank the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees and the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for their interventions today. It is important that both the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the IOM maintain their presence across Ukraine and support refugees and internally displaced persons in their everyday needs. As a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we are witnessing one of the gravest displacement and humanitarian crises on record. On 6 March, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, rightly described it as the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War.”
2022-04-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9018 (2022) · source
“Reports of the indiscriminate killing of civilians, including women and children, as well as of cases of sexual violence, represent the most horrific atrocities; they have no place in twenty-first-century Europe, yet they are still happening. If we want to prevent a vicious circle of powerlessness towards the deteriorating situation of women, girls and men affected by conflict- related sexual violence, we need to act urgently. It is our common obligation to make sure that those responsible for such barbaric atrocities are held accountable in accordance with international law. To conclude, let me reiterate that Poland stands in solidarity with all survivors of sexual violence in conflict and urges greater support and empowerment for those affected by such crimes.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Moreover, on 28 February the Polish National Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation concerning the war of aggression against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine. Furthermore, the Pilecki Institute — an institution for research into crimes committed by totalitarian regimes that operates in Poland — has established the Raphael Lemkin Center for Documenting Russian Crimes in Ukraine. Its task is to collect and preserve evidence of the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine, and to collect and record witness testimonies. Accountability for conflict-related sexual violence, prevention measures and the fight against impunity remain the priority issues of the Polish national action plan on women and peace and security.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Regrettably, because of discrimination and the stigma affecting the survivors of sexual violence, a vast majority of them do not report rape and other forms of sexual violence, which not only contributes to the culture of impunity but also prevents survivors of sexual violence from accessing medical care and legal support. Poland translates its words into action. In the case of Ukraine, we were one of the first States to refer the situation in that country to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). We will assist the ICC in its efforts to collect evidence of the war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Very often they have an irreversible impact on their whole lives. What is more, that horrible trauma hits not only individuals but also whole communities. Poland has consistently advocated for respect for and compliance with international norms and the body of existing Security Council resolutions by State and non-State actors. States have a legal and moral responsibility to protect their citizens and ensure that perpetrators are held to account. Accountability is also a means to ensure prevention. Failure to act decisively now will only encourage abusers to use those barbaric tactics. The international community must ensure that all perpetrators, including the leadership, are brought to justice. Accountability cannot be achieved without knowledge of the crimes committed.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“The Secretary-General’s report covers the period 2021, but at this point we cannot fail to mention the horrific reports and testimonies of victims in connection with the killings in Bucha, Irpin and other localities in Ukraine, visited today by the Presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. We are shocked by the growing accounts of sexual violence used deliberately by Russian soldiers as a tactic of war and a tool of terror and intimidation. In addition, the massive displacement caused by the Russian aggression has heightened the risks of all forms of sexual violence and has disproportionately affected women and girls. We hardly need to mention that the consequences of conflict-related sexual violence, especially for women and children, go far beyond the physical dimension.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all aspects of public life and in political, social and economic as well as peace and security processes is a basic prerequisite for ending conflict-related sexual violence. Such participation requires adequate and effective protection mechanisms that will focus on a strong commitment to addressing the issue of impunity for perpetrators as well as on efforts to support the victims of such crimes. Women’s inclusion can best guarantee a survivor- centred approach, including the rehabilitation of women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, ensuring post-conflict reparations and accountability as well as the establishment of vetting mechanisms excluding perpetrators of sexual violence from the security forces.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“Poland aligns itself with the statement and additional remarks delivered by the Head of the Delegation of the European Union as well as with the statement made on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women and Peace and Security (see S/PV.9016), both of which reaffirmed their strong support for zero tolerance for any form of sexual violence. We share the view that the scale of conflict-related sexual violence against civilians is of paramount concern. Humanitarian, security and political crises, compounded by the economic aftermath of the pandemic and displacement, all have contributed to increasing levels of conflict-related sexual violence. The use of rape and other forms of sexual violence as a weapon or tactic of war is widespread. The most affected are women and girls, yet we must also account for the presence of male victims.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source
“I should like at the outset to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the United Kingdom for having organized this important debate and for highlighting the question of accountability as the main focus of our discussion. I should also like to thank all the briefers for their inspiring contributions and the Secretary-General for his informative and comprehensive report (S/2022/272), which provides an in-depth analysis and a set of practical recommendations for a wide spectrum of international actors.”
2022-04-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9016Resumption1 (2022) · source