YouSaid · the spoken record

The Secretary-General

lines on the record: 436
first: 1992-01-31
most recent: 2023-12-08
sittings or episodes: 52
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

“The purposes and principles embedded in the Charter of the United Nations are not a matter of convenience. They are not merely words on paper. They are at the core of who we are. They reflect the driving mission of our United Nations. And they exist precisely to address any grievance, whatever it might be. One year ago, following a Security Council meeting on Ukraine (see S/PV.8974), I urged, “[i]n the name of humanity do not allow to start in Europe what could be the worst war since the beginning of the century, with consequences not only devastating for Ukraine, not only tragic for the Russian Federation, but with an impact we cannot even foresee in relation to the consequences for the global economy”. I said then that we must give peace a chance, but peace has had no chance. War has ruled the day.”
2023-02-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9269 (2023) · source
“It is essential to have these discussions in order to find solutions, and I commend the delegations in the Sixth Committee that are actively engaged in these issues. We must continue to work in order to protect the affected populations and ensure their basic human rights. The Security Council has a critical role to play in mobilizing the political will to address the devastating security challenges posed by rising seas. We must all continue to give this issue the visibility it deserves and to support the lives, livelihoods and communities on the front line of this crisis.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Rising sea levels are literally causing land masses to shrink, leading to potential disputes over territorial integrity and maritime spaces. The current legal regime must be forward-looking and fill the gaps in existing frameworks. That includes international refugee law. It also means putting in place innovative legal and practical solutions to address the impacts of sea level rise on forced displacement and on the very existence of the land territory of some States. The human rights of people do not disappear when their homes disappear. Last year, the International Law Commission examined this issue and explored a range of options for addressing it, including preserving statehood despite loss of territory, ceding or allocating portions of territory to the affected United Nations State or even creating confederations of States.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“That requires identifying and addressing a much wider range of factors that undermine security, from poverty, discrimination, inequality and human rights violations to environmental disasters, such rising sea levels. That is why, for example, the Peacebuilding Fund actively supports grass-roots resilience efforts against the effects of climate change. We must also improve foresight and early warnings to prepare and protect vulnerable communities. One prime example is our plan to ensure that early warning systems against natural disasters protect every person on Earth within five years. (spoke in French) Thirdly, we must address the consequences of rising sea levels for legal frameworks and human rights.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Our world is hurtling past the 1.5°C warming limit that a liveable future requires, and, with present policies, it is careening towards 2.8°C — a death sentence for vulnerable countries. We urgently need more concerted action to reduce emissions and ensure climate justice. Developing countries must have the resources to adapt and build resilience against climate disaster. Among other things, that means delivering on the loss and damage fund, making good on the $100-billion climate finance commitment to developing countries, doubling adaptation finance and leveraging massive private financing at a reasonable cost. Secondly, we must broaden our understanding of the root causes of insecurity.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“But, as such glaciers recede over the coming decades, over time, the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers will shrink, and rising sea levels, combined with a deep intrusion of saltwater, will make large parts of their huge deltas simply uninhabitable. We see similar threats in the Mekong Delta and beyond. The consequences of all such events are unthinkable. Low-lying communities and entire countries could disappear forever. We would witness a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale, and we would see ever-fiercer competition for fresh water, land and other resources. The impact of rising seas is already creating new sources of instability and conflict. We must meet that rising tide of insecurity with action across three areas. First, we must address the root cause of rising seas — the climate crisis.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Flooding and coastal erosion in West Africa are damaging infrastructure and communities, undermining farming and often costing lives. In North Africa, saltwater intrusion is contaminating land and freshwater resources, destroying crops and livelihoods alike. Somalia is also grappling with saltwater intrusion, contributing to competition over scarce freshwater resources. Around the world, a hotter planet is melting glaciers and ice sheets. According to the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Antarctica is losing an average of 150 billion tons of ice mass annually. The Greenland ice cap is melting even faster, losing 270 billion tons per year. We should consider the hundreds of millions of people living in the river basins of the Himalayas. We have already seen how Himalayan melts have worsened flooding in Pakistan.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Megacities on every continent, including Cairo, Lagos, Maputo, Bangkok, Dhaka, Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires and Santiago, will face serious impacts. The danger is especially acute for the nearly 900 million people who live in coastal zones at low elevations. That is 1 in 10 people on Earth. Some coastlines have already seen triple the average rate of sea level rise. I saw with my own eyes how people in small island developing States in the Western Pacific are facing sea rise levels of up to four times the global average. In the Caribbean, rising seas have contributed to the devastation of local livelihoods in the tourism and agriculture sectors. Rising seas and other climate impacts are already forcing some relocations in Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and elsewhere.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“Rising seas threaten the very existence of some low- lying communities and even countries. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has just released a new compilation of data that spells out the grave danger of rising seas. Global average sea levels have risen faster since 1900 than over any preceding century in the past 3,000 years. The global ocean has warmed faster over the past century than at any time in the past 11,000 years. Meanwhile, WMO tells us that, even if global heating is miraculously limited to 1.5°C, there will still be a sizeable sea level rise. Every fraction of a degree counts. If temperatures rise by 2°C, that level rise could double, with further temperature increases bringing about exponential sea level increases. Under any scenario, countries such as Bangladesh, China, India and the Netherlands are all at risk.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“My thanks go to the Government of Malta for shining a light on the dramatic implications of rising sea levels for global peace and security. Rising seas are sinking futures. Sea level rise is not only a threat in itself; it is a threat multiplier. For the hundreds of millions of people living in small island developing States and other low-lying coastal areas around the world, sea level rise is a torrent of trouble. Rising seas threaten lives and jeopardize access to water, food and health care. Saltwater intrusion can decimate jobs and entire economies in key industries, such as agriculture, fisheries and tourism. It can damage or destroy vital infrastructure, including transportation systems, hospitals and schools, especially when combined with the extreme weather events linked to the climate crisis.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260 (2023) · source
“The rule of law is essential to meeting current and future challenges, from nuclear disarmament to the climate crisis, from the collapse of biodiversity to pandemics and dangerous diseases. Our rule-of- law efforts must adapt to a changing environment and technological advances. The United Nations is uniquely positioned to promote innovation and progress under the rule of law. No other global organization has the legitimacy, convening power and normative authority of the United Nations. The Security Council has a critical role to play in advancing the rule of law through its efforts to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights and promote sustainable development. Together, let us commit to advancing the rule of law to create a more stable and secure world for all.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“The United Nations stands ready to support Member States through our country teams around the world. (spoke in French) Looking to the future, my report entitled Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) proposes a new vision of the rule of law, which provides an opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen the centrality of the rule of law to all of our work. This new vision will set out the links between the rule of law, human rights and development, and advocate a people-centred approach that ensures that laws and justice are accessible to all. I will ensure that it is implemented throughout the Organization, including those elements that correspond to the work of the Security Council. The importance of respect for the rule of law will also be reflected in the new agenda for peace.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“It enables societies and economies to run smoothly, for the benefit of all. Conversely, when the rule of law is weak, impunity prevails, organized crime flourishes, and there is a high risk of violent conflict. Thirdly, I urge Member States to reinforce the rule of law as a key enabler to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 16, on access to justice for all and effective, inclusive and accountable institutions is a critical enabler for the other SDGs. Poverty, injustice and exclusion can only be addressed through effective, non-discriminatory, inclusive public policies. Democratic legitimacy can never be used as a rationale for measures that weaken or undermine the rule of law. Civil society and other stakeholders have an essential role to play in that regard.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“While the challenges are many, the primacy of the rule of law is essential to the maintenance of international peace and security and for peacebuilding efforts. This includes clear rules governing the threat or use of force, as set out in Article 2, paragraph 4, and in Chapter VII of the Charter. Secondly, I urge Member States to make full use of the rule of law as a preventive tool. At the international level, the Charter devotes an entire chapter to the pacific settlement of disputes, including through negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement (United Nations Charter, Chapter VI). This is prevention in action, rooted in international law. At the national level, the rule of law builds trust between people and institutions. It reduces corruption and creates a level playing field.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“I now turn to how Member States can further strengthen the United Nations and its organs with a view to promoting the rule of law. First and foremost, I urge all Member States to uphold the vision and the values of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to abide by international law; to settle disputes peacefully, without recourse to the threat or use of force; to recognize and promote the equal rights of all people; and to commit to non-intervention in domestic affairs, the self- determination of peoples and the sovereign equality of Member States. I count on Member States to support our efforts to promote the rule of law across the board, including in the Security Council. Disputes in one area must not prevent progress elsewhere.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“Around the world, the United Nations is mobilized against impunity and is committed to holding perpetrators to account through fair, independent judicial proceedings. We also strengthen the rule of law by supporting victims and survivors and providing access to justice, remedy and reparation. The courts and tribunals established by the Security Council in the 1990s and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals have held to account a number of those responsible for atrocity crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Today the International Criminal Court is the central institution of the international criminal justice system and embodies the aspiration for accountability for the most serious crimes.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“The strong and mutually reinforcing relationship between the rule of law, accountability and human rights is reflected in my call to action on human rights. Ending impunity is fundamental. From the International Court of Justice to the Human Rights Council and its fact-finding missions and commissions of inquiry, United Nations entities and mechanisms promote and implement the rule of law. With its unique mandate, the International Court of Justice occupies a special place. I note the importance of accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court and call on all Member States to do so without any reservations. Members of the Security Council bear a special responsibility in that regard and should take a leading role.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“The situation in Haiti is characterized by a deep institutional crisis and weak rule of law, widespread human rights abuses, soaring crime rates, corruption and transnational crime. I call on Haitian stakeholders to work together to restore inclusive democratic institutions and the rule of law. All those examples illustrate that adherence to the rule of law is more important than ever. All States Members of the United Nations have a responsibility to uphold it at every turn. The rule of law is foundational to efforts by the United Nations to find peaceful solutions to all these conflicts, disasters and crises and more, and to support the most vulnerable people and communities around the world.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“The onus is on the Democratic People’s Republic to comply with its international obligations and return to the negotiating table. In Afghanistan, unprecedented systemic attacks on women’s and girls’ rights and the flouting of international obligations are creating gender-based apartheid. This deliberately undermines the development of a country that desperately needs the contributions of all in order to return to sustainable peace. The breakdown of the rule of law in Myanmar since the military takeover in 2021 has led to a cycle of violence, repression and severe human rights violations. I urge the authorities to listen to their people and return to the democratic transition.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“The rule of law is at the heart of achieving a just and comprehensive peace, based on a two-State solution, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements. Unconstitutional changes in government — coups d’état — are regrettably back in fashion. They are particularly worrying in places that are already enduring conflict, terrorism and food insecurity, namely, in the Sahel. The United Nations is ready to support regional efforts to strengthen democratic governance, peace, security and sustainable development. The unlawful nuclear weapons programme being pursued by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a clear and present danger, driving risks and geopolitical tensions to new heights.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“From the illegal development of nuclear weapons to the illegal use of force, States continue to flout international law with impunity. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe, traumatized a generation of children and accelerated the global food and energy crises. Any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Charter and of international law. The year 2022 was a deadly one for both Palestinians and Israelis. We condemn all unlawful killings and acts by extremists. There is no justification for terrorism. At the same time, the expansion of settlements by Israel, as well as home demolitions and evictions, are driving anger and despair. I am also very concerned by the unilateral initiatives that we have seen in recent days.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“The body of international humanitarian law saves lives and reduces suffering amid conflict. The Geneva Conventions, agreed after the horrors of the Second World War, demonstrate that even wars have laws. Today’s debate sends a strong message that ensuring the rule of law is our priority and that all countries must adhere to international standards. All stakeholders — Member States, regional organizations, civil society and the private sector — have a responsibility to contribute to building and upholding the rule of law. But the international situation shows that we still have far to go. We are at grave risk of the rule of lawlessness. In every region of the world, civilians suffer the effects of devastating conflicts, loss of human life, increasing poverty and hunger.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“It prevents discrimination, harassment and other abuses. It is our first line of defence against atrocity crimes, including genocide. It creates and bolsters trust in institutions. It supports fair, inclusive economies and societies. And it is the basis of international cooperation and multilateralism. As the Charter states, “We the peoples of the United Nations [are] determined … to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained”. The 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States and the 2012 Declaration of the High- level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels further develop the principles set out in the Charter.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“I congratulate Japan on its presidency at the beginning of its tenure on the Security Council, and I thank you, Sir, for opening the new year with this debate on the rule of law. I also welcome my two fellow briefers — Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the International Court of Justice, and Professor Dapo Akande. The rule of law is foundational to the United Nations and to our mission of peace; the Security Council has a vital role in upholding it. The cornerstone of the rule of law is that all people, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable before the law. From the smallest village to the global stage, the rule of law is all that stands between peace and stability and a brutal struggle for power and resources. The rule of law protects the vulnerable.”
2023-01-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9241 (2023) · source
“With regard to the Economic and Social Council, the proposed biennial summit to be organized between it, the Heads of State and Government of the Group of 20, the Secretary-General and the international financial institutions would constitute an important step towards better coordination of global governance and the creation of a global financial system adapted to today’s world. The challenge ahead is clear. We have the opportunity and the obligation to remember the promise of the Charter of the United Nations: to safeguard future generations from the scourge of war. We must keep this promise with a revitalized, effective, representative and inclusive multilateralism.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“The General Assembly has shown that it plays a valuable role in bringing the Member States to consider the issues on its agenda. Just this year, it adopted many important resolutions, in particular on the war in Ukraine, the right to a healthy environment and the use of the veto by members of the Security Council. With regard to any decision by Member States to streamline General Assembly practices — resolutions, the presentation of reports and the functioning of committees — or to reinforce the work of the Assembly’s high-level week, the Secretariat stands ready to provide support.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“The Council is already taking advantage of the new working methods put in place, including public debates and informal mechanisms aimed at strengthening collaboration with all States Members of the United Nations. The contribution of women’s rights organizations to the Council has made it possible to advancing our prevention work and strengthening our actions in response to ongoing conflicts. Consultations open to a wider range of stakeholders, including women’s rights organizations and people affected by conflict, displacement and human rights abuses, cannot but be beneficial to the work, influence and credibility of the Council. I also note the calls of Member States for the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly and the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council in the framework of a reformed multilateralism.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“(spoke in French) Preparing for the future is a challenge for the entire United Nations. Member States are working hard to evolve the organs of intergovernmental meetings according to the needs and realities of today, and I welcome the negotiations that have been taking place in the General Assembly since 2008. A majority of Member States are now aware that the Security Council should be reformed to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. I hope that regional groups and Member States can work together to achieve greater consensus on the way forward and on the terms of the reform. The Organization and I stand ready to provide the necessary support.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“And it will consider how we can further engage with non-State actors, including the private sector and civil society, to meet the challenges of our day. The New Agenda for Peace will also consider how the existing United Nations toolbox can be enhanced. The Black Sea Grain Initiative shows that the United Nations still has a unique and important role in brokering solutions to global challenges. We must build on and expand such innovative approaches. Our existing tools and operations also have enormous value and have contributed to saving many lives. We must do everything we can to invest in them and adapt them to new realities. Where they fail, it is often because they are asked to do the impossible. I look forward to further discussions with Member States on this important process.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“It will articulate a vision for the United Nations work in peace and security for a world in transition and a new era of geopolitical competition. It will set out a comprehensive approach to prevention, linking peace, sustainable development, climate action and food security. It will consider how the United Nations adapts its peace and security instruments to an era of cyberthreats, information warfare and other forms of conflict. It will look to Member States for new frameworks to reinforce multilateral solutions and manage intense geopolitical competition. It will call for new norms, regulations and accountability mechanisms to strengthen the multilateral system in areas in which gaps have emerged.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“It will speak to all Member States and address the full range of new and old security challenges that we face — local, national, regional and international. It will examine ways to update our existing tools for mediation, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and counter-terrorism. It will also look at new and emerging threats in less traditional domains, including cyberspace and outer space. The New Agenda for Peace will recognize the links between many forms of vulnerability, human rights, State fragility and the outbreak of conflict. It is our opportunity to take stock and to change course, because business as usual does not mean things will stay the same. In a world in which the only certainty is uncertainty, it means things will almost certainly get far worse. The New Agenda for Peace will aim to address a host of tough questions.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“Many elements of modern life are weaponized: cyberspace, supply chains, migration, information, trade and financial services and investments. Frameworks for global cooperation have not kept pace with this evolution. Issues quickly become zero-sum and polarizing. Our toolbox, norms and approaches need upgrading. The declaration on the commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations asked me to make concrete recommendations on a broad range of threats — on land and at sea, in space and cyberspace. In response, as part of my report Our Common Agenda, I proposed a New Agenda for Peace, which I hope to submit to Member States in 2023. The New Agenda for Peace will take a long view and a wide lens.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“Peacemaking and peacekeeping by the United Nations helped to end conflicts, saving millions of lives. Notwithstanding that important progress, we are still grappling with many of the same challenges we have faced for 76 years: inter-State wars, limits to our peacekeeping ability, terrorism and a divided collective security system. And at the same time, conflict has evolved dramatically. We have seen fundamental changes in how it is fought, by whom and where. Lethal weapons are cheaper and more sophisticated than ever. Humankind has the capacity to annihilate itself entirely. The climate crisis is now contributing to conflict in a host of ways. The negative implications of digital technologies are proliferating. Misinformation and hate speech poison democratic debate and fuel social instability.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“Strengthening multilat- eralism to address today’s global challenges has been my highest priority since assuming office as Secretary- General. My report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) and the process it has initiated are aimed above all at reinvigorating multilateralism to deal with today’s in- terconnected threats. Even during the darkest periods of the Cold War, collective decision-making and continuous dialogue in the Security Council maintained a functioning, if imperfect, system of collective security. The international system created after the Second World War succeeded in preventing a military conflict between the major Powers. States armed with nuclear weapons cooperated to cut their numbers, prevent proliferation and avert a nuclear catastrophe.”
2022-12-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9220 (2022) · source
“By acting early, engaging strategically and speaking with one voice, the Council can mobilize the international community’s political and financial support and foster the commitment of conflict actors to secure peace. I look forward to continuing to work with the Council to strengthen peace operations and advance peace.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“The General Assembly’s financing for peacebuilding resolution (General Assembly resolution 76/305) reflects a commitment to find solutions for increased and more predictable and sustainable funding. The Peacebuilding Fund continues to be an invaluable resource. Last year, the Fund provided $150 million to 25 countries in Africa and became the catalyst for much larger contributions by other financial institutions. But needs far outpace resources. Funding must be scaled up, and partnerships with international financial institutions must be further strengthened. The Security Council plays a critical role in supporting the efforts of our peace operations to build resilience and sustain peace.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“That means strengthening synergies across the range of peace work — from conflict prevention and resolution to peacekeeping, peacebuilding and long-term development. It means deepening partnerships among the United Nations, the African Union and other regional organizations, as well as international and regional financial institutions. And it means better integrating the work of United Nations country teams with the mandates of peace operations, particularly in transition contexts. Fourthly, and fundamentally, is the crucial question of financing. We all recognize that prevention and peacebuilding are cost-effective and save lives. But that understanding in principle is not matched with the necessary resources in practice The international community continues to underinvest in peace. It is time to walk the talk.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“And we are pursuing policies that guarantee full gender parity and women leadership, including through quotas, across election monitoring, security sector reform, disarmament and justice systems. At the same time, we must ensure the voices of young people are heard loud and clear in articulating peacebuilding priorities. Our youth, peace and security agenda — together with the African Union’s 2020 Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security — are important and complementary tools to amplify those critical voices. Thirdly, we need a more holistic and integrated approach to building resilience and sustaining peace, with tailored investments across the humanitarian- development-peace nexus.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“Secondly, we must bolster the leadership of women and youth in shaping the future of their countries and ensure that they benefit from peace and development gains. The contributions of women peacekeepers and local women networks are pivotal to building community resilience and ensuring that women’s concerns are front and centre in conflict-prevention and -resolution efforts. We know that securing women’s rights and equal participation in decision-making is essential to building and maintaining peace. That is why we are investing in partnerships with local women leaders and peacebuilders, including by increasing the number of women personnel at all levels.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“First, we must deepen engagement with local communities and promote more responsive and inclusive Governments and institutions. Peace operations are manifestations of the political leverage of the Council. They bring the normative role and technical capacities of the United Nations system to bear on the ground, and they contribute to shared goals for legitimate, responsive and inclusive governance. Peace operations create space for dialogue and political participation, reduce community violence, secure the delivery of basic services, encourage reconciliation and promote equal access to justice. But we must act more quickly and effectively to address needs and grievances. Specifically, that means strengthening a whole-of-society approach and increasing investments that build trust, community engagement and cohesion.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“The peacebuilding gains on the African continent and elsewhere are reversing. We must ensure a sharper focus on prevention and building resilience. The New Agenda for Peace proposed in my report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) will prioritize investment in prevention and peacebuilding. Our peace operations must be empowered and equipped to play a greater role in sustaining peace at all stages of conflict and in all its dimensions. That requires committed, inclusive national ownership that considers the needs of the most vulnerable, including women, young people and minorities. Above all, development and respect for all human rights —economic, social, cultural, civil and political — are the world’s best preventive tools against violent conflict and instability. Allow me to focus on four priorities today.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“They include escalating climate catastrophes, worsening hunger and poverty, deepening inequalities, spreading violent misogyny, misinformation and disinformation and waning trust in institutions. All those factors are fuelling political tensions, economic despair and social unrest. Unconstitutional changes of Government are proliferating, alongside inter-State conflicts, invasions and wars. Entrenched divides between world Powers continue to limit our ability to collectively respond. The chasm between humanitarian needs and humanitarian assistance continues to widen. Human rights and the rule of law are under assault. Cyberwarfare and lethal autonomous weapons present risks that we barely comprehend and for which we lack the global architecture to contain. Our world is transforming at a breakneck speed. We must keep pace to keep peace.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“I thank the Government of Ghana for organizing this open debate on integrating effective resilience-building in peace operations for sustainable peace. Our peace operations, which include peacekeeping operations and special political missions, provide the space for political solutions. They help to protect civilians and prevent violence. They enable the work of peacebuilding, development, humanitarian and human rights actors. But the local and global contexts in which they operate are becoming more challenging by the day. Geopolitical tensions are increasing. Insecurity is spreading, and the drivers of instability are powerful, many and mutually reinforcing.”
2022-11-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9181 (2022) · source
“Another major concern is the impact of high gas prices on the production of nitrogen fertilizers. That must also be addressed without delay. (spoke in French) The only one way to end the suffering in Ukraine is by putting an end to the war. I will continue to spare no effort for peace — a peace based on international law and the Charter of the United Nations. I appeal to all Member States, particularly those represented here today, to redouble efforts to prevent further escalation and to do all that they can to end the war and ensure lasting peace.”
2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source
“It is vital that those food shipments continue and increase so that commodity markets further stabilize. The United Nations also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Russian Federation on the full access of Russian food and fertilizer products, including ammonia, to global markets. We are doing everything possible to facilitate that and to ease the serious fertilizer market crunch that is already affecting farming in West Africa and elsewhere. If the fertilizer market is not stabilized, next year could bring a food-supply crisis. Simply put, the world may run out of food. It is essential that all States immediately remove every remaining obstacle to the export of Russian fertilizers. We need to get them to farmers at a reasonable cost and onto fields as soon as possible.”
2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source
“I thank the Governments of Türkiye and Saudi Arabia for their roles in securing that agreement. In July, also with the support of the Government of Türkiye, a landmark deal was reached, which enabled the resumption of food and fertilizer exports from three of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. More than 4.3 million metric tons of food have since been moved, bound for 29 countries across three continents. That includes three vessels chartered by the World Food Programme to transport desperately needed food supplies for the people of Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Yemen. A fourth vessel left Istanbul today, and a fifth is on its way. Since the signing of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, global food prices have dropped sharply, although they are still almost 8 per cent higher than a year ago.”
2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source
“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is consulting with all parties involved on measures to ensure the safety of the plant and surrounding areas. I thank the IAEA for its work. Its continued presence at the plant is an important deterrent. All attacks on nuclear facilities must end, and the purely civilian nature of such plants must be re-established. Any damage to nuclear infrastructure, whether deliberate or not, could have terrible consequences for people around the plant and far beyond. The world cannot afford a nuclear catastrophe. Yesterday’s news that more than 250 prisoners of war were exchanged between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was a welcome development. I commend the efforts of both parties and hope that they will build on them with further exchanges aiming at an all-for-all formula.”
2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source
“In all of that, the International Criminal Court plays an important role to ensure effective accountability. The Prosecutor of the Court has opened an investigation into the situation in Ukraine. Full cooperation with the Court by all parties is essential. The fact-finding mission that I established following the tragic incident at the detention facility in Olenivka on 29 July is ready to deploy as soon as all the necessary assurances have been received. The mission must have safe, secure and unfettered access to all relevant places and people and to all relevant evidence, without any limitation, impediment or interference. The situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, located in the middle of a war zone, remains a cause of grave concern.”
2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source
“It is essential that humanitarian workers have safe and unhindered access to all those requiring assistance, wherever they may be. (spoke in English) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been documenting the war’s unacceptable impact on human rights. The reports are a catalogue of cruelty: summary executions, sexual violence, torture and other inhumane and degrading treatment against civilians and prisoners of war. The latest accounts of burial sites in Izyum are extremely disturbing. All those allegations must be thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability. Perpetrators must be held to account in fair and independent judicial proceedings. Victims and their families have a right to justice, remedy and reparation. Ending impunity for international crimes is fundamental.”
2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source
“That is driving millions more people into extreme poverty and hunger, reversing years of progress on development. It follows the crises surrounding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the impact of climate change. The collateral damage of this war is being felt in dozens of developing countries that were already struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and deal with the climate crisis. The most vulnerable are suffering the most. The United Nations is working tirelessly to maximize every opportunity to alleviate the suffering, particularly through my visits to Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the region and my direct engagement with President Zelenskyy and President Putin. Together with our humanitarian partners on the ground, we have provided aid to nearly 13 million people in need.”
2022-09-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9135 (2022) · source