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

“They should adapt their choice of weapons and tactics when they wage war in cities, recognizing that they cannot fight in populated areas the way they would in open battlefields. Even when explosive weapons are used in compliance with the laws of war, they can cause devastating harm to civilians. The facts on the ground underline the need for warring parties to avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas. I urge States to follow good practices to reduce the humanitarian impact of such weapons. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has published a compilation of military policy and practices in this regard. And I welcome efforts towards a political declaration to address the harm arising from their use.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“Recent years have seen increasing concern over compliance with these laws. Attacks against civilians or civilian infrastructure, indiscriminate attacks and the use of civilians as a human shield are prohibited. Parties to conflict must take steps to minimize incidental civilian harm. Respect for these rules is all the more critical when armed conflict is waged in urban areas. Moreover, accountability for serious violations is essential. States Members of the United Nations must demonstrate the political will to investigate and prosecute alleged war crimes to the maximum extent whenever they occur. We owe that to the victims and their loved ones — and it is also crucial because it serves as a powerful deterrent. Secondly, parties to conflict have options.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“Urban warfare forces millions of people from their homes, contributing to record numbers of refugees and internally displaced people. Four years after the destruction of 80 per cent of housing in Mosul, Iraq, an estimated 300,000 people were still displaced. Warfare in cities creates millions of tons of debris that poses risks to both the environment and to people’s health. Unexploded ordnance makes it too dangerous for people to return home. And mass destruction in urban areas sets development back by decades, undermining progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The frightening human cost of waging war in cities is not inevitable; it is a choice. I would like to outline some of the measures that prevent and mitigate its horrific impact. First, all parties must fully respect international humanitarian law.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“Beyond the immediate pain and suffering, the indirect effects of damage to schools range from disruption to education to increased likelihood of early marriage and recruitment into armed groups. And a 2020 study in Yemen showed that the use of heavy explosive weapons in populated areas disrupted every resource and system in the country. From Afghanistan to Libya, Syria, Yemen and beyond, the risk of harm to civilians rises when combatants move among them and put military facilities and equipment near civilian infrastructure. Conflict in urban areas goes far beyond its immediate impact on civilians. It also puts people at risk of sieges and blockades, which have had a horrific impact on civilians, up to and including starvation.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“(spoke in English) The use of explosive weapons in urban areas, particularly those with wide-area effects, carries a high risk of indiscriminate impact. Civilians can suffer devastating harm both in the immediate aftermath and in the long term. Many victims face lifelong disabilities and grave psychological trauma. Water, electricity and sanitation infrastructure are often damaged. Health- care services are severely disrupted. To mention some examples: scores of schools and health-care facilities were damaged during fighting in Gaza last year. Nearly 800,000 people were left without access to piped water, increasing the risk of diseases and further hampering health care. In Afghanistan, an explosive attack outside a Kabul high school last May killed 90 students, mainly girls, and left another 240 people injured.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“I thank Norway and its Prime Minister for organizing today’s public debate, and I am pleased that Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, is able to join us. Today more than 50 million people are affected by urban conflicts. They face dangers that are unique to this context. When hostilities take place in cities, civilians are at a much higher risk of being killed or injured. In some cases, they may be mistaken for combatants. In others, civilian harm is often entirely predictable, but the parties to the conflict do not take steps to avoid or reduce it. When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, approximately 90 per cent of those killed or injured are civilians.”
2022-01-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8953 (2022) · source
“I urge Council members again to consider this matter as soon as possible. The Security Council and all Member States must work simultaneously on peacebuilding and the effects of climate change. The United Nations is proud to stand with the international community to build a safer and more sustainable future for all.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“We must also continue supporting the work of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel through the United Nations Support Plan for the Sahel, which aims to strengthen cooperation and address the structural problems, such as poverty, underdevelopment and governance challenges, that make the region more vulnerable to conflict. Lastly, fighting terrorism and conflict in the context of climate disruption requires sustained investment. Yet, as we have seen in the Sahel and Somalia, African peace missions often have limited room to manoeuvre and are faced with great funding uncertainties. Now more than ever, African Union peace support operations require Security Council mandates under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as predictable funding guaranteed by assessed contributions.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“Jointly developed by the African Union, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the United Nations and other partners, it integrates humanitarian action, security, development and climate resilience. In partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel has launched a new initiative on climate change, security and development in West Africa. That initiative promotes an integrated and coordinated approach to climate security in the region and supports the Economic Community of West African States, Governments and local authorities in their risk reduction efforts.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“We also need to build on existing expertise in disaster risk reduction and integrate climate risk into all economic and financial decisions. At the United Nations, the Climate Security Mechanism is strengthening the capacity of field missions, country teams and regional and subregional organizations to analyse climate-related security risks and shape integrated and timely responses. Fourthly, we must promote the development of partnerships and initiatives linking local, regional and national approaches. We must make the best use of on-the-ground expertise, while drawing on the political, technical and financial capacities of regional and international actors. The Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram-affected Areas of the Lake Chad Basin Region is a good example.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“Unfortunately, the Fund is still a long way from reaching the critical mass that will enable it to more systematically help Governments and societies address the risks of complex conflicts. (spoke in English) Thirdly, we need better analysis and early-warning systems, Every conflict-prevention initiative must take into account climate risks. Understanding and anticipating the cascading effects of climate change will strengthen our work on peace and security. A third of the global population lacks early- warning systems. As discussed with our partners during the African Union-United Nations conference, the African Union and other regional organizations are leading the way in making early-warning mechanisms operational.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“But funding mechanisms need to be commensurate with the needs of the people and be accessible to the most affected populations. Subsidies are essential, as the debt burden is already stifling the most vulnerable countries. At the same time, we need to adapt our peacebuilding work to climate action. Since 2017, the Peacebuilding Fund has increased its investments in innovative initiatives that take into account climate risks. For example, in Yemen, where water scarcity exacerbated by climate change is contributing to instability, the Fund has supported the restoration and strengthening of local water governance structures in the Wadi Rima Valley, which has helped reduce intercommunal tensions.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“The annual cost of adaptation in developing countries is estimated at $70 billion and is expected to rise to $300 billion by 2030. Developed countries must deliver on their promise to provide at least $100 billion a year in climate financing to developing countries, and it is critical that at least 50 per cent of climate financing for developing countries be dedicated to building resilience and adaptation. COP26 sent a positive signal in that regard. I now expect developed countries to implement their commitment to double adaptation funding by 2025 through ambitious initiatives such as the Great Green Wall, which is reviving degraded landscapes in the Sahel to increase food security, create jobs and promote peacebuilding.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“We must support investments in human development, from health to education to social protection, in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We must foster inclusive governance, with the full participation of all communities and civil society, including environmentalists, so that everyone can participate in their country’s future. Everywhere, we must take advantage of local know-how and promote the participation of women and young people. Studies show that, when women participate in negotiations, peace is more sustainable; when they participate in legislation, they adopt policies that protect the environment and promote social cohesion. Secondly, we urgently need to increase our investments in adaptation and resilience.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“That is why my report Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) proposes a new agenda for peace that presents a multidimensional vision of global security. In the framework of an integrated approach, I would like to focus on five areas in which we need to increase our collective action. First, we must prioritize prevention and address the root causes of insecurity. Conflicts and terrorism do not take place in a vacuum. They are the result of deep- seated divisions — poverty, human rights abuses, poor governance, the collapse of essential public services, the lack of prospects for human development and, more broadly, the loss of hope for the future. To build sustainable peace, we must reduce inequalities. We must protect the most vulnerable people and communities, especially women, who are often disproportionately affected.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“In central Mali, terrorist groups have exploited growing tensions between pastoralists and farmers to recruit members from pastoralist communities, who often feel excluded and stigmatized. Environmental degradation enables non-State armed groups to extend their sphere of influence and to exploit resources. In Iraq and Syria, for example, Da’esh has exploited water shortages and taken control of water infrastructure to impose its will on communities. In Somalia, charcoal production provides Al-Shabaab a significant revenue stream. Climate change is not the source of all evil, but it has a multiplier effect and tends to exacerbate instability, conflict and terrorism. We therefore need to address these challenges in an integrated way and create a virtuous cycle of peace, resilience and sustainable development.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“Of the 15 countries most vulnerable to climate change, eight are hosting a United Nations peacekeeping or special political mission. Climate effects in conflict areas only exacerbate precarious conditions. When climate change further burdens institutions and hampers their ability to deliver public services, it fuels grievances and distrust of the authorities. When loss of livelihoods leaves people in despair, it makes the promises of protection, income and justice — behind which terrorist groups sometimes hide their designs — more attractive. In the Lake Chad basin, Boko Haram has been able to mobilize new recruits, particularly from local communities where people are disillusioned by the lack of economic opportunities and access to essential resources.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“In Somalia, Madagascar, the Sudan, the Middle East and North Africa, droughts and increasingly extreme weather events are making access to scarce resources more difficult and threatening food security. The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that climate change could increase the risk of famine and malnutrition by up to 20 per cent by 2050. The World Bank predicts that the phenomenon could displace more than 200 million people in the same period. Such events would undermine global peace, security and prosperity — as the Security Council has repeatedly emphasized, including in resolutions on the mandates of five peacekeeping operations and five special political missions. Often the regions most vulnerable to climate change also suffer from insecurity, poverty, weak governance and the scourge of terrorism.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“I thank the Niger presidency for organizing this very timely debate on the links among climate change, conflict and terrorism. First of all, the climate emergency is the vital issue of our time. Although the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) helped us make some progress in that regard, we still have a long way to go to meet our objectives. Nevertheless, we have no choice but to continue our efforts to reach the goal of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. We are in a race against time, and no one is immune to the destructive effects of climate change.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“Allow me to begin by resolutely condemning the cowardly attacks carried out on Sunday in against the forces of the Group of Five for the Sahel in the Niger and yesterday against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, in the course of which seven Togolese peacekeepers lost their lives. An Egyptian peacekeeper succumbed to his injuries suffered in the course of an attack in Mali last month. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims of those attacks, as well as the many others that have cost the lives of innocent people. At this difficult moment, I should like to reiterate my solidarity and the support of the United Nations to the Governments and the peoples of the region in their fight against terrorism.”
2021-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8923 (2021) · source
“We live in a world where the balance of power has always been unbalanced; a world where double standards reign and where principles are applied selectively and unfairly; a world where prosperity and development are unevenly distributed; a world where entire groups have been left behind by poverty and discrimination. Lasting peace requires constant work with leaders, communities and all partners to build the stability that only inclusive development can bring. This is my message to the Security Council: stand by our side to build peace through dialogue and collaboration. That is the only viable solution to build our common future.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“It means expanding the pool of women leaders to serve as envoys or mediation specialists, just as we have increased the number of women peacekeepers and women leading our field missions. And it means more joint work across the United Nations family, including the Peacebuilding Commission, to bring together system-wide expertise through regular reports and dialogue. (spoke in French) Prevention is not a political tool but a realistic path to peace. If preventive diplomacy and development are to contribute to the peace to which we all aspire, we need the full support of the Council, and indeed of all Member States. We have seen too many missed opportunities in prevention because of the mistrust among Member States about their respective motivations. This is understandable.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“It means working to end inequalities that deny entire groups of people access to civil and economic life and the levers of decision-making. It means, finally, ensuring that we balance the scales of power and participation equally for women. And it means transforming our commitment to human rights from words to practice in every context. That is also an essential element in preventing crises. But it also means strengthening all the tools of preventive diplomacy for the future, as proposed in the Agenda for Peace. This means stronger early-warning systems and strategic foresight tools, including better data and analytics, so we can develop a shared understanding of threats to detect and avoid looming crises. It means stronger mediation capacities, the front lines of our diplomatic efforts to build peace in communities around the world.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“And in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), our resident coordinators and country teams are supporting the response to the pandemic, while also serving people’s needs in the midst of humanitarian emergencies, from Haiti to Yemen to Myanmar. While we are proud of our work, we also know that we must do far more to join up our humanitarian, peace and development efforts. My report Our Common Agenda calls for a new social contract within all societies, anchored in human rights and focused on accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This means urgent investments in universal health coverage, social protection, education and, of course, COVID-19 vaccines for all.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“Beyond elections, our Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia is bringing the region’s Governments together to jointly develop common approaches to share water resources and counter terrorism. In Mali, together with the Economic Community of West African States and partners, we are supporting the political transition to ensure a peaceful and timely return to constitutional order, sometimes against all odds. In the Great Lakes region, my Special Envoy is focused on building mutual confidence and trust between countries and leaders, The Special Coordinator for development in the Sahel is working shoulder-to- shoulder with all entities to build peace and support people in that subregion. The Peacebuilding Commission is supporting the peace process in Papua New Guinea and peace programming in South Sudan.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“Our work together with our partners to help prepare for and ensure peaceful elections is another critical part of our preventive efforts, including past elections in Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Malawi, Zambia and Sao Tome and Principe. In Somalia, we have joined forces with the African Union and the European Union to work with parties to prevent the escalation of tensions in the midst of a fraught election. In Libya, we are working closely with the transitional authorities to ensure that the ceasefire holds and that the country seizes this moment for peace in the lead-up to next month’s elections.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“From border disputes to constitutional and electoral crises and fragile peace talks, we can point to example after example where our regional offices, special envoys, special political missions and peacekeeping operations are working around the clock and around the world. A central part of our prevention strategy is working with regional and subregional organizations, from the African Union to subregional organizations throughout Africa, to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to the European Union and beyond. These organizations are vital voices of peace and play a key role in promoting confidence-building and dialogue as we work to prevent and resolve conflicts.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“My report Our Common Agenda proposes a new agenda for peace that takes a comprehensive, holistic view of global security — one that not only includes efforts to consolidate peace, build resilience in fragile contexts and avert conflict relapse, but that also recognizes the importance of sustainable development to preventing violence and conflicts from happening in the first place. For the women and men of the United Nations, preventive diplomacy and development go hand-in-hand. There is no separation. We know that preventive diplomacy works. I have consistently used my good offices — sometimes publicly, sometimes behind the scenes — to seek to defuse conflicts and advance peace.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“But prevention is also the business of making sure that no mother has to skip a meal to feed her children; of bringing hope for a better future through education, health care and the possibility of an income; of fostering tolerance, trust, equality and respect for human rights — all the ingredients of a peaceful society; of closing the development gaps that lead to conflict and bringing the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals to life for all people, equally; and of reversing the vicious cycle of conflict and division and, instead, setting in motion a virtuous cycle of development and peace. And diplomacy has a vital role to play in carrying this virtuous cycle forward.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“Too often, they are the result of gaps that are ignored or not properly addressed: gaps in access to basic necessities like food, water, social services and medicine; gaps in security or governance systems, where aggrieved groups can coalesce and find a pathway to power by force; gaps in trust in Governments, in institutions and laws, and in one another; gaps in tolerance and social cohesion rooted in discrimination, prejudice and grievances old and new; or gaps in equality between rich and poor, among and within countries, and between men and women. All of these gaps are potential flashpoints for violence and even conflict. Prevention is ultimately the business of stopping wars and conflicts before they happen, and of defusing through dialogue the tensions that spark division and war that put millions of lives in danger every day.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“I called for a surge in diplomacy for peace to ensure that political solutions remain the first and primary option to settle disputes. That includes reviews of all of the tools that comprise the United Nations peace architecture and a better integration of prevention and risk-assessment across United Nations decision-making. It includes more innovation and more foresight, including a much more robust system of regional monthly risk reviews, senior decision-making and stronger support to Member States in managing and addressing crisis risks. And it includes connecting the dots among all of the drivers of conflict, including poverty, inequalities and climate change. That is because history has shown that conflicts do not emerge out of thin air, nor are they inevitable.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“From the judicial dimension of prevention provided by the International Court of Justice; to the Economic and Social Council, which works to address conflict by advancing sustainable development; to the twin resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council in 2016 (resolution 2282 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 70/262), which reminded us once again that prevention must be at the heart of our collective goals of building and sustaining peace; to the women and men of the Organization who are working every day to forge, build and maintain peace in some of the most difficult and dangerous places on Earth — prevention is essential. That is why I placed my agenda of prevention at the centre of my mandates for my first and second terms as Secretary-General.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“The Organization was born from the ashes of the Second World War with the intention, set out in our Charter, not to return to subject humankind to the inhumanity of war. (spoke in English) For 76 years, the United Nations system has given the world a home for dialogue and tools and mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for highlighting the importance of preventive diplomacy. Prevention does not always receive the attention it deserves. Perhaps that is because it is difficult to measure the results of preventing conflict, preventing war or preventing the suffering of thousands of people in advance. We have war reporters, but there are no peace reporters. But prevention is absolutely vital to lasting peace. Prevention is the ultimate goal of the work of the Council and its resolutions to help countries build peace and stability, and to resolve their disputes before they escalate into armed conflicts. The role of the International Court of Justice is essential in that regard. Prevention is the very reason for the existence of the United Nations.”
2021-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8906 (2021) · source
“Without full inclusion and equality, peace is a job half done, because true, sustainable peace can be carried forward only by people who are supported, who are included and valued and who feel that they are truly part of their society and have a stake in its future. I welcome the Council’s continued support to help every person, everywhere, lend their hands, hearts and minds to the vital task of peace.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“It requires building institutions capable of dealing with corruption and abuse of power, based on the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability. It requires policies and laws that specifically protect vulnerable groups, including against all forms of discrimination. Finally, it requires responsive and effective security institutions and guarantors of the rule of law that take into account the needs of each individual. Instead of raising barriers, Governments and institutions need to build trust and serve everyone, without distinction. (spoke in English) In every society, diversity of culture, religion and ethnicity should be viewed as a powerful benefit, rather than as a threat. This is essential in all countries, but especially in those experiencing conflict.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“We now have more women leading our field missions than ever before, with parity among our heads or deputy heads of missions. And 40 per cent of the Peacebuilding Fund focuses on gender equality and women’s rights. We know that more lasting and sustainable peace happens when women lead and make decisions in mediation and peace processes. We will continue building on this important work in the years ahead. (spoke in French) Fourthly, we must build trust through inclusive national institutions that represent the entire population and whose action is rooted in human rights and the rule of law. That requires justice that applies to everyone equally, without favouring the rich or the powerful.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“We can draw a straight line between violence against and the exclusion of women and civil oppression and violent conflict — from rape and sexual slavery being used as tools of war, to the thread of misogyny that runs through violent extremist thought and to the exclusion of women from positions of leadership and in peace processes. That is why the United Nations continues to stand up for the rights of women and girls around the world. That includes in Afghanistan, where we continue to work with the de facto authorities to keep girls in school and ensure that women can fully participate in civil and economic life. Women are also at the centre of our conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding efforts. We are increasing the number of women peacekeepers.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“And throughout, we need to bring the entire United Nations system and all partners around our common cause of peace. The success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development depends on solidarity as we support Governments’ efforts to build development for all and ensure that no one is left behind. Ending inequalities and exclusion is a critical part of this and a vital step towards giving every person a chance to contribute to their country’s future. Thirdly, we must recognize and prioritize the crucial role of women in building peace.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“It means opening the doors to civil and economic life to all, equally and without discrimination. And it means ensuring access to the COVID-19 vaccines for all. Secondly, we need to strengthen our prevention agenda on multiple fronts to address different types of exclusion and inequalities. This includes more rigorous monitoring of growing inequalities and perceptions of them, including of gender and youth, to address grievances early. It includes ensuring inclusion at every step of the peace process, from local dialogue and conflict resolution to peace negotiations, transitions and establishing national institutions. That is why, through our country presence and missions, the United Nations works to keep the lines of dialogue open and flowing among State institutions, civil society, communities and individuals at every point.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Last year, military spending as a share of GDP saw its largest annual increase since 2009. It is now approaching $2 trillion annually. Imagine the progress we could make — the peace we could build, the conflicts we could prevent — if we dedicated even a fraction of this to human development, equality and inclusion, especially in countries affected by conflict and crises, which have the least fiscal space to invest in a sustainable, inclusive recovery for all. My report Our Common Agenda calls for a new social contract within all societies. This means investing in universal health coverage, social protection and safety nets accessible to all. It means education and training for all people so they can envision and build better, more prosperous futures.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“The agenda calls on the global community to work as one — in solidarity, as a human family — to address the roots of violent conflicts; to build and strengthen the bonds of trust between people who inhabit the same borders and in the Governments and institutions representing them; and for countries in transition, to ensure that all groups are part of the peace process, so that people can reject the voices of division and instead lend their hands to the task of shaping a better future for all. Without inclusion, the puzzle of peace remains incomplete, with many gaps to be filled. Today I should like to outline a road map for inclusion, built around four key pathways to fill these gaps: people, prevention, gender and institutions. First, we need to invest in the development of all people, equally.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Human rights and the rule of law are under assault — from Afghanistan, where girls are once again being denied an education and women denied their rightful place in society; to Myanmar, where minorities are targeted, brutalized and forced to flee; to Ethiopia, where a man-made humanitarian crisis is unfolding before our eyes. These and other tragedies are enflamed by COVID-19 and the climate emergency. Humanitarian funding, assistance and conflict management tools — the very kind that the United Nations provides around the world — are all under tremendous strain. Peace has never been more urgent. That is why conflict prevention is at the heart of my proposed new agenda for peace, as part of the report Our Common Agenda.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“In fact, rising inequalities are a factor in growing instability, especially in areas where basic services are lacking, such as health care, education, security and justice, and where historical injustices, inequalities and systematic oppression have come to create endless cycles of poverty and unfavourable conditions for entire generations. (spoke in English) Today we face the highest number of violent conflicts since 1945. They are lasting longer and are more complex. A dangerous sense of impunity is taking hold — seen in the recent seizures of power by force, including military coups.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“Even before the pandemic, the world’s billionaires accumulated more wealth than 60 per cent of the world’s population, and that gap has widened considerably. At the same time, an asymmetric recovery is in the works. While advanced economies are investing 28 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) in economic recovery, least developed countries are investing only 1.8 per cent — a much lower amount. When discussing economic inequalities last year, Mr. President, you reminded us of fictitious policies based on the notion that if people at the top do well, those who are at the bottom will also do well. As you said on that occasion, “wealth is not contagious”. Exclusion and inequalities of all kinds — economic, social and cultural — have a devastating cost in terms of security.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“I thank the Government of Mexico for convening today’s debate on an issue that is at the heart of so many challenges facing the Security Council. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has increased hardship and inequality for the poorest and most vulnerable people. Some 120 million additional people have fallen into poverty. Hunger and famine stalk millions of people around the world. We are facing the biggest global recession since the Second World War. Billions of people lack the necessary safety nets to cope with difficulties in terms of social protection, health care and labour protection. The inhabitants of the richest countries are receiving their third dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, while only 5 per cent of the population of Africa are fully vaccinated.”
2021-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8900 (2021) · source
“For our part, the United Nations will double down on truly inclusive peacemaking and put women’s participation and rights at the centre of everything we do, everywhere we do it. The best way to build peace is through inclusion, and the best way to honour the inspiring commitment and bravery of women peacemakers is to open doors to their meaningful participation. Let us turn the clock forward on women’s rights and give half of humankind the opportunity to build the peace we all seek.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“We need full gender parity — including through the establishment of ambitious quotas — across elections, security sector reform, disarmament, demobilization and justice systems. We know it can be done. Last month, the Deputy Secretary-General travelled to Somalia to support the 30 per cent quota for women in the upcoming elections there. Upon her return, she was met with expressions of support from Council members. The time has come to transform these words of support into action, not just in Somalia but across all countries under discussion in the Council. Women will no longer accept reversals of their rights. They should not have to — in countries in conflict or anywhere else.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“First, the Council must support our work to strengthen and deepen our partnerships with local women leaders and their networks, in line with my call to action on women transforming peace and security. They need to be able to meaningfully engage in peace and political processes. Secondly, the Council should help us protect women human rights defenders and activists. The heroes captured in the photo exhibit are risking their lives to build peace in their communities. They deserve protection as they carry out this essential work. And thirdly, the Council must work with us to promote women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace talks, peacebuilding and political systems as countries transition to peace.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source
“Since January 2018, the percentage of women staff officers and military experts has risen from 8 per cent to nearly 18 per cent today, and from 20 to 30 per cent among individual police officers. We also have more women leading our field missions than ever before; we now have parity among our heads or deputy heads of missions. And we are not stopping there. Increasing women’s representation and leadership across every aspect of the United Nations peace activities is critical to improving the delivery of our mandate and better representing the communities we serve. But we need the Council’s support in three ways: partnerships, protection and participation.”
2021-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8886 (2021) · source