YouSaid · the spoken record

Thomas-Greenfield

lines on the record: 1,605
first: 2021-05-27
most recent: 2023-12-22
sittings or episodes: 219
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

“Those outdated texts do not reflect the changing realities on the ground, with the new possibilities for cooperation ushered in through the Abraham Accords and other normalization agreements. At the same time, we understand that the Palestinian people need and deserve a political horizon and something to hope for. Rather than simply rubber- stamping those General Assembly resolutions, we should all be thinking about how to collectively advance the cause of peace. Despite our deep concerns about the security situation on the ground, we also feel that it is important to highlight real progress. On 11 October, after months of mediation by the United States, the Governments of Israel and Lebanon reached a deal to formally end their maritime boundary dispute and establish a permanent maritime boundary between them.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174 (2022) · source
“As President Biden has made clear, Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live safely and securely. Both peoples deserve to enjoy equal measures of freedom, dignity and justice. Just as we have called on the Palestinian Authority to do more to prevent attacks, we also call on Israel to apply equal resources and vigour to prevent and investigate all violent attacks against Palestinians. All perpetrators must be held accountable for their outrageous attacks. The world must see that arrests, convictions and punishments are carried out without bias. As we head into the height of committee season, we are once again facing a disproportionate number of draft resolutions with an unfair focus on Israel. Those one-sided draft resolutions and activities are a distraction and do nothing to improve the situation on the ground.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174 (2022) · source
“I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his briefing. First and foremost, I would like to raise our deep concern about the security situation in the West Bank. This year is on track to be the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2006. We have seen an incredibly worrisome spike in violence in several West Bank cities and a sharp increase in both Palestinian and Israeli deaths and injuries, including among children. In the past month alone, at least 23 Palestinians and four Israelis were killed, and attacks by violent extremists are on the rise. We call on the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to do everything in their power to prevent such violence. That means security forces on both sides must refrain from taking uncoordinated actions that degrade the cooperation that has already endured difficult times.”
2022-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9174 (2022) · source
“We must not divert United Nations resources towards a baseless investigation and we must not allow Russia’s tactics to distract us from its brutal war of aggression. To do so would be to give in to lies and undermine the credibility and the dignity of the Council. My Russian colleague said that the current situation is unacceptable and should be rectified. What situation? The only unacceptable situation is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and we call on Russia to rectify that by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and ending this war now.”
2022-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9171 (2022) · source
“But here is the difference, and it is a big one. We have ample evidence of our claims. All Russia has are bizarre conspiracies — conspiracies that are no more credible today than when they were first brought it to the Council six months ago. So, while I believe that this meeting is a colossal waste of time — and we should decide just how much of our time we allow Russia to waste — I am glad the Council has the chance to see Russia’s disinformation campaign for what it is — an attempt to distract from the atrocities Russian forces are carrying out in Ukraine and a desperate tactic to justify an unjustifiable war. It does not matter how many meetings Russia tries to call on this subject, and it does not matter how hard it ratchets up its propaganda machine.”
2022-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9171 (2022) · source
“But Russia will continue to be frustrated, because unfortunately for that country, facts do not lie. We take our obligations under the Biological Weapons Convention seriously and participate fully, transparently and with integrity in the procedures outlined in the treaty. The same cannot be said for Russia. It is Moscow that has long maintained a biological weapons programme in violation of international law. And it is Moscow that has a well-documented history of using chemical weapons and shielding the Al-Assad regime, which has repeatedly used chemical weapons, from accountability. Russia is right to claim that the Council has the power to investigate violations of certain international obligations. That is exactly why we believe there should be an investigation into whether Russia illegally procured Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles.”
2022-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9171 (2022) · source
“Russia’s assertions are absurd for many reasons, including because such species, even if they could be weaponized, would pose as much a threat to the European continent and to Ukraine itself as they would to any other country. Ukraine’s scientific studies do not amount to a malicious conspiracy. To the contrary, they constitute a laudable public health campaign. The United States is proud to have assisted Ukraine in doing that work safely and securely, as we have with other countries. Respecting the Biological Weapons Convention, we presented our arguments in detail in the article V consultative meeting of States parties to the Convention in Geneva just last month. Russia failed to convince the States parties of its false claims in Geneva. Now it is trying to see if its lies can gain traction in the Security Council.”
2022-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9171 (2022) · source
“There are no Ukrainian biological weapons laboratories supported by the United States. Ukraine does own and operate a public health laboratory infrastructure, as do many countries that seek to guard themselves from infectious diseases. Those facilities make it possible to detect and diagnose diseases. We hear Russia raise alarms that biological weapons will be delivered by birds and bats, and now even mosquitoes. Birds and bats —Russia knows that public health laboratories routinely study migratory animal species to assess and counter animal-borne pathogens. We must bear in mind that, much like Russia, birds and bats do not tend to observe or respect sovereign borders.”
2022-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9171 (2022) · source
“I thank Mr. Ebo for his informative briefing this afternoon. I am going to keep my remarks short because, frankly, this meeting is a waste of everyone’s time. Russia has called us here once again for the sole purpose of spreading disinformation. We all know those claims are pure fabrications, brought forth without a shred of evidence. And I would even venture to say that the Russian delegation knows that these charges are fabricated, but it dutifully carries out marching orders from President Putin. Still, I must take this opportunity to set the record straight. Ukraine does not have a biological weapons programme. We just heard Mr. Ebo say that the United Nations is not aware of any such programmes. The United States does not have a biological weapons programme.”
2022-10-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9171 (2022) · source
“That is not only a response to a request from the Government of Haiti, but also one of the options that the Secretary-General recommended that the Security Council consider in the light of the deteriorating security environment. While today’s actions were important, we must keep doing everything we can to help the Haitian people in their time of need.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9159 (2022) · source
“We have laid a great foundation for future action to stymie criminal actors and those who finance and support them. But I want to stress that today’s adoption of this resolution is only the first step. We have much more work to do. Now that the Council has taken deliberate and decisive action to send a strong signal to the gangs and those who fund them through new targeted sanctions, we must build on those efforts to address another immediate challenge — to help restore security and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. As I said in the Council on Monday (see S/PV.9153), the United States and Mexico are working on a draft resolution that would authorize a non-United Nations international security assistance mission in order to help improve the security situation and enable the flow of desperately needed humanitarian aid.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9159 (2022) · source
“In response, the Council sanctioned one of the country’s most notorious gang leaders — a gang leader whose actions have directly contributed to the humanitarian crisis that has caused so much pain and suffering to the people of Haiti. We are sending a clear message to the bad actors that are holding Haiti hostage. The international community will not stand idly by while they wreak havoc on the Haitian people. Sanctions are at their most effective when they are targeted specifically towards bad actors and allow humanitarian aid to reach civilian populations. The resolution we adopted today accomplishes both those objectives. We also worked to incorporate clear, measurable and well-defined methods to periodically review the efficacy of these sanctions, and I thank my colleagues for their strong voices on this matter.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9159 (2022) · source
“As co-penholders on resolution 2653 (2022), the United States and Mexico would like to jointly thank Security Council members for their thorough and expedient review and consultations. By adopting this resolution, we have taken an important step to help the Haitian people. After robust and inclusive negotiations, I feel this resolution is truly reflective of Council consensus. Even operating under the accelerated time frame, we were able to incorporate the views of all members of the Council. This resolution is an initial answer to the calls for help from the Haitian people. They want us to take action against criminal actors, including gangs and their financiers, who have been undermining stability and expanding poverty in their vibrant society.”
2022-10-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9159 (2022) · source
“We must promote women’s leadership, whether in villages, capitals or on the international stage, just as we five women members of the Security Council and the many other women we see in the Chamber today promote women’s leadership. We need to make this a critical moment to band together as a global community, not just to wear pink today as a sign of our support but also to raise our voices to demand the change that we know that the women of the world need. We know that we can do that. We must do it. We must do it for girls and women and for the peace and security they will bring the world, but also for the peace and security that they need to have from the world.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158 (2022) · source
“They are protesting the fact that she was killed by the Iranian morality police for the crime of being a woman. They are protesting the denial of the basic freedoms to which every woman and girl — every person — should be entitled. Whether it is Iran, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Haiti, Burma or elsewhere, this is a moment. It is a moment where women and girls are looking to us — the Security Council — to support them in their bravery and time of need. To do that, we must fortify the United Nations infrastructure we have established over the past decade to prevent conflict-related sexual violence. We must ensure that women and peace and security language is deliberately and strategically integrated into Security Council resolutions.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158 (2022) · source
“As we work to counter those unacceptable policies and lift the voices of women, the United States established the United States-Afghan Consultative Mechanism, which systematically engages a diverse range of Afghan voices, particularly women and civil society leaders, to ensure that their perspectives are integrated into our policy discussions. We also launched the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience, based on consultations with Afghan women. Our goals with those efforts and others are to support and respond to the innovation and resilience among Afghan women at this harrowing time. Finally, the eyes of the entire world are on Iran right now. Courageous and brave Iranians from across society — women and men — are protesting the death of Mahsa Amini.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158 (2022) · source
“The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict said, “When women are held for days and raped, when you start to rape little boys and men, when you see a series of genital mutilations, when you hear women testify about Russian soldiers equipped with Viagra, it is clearly a military strategy”. It is a military strategy that uses rape as a weapon of war. In Afghanistan, we must recognize the heroic women and girls who navigate the destructive repressive policies of the Taliban. We heard from Ms. Nader about the horrific attack perpetrated on a Hazara school, killing more than 60 people. Those policies defy the standards set out in our resolutions.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158 (2022) · source
“They are often the subject of disinformation campaigns that are designed to intimidate, discredit and silence their calls for peace. We see those same patterns around the world, especially in areas of conflict. In Ethiopia this past week, we have seen renewed and horrific violence. The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia found reasonable grounds to believe that Ethiopian National Defence Forces, the Eritrean Defence Forces and Fano have committed widespread acts of rape and sexual violence against Tigrayan women and girls. The Commission also reported that Tigrayan forces have also committed acts of rape and sexual violence. In Ukraine, the United Nations has verified more than 100 cases of rape and sexual assault since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February. Those cases are only the tip of the iceberg.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158 (2022) · source
“For its part, the United States took the important step of codifying its commitment to women’s participation and safety in peace and security processes. Today we call on other countries to do the same. We must all be held accountable, and we must be accountable. We must build on the growing body of policies to affirm gender equality and equality in security, peacemaking and peacekeeping. That call is urgent because right now, we face a pivotal moment for the women and peace and security agenda. Around the world, women and girls are under threat from conflict and repressive regimes, climate and poverty. Risks have gone up, including the threat of kidnapping, torture, killing and gender-based violence. Women leaders, human rights defenders and activists are particularly targeted by online threats, harassment and abuse.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158 (2022) · source
“Let me thank Gabon for hosting this very important debate. The large number of speakers that we have on our list today reflects the high priority that we all give this issue. I also want to thank Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed for her strong support and for her presence with us today. I thank UN-Women Executive Director Bahous, Special Envoy Diop and Ms. Nader for their excellent briefings today. As outlined in resolution 1325 (2000), the women and peace and security agenda offers a transformational vision for a world in which women and girls are protected, included and play an essential role in forging peace. Our charge is to make that vision a reality — not just in words but also in deeds and actions.”
2022-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9158 (2022) · source
“But we were alarmed to learn that the Malian armed forces had clashed with a signatory armed group for the first time since 2017. A return to hostilities among the parties would have unthinkable consequences for the stability of Mali and for the broader region. Such conflict must be prevented by accelerating the implementation of the peace accords. We support the people of Mali. In that vein, I want to again express our strong support for MINUSMA’s peacekeepers, who serve with dedication despite serious challenges to protect Malian civilians. I want to reiterate that, for the sake of their own safety and security, but also for the viability of the Mission, they must be allowed to perform their duties without obstruction.”
2022-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9154 (2022) · source
“Leaders must prepare for and complete the constitutional referendum and local, legislative and presidential elections. The Malian people, who have put their faith in transition leaders to peacefully restore democracy within the agreed-upon time frame, deserve nothing less. We also welcome the increased representations of women on the Agreement Monitoring Committee. This is a positive step towards ensuring the full, meaningful and equal inclusion of women in the peace process and throughout the electoral transition. The United States commends the armed groups signatories of the Algiers accords for resuming the regular functioning of the bodies charged with implementing the agreement following their almost year-long hiatus. As the Secretary-General notes, these forums are critical to peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.”
2022-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9154 (2022) · source
“In the light of the challenges facing MINUSMA in Mali, I want to stress that the United States has a strong desire in support of the Secretary-General’s internal review to offer a candid assessment of MINUSMA’s ability to fulfil its mandate, and we hope to see a broad range of options for the future of the Mission. But while the challenges facing MINUSMA are indisputable, we should all be encouraged by recent developments. Although it is limited and long overdue, the transition authorities in Mali have made progress towards restoring democracy, civilian rule and constitutional order, including by adopting a new electoral law and submitting a draft Constitution. We urge the transition authorities to overcome internal and political rivalries to accelerate the transition process.”
2022-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9154 (2022) · source
“Human rights abuses and violations in the name of counter-terrorism operations only deepen mistrust of the State authorities and play into the hands of violent extremist groups, who recruit among the aggrieved and the disillusioned. We are also deeply concerned that the presence of Wagner Group forces obstructs the implementation of the peace agreement. In central Mali, the continued absence of State services and authority, combined with the lack of an overarching vision for that region, has continued to fuel a vicious cycle of instability. We urge the transition Government to accelerate efforts aimed at restoring its presence in the centre and at implementing the recently approved draft strategy for the stabilization of the centre and the action plan for 2022-2024.”
2022-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9154 (2022) · source
“We condemn the uptick in disinformation campaigns, which sow distrust and erode local confidence in MINUSMA. Such obstructionists of MINUSMA’s operations threaten the Mission’s mandate to monitor and investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuses against Malians. That work has never been more critical. We are appalled by the reports of human rights violations and abuses allegedly perpetrated by violent extremist groups and by the Malian armed forces, in partnership with the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group, as we heard from previous speakers earlier. We call for those responsible to be held accountable. The Wagner Group forces will not bring peace, but only exploitation and instability, to Mali.”
2022-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9154 (2022) · source
“Not only do those restrictions put Malian civilians at greater risk, but they also compromise the safety and security of MINUSMA personnel, who bravely serve in the most dangerous United Nations peacekeeping mission. The efforts of MINUSMA to protect civilians in that volatile region and its work to facilitate intercommunal dialogue, defuse tensions and prevent conflict at the local level deserve our full support. Those that impede the ability of MINUSMA to anticipate, deter and effectively respond to threats against civilians are playing with fire. Their actions in fact allow violent extremist groups to conduct attacks against civilians, peacekeepers and Malian forces. We implore the transitional Government to lift all restrictions against MINUSMA and allow the Mission and its personnel to safely do their jobs.”
2022-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9154 (2022) · source
“We must continue to press for concrete action to ensure the safety of peacekeepers in Mali and around the world. In that vein, we must work together to ensure the freedom of movement of MINUSMA personnel throughout Mali. The ongoing restrictions against MINUSMA and United Nations personnel, including no-fly zones, visa denials and refusals of ground patrols and flight clearances, have severely impacted the Mission’s ability to fulfil the task that the Security Council itself mandated. Attempts to obstruct MINUSMA’s important and often life-saving work to protect Malian civilians and investigate violations of their rights are simply unacceptable.”
2022-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9154 (2022) · source
“Let me thank Special Representative Wane for his informative briefing and for his efforts to bring peace to Mali. It is clear from his briefing that the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) continues to make vital contributions to Mali’s security, peace process and democratic transition despite the unprecedented challenges that the Mission now faces. I also want to welcome Foreign Minister Diop to our meeting today, and I look forward to his briefing to the Security Council as well. I want to begin by expressing my deep condolences, as the Council heard from other speakers, to the families of the victims of yesterday’s brutal attack on MINUSMA personnel. It is not the first time that that happened, but it has to stop.”
2022-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9154 (2022) · source
“We must work with Haiti to re-establish the rule of law in a way that respects human rights. And we must hold those responsible for so much pain and violence accountable. Families across Haiti who do not know where their next meal will come from are counting on us. The humanitarian and health workers desperately trying to contain a cholera outbreak are counting on us. Victims of gang violence like Christelle Pierre are counting on us. These two draft resolutions will help Haiti build a brighter, more secure future. I ask all members for their support.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“With the dire humanitarian consequences at a level we have not seen before, we need effective but targeted international assistance. That should be coupled with support for political dialogue and backed by sustained international pressure on the actors supporting gang activity, which will provide the Haitian people with the breathing room they need — breathing room that will allow them to think beyond survival and focus on charting a better future. A Member State has reached out to us — the United Nations — for urgent assistance. Haiti has come to us in a time of need. As Security Council members charged with maintaining international peace and security, it is our responsibility to come together to help restore peace and security for the people of Haiti.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“Ultimately, such a mission will rely on support from United Nations Member States, and the draft resolution asks explicitly for contributions of personnel, equipment and other resources. This is the moment for the Council — and the world — to step up. To be clear, we are keenly aware of the history of international intervention in Haiti and specifically of concerns about the Council’s authorization of a response that could lead to an open-ended peacekeeping role. The Security Council and the international community must look at its role differently from the way they have in the past. We must seek a different course, one that can better respond to the humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti and be able to address the needs of the Haitian people directly.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“This draft resolution would propose a limited, carefully scoped, non-United Nations mission led by a partner country with the deep, necessary experience required for such an effort to be effective. At the United Nations and across the United States Government, we will work with partners and other Council members to set defined and specific parameters for the mission, and the United States will consider the most effective means to directly support, enable and resource it. This non-United Nations international security assistance mission would operate under Chapter VII of the Charter. And it would facilitate international support to the Haitian National Police and Coast Guard. By helping to improve the security situation on the ground, the delivery of desperately needed aid could reach those in need and address the ongoing cholera crisis.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“The second draft resolution we are working on would authorize a non-United Nations international security assistance mission to help improve the security situation and enable the flow of desperately needed humanitarian aid. It reflects one of the options that the Secretary-General recommended that the Security Council consider. It is also a direct response to the request from Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the Haitian Council of Ministers for international assistance to help restore security and alleviate the humanitarian crisis. And we have consulted broadly with other stakeholders in Haiti, including members of civil society and the private sector.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“The United Nations sanctions regime aims to stop those criminal actors from having access to reputable financial institutions, and it would work to freeze their assets and prohibit their international travel. Additionally, its arms-embargo provisions would prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of arms to criminal gangs and their leaders, as designated by the Council. The draft resolution specifically lists Jimmy Chérizier, also known as Barbecue, as the subject of such sanctions. He is directly responsible for the devastating fuel shortage that is crippling the country. By adopting the draft resolution, we would take concrete action to hold him and so many other violent criminals to account.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“That is why the United States and Mexico have worked closely to draft two new draft resolutions, which we hope the Council will support unanimously. The first draft resolution would impose financial sanctions on the criminal actors who are inflicting so much suffering on the Haitian people. It is time to hold them accountable for their actions. It would target those responsible for gang violence, trafficking arms, attacking United Nations personnel, kidnapping innocent citizens and perpetrating human rights abuses and sexual and gender-based violence. And it would go after the individuals blocking Haiti’s ports and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“And the United States is proactively going after the bad actors. Our new visa restriction policies target current and former Haitian Government officials and other individuals believed to be connected to street gangs or other criminal organizations. There must be consequences for those who support the facilitation of illicit arms or narcotics trafficking. But a problem of this magnitude cannot be solved by one country or even a handful of partners in the region. It requires a concerted international response. It requires robust international cooperation. And it requires urgent action by the Security Council. It is not enough to express our concerns or condemn the violence. As mandated in the Charter of the United Nations, we need to mobilize the resources and power of the Council and the broader United Nations.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“In response, our teams are on the ground, working alongside Haitian health workers and non-governmental organizations to help address the cholera outbreak and assist others in need. And we remain the single largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Haiti. In the coming days, the United States will deliver additional assistance to Haiti, including critical medical support. We are also deeply focused on the security situation. Together with Canada, one way in which we have helped has been by coordinating the delivery of vital Haitian Government-purchased security equipment to the Haitian National Police, including tactical and armoured vehicles and other supplies. That assistance will help the Haitian National Police counter gang violence and re-establish stability and security under the rule of law.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“Her neighbourhood was burned to the ground. Her husband was shot in the head and left to burn in the street. Now Christelle and her newborn baby are homeless, in a country engulfed in crisis. As she told the Times, “There is no shelter, no food, no medicine, no work. There is only chaos.” If there was ever a moment to come to the aid of Haitians in dire need, it is now. Faced with extreme violence and instability, Haiti’s leaders and people are crying out for help. Haiti’s Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, as well as the Secretary-General, have called on the international community to address the deteriorating security situation and increase our humanitarian support.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“Let me thank Special Representative La Lime for her briefing and her work. I would also like to thank in advance Ms. Kontoleontos of the International Organization of la Francophonie. And I want to acknowledge Mr. Généus and Mr. Álvarez Gil, the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as Mr. Fuller, the Permanent Representative of Belize, who is here on behalf of the Caribbean Community. We look forward to hearing their remarks and important regional perspectives. The New York Times recently published a heartbreaking story on Haiti. It featured Christelle Pierre, a civilian who is all too familiar with the instability and violence that plagues Haiti. Gang members descended on Christelle’s neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince when she was six months pregnant, and left death and destruction in their wake.”
2022-10-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9153 (2022) · source
“Today let us therefore renew our commitment to working together, here in the Council, across the United Nations and in our own countries, to unlock a resilient, sustainable, clean-energy economy that enables Africa, with its ample resources and dynamism, to mitigate the impact of the climate crisis.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“That will help us better address the root causes of fragility, and we look forward to the Secretary-General’s new agenda for peace next year. In all of that work, women must be at the centre of all decision-making. Women are key to driving local sustainable solutions. We cannot wish the climate crisis away, although I wish we could. We cannot ignore its impact on security and prosperity in Africa, nor can we pretend that the Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, is somehow not the right forum to tackle the security issues that stem from climate change.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“That is why the United States, through its Feed the Future initiative, has committed to investing more than $5 billion over five years to strengthen global food security and nutrition. Sixteen of the Feed the Future target countries are in Africa, and the initiative will help African communities and farmers better mitigate and adapt to scalable, sustainable, climate-smart agricultural methods. At the same time, we are working to help half a billion people in developing countries adapt to and manage the effects of changing climate through our President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience initiative. Here at the United Nations, we must ensure strong coordination between humanitarian security and climate programmes.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“When areas experiencing conflict or insecurity meet dwindling food supplies and economic insecurity, the risk of violence goes up. Droughts, floods, fires and severe weather are making food and economic crises even more dire and peacekeeping operations in complex environments even more dangerous. We also know that women and girls, and other historically marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by climate change and conflict. As water sources dry up, women are forced to make longer journeys, increasing their vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence. Those trends, along with rising political violence, conflict and insecurity, leave families with impossible choices as they struggle to put food on the table.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“Climate change is a global challenge that requires urgent action, including by the Council. Of course, it is a challenge that requires all of us to advance sustainable clean policies in our own countries. As President Biden made clear during the General Assembly debate last month (see A/77/PV.6), the United States is implementing a bold climate agenda. This summer, President Biden signed into law the single most aggressive action in our history to confront the climate crisis. It will help our country transition to a clean economy, and we hope that it will encourage others to follow suit. In the twenty-first century, that work is vital to international peace and security, because the consequences of climate change are key drivers of conflict.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“Rainforests, a vital natural way to combat climate change, as we heard from the President, are being polluted by illegal mining and deforestation. Endangered species are poached and sold as luxury goods abroad. Funds from those illicit practices fuel terrorist groups, causing even more instability and harm. Given that long list of challenges and the little time we have to stave off climate catastrophe, climate and security are connected and must be at the top of the Council’s agenda. But some Council members continue to argue that this is not the place to address climate-induced security threats and worked to defeat efforts last year (see S/PV.8926) by the Permanent Representative of the Niger to recognize that in a Council product (draft resolution S/2021/990). To be frank, that is dumbfounding, and we really do need to change course.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“Climate change means shorter growing seasons for farmers, which means smaller annual yields. That has reduced agricultural productivity growth by as much as 40 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa. Devastating droughts have wiped out precious livestock. In Somalia, mothers talk of dead cattle that line the roads as they walk with their children to seek relief from famine. Some children do not make it, starving on the journey, with their mothers forced to leave them behind. That is unthinkable and truly unbearable. We also know that some Member States engage in behaviour that not only exacerbates the climate crisis but makes it more difficult to adapt. Fish stocks are being illegally plundered off the coasts of West and East Africa.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“Every time I return to Africa, I am struck by how much the environment and the climate have transformed. It is hotter and the weather has become more extreme. We have seen large-scale droughts and floods, and like you, Sir, we have watched Lake Chad diminish in size. We all wonder when Lake Chad will be no more. That is not just anecdotal; it is scientific reality. Africa is home to 17 of the world’s 20 most climate-vulnerable countries. Here is what we know. Climate change threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of Africans. It exacerbates displacement and chronic underdevelopment in countries that are already facing vulnerabilities in the areas of economic governance and security. It is also a key driver of food insecurity across the continent.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“Let me start by expressing our deep appreciation to Gabon and to you, Mr. Adamo, for making climate and security a focus of your presidency this month. Gabon has been a true leader on the issue, which is very much appreciated by the Council and others in the international community. I also want to thank our briefers, who have so clearly articulated the perils of the climate crisis and its effects on peace and security in Africa. I have been lucky enough to spend most of my professional career in Africa, travelling to countries throughout the continent. Since arriving here at the United Nations, I have had the chance to make two trips to Africa, one of which was with the Security Council to the Niger, where we had an opportunity to discuss the environmental impact of climate change on that country and how it relates to insecurity.”
2022-10-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9150 (2022) · source
“To that end, we look forward to forging a consensus around reform proposals with the aim of having a Security Council that is more effective, representative and credible. During my most recent trip to Africa, I made it clear that peace in Africa must come from African leaders and from the African people themselves. Our job here at the United Nations is to serve as partners and allies. We must continue that close cooperation to advance peace and security for the next 20 years and beyond.”
2022-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9149 (2022) · source
“If we are going to tackle those challenges together — and we have to — then I believe we need predictable and sustainable funding options for AU peace support operations. That will give the AU the flexibility it needs to address those evolving threats, and we are committed to seeing that through. At the same time, we believe our institutions must evolve to reflect today’s world. As President Biden stated during the General Assembly debate last month (see A/77/PV.6), the United States supports increasing both the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council. That includes, for the first time ever, permanent seats for countries in Africa and in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
2022-10-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9149 (2022) · source