YouSaid · the spoken record

Van Vlierberge

lines on the record: 286
first: 2017-11-21
most recent: 2020-10-22
sittings or episodes: 58
sources: un-security-council

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“As a matter ofprinciple, Belgium supports regional integration as the best way to resolve cross-border issues consensually, unite regions and create solidarity. I remain convinced that the European experience is a success story. Indeed, the European Union has enabled the longest period of peace in modern Europe. Moreover, I would like to reiterate our commitment to supporting the African Union in its efforts to strengthen and implement its policies, procedures and capabilities, as well as to making the financing of African Union-led peace operations more predictable, sustainable and flexible. For Belgium, that goal has been achieved, and it is now a question of making practical arrangements in that regard.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): At the outset, I welcome and thank Cote d'Ivoire for its initiative to convene a debate on a subject that is so crucial to the work ofthe Security Council in exercising its responsibilities. For Belgium, the importance of regional and subregional organizations in conflict prevention is irrefutable, particularly in Africa, where African ownership of the continent's security challenges has led to undeniable progress over the past decade. Our observation and creed are simple and shared by many - when a crisis looms on the horizon, or when a crisis breaks out, neighbouring States, the subregion and continent are often better placed than the United Nations to act quickly and efficiently.”
2018-12-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8414 (2018) · source
“We have developed important instruments - not only the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, but also a range of instruments for verification and the attribution of responsibility. While there is of course room for improvement where they are concerned, we must also be able to use them when appropriate in order to make multilateralism more effective.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“Secondly, we must be able to take advantage of existing multilateral instruments so as to provide concrete solutions to situations on the Council's agenda, and those instruments must in turn reinforce the work of the Security Council. In that respect, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) plays a very important role in Syria. That is why Belgium has allocated â‚¬2 million for building new laboratories so that the OPCW can remain on the cutting edge in its research and verification activities. And the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty could play an important and useful role in forging an agreement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Lastly, if we want to build a rules-based international order, we must also ensure that those rules are truly respected.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“I would also like to emphasize three areas where we must step up our efforts in supporting a rules-based international order in the area of peace and security. We should all ensure that the international norms that we have all agreed on are consistently respected. All Council members therefore have a responsibility to ensure that their actions in the Council do not contribute directly or indirectly to violations of international humanitarian law, human rights or non-proliferation regimes. In that regard, efforts such as the France-Mexico initiative on the veto and the code of conduct of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group remain extremely relevant.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“That will certainly be the goal of Belgium's mandate on the Security Council over the next two years. Three key words will guide our work. The first is prevention, which can be achieved by analysing and addressing the root causes and drivers of conflicts in an integrated and comprehensive manner, in close partnership with regional and subregional organizations, the countries most concerned and civil society. The fight against impunity is also a crucial preventive tool. The second is protection, above all of civilians - men, women and children - with a particular emphasis on children in armed conflict and respect for international humanitarian law. The third is performance, which is about strengthening the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations and prioritizing support for political solutions and the protection of civilians.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“Thanks to close cooperation among countries and our respect for diversity and mutual dependency, we are now living in the longest period of peace in our history to date. That is why we firmly believe in the usefulness of the United Nations, its Charter and the universal values that inspire it. Belgium supports a constructive and integrated approach to the three pillars of the work of the United Nations - sustainable development, human rights and peace and security 4 as the best way to prevent conflicts and achieve lasting peace. That belief must now be translated into concrete multilateral action. We must demonstrate that effective and joint steps taken here in the Security Council can make a difference for men, women and children on the ground.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): First of all, Belgium associates itself with the statement delivered earlier by the observer of the European Union. Today's open debate on multilateralism is very timely. Given the scope of the challenges we are facing, we want to emphasize more than ever our support for multilateralism and the importance of investing our resources and energy in it. A month ago, in his address to the General Assembly, my Prime Minister delivered a passionate statement encouraging multilateralism, in which he said, "Putting human beings at the centre and establishing the rule of law as the basis for international order is what should drive the engine of multilateralism." (A/73/PV10, p. 33) For centuries Belgium was a battleground for the Powers surrounding it.”
2018-11-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8395 (2018) · source
“States that have not yet done so should also ratify the most recent version of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in order to ensure that the perpetrators of atrocity crimes can no longer find refuge and thereby escape accountability. Finally, I would like to conclude by recalling the obligations incumbent on all of us pursuant to resolution 2286 (2016), adopted two years ago by the Council, the principles of which remain more pertinent than ever. In that regard, Belgium is pleased to announce that it is adhering to the principles set out in the political declaration proposed by France on 31 October to take concrete measures to strengthen the protection of medical personnel in conflict zones.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“At a seminar at the United Nations in February, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofForeign Affairs Didier Reynders, it emerged that there were sometimes difficulties in converging the respective objectives of political mediation and humanitarian negotiation. All too often, the actors involved in each of those processes operate as though in a vacuum. Strategic thinking is therefore necessary in order to make the best choices while taking those two dimensions into account. In the face of increasing violations of international humanitarian law and the fight against impunity - a source of new conflicts in itself- we also call on the Security Council to strengthen its support for national judicial proceedings and hybrid mechanisms.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“We are providing a specialized trainer and have translated the course materials into French so that they are accessible to more troop-contributing countries. Like others, Belgium has made a commitment to protect civilians through the Kigali Principles. We welcome the broad adherence to the Principles by troop- contributing countries. That is a positive development. We encourage more countries to join the movement, as well as to commit to concretely implementing the Principles on the ground. The protection of civilians is also an element that must be taken into account in mediation efforts to resolve conflicts.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“When States are unable to cope or are clearly lacking in their obligation to protect their civilians, action undertaken by the international community becomes paramount. The protection of civilians is therefore at the heart of the mandates of the vast majority of United Nations peacekeeping operations. In the majority of cases, that mandate is implemented; however, under some circumstances the protection of civilians has not been ensured, with devastating human consequences. It is on those cases that we must concentrate in order to prevent their reoccurring. Belgium believes that training is a cornerstone of the prevention of such atrocities. We therefore decided to invest in the training of contingents by supporting the first French-language training in the protection of civilians, to take place in a few weeks' time in Entebbe.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Belgium commends the outstanding work of Geneva Call in that regard, the results of which are encouraging, as emphasized by the Secretary- General in his report. However, our efforts would not be complete if they did not were simultaneously applied at the international level. Belgium actively supports and participates in the intergovernmental process of strengthening respect for international humanitarian law, facilitated by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of promoting and protecting international humanitarian law carried out by the ICRC is more indispensable now than ever before against a backdrop of flagrant erosion of these rules. It is for that reason that my country has, for several years, provided more than â‚¬20 million of financial support a year.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“In his latest report (S/2018/462), he again rightly insists on that point and provides new recommendations. It is in that spirit that today Belgium would like to present some concrete measures and suggestions that contribute to the protection of civilians in armed conflict. First of all, it must be remembered that the primary responsibility lies with States. In Belgium, an interministerial commission for humanitarian law was established in 1987 to monitor the implementation of international humanitarian law. We also have the means to ensure perpetrators are held accountable, including by establishing universal jurisdiction where permitted by a sufficient connecting factor. In addition to States, non-State armed groups must also be made aware of the need to respect international humanitarian law.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): Belgium aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the observer of the European Union, as well as those to be made by the representative of Switzerland on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict and by the representative of Qatar on behalf the Group of Friends on the Responsibility to Protect. I would like to thank you, Sir, for organizing this debate. I would also like to thank the briefers for their excellent presentations, which underscored the gravity of the situation. A year ago, the Secretary-General had already highlighted the need to strengthen respect for international humanitarian law, the rules of which are increasingly being flouted.”
2018-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8264 (2018) · source
“The fight against impunity must also be an integral part of the longer-term mission strategy. In terms of good practices, the experience of mixed patrols involving mediation or human rights experts, police and military should be applied in more missions. The various exchanges that will take place this year will aim to clarify roles and responsibilities in the reform agenda that is on the table. I can assure you, Sir, of Belgium's readiness to contribute actively and concretely to this discussion throughout this year but also even more closely with our Security Council partners during the 2019-2020 term, for which we are a candidate.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“They are an opportunity to put the political process and the protection of civilians back at the heart of mandates. Strategic reviews are there to give us the keys to redirect missions in a manner more in line with mandates or, on the contrary, to modify mandates that have become unrealistic or impracticable on the ground. Strategic reviews should be an opportunity for frank conversations about what is realistic and achievable, and about the mission horizon, without of course diminishing the deep ambition of the mission. In some cases, it would be appropriate to sequence the objectives more. In all cases, including the difficult budgetary negotiations that we will have in the coming years, Belgium is in favour of maintaining substantial capacities in the areas of child protection and gender policy.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“We also want to respond to the specific needs identified in the Cruz report, and we will consider, in close collaboration with the training services, additional support to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, both in the area of combat medicine and by providing a mobile training team. In an asymmetric environment, such as that of Mali, a more effective use of intelligence is an essential requirement for ensuring security and mission performance and, ultimately, protecting civilians. Belgium, as a troop-contributing country, provides a significant portion of the deployed personnel in the Mission's intelligence structures and is preparing to do even more in 2018. Improving operations also means using the strategic review instrument more effectively.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Mapping and keeping track of trained personnel should also be improved, and respect for the chain of command, from the moment contingents are deployed in missions, is an essential precondition if we want a mission to be effective, credible and respected on the ground. Belgium has decided to contribute to strengthening the capacity-building of contingents from French- speaking countries. We support the training of staff officers in Entebbe, and we are also financing the translation of manuals into French. In addition, thanks to Belgian support, the first United Nations training in French on the protection of civilians will be held in June.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“However, that task will remain an illusion if the troops involved do not have the necessary skills required for the mission, if they are not properly trained and prepared, and ifthey do not have the necessary equipment. Not all troop-contributing countries have the same operational experience. To match the level of performance with the needs of the mission, the training and preparation of contingents have become essential. Small gaps can be corrected within the mission, but larger gaps need to be identified and resolved before any contingents are deployed. Belgium welcomes the establishment of an agile coordination mechanism to connect troop-contributing countries that have expressed a need with those that have the necessary experience.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“General Cruz's report made recommendations aimed not only at improving the security of the men and women who make up the contingents, but also at making the operations more efficient. The Secretary- General wasted no time in presenting a plan of action to implement those recommendations. We welcome those measures and would like to support their implementation. The Cruz report is unambiguous: to mitigate risks it is necessary to improve the performance of the deployed troops and make the use of intelligence more systematic and effective. The protection of civilians has become one of the priority tasks of peacekeeping operations.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“The Blue Helmets are becoming targets for who they are and what they represent, and that is unacceptable. However, peacekeeping has also been a positive experience: West Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone are examples of successful missions. The United Nations Mission in Liberia will close its doors in two days. Those situations illustrate the importance of having, at the outset of the mission, a clear view of the elements that will enable the peacekeeping operation to withdraw from the country once its mandate has been fulfilled. Peacekeeping is constantly evolving, and we thank the Netherlands for giving further impetus to this debate in the run-up to the high-level event in September and a possible adoption of a resolution by the Council.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): Belgium associates itself with the statement of the European Union, as well as with those of the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security and the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect, of which it is a member. The figures are worrying. Peacekeepers are increasingly being killed on mission. I would like to begin by paying tribute to those who have contributed to peace by sacrificing their lives, often far from home. We owe them all a great deal. The facts are well known - stalled political processes, differences among the parties, a tendency to rely on the mission to replace the role of the State, contradictory political messages addressed by the authorities to the people.”
2018-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8218 (2018) · source
“Women also played a role in the recent success of the second meeting of the Kabul Process as members of the High Peace Council or through the support of women's organizations for the peace offer put on the table. Belgium fully supports the declaration of the Kabul peace process and congratulates the Government of Afghanistan on having obtained broad national and international support for a generous and concrete peace offer. It is now up to the Taliban to answer. We also commend the Government of Uzbekistan for organizing an international conference on peace and development in Afghanistan in Tashkent at the end of this month. International and especially regional support for Afghanistan's peace process and development is essential for achieving sustainable progress. The meeting rose at 1.50 pm.”
2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source
“Afghanistan has made clear commitments and has developed an action plan on women and peace and security. More and more women hold important Government positions. We also welcome the recent decree endorsing the Law on the Elimination of Violence against Women, and we look forward to its implementation. No one denies the significant challenges and the long way to go. A sustained effort will be needed to increase the essential participation of women in education, work and decision-making. The upcoming elections will be an important opportunity to increase women's participation in public life. Women have a role to play as voters, activists and political candidates. We hope that a concerted effort by the Government, the Independent Election Commission and civil society, with the support of UNAMA, will make real progress in that area possible.”
2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source
“Studies show that a greater participation of women leads to more effective humanitarian assistance, more lasting peace agreements and post-conflict recovery. There is a direct correlation between women's level of education and sustainable development. Encouraging women's rights and inclusion is not a matter of political correctness or moral debate but a proven recipe for success. That is why the women and peace and security agenda deserves all the support that we can collectively provide. We take this opportunity to commend the progress made by the Government of Afghanistan. The aforementioned increase in the number of female deaths is primarily attributable to terrorist suicide bombings. The casualties attributable to the Government forces decreased by 19 per cent.”
2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source
“I would like to thank Special Representative Yamamoto, Ms. Sarabi and Ms. Safi for their briefings and for their tireless efforts towards lasting peace in Afghanistan. Allow me to thank you, Madam President, for organizing this quarterly debate on Afghanistan on such an auspicious day, International Women's Day, and only a week after the very successful second conference of the Kabul Process. Now is the best time to discuss women and peace and security in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, women continue to suffer the consequences of the conflict. Last year, the number of female deaths increased by 5 per cent as compared to the previous year. That is particularly tragic, since women also hold the key to more peace and security.”
2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source
“Belgium would like to associate itself with the statement made by the observer of the European Union, in particular by highlighting the indispensable role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other United Nations agencies in supporting the Afghan people, promoting peace and reconciliation, monitoring and promoting human rights, and coordinating the assistance of the international community. We also commend the Government of Afghanistan for acceding to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and its five Protocols on 9 August 2017, thereby demonstrating its commitment to addressing the issues covered by the Convention and its Protocols.”
2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): First of all, as others have done before me, I would like to convey our deepest condolences to the Afghan people and their Government for the terrible attacks against Afghan civilians and security personnel. Belgium strongly supports the efforts of the international community to ensure security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. Belgium has made regular and significant contributions to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and will continue to invest in the security of the Afghan people, in particular by increasing its presence in Afghanistan from 50 to nearly 100 soldiers next month.”
2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source
“The issuing of residence permits to enable victims to recover and to take part in the legal proceedings against their abusers is, in that regard, a key element. Here too we would also be happy to share our experience on that matter.”
2017-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8111 (2017) · source
“We note that the appointment of specific magistrates for human trafficking in each judicial district has proved particularly effective and has resulted in a significant number of convictions for both sexual and economic exploitation. We would be delighted to share our experience with other countries that so desire. I would like to end my statement by reaffirming our support for the victim-centred approach. The reception and protection of victims of human trafficking is an essential element of the debate. I would therefore like to stress the importance of ensuring that the principle of non-punishment of victims of trafficking is properly applied. In our view, punishing victims is a violation of human rights and helps traffickers who can in turn bring more pressure to bear on the victim.”
2017-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8111 (2017) · source
“In the face of the military defeat of Da'esh, we must double our vigilance to dismantle the networks that continue to fund that organization and others like it. We must also adapt our approach to new developments, particularly the plight of minors, children and families of combatants, who are all particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. As a destination country, Belgium assumes its responsibility to fight impunity in the area of human trafficking. Our experience has shown us that it is valuable to have specialized magistrates designated to handle cases involving the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking.”
2017-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8111 (2017) · source
“Belgium has, in the past, organized training for its military personnel deployed in humanitarian contexts and is planning further training in the future. Whether in times ofpeace, conflict or humanitarian crisis, different agencies and institutions have valuable expertise to share. The scale of the phenomenon of human trafficking makes it necessary for us to make every effort to ensure the unreserved collaboration and coordination between agencies and organizations, in respect for the skills and expertise ofeach ,especially by making greater use of mechanism of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons. Many studies confirm the nexus between terrorist organizations and trafficking networks.”
2017-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8111 (2017) · source
“Trafficking should not be fought only in the countries of destination, but at every possible stage of the ordeal of victims, whether in the country of origin or in transit countries. That consciousness-raising requires the training of the various actors involved in the phenomenon. I am thinking in particular of the international and national personnel deployed in the field of conflicts and in humanitarian crises or their surroundings. We must also ensure the training and awareness of local authorities. We would support any United Nations initiative to ensure the structural mainstreaming of measures to deal withtrafficking in persons within mission mandates. In our view, it is essential to integrate actions to combat human trafficking in an active and systematic way in our response to emergent or protracted humanitarian situations.”
2017-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8111 (2017) · source
“At the international level, my country will continue to insist on the importance and the coherence and continuity of action of the multilateral system and Member States in the face of this scourge. Strong action is needed at all levels, from the prevention of the phenomenon to the effective identification and interception of existing networks and the prosecution of individuals and organizations guilty of this crime. My country's participation in international initiatives like the Alliance 8.7 - the Global Alliance to Eradicate Forced Labour, Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Child Labour - illustrates our commitment to this issue. We join calls for increased stakeholder awareness.”
2017-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8111 (2017) · source
“Mrs. Van Vlierberge (Belgium) (spoke in French): At the outset, I thank you, Mr. President, for having convened today's important debate. Belgium fully aligns itself with the statement to be made by the observer of the European Union, and I would like to make the following comments in its national capacity. Trafficking in human beings attacks the very core of the societies it affects. It constitutes a serious violation of human rights; it undermines the rule of law; it denies the very principle of human dignity. Aggravating circumstances and situations of conflict or humanitarian crisis - due to their inherent instability and precariousness - are breeding grounds for this most abject trade, the effects of which are devastating. Belgium will therefore continue to make a commitment to combat this phenomenon.”
2017-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8111 (2017) · source