YouSaid · the spoken record

Volker Perthes

lines on the record

25

first

2021-03-09

most recent

2021-05-20

sittings or episodes

2

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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

1. “The Sudan’s fragile transition can succeed in realizing the aspirations of the Sudanese people, men and women, only if there is a continuation of the same spirt of unity, partnership and collaboration that started the revolution. I have continued my outreach with diverse stakeholders: the Government, political parties, armed movements, civil society and others across the Sudan to address the scepticism that we have encountered among parts of the political and societal spectrum at the outset and to build confidence that UNITAMS works for all of the Sudan.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

2. “The United Nations has also made significant progress in the development of benchmarks and indicators, which are annexed to the report of the Secretary-General (S/2021/470). The benchmarks will measure progress against strategic priorities across the four pillars of our mandate. We have had a first discussion with the Government and will launch a “roadshow” to discuss those benchmarks with civil-society actors in various parts of the country next month. I also thank the Government for its diligent work, which has led to the successful completion of discussions on the status-of-mission agreement, which is now ready to be signed.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

3. “UNITAMS will continue to support women’s rights groups and the Government in order to create an enabling environment for women to live free of fear for their safety and to exercise their full rights. On regional matters, I continue to urge dialogue to address the differences and tensions between the Sudan and Ethiopia to preserve the Sudan’s stability. Dialogue and cooperation are the only way to amicably resolve those differences. With regard to international cooperation, I am pleased to report agreement on the establishment of what we call the Sudan National Development Forum as a donor assistance coordination mechanism. The Government intends to launch that forum in the coming month.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

4. “A women’s march on 8 April brought attention to disparities in women’s safety, basic needs, legal rights and political participation. I was deeply disturbed by continued reports of human rights violations against women and girls, including social media campaigns instigating violence. Women’s rights activists point to the fact that such gender crimes were unacceptable during the revolution and should be unacceptable now. I could not agree more. The decision of the Government to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa was an important step forward, despite the reservations on core provisions, which Sudanese women’s rights groups have criticized.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

5. “UNITAMS and the United Nations country team are supporting the Government’s National Plan for the Protection of Civilians, focusing on three main outcomes: supporting prevention, providing support for physical protection and creating an enabling protective environment. That includes strengthening the judiciary, a United Nations priority. UNITAMS deployed three multifunctional teams to Darfur to support the Sudanese police in community policing, investigations and addressing gender-based violence and the protection of civilians. United Nations efforts towards the protection of civilians will continue to grow as the United Nations increases its capacity. Sudanese women continue to demand the full realization of their rights, in line with the aspirations of the revolution and the Constitutional Declaration.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

6. “I fear that without the speedy establishment of those joint forces and the implementation of the Sudan’s National Plan for the Protection of Civilians, we could see incidents similar to the ones that took place in El Geneina repeated. In my meetings with Government and security officials, I welcomed their commitment to implementing security-sector reforms. UNITAMS is ready to assist in that undertaking. I also continue to urge the establishment of the ceasefire committees and related mechanisms that the peace agreement foresees. UNITAMS is prepared to support those measures, not least so as a United Nations role in those mechanisms has been agreed upon in the agreement.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

7. “In response, the Government decided to implement eight critical security- enhancement measures, some derived from the Juba Peace Agreement, which include the establishment and deployment of the joint security forces; operationalizing transitional security arrangements and the related ceasefire committees; weapons management; and humanitarian relief. Armed movements have named their representatives to the ceasefire committees and identified personnel for joint security forces, but deployments have yet to commence. Some delays are reportedly due to lack of resources; material international support for those joint forces, including housing and equipment, is certainly welcome.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

8. “Other critical aspects remain unfulfilled, notably security arrangements and the establishment of the ceasefire and security committees. Delays in establishing a joint protection force and the absence of integrated and united security forces have a direct bearing on stability and the protection of civilians. Members will recall my most recent briefing here, in April, after the latest resurgence of intercommunal clashes in Darfur which left 144 dead, 232 injured and an estimated 65,000 newly displaced.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

9. “Most important, the formation of an inclusive and representative Transitional Legislative Council with at least 40 per cent representation of women has yet to be realized. Moreover, the recent commemoration of the violent suppression of anti-regime protests in 2019 and the tragic deaths of two young men underscored the growing frustration with the unfulfilled expectations of the political transition, including the quest for justice and accountability. While there is growing concern at the limited progress made in implementing the Juba Peace Agreement, there has been progress in some areas, such as the launch of the technical preparations for the governance conference and preparations for the establishment of the monitoring and evaluation mechanism.”

   2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

10. “We are also working to ensure the meaningful participation of women in the process. In Juba, I also discussed with Sudan Liberation Army leader Abdul Wahid Al-Nur the need to engage politically for a comprehensive peace in the Sudan that addresses the root causes of the conflict. Let me also note the Government of the Sudan’s continued efforts to advance the political transition. The adoption of legislation establishing the Peace Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Transitional Justice Commission is an important step. I urge the authorities to proceed rapidly in operationalizing those entities while ensuring that they reflect the diversity of the Sudan. There are also delays.”

    2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

11. “On 28 March the Chairman of the Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement — North (SPLM/N), Abdelaziz Al-Hilu faction, signed a declaration of principles that will form the basis of the scheduled peace talks between the Government of the Sudan and the SPLM/N Al-Hilu in Juba next week. I commend both parties’ courage in making important compromises to reach that stage. I have met with Abdelaziz Al-Hilu, along with the Government and the South Sudanese mediation team, to discuss preparations for the upcoming peace talks. The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS) will act as a facilitator, supporting South Sudan’s mediation efforts and the parties when required.”

    2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

12. “Prime Minister Hamdok reiterated his commitment to peace and to creating an environment for business investments, while Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan affirmed his pledge to a democratic transition and to the Sudan’s good-neighbourly relations. I encourage all the Sudan’s international and domestic partners to continue supporting the country as it implements key economic and political reforms. The economic and political dimensions of the Sudan’s transition are interdependent and inseparable. Let me sketch out some of the recent developments in the Sudan — achievements as well as challenges — during the reporting period. That begins with the peace process.”

    2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

13. “I thank you for this opportunity to brief the Council today on the situation in the Sudan. I have just returned from the Paris Conference, which clearly demonstrated the continued international support for the Sudan’s return to the international community. I want to thank the Government of France for having organized that conference, at which Member States announced bilateral debt forgiveness, helping the Sudan to clear its arrears with the international financial institutions and paving the way for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative decision point. I also want to thank the Sudanese — women and men, civil society and businesspeople — who articulated their vision of a new Sudan: one of freedom, justice and economic opportunity.”

    2021-05-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/495 (2021) · source

14. “The Sudan is making significant advances in its transition. However, the remaining challenges are staggering. It is urgent to respond to the needs of communities across the country. UNITAMS, with an integrated country team, is committed to working closely with all components of the transitional authorities and other stakeholders to address these challenges and help realize the Sudanese people’s aspirations and priorities. We are here for all of the Sudan. I am confident that, with the unified support of the Security Council, we will be able to make a difference.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

15. “Turning to regional engagement, I have had constructive discussions with the African Union (AU) representative in Khartoum on United Nations-AU cooperation. I will be briefing the African Union Peace and Security Council later this month. The increasingly complex geopolitical environment is another challenge for the Sudan, notably, the tensions along the border with Ethiopia, including intermittent clashes and exchanges of heated rhetoric between Ethiopia and the Sudan. Reports of the intensification of military operations in the border region are deeply concerning. There is a serious risk for miscalculation and escalation. It is imperative that the international community build on the Sudan’s and Ethiopia’s stated commitment for a diplomatic solution to support de-escalation and a peaceful resolution.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

16. “The United Nations Mine Action Service and partners are S/2021/246 clearing unexploded ordinance and conducting demining in Darfur, and now in the Blue Nile state in the aftermath of Juba Peace Agreement. UNITAMS is a small Mission with a broad mandate. Together with the United Nations country team, we are adopting an integrated approach to maximize our efforts and resources. We will shortly be launching the Sudan Peacemaking, Peacebuilding and Stabilization Programme, which is a framework between UNITAMS and the United Nations country team to jointly implement resolution 2524 (2020). We are grateful to Member States that contributed to the peacebuilding and stabilization window of the multi-partner trust fund.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

17. “Progress in the protection of civilians also requires strengthened legal frameworks for human rights and the rule of law. I welcome the Sudan’s decision to adopt legislation to ratify the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Orders from the Sudan’s Attorney General prohibiting arrest and detention by non-police forces is also a step in the right direction. Protecting the space for peaceful protests and civic activity will remain critical. Peace will be sustainable only if the root causes and ramifications of the conflicts are addressed. The United Nations and its partners are implementing prevention and peacebuilding projects in Darfur and elsewhere, including projects started by UNAMID.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

18. “In January, intercommunal clashes in El Geneina, West Darfur, left 165 people dead and over 100,000 displaced. Subsequent clashes in South and West Darfur underscore the risks of more intercommunal violence. During my team’s recent visit to Darfur, displaced men and women expressed their fears of further violence and insecurity, including gender-based violence. In this regard, the United Nations is working to support the new Government to strengthen the protection of civilians. The Minister of the Interior and Head of the National Committee for the Protection of Civilians requested the United Nations assistance to strengthen policing capacity and early warning, and we are responding with technical advice and capacity building support.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

19. “The Sudan’s Government has given priority to advancing the peace process with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North Abdelaziz Al-Hilu faction and the Sudan Liberation Movement Abdul Wahid Al-Nur faction. The recent meeting of the Chairperson of the Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Burhan, with Mr. Al-Hilu and the declaration of the latter to unilaterally extend the cessation of hostilities for five months are clear signals of a common interest in resuming the peace process. I will continue to engage Sudanese stakeholders and parties to the peace process, and UNITAMS stands ready to assist ongoing efforts to realize a comprehensive peace settlement. The protection of civilians remains one of our main priorities.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

20. “However, we cannot ignore that economic hardships are posing a risk to the Sudan’s stability. Inflation stood at 304 per cent in January. The Sudan also suffers from large trade and fiscal deficits, high rates of unemployment and poverty. A quarter of the country’s population — 13.4 million people — is projected to require humanitarian assistance, including 2.5 million internally displaced persons. The Sudan generously hosts 1 million refugees, including 70,000 recent arrivals from Ethiopia. While the transitional Government launched the Family Support Programme on 24 February to ease the strain on large segments of the Sudanese population, the need for sustained financial and economic support to the Sudan cannot be overstated. I therefore urge the international community to step up its assistance to the Sudan.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

21. “I can only underscore that an inclusive political process, including all segments of the Sudan’s diverse society throughout the political transition, is essential for its success.There has been recent progress on the economic reform agenda, and Prime Minister Hamdok’s message is that the Sudan is becoming a country open for investment. The Government’s decision to float the Sudanese pound was a courageous step that will unlock financial assistance, paving the way for debt relief and fostering private sector engagement. The investors’ conference that will take place in May in Paris can help mobilize private foreign investment and partnerships, driving job creation and development. It is important that the international community support this and similar initiatives.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

22. “At the same time, important milestones foreseen in the Constitutional Document and the Juba Peace Agreement have yet to be reached, notably, the formation of the Transitional Legislative Council, with at least 40 per cent representation for women. The swift formation of a diverse, inclusive and representative Legislative Council is critical to broadening the support for the political transition. There are fears that the gains achieved for women’s rights in the Constitutional Document and the Juba Peace Agreement, such as the Gender Commission and the 40 per cent representation of women in the Transitional Legislative Council, might not be realized. Sudanese youth have also expressed frustration over their lack of participation in transitional institutions.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

23. “There are diverging views on the capability of this political Government, and it does not include all political forces. However, the representation of different political currents and movements, with their respective constituencies, has already made it possible for this Government to take and implement difficult decisions. Notably, this was demonstrated with the recent decision to float the exchange rate of the Sudanese currency. This new Government has also agreed on five national priorities, that is, addressing the socioeconomic conditions; implementing the Juba Peace Agreement and resuming negotiations with the two non-signatories; security sector reform and the protection of civilians; international relations; and advancing the Sudan’s democratic transition.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

24. “We continue to make clear that the four strategic objectives of our mandate — namely, support for the political transition, for the peace processes and the implementation of peace agreements, for peacebuilding and for the mobilization of external resources — are interdependent. Advancing the political transition, peacebuilding and the protection of civilians requires economic resources, and vice versa. The political transition process is moving forward. The Sovereign Council was expanded on 4 February to include three signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement, and a new a Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, was formed on 8 February. The Cabinet has a political, as opposed to technocratic, character. It is a broad coalition built on power-sharing among civilians, the military and armed movements.”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source

25. “I thank you, Madam President, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council. This is my first briefing to the Council. I am grateful for the confidence the Secretary-General and the Council have placed in me, and I hope I can count on your partnership in supporting the Sudan’s transition. I have been in the Sudan for five weeks. I have met with the transitional Government and the Sovereign Council and listened to a wide range of Sudanese on their aspirations and the challenges facing the Sudan’s transition. I have also explained the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS) and discussed how we can best support the Sudan on the basis of resolution 2524 (2020).”

    2021-03-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/246 (2021) · source