YouSaid · the spoken record

Von Der Schulenburg

lines on the record: 182
first: 2009-02-09
most recent: 2012-03-22
sittings or episodes: 9
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

“Let me wish Mama Salone the very best for its future and hope that the Almighty protects and guides the country and its people. After so many difficult years, Sierra Leoneans deserve a brighter, prosperous and peaceful future.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“12-27246 But, above all, let me thank all Sierra Leoneans for having welcomed me in their midst and for having given me three and a half lovely years in their country. I miss the smiles and warmth of Sierra Leoneans, I miss the regular breakfasts with the country's politicians, I miss the discussions at the round table at the Palaver Hut, and I also miss the regular tete-a-tete meetings that I had with President Koroma. It would not be truthful if I did not admit that I also miss the spicy cassava leaves, the beautiful beaches and a good game of tennis at Hill Station, where there was a primary school next door with children's laughter floating in the background. I will miss Kpaka, Stevens, Jusu and Obama, my gardener.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“I would like to thank the Chairperson of the Sierra Leone country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Rishchynski, for his interest in the country and his support. I have enjoyed working with my colleagues from the diplomatic corps and the development group in Freetown and thank them for their confidence. My very special thanks go, of course, to my colleagues in the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone and the United Nations country team, who have been so supportive to me. I thank them for their commitment to the future of Sierra Leone and to the principles of the United Nations. I would like especially to mention here my Sierra Leonean colleagues who have remained loyal to the Organization even at difficult times.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“States Members of the United Nations have invested heavily in Sierra Leone's peaceful future, both in blood and treasure. On a per capita basis, Sierra Leone has probably received more funding for peacekeeping and peacebuilding than any other country in the world. That is the international community's investment, and we all have to make sure that that investment pays a rich dividend. Sierra Leone has the potential to become a success story, but it will need the continued support and vigilance of the Security Council - especially at this time of elections. For the benefit of Sierra Leone, but also in our own interest, we have to see this effort through. Let me end here by thanking the Secretary- General for his confidence in me and the Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Lynn Pascoe, for all his support.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“12-27246 In the 19603, South Korea had a lower per capita income than most West African countries. Today it is the tenth largest industrial country in the world. Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik recently explained the secret behind such success - education, education, and again education. My final advice to Sierra Leone would therefore be for it to invest in education - invest in universal primary and secondary education, invest in technical colleges and invest in universities. Education would help to turn Sierra Leone's natural and mineral wealth into sustainable development. It would help to lift people out of poverty and help to create new opportunities. It would help to reduce unfair income distribution and it could help to maintain a democratic and peaceful society. Freetown was once called the Athens of Africa - why not again?”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“It is well endowed with natural resources and rich in mineral resources; it has large stretches of unused fertile land, one of the world's highest rates of rainfall, a large natural deep-sea harbour and a rich seafront. But all its riches are also the country's potential curse. The huge investments in the mining industry have raised expectations, but so far have not benefited the wider population. In fact, as a result of high inflation rates, the purchasing power of fixed-income earners and the poor appears to have decreased considerably over the last few years, and no real difference has been made in getting youth engaged in the development of the country. Sierra Leone's persistent poverty levels are a factor that breeds unrest and could undo all the successes of the past.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“Joint parliamentary approval would send a positive signal to the public that the elections can be held in a calm atmosphere. Finally, all political leaders should continue supporting various cross-party initiatives, especially now in the heat of the election. I commend here in particular the work of the All Political Parties Youth Association and the A11 Political Party Women's Association. The first has made inroads in uniting party youth wings to prevent the misuse of youth in fomenting violence, and the second has greatly contributed to raising political awareness for a stronger role for women in politics. Sierra Leone is not only a lovely country; it also has the potential to be a very rich country.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“I hope that the Government will stick to its courageous decision and help to bring about the necessary adjustments in the board and management of the SLBC that would make it a truly national and independent voice of Sierra Leone. The third aspect entails all political parties working together in support of the country's electoral management bodies, above all the National Electoral Commission and the Political Parties Registration Commission, and preventing any negative actions that could undermine their credibility in the eyes of the general public. The revised election law must be approved by Parliament without further delay. I call on all political parties to join hands in the Parliament and approve the revised law by consensus. The revised law has taken into consideration concerns that had been raised regarding the old law.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“However, if that is to have a calming impact on the November elections, there is no further time to lose. As part of the Joint Communique, President Koroma took the bold decision to turn the Government radio station into a fully independent national public broadcaster, the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). In exchange, all political party radio stations were closed. That move drew much international praise, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined the President for the inauguration of the SLBC, in June 2010. Unfortunately, the SLBC has not fulfilled expectations, and bad management practices have begun to impact negatively on the quality and impartiality of its programmes. Recent personnel decisions made so close to the elections raise further questions about the SLBC's political neutrality.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“That would essentially include three aspects. The first is that the report of the Shears-Moses Commission of Inquiry, which investigated the events that led to the most serious outbreak, in March 2009, of political violence since the end of the civil war, must be issued without any further delay. It has now been two years since the report was submitted to the President. In spite of repeated pledges to publish it, most recently in a meeting the President held with the entire diplomatic corps in October 2011, that has not yet been done. The second aspect is the establishment of an independent police complaints commission, which was agreed to in the joint communique but has now been delayed for three years. I welcome recent indications that the Police Council has taken initial steps.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“The discussions must be designed to reassure the general public that both the Government and the opposition are working together in creating an atmosphere for the elections that is free from any intimidation and in which each citizen can make his or her own choice without fear of retribution. In that context, the Government should seek to clarify several reports criticizing the role that the Minister of Internal Affairs has allegedly played in various violent clashes. As the Ministry for Internal Affairs is responsible for internal security during the elections, it must have the trust of the general public. Secondly, all parties should revert to the spirit and letter of the joint communique signed on 2 April 2009 between the two main political parties, which was wholeheartedly embraced by the President.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“The all-important elections will take place in only eight months, and the country would greatly benefit from a number of confidence-building measures. First, the Government and opposition parties must continue to carry out a dialogue and, in the interests of the country as a whole, openly discuss controversial issues that could derail the elections. That must also include face-to-face meetings between President Koroma and his main challenger, Mr. Maada Bio. Senior politicians simply do not have the luxury of stalling such dialogue 3 because of personal clashes in the past while expecting ordinary Sierra Leoneans to reconcile.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“I call on the opposition to be more forthcoming in engaging the Government and to refrain from a politics of boycotting the Parliament and other meetings. Furthermore, the hardening tone of the political rhetoric is of concern. All sides must refrain from extreme and unsubstantiated accusations. Given Sierra Leone's past, such allegations that either side mobilizes ex-combatants or traditional warriors, such as the Kamajors, are serious matters and should not be taken lightly. True or not, politics is based on perceptions. Such allegations must be laid to rest to prevent them from creating a sense of insecurity. Both sides may consider organizing a multiparty investigation, similar to the approach that was taken in tackling alleged illegal cross-border voter registration along the Liberian border.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“There are other worrying signs, such as the attack on the opposition presidential candidate in September of last year, which was followed by an attack by members of the opposition on property of the governing party, the questionable imposition of a three- month ban on all political party rallies, violence surrounding a win by the opposition in by-elections for the Freetown City Council and the recent break-in into a newspaper critical of the Government. In all of that, the main opposition must be aware that it, too, is entering into the elections with considerable historical baggage. It should therefore help to dispel existing mistrust and allay fears that may linger about any perceived ill intentions.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“An enlarged, heavily armed and, allegedly, ethnically imbalanced OSD risks undermining the good work that has been done by the Sierra Leone Police in creating a modern and operationally independent police 12-27246 force that serves the people of Sierra Leone. A people- oriented police was one of the important pillars of the successful security sector reforms after the civil war. Because of the country's painful experience, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission had suggested that Sierra Leone abandon all forms of paramilitary police force. Such lessons from the past should be taken more seriously.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“Against that backdrop, reports that the Government imported assault weapons worth millions of dollars in January to equip a recently enlarged paramilitary wing of its police, the Operational Services Division (OSD), are of great concern. Sierra Leone is under no arms embargo. However, given Sierra Leone's progress in establishing peace and security throughout the country and its relatively low crime rate, it is not clear why the police would need such weapons, especially as the shipment, according to a leaked bill of lading, appears to include heavy machine guns and even grenade launchers. I would urge the Government to fully clarify those reports and, if true, to explain the intended use of the weapons.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“I will always remember them all with the greatest admiration and a deep sense of humility. The forthcoming elections in November will be the major test for the country's nascent democracy. Sierra Leone must pass this crucial test in its history without allowing the demons of the past to re-emerge. In that regard, Sierra Leone's political elites bear a heavy responsibility not to let the elections derail Sierra Leone's future. No doubt, most of that responsibility rests on the shoulders of President Koroma and his main challenger for the presidency, Mr. Julius Maada Bio. What they decide and do over the coming months will determine much of the direction that the country will take. There will be times when they will have to put national interest over that of their political parties and over their own political ambitions.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“I remember Aisha, now in her 20s, 12-27246 whose eyes still fill with tears when she speaks in pain of how her family handed her over to rebels in order to save the rest of the family from attack; she was barely 14 years old. I remember Jusu, who is today my security guard, who chose to defend his daughter from being taken by rebel forces and was penalized for it by having both his hands hacked off with a machete. And there are the amputee football players who play on the beaches of Freetown every Saturday, and who will always receive one with their happy songs despite being terribly poor and remaining socially marginalized. Most of them had their limbs cut off when they were small children. There is no bitterness in the country, but there is a lot of human dignity.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“Sierra Leone benefited from one of the best truth and reconciliation processes, and from a series of independent democratic institutions - such as its Human Rights Commission, its National Electoral Commission, its Political Parties Registration Commission, its Independent Media Commission and its the National Youth Commission, to mention only a few. Let me express here my deepest respect for all their important work. However, one does not have to search very widely to discover the tremendous trauma that 17 years of one-party rule, 13 military coups and, finally, 11 years of civil war have left behind. I remember the void in Steven's voice, a young electrician, when he spoke of his longing to find his father, who disappeared when he, his mother and his three siblings fled the rebel onslaught.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“For anyone who travels through Sierra Leone these days, it would be difficult to imagine the horrors of the civil war that occurred only 10 years ago. We must recognize that Sierra Leone would not be where it is today without the contributions of its paramount chiefs and other traditional leaders, of its Muslim and Christian religious leaders, of its diverse and active civil society, of its women's organizations, of its often courageous journalists and of the country's artists, above all its musicians.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“In the past, I have often spoken about the exceptional successes Sierra Leone has achieved over the past 10 years and the contributions that its three post-conflict Governments have made - first by the two previous Governments led by former President Kabbah in restoring peace to the country, in rebuilding State institutions and in uniting its deeply traumatized people, and now by the Government led by President Koroma, which is transforming the country economically. As I leave Sierra Leone, I would like to pay tribute, first of all, to its people for their resilience and their extraordinary ability to forgive and reconcile. Today, victims and perpetrators live side by side in communities all over the country.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“Mr. Von der Schulenburg: I am grateful for this opportunity to introduce the Secretary-General's report (S/2012/ 160) and to brief the Security Council before the end of my assignment to Sierra Leone. Let me therefore start by making some personal remarks. Sierra Leone is a beautiful country and Sierra Leoneans are lovely and kind people. Wherever I went during my almost four years in Sierra Leone, I felt welcomed and was often struck by the openness and 2 directness of its people, irrespective of whether they were subsistence farmers or traditional leaders in so- called up-country, or whether politicians or intellectuals in the cities. It was also gratifying to see how strong the role of women in Sierra Leonean society is.”
2012-03-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6739 (2012) · source
“He is probably one of the best witnesses among us all of the achievements made in Sierra Leone, as he has played a prominent role in successive Governments. It is a pleasure working with him.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“I think that there is much to be done for Sierra Leone, and also for peacebuilding, where we can work together. I would also like to thank the Government of Sierra Leone and the leaders - religious as well as traditional - of the political parties, independent commissions, local Governments, civil society, non-governmental organizations and the media for their continued trust in the work of the United Nations. However, I would like especially to thank President Koroma for his leadership, his exceptional openness and his welcoming of the United Nations family. Finally, I would like to thank Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister, His Excellency Mr. Joseph B. Dauda, for having come all the way to New York to represent his country.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“As the Chair of the country-specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission for Sierra Leone for almost three years, he Visited the country repeatedly and reached out not only to the Government and the political opposition, but also to the wider Sierra Leonean society. For me personally, he has been a great support and a reliable partner in New York in discussing various policy issues that helped shape the peacebuilding agenda not only for Sierra Leone, but for the United Nations in general. I would like to thank him profoundly, and wish him all the best for the future. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Ambassador Rishchynski, and I look forward to working with him very closely also in the future - we have had just one meeting.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“Notwithstanding the creation of the National Youth Commission and the concerted efforts of development partners, no substantive success has been achieved in fighting Sierra Leone's rampant youth unemployment. High population increases and increased migration to the cities may even have made the problem worse. In the short term, better coordination within the Government will be needed so that the youth are better targeted to benefit from specific programmes. It would also require better cooperation among the Government, development partners and the private sector. At the end, I would like to recognize the enormous contribution that Ambassador McNee has made to peacebuilding in Sierra Leone.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“Not surprisingly, however, there remain persistent problems of delivering such services to reach the target population. Corruption, bureaucracy, low capacity and the lack of technical and logistical facilities are probably at the core of such problems. Here, there is also a need for the comprehensive development of the safety nets in the country to protect the poor from any global shocks. Also here, I feel that such problems require greater Government- development partner cooperation, with more attention paid to making the public sector more effective and efficient. A thorny issue remains the high unemployment rates among Sierra Leone's youth - a difficult problem not only for countries across Africa, but also, as we know, in the developed world.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“In particular, persistently high inflation rates for basic commodities have eroded the purchasing power of low, fixed- income earners such as public servants, teachers, police officers and nurses, as well as ordinary, occasional labourers. This appears to affect more city dwellers and many of the young people who have gone to the cities in search for a better life. As we have seen in other countries, such a decline in living conditions could turn easily into social unrest, and it may therefore be time for a more comprehensive review of the impact of all development programmes on poverty reduction, irrespective of who finances them. Much has been achieved in improving social services in recent years; the free health care programme that the President launched last year is a good example.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“This will open up much-needed resources to address the significant deficits in human development and infrastructure availability. However, it also raises challenges of the transparency and proper management of those new resources for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans, while maintaining macroeconomic stability. I welcome the generous international assistance to Sierra Leone aimed at helping avoid the so-called resource curse that has affected so many other resource-rich countries. The Achilles heel of Sierra Leone's future development will remain persistent poverty, youth unemployment and problems in delivering social services. Although Sierra Leone continues to enjoy relatively high economic growth rates, it remains one of the poorest counties in the world.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“The Government has been successful in expanding the national, inner-city and rural feeder road networks, in bringing electricity to a wider range of the population, and in reviving agricultural production. It has pursued a policy of privatization that includes the Freetown seaport and national communication systems, and it is mobilizing international private investments, especially in extractive industries and agri-businesses. The new iron ore projects are likely to start exporting this year, and this could lead to a significant increase in economic growth and revenue collection, with some projections showing a possible threefold increase in domestic revenues by 2015. Sierra Leone's financial fortunes could therefore change dramatically within a relatively short time frame.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“Such a national debate could be an opportunity for all political parties to listen to the problems and aspirations of ordinary Sierra Leoneans before launching themselves into the 2012 election campaign. It could be an exercise of consultative democracy that could help prevent problems in the future. Careful consultations and preparations would be needed if such a Conference is to be all-inclusive. I believe that it is a sign of constructive political leadership that the presidential candidate of the opposition party has also indicated his willingness to participate in such a national debate. Let me finally turn to some economic and social issues.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“I therefore look in particular to the very able and trusted new Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission to take a lead in holding these crucial multi-party consultations. In his speech at the fiftieth independence anniversary, President Koroma launched the idea of an all-inclusive and non-partisan national conference to discuss in a public debate the future direction of Sierra Leone. I very much welcome such a proposal, as such a conference would be held at a time when Sierra Leone's post-conflict reconstruction era is coming to an end and the country is heading towards a new era of economic and social development. This would allow not only experts but above all ordinary Sierra Leoneans throughout the country to be consulted at a time of profound economic and social changes in the country.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“Instead, we all have the responsibility to give Sierra Leoneans in 2012 the possibility of looking forward, of deciding on the future direction of their country, and of selecting their future leaders accordingly. All political parties, and above all the two main political parties that have helped shape post-conflict Sierra Leone and that were instrumental in building today's democratic society, must share a common interest in protecting these national achievements in 2012 and beyond. I also hope that, in the same spirit, the outstanding issues for the 2012 elections can be solved among political parties. These include reaching agreements on the legal framework for the next elections, on a new code of conduct that will govern 3 election campaigning, and on building trust in existing national electoral management bodies.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“It is therefore inevitable, and even necessary and welcome, that some of those who have been involved in previously undemocratic Governments are now taking part in today's democratic political life. Against this background, it is important that all political leaders with links to past regimes, irrespective of their present political party affiliations, make it clear that the right lessons have been learned from the country's violent past. In this context, I applaud the clear and unambivalent words spoken by President Koroma in his fiftieth anniversary speech that Sierra Leone has learned a bitter lesson and will not repeat past mistakes. I feel that these words could guide the political discourse in the country. The 2012 elections must not become hostage to the past.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“In the end, all aspirants considered the intra-party elections to be free, fair and acceptable. However, the re-election of the party Chairman and the election of the presidential candidate of the SLPP have raised concerns, as both elected party leaders played prominent roles in previous military regimes. I trust that both recognize the need to dispel such concerns. I therefore welcome Mr. Maada Bio's recent public statement expressing his regrets and issuing an apology for the wrongs that were committed during the rule of a military Government in which he held high office. We all must not forget that military coups and the horrors of the civil war are part of a very recent history in Sierra Leone.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“Prior to the conference, the SLPP had faced a major legal challenge in the Supreme Court from one of its followers. After initial hesitations, the party chose to solve this challenge within the law and its own party constitution by holding new elections for its party delegates. At the conference, a total of 19 aspirants had tried to obtain the SLPP's endorsement as its presidential candidate for the 2012 elections. In the run-up to the party conference, this had caused considerable intra-party controversies that at times spilled over into violent clashes between the supporters of leading 11-49208 aspirants. However, at the conference all these differences were managed and respective aspirants made sure that their supporters did not disrupt the democratic intra-party election process.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“As a precaution, the APC party headquarters, which is located just across the SLPP conference hall, was also closed. Police protection for the conference was professional. In fact, prior to the conference, the President had met with the then interim leader of the SLPP - the opposition party - to ensure personally that the Conference would take place without any violence or outside interference. The media coverage of the SLPP conference was generally lauded as having been fair, balanced and informative. This was a major test for the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, which was newly created following the agreed closing of all political party and government controlled radio stations after the 2009 political disturbances. The SLPP conference was a further positive example of intra-party democracy.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“But, more importantly, the SLPP also elected its presidential candidate, Mr. Julius Maada Bio, who had once been a senior member and later Head of State of a former military Government, the National Provisional Revolutionary Council. Mr. Maada Bio will now be the main contestant to face President Ernest Bai Koroma for the presidency in the 2012 elections. The SLPP conference was remarkable for the fact that it was conducted in such a peaceful and democratic atmosphere. Although the conference took place in Freetown, a stronghold of the governing party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), there were no provocations or incidents whatsoever. Quite to the contrary, the APC leadership had called on its followers in Freetown not to wear the party colours and to stay away from the location of the conference.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“I therefore call on all Sierra Leonean politicians not to forget what they have achieved, to continue building on those achievements and to act responsibly. Elections are still one and a half years away, and this must not start to embitter the social and political climate in Sierra Leone. I believe that the recent incidents do not reflect the real nature of ordinary, peace-loving Sierra Leoneans. In fact, the recently held national delegates' conference of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), the country's main political opposition, is probably a good example of political maturity and showed how the Government, the governing party and the main 11-49208 opposition party can work together in settling controversial issues and in making democracy work. At the conference, the SLPP elected a new party chairman and its party executive.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“Particularly serious was the attack that took place three days ago on the presidential candidate of the main opposition and the subsequent rampage that left him with head injuries and also left one person dead, scores injured and a number of properties belonging to followers of the governing party devastated. It is not yet clear who was responsible for the attack, and we must not jump to quick conclusions; the President has acted immediately by setting up a public investigation, and the police has stepped up security for the opposition leader. However, this brings into the open the fact that there remains a persistent social undercurrent that can turn into violence if provoked, despite all the progress that has been made.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“These are achievements made not only by two peacetime democratically elected presidents and successive democratically elected Governments, but also by political party leaders, independent commissioners, local district officials, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, professionals, journalists and artists, tradesmen, doctors and nurses, teachers and police officers - in short, by many ordinary Sierra Leonean men and women. However, the recent clashes and skirmishes that occurred not only between followers of the two main political parties but also among followers of different groups within the same political party remind us that there is still considerable potential for conflict and Violence.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“Mr. Von der Schulenburg: Thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to introduce the seventh report of the Secretary-General on Sierra Leone (S/2011/554) since the establishment of an integrated United Nations peacebuilding mission in 2008. As the country celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its independence last April, Sierra Leone continued its progress towards developing into a stable, peaceful 2 and economically more viable democracy. I feel that this is the occasion, especially here in the Security Council, to commend the people of Sierra Leone for what has been achieved during the past nine years in consolidating peace and building a stable, democratic society.”
2011-09-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6609 (2011) · source
“And we have post-graduate students from Colombia University and New York University. Finally, I would like to say that I am accompanied by two of my colleagues from the United Nations country team, Ms. Mia Seppo from UNDP and Ms. Ratidzai Ndlovu from the United Nations Population Fund. We asked them here today to illustrate to the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission the unity and integration we have achieved in Sierra Leone, which will not only benefit the Council but, ultimately, the country itself. 11-27602”
2011-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6504 (2011) · source
“I believe that the progress that we can now achieve in empowering women will no doubt help to consolidate peace, development and social progress in Sierra Leone. Before I conclude my statement, I would like to draw attention to the fact that we have quite a lot of support with us. Behind me here are members of civil society organizations from Sierra Leone, which I think is a great symbol of the diversity of society in the country. They include leaders from the women's wings of the political parties, who will tomorrow present to the PBC their plans for reaching the 30 per cent target for women's participation in decision-making. Also with me are two civil society goodwill ambassadors who help to build schools in Sierra Leone. I would like to congratulate them on the good work they are doing.”
2011-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6504 (2011) · source
“In line with our Joint Vision for Sierra Leone - the joint United Nations programme - UNIPSIL and the United Nations country team have developed a joint United Nations approach to peacebuilding and gender equality, which we will present at the PBC tomorrow. It will focus on five priority areas, namely, access to political decision-making, access to health, access to education, access to justice and protection against gender-based violence. To implement this joint approach, we will work closely with the Government, the political parties, the police, the judiciary, civil society organizations and religious and traditional leaders, as well as with traditional women's organizations, including so-called bondo societies.”
2011-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6504 (2011) · source
“Indeed, it is now within reach to ensure women's greater say in political decision-making and to attain a 30 per cent quota of women representation in Parliament and other elective bodies by 2012. In the economic and social fields, it will be above all women who benefit from the Government's free health care initiative. After the first year of operation, we can observe that maternal mortality rates have dropped dramatically in some parts of the country. Similar initiatives are being undertaken to increase the enrolment of girls in secondary education and to fight any kind of gender-based violence.”
2011-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6504 (2011) · source
“Finally, Sierra Leone's civil society organizations engaged in the elections, in particular the National Election Watch umbrella organization, should be given the financial and technical resources necessary to fulfill their important roles in voter education and in monitoring voter registration and the electoral process in 2012. As this is the tenth year of resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, allow me to say a few words about the role of women and gender equality in Sierra Leone. The empowerment of women and greater gender equality must be an integral part of peacebuilding processes. As democracy in Sierra Leone has matured, so have the chances for women.”
2011-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6504 (2011) · source
“Fourthly, on the background of recent budgetary constraints, the Government must give early indication as to what it will be able to afford in supporting the 2012 elections. In particular, the electoral management bodies should critically review their stated requirements in order to bring them in line with available resources for 2012. Fifthly, to ensure peaceful elections, Sierra Leone's security forces, and in particular its police force, will have to improve their skills in preventing the use of unnecessary force. In that context, the mobility of police units is paramount. I hope that Member States will be able to respond to a call by the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for additional police vehicles.”
2011-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6504 (2011) · source
“It is important that all sides agree on the rules of the game as early as possible, to prevent misunderstanding and conflicts over the interpretation and implementation of the rules at a later stage. Secondly, with the nomination of its new chairman and commissioners, the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC) should now engage more forcefully in mediating among political parties and in implementing the political party, code of conduct. Thirdly, strong political parties are the cornerstones in any functioning democracy. Together with the PPRC, we must find ways to strengthen them. Recent intra-party frictions within a major political party remain worrisome, and certainly not in the interest of the country's democratic process.”
2011-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6504 (2011) · source
“In addition to the more traditional support to electoral management bodies, the security services and the judiciary, the election support programme will for the first time include the introduction of modern biometric voter registration systems and support to the so-called non-State actors, aimed at ensuring an environment of political tolerance and non-violence in 2012. Despite the progress made so far, the 2012 elections still face a number of important challenges. First, and probably most important, there has to be greater and more regular engagement between the National Electoral Commission and political parties, including the main opposition party, the Sierra Leone People's Party, over important electoral issues, such as voter registration, planned reforms of electoral legal frameworks, the planning for elections and so on.”
2011-03-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6504 (2011) · source