YouSaid · the spoken record

Wenaweser

lines on the record: 709
first: 2002-07-25
most recent: 2023-12-07
sittings or episodes: 107
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

“I draw the attention of the Council to a fuller version of our statement that has been distributed in the Chamber. I shall limit my comments to the renewal of the sanctions regime against Al-Qaida and the Taliban later this year. Efforts to improve the effectiveness and perceived legitimacy of this important tool in the fight against terrorism are important. We have, therefore, for a number of years now, worked together with other States on this issue. We endorse the statement that will be made later during this debate on behalf of the group of like-minded countries by the representative of the Netherlands. We also recall the discussion paper submitted by the Group in May 2008.”
2009-11-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6217 (2009) · source
“Essential aspects for the future work of the Council include clear guidance provided in mandates and mission-wide protection strategies involving the country team and the host State, as well as, of course, the provision of the necessary resources. In conclusion, we support the resolution as a promise of better and more effective mandates formulated by the Council, and we call for more consistent consideration of protection issues as tangible evidence of the Council's commitment to the protection of civilians. 09-60274”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“What we need for the next ten years and beyond are concepts and concrete measures to ensure implementation, as well as a consistent approach to the protection agenda, especially in cases in which that may seem difficult or inconvenient. We therefore welcome the joint study submitted by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, as well as the parts of the resolution adopted today dealing with peacekeeping. We hope and believe that they can lead to concrete improvements. One of the key findings of the study is that the chain of events required to support the protection of civilians from the planning stages to practical implementation in the field is broken - an alarming finding that we must urgently address.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“And it should make clear that it is first and foremost the responsibility of States to investigate and prosecute, and should urge parties to conflicts to do so where needed. There are numerous ways in which United Nations bodies can assist States where there is a need to build domestic capacities. But the Council must also ensure accountability where there is no willingness to investigate and prosecute on the part of the States that have jurisdiction or other parties to the conflict. Today, there is largely clarity about the standards applicable to the protection of civilians, thanks also to the valuable work of the Secretariat.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We have made great strides in the area of international criminal justice through the establishment of international mechanisms and, most important, the International Criminal Court. We thus have the tools to effectively ensure accountability on a permanent basis. Those mechanisms should be put to good and consistent use. 09-60274 The Council has already recognized its role in ensuring accountability and has done so again in adopting today's resolution. That role is much broader than considering the referral of situations to the International Criminal Court. Much to the contrary, the Council should demand accountability on a regular basis where there are credible allegations that the most serious crimes under international law have been committed.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Furthermore, compliance with international humanitarian law will be enhanced if the parties to the conflict know that violations will entail consequences. In particular, the Council should consider such consequences in cases in which civilian populations are directly targeted or humanitarian access is deliberately denied. It is our understanding that the reference in resolution 1894 (2009) to appropriate measures at the disposal of the Council includes targeted sanctions. Where violations of international humanitarian law go routinely unpunished, a climate of impunity will prevail and lead to further violations. Accountability is therefore the other key element for ensuring compliance.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“This year, we are also celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, the centrepiece of the protection of civilians in armed conflict. However, instead of steady progress over the decades towards full compliance with the existing standards of international humanitarian law, we are witnessing the continued erosion of respect for international humanitarian law. The report of the Secretary-General before us rightly identifies the need for stronger engagement with non-State actors as an essential element for better compliance. An additional element is the consistency with which this agenda is addressed. The Council must make it very clear that the relevant standards are applicable in any armed conflict, under any circumstances and irrespective of the background of military action.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“On the other hand, the glaring gap between the normative framework and the realities on the ground remains; compliance with the existing standards is still far from satisfactory. The protection of civilians is a complex area covering a very wide range of topics, as reflected in the resolution adopted this morning. Civilian protection poses a central challenge to the Council. The manner in which it responds to that challenge is an essential yardstick by which its overall performance is measured. The events in Rwanda and Srebrenica count among those that have had the strongest and most lasting impact on the public perception of the Council. Thinking of new ways to enhance its role in the protection of civilians is thus the most appropriate contribution to a meaningful commemoration.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Mr. President, I thank your delegation for organizing and preparing in a very thorough manner for this open debate on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the first thematic resolution adopted by the Security Council on this topic. On the one hand, we have reason to celebrate. We have achieved significant conceptual and institutional progress in recent years with the establishment of an Expert Group, the updating of the aide-memoire (S/PRST/2009/l, annex) and the inclusion of an annex on humanitarian access in the report of the Secretary-General (S/2009/277). Furthermore, and most important, we have agreed on our common responsibility to protect civilians both in times of armed conflict and otherwise.”
2009-11-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6216Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The protection of civilians must always be the primary consideration - in accordance with international humanitarian law and in accordance with the most basic principles of humanity.”
2009-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6201Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We understand that this issue is again under consideration by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which will convene in a special session tomorrow. But we also believe that the Security Council has an obligation in this respect. First, it must make it clear that there is no choice between peace and justice. Quite the contrary: measures taken to combat impunity will contribute to a lasting political solution in the Middle East, as accountability for serious crimes will promote confidence in the peace process. Furthermore, this Council must insist on respect for the applicable rules of international humanitarian law, without any exception. The laws of armed conflict apply irrespective of the parties" reasons for engaging in combat - be it to fight against terrorism or to fight against foreign occupation.”
2009-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6201Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The conclusion that some of the acts committed may amount to crimes against humanity is particularly disturbing to us. As a State party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, we fully subscribe to the principle that national jurisdictions have primary jurisdiction regarding such crimes and an obligation to investigate and prosecute them. We therefore support the recommendation of the Fact-Finding Mission that the parties to the conflict establish, within a set timeframe, independent investigations in conformity with international standards, of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Against that background, we welcome the pledges made by both parties to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes.”
2009-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6201Resumption1 (2009) · source
“One of the prerequisites for such an outcome is the full implementation of resolution 1860 (2009) of this Council. Nine months after its adoption, the humanitarian situation in Gaza still gives rise to serious concern. The report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict submitted to the Human Rights Council in Geneva gives a detailed account of violations of international humanitarian law committed by both parties to the conflict. We are concerned about the findings of the report that indicate a systematic disrespect for the principle of proportionality and grave violations of international humanitarian law, including deliberate attacks on civilian institutions that led to massive civilian casualties.”
2009-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6201Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We welcome this opportunity to address the situation in the Middle East - a crisis that dates back to the very beginning of this Organization and has been the subject of countless United Nations resolutions in this Council and in other intergovernmental bodies. While there is a stated commitment to lasting peace on the basis of a two- State solution, we have not seen a credible peace process for quite some time now - that is a process based on past resolutions and commitments and respect for international law. 09-55901 We reiterate our hope for a political solution that provides for an independent and viable State of Palestine living peacefully side by side with the State of Israel, with secure and internationally recognized borders.”
2009-10-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6201Resumption1 (2009) · source
“That report will demonstrate both the achievements and the remaining gaps and challenges, and we hope that it can also serve as a model for implementation in other areas.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196 (2009) · source
“e welcome the efforts of the Secretary- General to appoint more women to senior positions in general, in particular in field missions, and we see those efforts as a personal commitment on his part. In preparation for the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), we need concrete action. Hence, we welcome the establishment of a United Nations steering committee to enhance the visibility of and to strengthen coordination within the United Nations system regarding the preparations for the anniversary. Liechtenstein, for its part, will support the project of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, launched by Switzerland and to be supported, it is hoped, by other Member States, which will produce in time for the anniversary a report that provides a substantive overview of the work of the Council.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196 (2009) · source
“Some years ago, the Liechtenstein delegation headed a group of like-minded ambassadors aimed at increasing the presence of women in positions such as special envoys and special representatives in particular. The success of this cooperation with the then Secretary-General was very modest, despite regular expressions of good intentions. Member States and the relevant intergovernmental bodies must pursue strategies to ensure an increase in women's participation in peace negotiations and mediation, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction. That would strengthen the perception that women are stakeholders - as opposed to mere victims or aid recipients.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196 (2009) · source
“Resolution 1325 (2000) calls for an increase in the participation of women at decision-making levels in conflict resolution and peace processes. According to data made available to the Council by the United Nations Development Fund for Women, only 2.4 per cent of signatories to peace agreements are women and no woman has ever been appointed as a chief mediator. Thus our efforts to guarantee the full and equal participation of women - as well-intentioned as they may have been - have clearly been insufficient. We hope that the input given during this debate today will lead, nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), to significant improvements.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196 (2009) · source
“Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms are frequently applied in a manner that is discriminatory and leaves women with limited access to justice, thereby exacerbating a climate of impunity. We therefore welcome the call on the Secretary- General, in resolution 1888 (2009), to offer upon request expertise that can be deployed rapidly to assist national authorities to strengthen the rule of law. That is a very important step and is fully in keeping with the principle of complementarity, one of the main pillars of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose jurisdiction kicks in only when States are unable or unwilling to prosecute at the national level. Today, the ICC is addressing sexual violence in several situations with which it is seized and thus is contributing to the fight against impunity.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196 (2009) · source
“Cessation of hostilities does not guarantee an end to sexual violence - sometimes quite the opposite. The influx of returning refugees and displaced persons, the presence of large numbers of demobilized ex-combatants, the widespread lack of economic opportunity and the general breakdown in social norms all contribute to increased levels of sexual violence in post-conflict settings. Such gender-based violence is often exacerbated by the absence of effective judicial institutions and impunity as a result thereof. Both resolution 1325 (2000) and resolution 1820 (2008) emphasize the responsibility of all States to put an end to such impunity and to prosecute those responsible for war crimes, including acts of gender violence. However, formal justice systems often lack the required resources.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196 (2009) · source
“I thank you, Sir, for presiding over the meeting today and your delegation for organizing this open debate with a focus on post-conflict situations. As a strong supporter of resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), Liechtenstein agrees with the assessment reflected in the concept paper prepared by your delegation (S/2009/490) that much has been achieved but that enormous challenges remain. Nine years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), the participation of women in conflict resolution, in particular in formal peace processes, is still little more than rhetoric and their protection from violent crimes is still elusive. We have witnessed an alarming increase in sexual violence in various conflicts around the world. The victims are often women and children.”
2009-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6196 (2009) · source
“We thus 3 welcome the development of mission-specific inclusive strategies and plans of action. That applies, in particular, to acts of sexual violence. When committed on a large scale and in a systematic and targeted manner, sexual violence is not just a by-product of armed conflict, but rather a method of warfare aimed at destroying the social fabric of communities in order to achieve political and military ends. In that respect, we reiterate our support for resolution 1820 (2008) and call on the Security Council to provide clear guidance on how to protect civilians from acts of sexual violence.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The Council must call, where necessary, on parties to conflicts to remove all unwarranted impediments to humanitarian access and allow safe passage for civilians seeking to flee conflict zones, and it must call for temporary ceasefires that are long enough to enable effective relief action by humanitarian actors. The Council has a particular obligation to protect United Nations staff and to ensure that there is no impunity for attacks on humanitarian and peacekeeping personnel, which are war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The protection of civilians is an inherent task for all peacekeeping missions, not merely a military task, so all components of peacekeeping missions must contribute to carrying out protection mandates.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Access is often unsafe, or is granted too late or under conditions that hinder effective delivery. The annex of the report refers to bureaucratic constraints imposed by the authorities in charge, the intensity of hostilities and attacks on humanitarian personnel and assets as the most severe and prevalent access constraints. The restrictions by the Government of Sri Lanka on the delivery of supplies to the conflict areas, the unclear and inconsistent criteria and procedures on the entry of certain relief material to Gaza and the dramatic rise in kidnappings of humanitarian personnel are disturbing examples from the recent past.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151Resumption1 (2009) · source
“When necessary, the Council should establish commissions of inquiry or similar bodies in order to enhance accountability for serious violations. In the most serious cases of the inability or unwillingness of the State concerned, the Council can consider referring the matter to the International Criminal Court (ICC). One of the most important goals of the establishment of the ICC was to promote effective investigations and prosecutions at the national level. We therefore fully support the call of the Secretary- General on Member States to adopt legislation that holds perpetrators accountable for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. Access to civilians in need of assistance is a grave problem in the area of the protection of civilians.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The applicable provisions of international humanitarian law must be respected in any armed conflict and by any party to it, under all circumstances and irrespective of the question of the legality of the use of force itself. The repeated violations of these rules, such as in the conflicts in Sri Lanka and Gaza, warrant a clear response from the Council in order to promote the observance of international humanitarian law in practice. The Council must unequivocally demand compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties to a conflict and call for accountability in cases where massive and systematic violations have occurred. 09-38414 Such accountability mechanisms are, ideally, established at the national level, where necessary with the assistance of regional or international organizations.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Among the recent steps taken, we welcome in particular the adoption of the third version of the aide-memoire and the establishment of the Security Council Expert Group on the Protection of Civilians. As illustrated in the Secretary-General's report and its annex, the challenges to the Council in the area of implementation continue to be very significant. The development and universal acceptance of international humanitarian law is among the landmark achievements in the history of international law. Among its core principles are the distinction between combatants and non-combatants, proportionality of the use of force as well as the requirement to take all feasible measures to minimize civilian casualties.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We welcome this debate and the excellent report submitted by the Secretary-General (S/2009/277). In the ten years since the Council first took up the issue of the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the changing nature of armed conflict has continued to have a profound impact on the plight of civilians in armed conflicts. And indeed the report before us reveals a continued gap between the existing standards of international humanitarian law and the current realities on the ground. We hope that this debate will prepare the ground for an open debate in November on the occasion of the tenth anniversary, that reaffirms the commitment of the Council to this agenda and results in a set of effective measures to further advance it.”
2009-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6151Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We would therefore like to echo the Panel's call for a leadership role for the United Nations, and the Council in particular, in restoring respect for human rights in the counter- terrorism efforts of its agencies and Member States.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In this spirit, earlier this month we were pleased to host, together with Mexico, a presentation at United Nations Headquarters of the findings of the Eminent Jurists Panel on Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights. The report illustrates that security and human rights are not mutually exclusive, but that human rights are a necessary basis for legitimate and effective action against terrorism. Human rights standards inherently balance sometimes competing interests and provide important guidance where difficult choices need to be made. In recent years, this balance has been sorely lacking in many parts of the world.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128Resumption1 (2009) · source
“I would like to stress that this is not a static proposal but simply a starting point for a discussion in which numerous concerns must be taken into account. In the light of the developments that have taken place since last May, in particular some of the most prominent court cases, we are ready to contribute fresh ideas to such a dialogue. We also know that a number of other countries from various regions, Council members and non-members alike, are interested in contributing in that respect. Due process standards in the Council's terrorism- related targeted sanctions are only one within a range of issues that need to be addressed in order to ensure that the international fight against terrorism is undertaken in conformity with applicable standards of human rights and international humanitarian law.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We encourage the Council and the 1267 Committee again to engage in a dialogue with interested States on how to ensure that fair and clear procedures exist for placing individuals and entities on the consolidated list and for removing them, as well as for granting humanitarian exemptions, thus fulfilling a long-overdue target we set ourselves in the Summit Outcome Document of 2005. The target date for further reforms and review should be the upcoming renewal of resolution 1822 (2008) at the end of this year. In that context, we would like to recall the discussion paper of May 2008, contained in document S/2008/428, in which Liechtenstein, together with a group of like-minded countries, formulated suggestions for an expert panel to assist the 1267 Committee in the consideration of de-listing requests before it.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We particularly appreciate the update about the status of various legal proceedings challenging the compatibility of the consolidated list with applicable human rights standards, especially with respect to domestic implementation measures. We take note of recent findings as well as ongoing proceedings of the Human Rights Committee, the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts in several countries, as we have just heard from our colleague from Pakistan.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In March 2009, new legislation entered into force aimed at preventing the use of the financial system for money laundering and terrorist financing, thereby substantively implementing the third European Union Directive on Combating Money-Laundering. Also in March, a new comprehensive sanctions act entered into force. The law improves the legal basis for cooperation with international organizations in the implementation of sanctions and increases penalties for sanctions violations. Liechtenstein will continue to take all necessary measures, in conformity with the rule of law and applicable human rights standards, to prevent any potential abuse of its financial centre for terrorist purposes. We are grateful for the insightful report that the Monitoring Team of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999) published recently.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128Resumption1 (2009) · source
“I would like to thank the Chairpersons of the sanctions Committees who provided briefings to this body this morning. I would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. We join others in the unequivocal condemnation of all terrorist acts, irrespective of their motivation and wherever and by whomever they are committed. In January 2009, Liechtenstein submitted its sixth report to the Counter-Terrorism Committee, in response to the comments contained in the Preliminary Implementation Assessment (PIA) prepared by the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate. We appreciate the PIA as a useful tool to measure success in the implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), and would like to highlight some recent domestic measures taken by Liechtenstein.”
2009-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6128Resumption1 (2009) · source
“What is important in the relevant part of the report is that the involvement of women is not a matter of political correctness, but a question of making mediation efforts more effective. Thirdly, we must address the issue of resources. The very sensible measures mentioned in the report, such as training programmes and developing capacities for operational support, of course cost money. But more importantly, they are an investment that is likely to lead to a significant reduction of the overall costs for the Organization. We wish to state our view that mediation is a core activity of the United Nations and, as such, should in principle be funded from the regular budget. At the same time, we are aware, of course, that this will not be possible in the near future, and we will continue our financial support for the Mediation Support Unit.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Secondly, the selection process for special representatives and special envoys of the Secretary- General and the efforts to build operational support for these envoys must take into account the important role that women play in mediation and the settlement of disputes. This has been said many times in the past, including in the presidential statement adopted last year (S/PRST/2008/39), but the reality is of course different. As stated by the speaker preceding me, since 2000 not a single woman has been appointed as a mediator in negotiations of comprehensive peace agreements, and only one woman is currently serving as a special representative of the Secretary-General.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The relationship between peace and justice can be complex, and mediators can find themselves in the midst of relevant discussions. It must indeed be clear that mediators cannot negotiate justice issues if they are dealt with by independent judicial bodies - such as, in particular, the International Criminal Court - and that the situation under international law in this respect must be clear to all parties involved. Chief among the factors that keep conflict cycles alive are spoilers of mediation efforts, who benefit from war economies in particular and often operate in a climate of impunity. Negotiated settlements of disputes are particularly prone to relapse into violence, and addressing impunity for serious crimes is an essential element in preventing such violence and thus helps consolidate achievements reached through mediation.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We must carry this momentum forward on the basis of the recommendations contained in the report, which we support in their entirety. We welcome the presidential statement that we understand will be adopted later today, but more importantly, we hope that there will be concrete and early follow-up on the recommendations by all those whose contribution is needed - that is, this Council itself, the Secretariat and the General Assembly. Allow me to make some brief remarks on three specific areas of the report. First, we welcome the concise and thoughtful paragraphs on peace and justice, in particular the reaffirmation that there can be no United Nations- endorsed peace agreements that offer amnesty for the most serious crimes under international law.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Our neglect of mediation so far is thus an expression of our continued reluctance to invest in preventive diplomacy. While we have talked about the need for such diplomacy for many years now, we have yet to make the transition in practice. We must consider one central statement in the report in this context: "Early mediation in a preventive context can, if successful, obviate the need for some peacekeeping missions" (S/2009/189, para. 59). At a time when peacekeeping costs continue to skyrocket and the relevant parts of the Secretariat are clearly overstretched, we hope that this will help make mediation indeed the core activity that it should have been in the first place. The establishment of a Mediation Support Unit was an important step, made after of years of consultations, and is showing positive first results.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We thank the Secretariat for producing a very good report (S/2009/189) on this topic, and we thank Burkina Faso for its leadership on this issue. Given the purposes of this Organization, mediation should naturally play a central role in its activities. To an outside observer, it must therefore come as a surprise how little attention and limited resources have been invested in this area so far and that it is only now that we are talking about the need to professionalize these efforts. It appears that the inherent strengths of mediation are, ironically, a weakness in the context of intergovernmental discussions. It is essentially preventive in nature, done in sometimes very discreet ways, potentially very cost- effective and ideally carried out at a time when a conflict may not be Visible.”
2009-04-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6108Resumption1 (2009) · source
“In that regard, we reaffirm our support for resolution 1820 (2008). The protection of civilians from acts of sexual violence must be a task inherent to all peacekeeping missions, and the Council's mandates must offer clear guidance on how to provide such protection. Furthermore, the full implementation of resolution 1820 (2008) requires more resources for the collection of data on sexual violence in conflict situations.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“If the observance of the relevant standards of international law is at the core of the protection agenda, the effective fight against impunity is its necessary complement. When national judiciaries fail in their duty to prosecute the most serious crimes under international law, the International Criminal Court can step in to fill the gap. While more than 100 States have become parties to the Rome Statute, the Security Council also has a special obligation by virtue of the referral powers given to it under the Statute. One type of crime warrants the particular attention of the Council. Owing to its large-scale, systematic and targeted use, sexual violence is no longer simply a by-product of armed conflict; it has become a method of warfare aimed at destroying the social fabric of communities in order to achieve political and military ends.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“This year, we are celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, one of the outstanding achievements in the history of international law and the centrepiece of international humanitarian law. Only the full implementation of the Geneva Conventions and of other provisions of international humanitarian law can ensure the effective protection of civilians in armed conflict. Sadly, in the recent past, we have witnessed an erosion in the observance of international humanitarian law, and we must urgently reverse that trend. We are also supportive of the principle of the responsibility to protect, endorsed at the summit level more than three years ago, and call for its consistent application both at the international level and by the relevant intergovernmental bodies.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“The establishment of an expert-level group of the Council and the consistent application and updating of the aide- memoire with a view to the consideration of issues pertaining to the protection of civilians would facilitate more systematic consideration of protection issues. A positive development outside the Council was the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which we have signed, together with nearly 100 other States. While that was only a first step, we hope that it will rapidly lead to the total elimination of such weapons, which are by nature indiscriminate and causing enormous suffering among civilian populations around the globe.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Civilian populations have always suffered the consequences of armed conflicts, but modern warfare and the changed nature of armed conflict have massively exacerbated their situation. The Security Council has routinely discussed the plight of civilians in conflict situations and achieved some remarkable results. Most recently, resolutions 1674 (2006) and 1738 (2006) constituted important steps in enhancing the normative and operational framework for the protection of civilians. Nevertheless, the disproportionate burden that armed conflicts continue to place on civilians requires more consistent and more permanent engagement.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“We thank you, Mr. President, for convening this open debate and the Emergency Relief Coordinator for his briefing at the beginning of this meeting. This debate is taking place against the backdrop of the armed conflict in Gaza, which is causing very high numbers of civilian casualties, in particular among children. We support resolution 1860 (2009), which is legally binding on the parties to the conflict, and call for its implementation, first and foremost in the interest of the civilian population, whose rights are not being respected, who are bearing the brunt of the ongoing violence and who are being deprived of the necessary humanitarian assistance. The parties to the conflict have the responsibility under international humanitarian law to facilitate humanitarian operations.”
2009-01-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6066Resumption1 (2009) · source
“Given the primary responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security, including with respect to the fight against international terrorism, we are convinced that the Council should lead by example when dealing with the difficult question of balancing security interests and human rights. We are therefore pleased that further improvements have been made to the Council's counter-terrorism sanctions regime, and we urge the Council to take further necessary steps in that regard. 3”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034Resumption1 (2008) · source
“It is equally true that the fight against terrorism can have a negative impact on the rule of law, human rights and good governance, as States and international organizations take sometimes urgent and forceful counter-terrorism measures without allowing for appropriate checks and balances on executive action. The United Nations Special Rapporteur to conduct a comprehensive study on terrorism and human rights has given numerous relevant examples of such measures where public and individual security interests are not always properly balanced against the human rights of affected individuals.”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034Resumption1 (2008) · source
“Other parts of the United Nations system, including the General Assembly, are called upon to redouble their efforts, within their respective mandates, that contribute to the prevention of terrorism. In that regard, we recall that the General Assembly has a particular responsibility that it needs to address urgently: the finalization of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism. We hope that renewed vigour in global counter- terrorism cooperation will bring about a political climate in which the outstanding issues with respect to what has been termed the definition of terrorism can be solved. The Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy identifies the absence of the rule of law, human rights violations and a lack of good governance among the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.”
2008-12-09 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6034Resumption1 (2008) · source