YouSaid · the spoken record

Wood

lines on the record: 630
first: 1994-05-05
most recent: 2023-12-21
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 want to end by expressing the United States’ gratitude to the three African members of the Council for their flexibility as co-penholders in helping put our shared principles to paper, and especially to Ghana for its partnership and leadership throughout the process. As we near the end of Ghana’s time on the Council, we are eager to cement its legacy by moving forward with AU financing to ensure peace on a continent faced with numerous security threats. We look forward to seeing the resolution implemented so that the AU can face those challenges head-on.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9518 (2023) · source
“Fourthly, it outlines that any peace support operation receiving United Nations assessed contributions will be authorized by and, ultimately accountable to, the Council, for the implementation of its mandate, and to the General Assembly, for the appropriate and reasonable use of funds. Finally, it specifies a burden-sharing agreement, namely, that United Nations contributions to AU peace support operations will be no more than 75 per cent of the cost of the operation’s annual budget. We stand ready to work with Security Council members and the African Union to determine how the remainder of the budget would be financed, whether through an AU financial contribution, voluntary contributions, in-kind contributions or some combination thereof.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9518 (2023) · source
“We recognize the AU’s important contributions with respect to the peace support operations it has already deployed, and we applaud the AU’s partnership with the United Nations in developing common frameworks on human rights, conduct and discipline for those operations. As we look to the future, we want to take a moment to highlight a few key elements of the resolution. First, it underscores the primacy of politics and the need for a coherent political strategy to guide any operation. Secondly, it notes that any support to AU peace support operations must be in full compliance with the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. Thirdly, it emphasizes that those operations must include appropriate safeguards for the protection of civilians.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9518 (2023) · source
“Two weeks ago, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield travelled to Ghana for the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial. While she was in Accra, she spoke to a group of young leaders at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. She told them that Africans deserve a better vision for security — a vision that puts African leadership at the forefront and African people at the centre — and that, as an international community, we have the responsibility to finance and empower African Union (AU) missions to that end. Indeed, the United States is pleased to support this framework resolution (resolution 2719 (2023)), which outlines the conditions under which the Security Council would consider authorizing AU- led peace support operations with access to United Nations assessed contributions.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9518 (2023) · source
“Accordingly, the United States is proposing this amendment (S/2023/1023) to include a specific limit on United Nations contributions in clear language in this draft resolution and to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page about what this draft resolution means. We urge all Security Council members who would like this draft resolution to be adopted unanimously to also vote in favour of including this amendment in the draft.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9518 (2023) · source
“But there is one critical element that the draft resolution lacks: an explicit delineation of the financial burden that United Nations Member States will need to bear for these operations. As drafted, we interpret the draft resolution as not — I repeat, not — providing for 100 per cent funding from the United Nations, since it only provides for an “appropriate” amount of United Nations funding. But in order to remove any possible ambiguity, we believe that the draft resolution should be as clear as possible on this point — not only on principle, but because a clear and actionable resolution will pave the way for the timely deployment of a future AU peace support operation. And resolving this possible ambiguity is an important step to get us there.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9518 (2023) · source
“Finding a way to better support African-Union-led peace support operations is a priority for the United States. In 2016, we spearheaded resolution 2320 (2016), which cemented the consensus behind the idea of burden- sharing between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) to support the deployment and sustainment of these operations. That resolution was adopted unanimously by the Council. We have worked hard and in good faith with all Council members to reach consensus on this draft resolution, and we commend the penholders for their efforts as well. To be clear, there are many important elements in this draft resolution that the United States supports.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9518 (2023) · source
“The Syrian people deserve the future for which they have fought so hard, including respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9517 (2023) · source
“It is in these moments that we must persevere and remain committed to achieving a Syrian-focused and Syrian-led solution to the conflict in line with resolution 2254 (2015), the only viable road map for a lasting solution to the conflict. More than eight years have passed since the Council unanimously adopted that resolution. It is incumbent on all countries seated at this table to do their part and help implement all aspects of the resolution. The Syrian people have been waiting far too long. We support the Special Envoy’s efforts to advance the political process and reconvene the Constitutional Committee as soon as possible. The United States is closely following the popular protests in Al-Suwayda, just as we did when pro-democracy demonstrations first sprung up in the nearby city of Dara’a in 2011.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9517 (2023) · source
“As Brazil prepares to conclude its Council term, we want to acknowledge the close collaboration of the humanitarian co-penholders, Brazil and Switzerland, to focus the Council’s work on the needs of the Syrian people, and we look forward to continued reporting to the Council and close attention to this file. As we appeal for calm in Syria, we also reiterate our condemnation of attacks by Iranian-aligned militia groups on United States personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria. The United States has responded in self-defence, and we reiterate that those attacks by Iranian-aligned groups must stop. We share the concerns of Special Envoy Pedersen about regional spillover.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9517 (2023) · source
“While we welcome the three-month extension of the United Nations arrangement with the regime for access through the Bab Al-Salam and Bab Al-Rai crossings to access areas in need in north-west Syria, we also underscore that such a piecemeal approach does not fully meet the urgent humanitarian need. We continue to underscore the importance of predictable, sustainable access, particularly to improve efficiencies and allow for sufficient staffing and planning. We note that discussions between the United Nations and the regime regarding renewed cross-border access through the crucial crossing at Bab Al-Hawa continue. We support Under-Secretary-General Griffiths’ efforts in that regard and remain hopeful for a positive outcome.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9517 (2023) · source
“We join the majority of United Nations States Members in reiterating the call on the Syrian regime to immediately release all those arbitrarily held and to provide information about the tens of thousands who are missing. We are alarmed by the reports that violence has reached its worst level since 2019. The hundreds of civilian deaths caused by the regime and the Russian offensive in Idlib are deeply concerning. The destruction that they have caused to infrastructure and the threats they pose to humanitarian operations put hundreds of thousands of people at risk during the cold winter months.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9517 (2023) · source
“The searing images and accounts of the regime’s chemical-weapon attacks on opposition-led suburbs of Damascus will never fade from our conscience. Neither will we forget the widespread shelling in Homs, the massacres in Aleppo and the present-day bombardment that is killing civilians in Idlib. Just two days ago, the General Assembly voted on a United States co-facilitated draft resolution (A/C.3/78/L.43) on the human rights situation in Syria that reminded the world of the abuses the regime wants us to forget: the use of chemical weapons, extrajudicial killings, torture, other ill-treatment, unjust detentions, enforced disappearances and gender-based violence.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9517 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Director Doughten for their sobering briefings. As the year 2023 comes to a close, the Syrian political process remains frustratingly blocked, and the Syrian people are suffering greatly. The Security Council continues to rightly discuss the political and humanitarian files each month. Yet we have few results to show for our work. For more than 12 years, the Al-Assad regime has waged a brutal war against the Syrian people. On top of that, Syrians are still reeling from the devastating impacts of February’s earthquakes. Yet, rather than engage in a political process, in the past few months, the Al-Assad regime has stepped up its attacks on its own people in the north-west of Syria. We all know the responsibility for this war lies at the feet of the Al-Assad regime.”
2023-12-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9517 (2023) · source
“Thirdly, we welcome the United Nations independent assessment on Afghanistan. We agree with the report’s recommendations on appointing a United Nations Special Envoy and establishing an international contact group. The United Nations Special Envoy and the contact group will be important for the development of a road map that ensures Afghanistan meets its international obligations. They will also complement UNAMA’s work to accomplish its mission of promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan. The Security Council must continue to work together to press the Taliban to reverse their destructive course. The Taliban must engage in serious dialogue with the Afghan people to support their aspirations, to put an end to human rights abuses and to allow assistance to reach those in need.”
2023-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9515 (2023) · source
“The report also highlights that the lack of female police officers in some units further impedes access to justice for women and girls. Secondly, the difficult operating environment created by the Taliban is hindering humanitarian access, notably through restrictions on female humanitarian staff. The United States is committed to providing assistance to those most in need. Since 2021, we have provided over $2 billion in assistance. It is imperative to recognize that humanitarian assistance alone is not enough. That is why the Taliban must reverse their policies that keep women from contributing to Afghanistan’s economy. For our part, we will work with donors, multilateral development banks and other partners to support sustainable interventions that create livelihood opportunities, including for Afghan women.”
2023-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9515 (2023) · source
“The report clearly states that Afghan women urge the United Nations to stress to the Taliban that it must include women in all sectors of society. The United States hears their requests and will not consider any significant steps towards the normalization of relations with the Taliban until women and girls have meaningful access to education, the workforce and other aspects of social and political life. Indeed, the international community as a whole has spoken out against those indefensible restrictions. We were also disheartened by the snapshot in UNAMA’s December 2023 report on the handling of complaints of gender- based violence against women and girls. The report notes the difficulty that Afghan women and girls face when trying to report gender-based violence.”
2023-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9515 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Otunbayeva, Ambassador De La Gasca, Mr. Rajasingham and Ms. Akbar for their very informative briefings. I also thank the entire team of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for the work and commitment they have to a stable, prosperous, inclusive and secure Afghanistan. I want to highlight three pressing topics in my remarks today: the situation of women and girls, humanitarian access and the United Nations independent assessment on Afghanistan (S/2023/856, annex). First, the United Nations December 2023 report (S/2023/941) on the situation of Afghan women offers a concrete look at the bleak reality for women in Afghanistan.”
2023-12-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9515 (2023) · source
“I apologize for taking the floor once again. I will be very brief. I just want to make it clear — if I did not do so earlier — that the United States has tried on numerous occasions to have a dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It has refused an unconditional dialogue. We have tried to be constructive here. I would agree that we do not want to just talk about the issue in the Council — we want to do something. What the Council needs to do is act on these violations. Therefore, I once again call on all Council members to take this major threat to international peace and security seriously. We need to take action via a Council product to deal with the reckless behaviour by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“She raised the Russia-China draft resolution that would provide sanctions relief to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. That would in essence be rewarding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for its threatening behaviour. We do not believe that is the answer to trying to convince the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to end its provocative behaviour. I would just say to our Russian colleague that the Council has an obligation to deal with this issue and we, as I said earlier, will continue to do that when we see these types of launches. I would hope that our Russian colleague will change course and support Council members in our efforts to try to get the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to change its threatening and provocative behaviour.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“I would just remind our Russian colleague that it is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that is under Security Council sanctions, not the United States. And we are raising these issues in the Council because of violations by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Our Russian colleague also raised the issue of the United States being militarily active in the region. If she is referring to our military exercises, they are long- standing and defensive in nature. She knows that. We have raised this repeatedly in Council meetings. Raising that issue is just another excuse for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to continue its threatening behaviour. Our exercises are going to continue, and they are to prepare to defend ourselves and our allies from this increasing threat from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“I apologize for taking the floor, but I needed to respond to some points that were made by our Russian colleague. She raised the issue of the United States being active, I believe, in increasing briefings on this issue. The reason we are active in raising this issue in briefings and calling for briefings is because of the repeated violations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of Security Council resolutions. And we will continue to raise them whenever those resolutions are violated by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This is a matter of a threat to international peace and security, and Council members have a duty to raise this issue when there are violations of these resolutions. Our Russian colleague pointed to a one-sided approach here in the Council to these issues.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“We are here because the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must understand that the only viable path forward is through diplomacy and our continued commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and it cannot do that while the Council stays silent. And we are here because it is critical that the international community make crystal clear that this escalatory behaviour has consequences that affect each and every member on the Council and the broader United Nations membership. We urge all Council members to join us today in holding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to account once and for all.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“That effort helps us better understand how the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea builds its weapons and how we can prevent it from doing so. It also illustrates the importance of all Member States addressing the loopholes that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has created since 2017, fully implementing Security Council resolutions related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and refusing to ease measures that have slowed down the weapons development of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea so that we can meaningfully hold Pyongyang to account. So why are we here? We are here because, until the day the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea abandons its WMD programme and instead engages in meaningful negotiations, we will continue to call out its violations of this body’s resolutions.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“We know that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea can advance its WMD programme, owing to its extensive efforts to evade sanctions. Six years ago was the last time the Security Council came together to address this proliferation threat and related sanctions- evasion efforts. The year 2017 was also when we instituted the petroleum import cap, aimed at limiting the free flow of gas to the military of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and, by extension, its unlawful nuclear- and ballistic-missile programmes. This year we once again saw growth in multilateral support from 55 Member States in reporting breaches of the oil cap to the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006).”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“It is on all of us to call out those excuses for what they are: excuses — ridiculous excuses. And indeed, we are grateful that most of the Council has condemned the mounting threat by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to international peace and security. Most of the Council is committed to upholding the resolutions that we have adopted. Most of the Council does share the same goal of denuclearization. It is now on Russia and China to join us and to act as if their credibility as responsible permanent members depends on it. Not only would we be sending a message to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and any proliferator, but we have seen first-hand the benefits of coming together to hold the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea accountable.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“No claim by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea can repudiate that fact. Neither can it change the reality that the Republic of Korea, unlike the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, recommitted to not pursue nuclear weapons when we expanded our military alliance. As we have heard the Secretariat brief the Council many times before, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea laid out its five-year plan in January 2021. Now, as it attempts to carry out that plan, it is searching for justifications. Blame the United States. Blame the Republic of Korea and Japan. Blame the sanctions. Blame the Council. Blame anyone, but the one that actually bears responsibility for pursuing weapons in violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons — the regime of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“We have used every word to describe the continued threats of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to international peace and security: flagrant, unacceptable, reckless and egregious. All of these words still apply, but today I offer another word: ridiculous. It is ridiculous to assert that this launch, in addition to the short-range ballistic missile launch, is in any way justifiable or an appropriate response to a meeting. Let me be extremely clear. The United States and our allies are working to protect ourselves from the very nuclear- weapon delivery systems that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is testing and has repeatedly stated are made for attacking us. Meanwhile, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea itself has announced that it is undertaking not defensive countermeasures, but offensive ones.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“We are not here because we seek to punish the citizens of North Korea, whose Government continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic-missile programmes over the welfare of its people. And we are not here because we harbour any hostile intent towards the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In fact, we continue to call for dialogue on any topic with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea without preconditions. No, we are here today because the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has for the fifth time this year launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in direct violation of multiple Security Council resolutions. That is in addition to the 26 other ballistic missiles that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has launched this year alone.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“I thank Mr. Khaled Khiari for his briefing on why we are here. From the outset, I want to affirm that the United States condemns in the strongest terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile and short-range ballistic missile launches this past weekend. There is much to say about this ongoing and advancing threat to international peace and security, but I want to start by talking about why we are not here. We are not here — regardless of what the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and its two defenders on the Security Council say — because of a meeting between the United States and the Republic of Korea.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9514 (2023) · source
“For all those who have suffered in Israel, in Gaza, in the West Bank and around the globe, let us work in good faith to end this cycle of violence and sow the seeds for a lasting peace.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Many of us have seen the video of her being forced into a Jeep at gunpoint, her hands tied and her pants bloodied. But what many of us do not know is Naama’s story — the fact that she was a peace activist who built connections with Palestinians in an effort to chart a brighter future. She dreamed of being a diplomat, and maybe even sitting in this very Chamber. Her smile is missed every single day. We will continue to share Naama’s story — and every hostage’s story — until they are home, and until Amit and Michael can embrace their sister once again. We must hold space for the heartbreak on all sides and for all whose lives have been disrupted and destroyed by a conflict that Hamas set in motion, that Hamas restarted after a week-long humanitarian pause and that Hamas could once again end by simply releasing the hostages.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Others have been displaced from their homes or have been gravely injured on the job. And far too many have been killed, making this the deadliest period in memory for journalists. There are few callings more noble than telling the truth. Journalists’ words change hearts and minds and move people to action. And in this moment, more must be done to protect them. The final note I want to end on is about the hostages. Earlier this week, our Mission met with young Israelis whose loved ones are still being held captive in Gaza. They came to us to share the stories of their loved ones, and we promised that we would tell those stories to the Council, to the world. We heard from Amit and Michael Levy, whose sister, Naama, was kidnapped by Hamas.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Over the past two months, we have witnessed a spike in antisemitism and Islamophobia, both online and in our communities, including in our own backyard here in New York City, where just a few blocks north a Halal food vendor faced vile, bigoted harassment and where, just over the river in Brooklyn, a Jewish man was brutally beaten in front of his family’s home. Rhetoric matters, and we must do more to prevent this dangerous dehumanization. There are two more subjects that I want to address today. The first is what faces those reporting in the region, because today journalists are not just witnessing what is happening. They are experiencing it — all of it. Scores have lost family members, including Al Jazeera’s Wael Al-Dahdouh, who was himself injured last week.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Already, we have implemented that policy for dozens of individuals and their families. And we have repeatedly underscored to the Israeli Government that it too must do more to investigate the violence and hold extremist settlers who have committed it accountable. More than that, Israeli officials must not fan the flames of the violence with incendiary, dehumanizing rhetoric — because we have seen the ways in which words have consequences, not only in the West Bank, but around the world.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Of course, as Special Coordinator Wennesland highlighted, the events that have unfolded in the West Bank over the past year have moved us farther away from that reality. That includes the ongoing construction of settlements in the West Bank, which undermines the possibility of a Palestinian State. And it includes a sharp and alarming uptick in settler violence, especially because, even before Hamas’s attack on 7 October, the year 2023 has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005. The United States condemns those violent attacks. We believe that the perpetrators must be held accountable. As Secretary Blinken announced earlier this month, we will continue to issue visa bans to extremist individuals who have undermined peace, security and stability in the West Bank.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“But right now, a few things bear reiterating: that the atrocities Hamas committed on 7 October must be condemned; that we must pursue justice for the victims of horrific sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on and after that day; that Israelis still face barrages of rocket fire to this day — rocket fire launched by Hamas from civilian infrastructure in Gaza at civilians in Israel; that civilians must be protected; that humanitarian aid must reach those who desperately need it; that Hamas must not be allowed to control Gaza, for the sake of Israeli and Palestinian safety alike; that Israel has the right to protect its people from terrorism; that regional actors, including the Houthis, must not exploit and widen the conflict; that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East must be supported — and the United States has provided more than $422 million to its 2023 appeals to that end; and that, ultimately, we must all work towards a two-State solution, which serves as the only foundation for a truly sustainable peace.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland and the Head of Mission and Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, Major General Gauchat, for their briefings. Over the past few days and weeks, we have shared many of our thoughts on the subject, and we will have more to say later in the day.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“By working together, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUSCO can bring more than two decades of peacekeeping to a dignified and sustainable close, ushering in a new chapter of peace and prosperity for the country and its people. The United States commends Special Representative of the Secretary-General Keita and her team for continuing to implement MONUSCO’s mandate in the face of great challenges. We look forward to continuing our strong support to the Mission over the coming year.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9512 (2023) · source
“While we supported the Council’s efforts to extend the electoral assistance of the United Nations to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we also underscore our call on all political actors and segments of society to respect the will of the people and engage actively, constructively and peacefully, regardless of the elections result. The coming days and months will mark a pivotal moment for the country and for MONUSCO. Members of the Council will be watching very closely as the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo looks to assume full responsibility for the protection of its civilians as MONUSCO draws down.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9512 (2023) · source
“We now look to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure that all Congolese are able to safely and meaningfully participate in the elections, regardless of political affiliation and without fear of violence or reprisal. It is incumbent upon Congolese institutions to fulfil their constitutional mandates with the independence and integrity that the Congolese people expect and deserve. But we know that democracy does not end at the ballot box; in fact, it is what comes next that truly matters.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9512 (2023) · source
“Let me also welcome the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to this meeting. The United States is proud to have voted in favour of resolution 2717 (2023), which clearly responds to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s request to change the status quo while maintaining the Mission’s core responsibility to protect civilians amid its gradual, responsible and sustainable withdrawal. The United States also appreciates that the Council responded quickly and favourably to the formal request by the Government for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to provide logistical support to national elections in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and other provinces.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9512 (2023) · source
“Indeed, several reports by the Secretary-General have noted that illicit small arms and light weapons have been used to facilitate conflict- related sexual violence. The issue clearly continues to prevent peace and development across many Council priorities and instead fuels conflict in many regions of the world. The United States looks forward to working with all Member States to carry out its commitment to combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and related ammunition, and it is prepared to assist with implementation.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509 (2023) · source
“Those efforts make it clear that Member States remain committed to the goal of reducing the risks created by the diversion of ammunition into the hands of unauthorized recipients, such as terrorist groups and criminal organizations. The issue of small arms and light weapons, as its own Security Council agenda item, is not raised frequently. But we cannot talk about counter-terrorism without discussing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. We cannot talk about children and armed conflict without discussing the diversion of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition. And we cannot talk about women and peace and security without discussing how the effects of the diversion and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons are felt acutely by women and girls.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509 (2023) · source
“As we consider other conflicts in need of the Council’s attention on the issue, the United States looks forward to working with all Council members to address the illicit sale, transfer and diversion of arms to Myanmar, in order to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights. Regular reporting by the Sanctions Committees’ panels is an integral component of our efforts, and we urge all member States to support their work. Turning to the issue of ammunition, the United States actively participated in the Open-ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition and endorsed its final report and its recommendations for establishing the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509 (2023) · source
“But the same principle applies. All Member States must be working towards full implementation for the Council’s resolutions to be effective in this arena. United Nations reporting on the implementation of arms embargoes has helped to identify areas in which the diversion and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons fuels conflict. For example, through its resolution 2700 (2023), the Council adopted a territorial arms embargo designed to prevent violent gang leaders in Haiti from trafficking small arms and light weapons with impunity. Thanks to Member States’ cooperation with the Panel of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti, the Committee has just been able to designate four gang leaders. Unfortunately, the issue of small arms and light weapons has an impact on every region.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509 (2023) · source
“The current framework of instruments at the global and regional levels, such as the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and its complementary International Tracing Instrument, offers a range of measures to reduce the risks posed by illicitly trafficked small arms and light weapons and related ammunition. The challenge facing us is how to improve their implementation. In 2022, at the eighth Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme of Action, numerous Member States and the Office for Disarmament Affairs underscored the problem of uneven implementation. The Security Council has similarly undertaken a number of general and conflict- specific measures over the years that continue to be critical to addressing the issue of small arms and light weapons.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509 (2023) · source
“I thank all of today’s briefers for their efforts to call attention to the detrimental effects that the diversion and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons have on international peace and security. Responsible State use of conventional weapons contributes to global and regional security and stability and has a direct impact on several other areas of concern for the Council, including our efforts related to counter-terrorism. However, in the wrong hands, those tools threaten the global disarmament apparatus and the protection of civilians, while also having a disproportionate impact on women and children. The United States is therefore grateful to be part of a strong global coalition actively engaged on the issue.”
2023-12-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9509 (2023) · source
“The United States supports regional coordination and efforts by the Multinational Joint Task Force to combat those terrorist groups and implement holistic strategies to address the underlying drivers of terrorism. The United States stands ready to continue its support to the democratic and peaceful aspirations of the people of Central Africa and looks forward to continuing engaging with the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa and Special Representative of the Secretary-General Abarry on these issues. We continue to be in favour of a Council product that would put us on the record on these issues, as well as acknowledge the threat of climate change.”
2023-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9505 (2023) · source
“We continue to be concerned about the lack of overall improvement in the human rights situation in Burundi, and in particular the death in detention of a human rights defender charged with homosexuality. Though he was acquitted of the charge, his referral for medical care was reportedly refused. Conflict and instability present significant challenges to democracy and democratic transitions. We remain concerned by upticks in violence in Cameroon, particularly in the North-West and South-West regions. We also condemn Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province’s continued attacks against civilians, which have displaced thousands in the region.”
2023-12-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9505 (2023) · source