YouSaid · the spoken record

Zacarias

lines on the record: 51
first: 2023-02-14
most recent: 2023-10-25
sittings or episodes: 10
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

“In conclusion, let me underline that ensuring the meaningful participation of women in public life and decision-making is not only a moral obligation, but also an essential driver of peace.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We have been introducing the dimensions of resolution 1325 (2000) in all areas of political activity, resulting in several national strategies on gender equality and the prevention and elimination of gender-based violence, with impact on our foreign policy in bilateral and multilateral relations and in our development cooperation. We believe that the empowerment of women and girls demands a special focus on education that must be complemented by awareness campaigns that also include men and boys in order to dismantle gender stereotypes and biases. We have committed to increasing the number of trainings on women and peace and security, in particular for the national detachment forces or personnel participating in international peacekeeping missions, together with the dissemination of codes of conduct.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We therefore need to redouble our efforts to achieve women’s full, equal and meaningful participation as peace negotiators, mediators and signatories of peace agreements. Secondly, in a world shattered by more and more conflicts and crises around the world, it is essential to ensure that women and peace and security initiatives translate into concrete changes for local female populations and that their safety is guaranteed, including for those more exposed to violence as human rights defenders and journalists. The protection of human rights in conflict situations is fundamental, and we need to mainstream a gender perspective in responding effectively to increasing security threats. In Portugal, we are now preparing our fourth national action plan for women and peace and security.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“There are remarkable initiatives that have fostered the achievement of some of those aims, such as the shared commitment on women and peace and security, signed thus far by 16 Member States that have served on the Security Council, the uniformed gender parity strategy for women in peacekeeping and the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks. However, huge gaps persist, as women’s underrepresentation in peace and security has not significantly changed. Despite the efforts of the Secretary- General to achieve gender-balanced representation, women’s inclusion in informal peace talks is still incipient or entirely lacking. The percentage of women in United Nations-led peace talks has decreased for the past two years. The percentage of peace agreements that include provisions on gender equality or women’s rights is still meagre.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Let me start by thanking Brazil for convening this important open debate. I also want to thank the briefers for their very precious inputs and views this morning. Portugal aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. It is imperative to examine resolution 1325 (2000) and to take stock of the evolution in the several dimensions it covers: the promotion of women’s access to decision-making positions, gender equality, the protection of women and girls from violence during and after conflict and the adoption of a gender perspective to prevent and mitigate the impact of conflicts on women and girls.”
2023-10-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9452Resumption1 (2023) · source
“President — we need dialogue among national, regional and subregional organizations, as well as dialogue between them and the United Nations, in addition to the much-needed involvement of civil society. It is through dialogue, indeed, that we can build trust and, thus, hope for lasting peace.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Fourthly, as the guardian of international law and the guarantor of international peace and security, the Council should more systematically address the questions of early warning, prevention, mediation and peacebuilding. Alongside the security implications of climate change and the intrinsic value of respect for human rights, other issues like institutional capacity- building, both at the national and regional level, merit greater attention from the Council. Finally, at the level of peacekeeping, the Council should look into ways of authorizing peace-enforcement actions by regional and subregional organizations. In conclusion, let me reiterate that we fully concur with you, Mr.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Secondly, both in this endeavour and in helping Member States establish and strengthen national infrastructure for peace, we believe that the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) can play a very important role. On the other hand, we would encourage regional and subregional arrangements to consider the possibility of engaging with the PBC to share best practices and present their strategies, as a way to also identify how the United Nations can best support those efforts. Thirdly, we once again highlight the need to strengthen cooperation between the Council and the PBC. Making that a priority means ensuring, in practice, the predictability and sustainable financing of the PBC.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Those organizations provide fundamental insights from the ground, help to address the root causes of conflict in a preventive manner and operationalize the links between peace, development and human rights. The Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace outlines an extensive and ambitious set of recommendations that recognize the interlinked nature of those many challenges. Subscribing to those recommendations, we would like to underline four points. First, regional and subregional arrangements should take up the recommendations of the New Agenda for Peace on the development of their own prevention strategies with cross-regional dimensions to address transboundary threats. We need more complementarity and coordination of preventive peace efforts.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“From the centuries of peace and genuine friendship with our neighbours, to our membership in the European Union, to the growing vitality of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, we know and cherish the value of such arrangements — because regional and subregional integration processes are themselves key drivers of peace and security that promote dialogue, trust, cooperation, development, social stability and democracy, reinforcing global governance and effective multilateralism. In a moment when conflicts have become more numerous and deadly and harder to resolve, the need to reinforce cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in order to foster peace and security is obvious. The complexity of the integrated crisis we are facing renders the need for such cooperation even more evident.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I would like to thank Brazil for convening this very important debate, which is even more timely now in the light of the recent developments in the Middle East, as well as other geopolitical tensions and conflicts around the world. I would also like to thank the briefers that we heard this morning for their valuable inputs and views. Portugal aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union, and I would like to add the following remarks in my national capacity. For my country, the contribution of regional, subregional and bilateral arrangements to the prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes is glaringly evident.”
2023-10-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9448Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It was thanks to the partnership between public and private actors that this instrument was able to be deployed. It funded non-governmental organizations that focused on short-term reconstruction and long- term community resilience. Without private support, the mechanism would not have been able to equip the neonatology unit of Beira Central Hospital or to completely rebuild its ward block. In conclusion, the private sector drives technological innovation, which can render the humanitarian system more effective and efficient, both financially and operationally. We must become more agile and innovative in identifying solutions and advancing partnerships. Those in need cannot be denied the hope arising from those joint efforts.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Although risk assessment and robust due diligence procedures are needed, public-private partnerships are already crucial in areas such as disaster risk reduction, logistics and information and communication technologies. Looking ahead, it is clear that they will also be indispensable when resorting to artificial intelligence, automation or data analytics, either to better identify populations in need or to better coordinate responses. In order to advance on this agenda, we must also start by looking at what has been done and what has worked so far. Portugal is ready to share its experience in this area with the Council. For example, in 2019, when Cyclones Idai and Kenneth hit Mozambique, we designed — together with the private sector and with local authorities — a financing mechanism that pooled funds from different sources.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As we pursue that long-term strategy, we can and should focus our attention on dealing with the growing funding gap, which is currently estimated at $41 billion. Part of the answer to that funding gap, as this debate suggests, is to diversify funding sources — and also to diversify operations, in terms of both deployment and management. We welcome the fact that the humanitarian-development space is becoming enriched with a growing and more diversified number of actors, from local authorities to the business sector and civil society. That new paradigm is helping us to operationalize the triple-nexus approach, and it is a true reflection of a multi-stakeholder approach — one that allows us not only to strengthen funding, but also to make it more predictable.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Let me start by thanking Albania for convening this important and timely debate. I also want to thank the briefers for their input and views. Every passing year, the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance grows, and consequently, every passing year, the amount of money required to assist them also grows. In order to tackle that trend, we must start by addressing the root causes of the problem. We must confront head-on the issues of armed conflict and the accelerating negative impacts of climate change. In order to do so, we need to boost a socially just green transition, and we need to secure peace by promoting sustainable and inclusive development and by encouraging all Member States to protect, respect and fulfil human rights.”
2023-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9418Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It is now time to follow-up on those recommendations within the Informal Working Group, together with those included in the summary of the General Assembly debate on the annual report of the Security Council. The outcome of those considerations could then be included in the newly issued annual report of the Informal Working Group, a new practice for which we compliment you and your team, Mr. President, in your capacity as Chair of the Informal Working Group. I also wish you every success in your presidency of the Council, Sir.”
2023-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9410 (2023) · source
“To further strengthen its coherence, the Council would also benefit from cooperating more closely with the Peacebuilding Commission. That could, for instance, be ensured through joint visits to United Nations missions in the field, which should take place more frequently. In conclusion, we echo the suggestion made by the ACT group calling on the Council to maintain the good practice of making statements to the press following closed-door meetings. We further commend the convening of a first annual meeting between the Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions and the co-Chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations to consider the recommendations made by Member States during the intergovernmental negotiations.”
2023-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9410 (2023) · source
“We fully agree with the recommendations made in the policy brief: first, that Council members that are not a party to a situation in their region should have a more active role on draft resolutions to address it; secondly, that before renewing a given mandate, the Council should more systematically consult the parties interested, such as host States, regional organizations and troop- and police-contributing countries; and thirdly, that greater accountability for the use of the veto should be ensured. In that regard, it would be important to include in the Council’s annual report further details on the draft resolutions the Council fails to adopt, describing their purposes and main provisions and indicating the procedural grounds for their rejection, which, when applicable, should naturally include an analysis on the use of the veto.”
2023-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9410 (2023) · source
“That would make its work easier, not harder. A more transparent and accountable Council would benefit from greater trust from its stakeholders, and therefore be better positioned to carry out its mandate. The Secretary-General’s policy brief on the New Agenda for Peace is clear in that regard, affirming that should the Security Council democratize its procedures, the results of its decisions would be more durable.”
2023-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9410 (2023) · source
“Portugal aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Norway on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) group, and I would like to add the following remarks in my national capacity. All Member States share the belief that the Security Council must be reformed, even if we do not yet agree on what a reform should specifically entail. In the meantime, the only way to improve the Council’s functioning and legitimacy — a concern that underpins almost all calls for its reform — is through measures that are feasible under the current rules. The veto initiative and the continued consolidation of the provisions of note by the President S/2017/507 are two laudable examples of that. In any event, the Council itself should strive continuously to boost its legitimacy, transparency and accountability.”
2023-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9410 (2023) · source
“That is the only way to ensure the end of sexual and gender-based violence, in any setting, while also fostering sustainable peace and political and social stability, which should be the main driver of all our actions.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The Security Council can make significant advances by designating conflict-related sexual violence as a criterion in all relevant United Nations sanctions regimes. The United Nations and Member States can also bolster accountability efforts and increase compliance with international legal frameworks by assisting other Member States to harmonize domestic laws with international standards and providing support to justice systems, both military and civilian. In order for that to happen, States must cooperate with those efforts at every level, embracing a genuine desire to promote equality between women and men in the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights; dismantling discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes and working on prevention.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As armed conflicts escalate and their devastating consequences unfold, disproportionately affecting women and children, we cannot remain idle. Those abhorrent crimes must be punished and the perpetrators brought to justice. The Security Council has already adopted a comprehensive framework to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence. We call on all States to ensure its implementation in national legislation and make clear efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence, safeguard women’s rights during times of conflict, provide redress for survivors and ensure accountability for perpetrators. But combating conflict-related sexual violence is also a shared responsibility that rests with all of us gathered here today.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“One of the alarming trends highlighted in the report is the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war by non-State armed groups to consolidate control over territories or exploit lucrative natural resources in certain countries. Furthermore, the increasing proliferation of mercenary groups has also led to a rise in violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law. Conflict- related sexual violence continues to cause massive displacement, both internally and across borders. The refugee crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine has led to a rampant risk of trafficking of women for sexual exploitation. In that regard, we welcome the establishment of a comprehensive inter-agency working group to address sexual violence, with a focus on anti-trafficking measures.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Portugal aligns with the statements delivered on behalf of the European Union and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security and categorically condemns the use of sexual and gender-based violence by State and non-State actors in situations of humanitarian crises and conflict- affected settings. We welcome the convening of this debate, which is particularly significant in the light of the concerning trends emphasized in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2023/413). The widespread pattern of sexual violence it depicts shows how pressing is the work and mandate of Special Representative Ms. Pramila Patten, whom I thank for her briefing.”
2023-07-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9378Resumption1 (2023) · source
“An interministerial commission on human rights and international humanitarian law has been established, an armed forces child protection focal point has been appointed and there is increased training in the military on the prevention of grave violations. Examples such as that must be welcomed. In conclusion, let us acknowledge that grave violations have a long-lasting impact on victims and survivors. Portugal believes that the international community must pay greater attention to achieving true justice, which includes livelihood support and full access to mental health and psychosocial services. We cannot return “childhood” to those who have been deprived of it, but we must take it as a shared responsibility to give them back hope and all the support we can.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“Nonetheless, we must have in mind that last year UNICEF showed how over the previous 16 years grave violations had increased year after year, and this year is no exception. The Secretary-General’s 2022 annual report notes an increase of approximately 12 per cent in grave violations against children. Despite that gloomy picture, there are achievements that may serve as an example to other Member States and advance the protection of children. In our view, Mozambique is one such example. Despite the difficulties in Cabo Delgado, where grave violations against children have been documented, the Government has taken proactive steps.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“In the draft resolution on the right to education, which Portugal submitted just yesterday at the Human Rights Council, we acknowledge the growing body of norms and standards on protecting education from attacks and reiterate our strong condemnation of the military use of educational facilities. We stand with all efforts towards monitoring and accountability contained in those annual reports, including through the International Criminal Court, and voice our support to the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, as well as the listing mechanism. Those two mechanisms must remain impartial and independent. Engagement with the various parties to a conflict and the development and implementation of action plans are essential elements of that framework, which should be further stimulated.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“Portugal remains a strong supporter of the growing body of hard and soft international law that seeks to protect children in armed conflict, including the first Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, resolution 2601 (2021) and documents such as the Safe Schools Declaration, the Vancouver Principles and the Paris Principles. We call on all Member States to endorse and implement those relevant documents. We also believe that education is key in preventing violations against children, as is conflict prevention and, of course, sustainable development.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“Portugal aligns itself with the statements to be made on behalf on the European Union and the Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict. We thank the United Kingdom for convening this debate and we wish you, Madam President, every success during your presidency. Allow me to start by welcoming the report of the Secretary-General (S/2023/363) and by expressing Portugal’s full support to the United Nations system for the protection of children in armed conflict, including the mandate of Special Representative Virginia Gamba de Potgieter. I would also like to commend the work of UNICEF in that regard and thank Ms. Violeta for her very moving, relevant and touching testimony.”
2023-07-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9366 (2023) · source
“We look forward to the policy brief on the New Agenda for Peace, which we expect to include a stronger focus on the nexus between climate, peace and security, especially in Africa, and taking into account a gender perspective. That could give a renewed impetus to Security Council discussions on this topic.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Let me also commend the work carried out on the topic of sea level rise and international law by the International Law Commission, whose Study Group is co-chaired by Patricia Patrícia Galvão Teles of Portugal. We also fully support the Vanuatu initiative to request an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States with respect to climate change. We support the Secretary-General’s recommendations in his report entitled Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), particularly that the United Nations strengthen its support for regional capacities, coordinating efforts with regional and subregional organizations, to address the effects of climate change on security.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In a nutshell, recognizing that the Security Council should integrate climate-related security risks into its work in a more systematic manner does not mean that other forums, and in particular the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, would lose their role in addressing the topic of climate change. Nor does it entail a securitization of the issue. What that recognition aims to do is to ensure that the Council properly takes into account the effects of climate change when carrying out its conflict-prevention duties. That was the overarching theme and purpose of the draft resolution introduced by Ireland and the Niger, which Portugal, along with 112 other Member States, co-sponsored back in December 2021 (S/2021/990).”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“It must also develop early-warning mechanisms, including by taking advantage of information generated by the Climate Security Mechanism. When appropriate and relevant, the Council should likewise continue to further integrate climate-related security issues in its resolutions. That having been said, climate action can also be a tool of conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding. The Peacebuilding Fund, in particular, plays an important role in bringing climate financing to conflict-afflicted areas, as its portfolio of climate-informed peacebuilding projects in Africa clearly shows.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“The risks posed by climate change to international peace and security are clear, and there are multiple instances where those risks have unfortunately materialized. As Mozambique stated last November, for some countries the climate, peace and security nexus is not a future prospect, but the present reality. It is crucial that the United Nations system, as the platform best placed to promote a cooperative and coordinated response to these challenges, works coherently to better prevent, prepare for and respond to the security implications of climate change. In particular, it is key that the Council continues to work towards a comprehensive approach to addressing the security impacts and risks posed by climate change.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We align our statement with those delivered by the representative of the European Union and by the representative of Germany, who spoke on behalf of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security. I would like to commend the United Arab Emirates for convening this meeting and for further bringing to the attention of the Security Council the importance of the climate, peace and security nexus. We also appreciate the valuable contributions of today’s briefers, in particular the thoughtful briefing by President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón. From our perspective, the consequences of climate change for peace and security should be regularly considered by the Security Council, and we welcome the voluntary commitment of the United Arab Emirates, Mozambique, Malta and Switzerland to addressing climate and security issues during their mandates.”
2023-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9345Resumption1 (2023) · source
“How- ever, the misuse of the veto in the Security Council can be greatly detrimental to fostering predictability. The veto initiative (resolution 76/262), adopted one year ago, showed the interest among the wider membership in en- suring further accountability on the use of the veto and reinforcing the role of the General Assembly. The wide support of the Franco-Mexican political declaration and the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group’s code of conduct shows there is a growing consensus on the need to restrict the use of the veto in certain circum- stances. We should continue discussing the implementa- tion of those specific instruments and their efficacy. The New Agenda for Peace should recognize that and call on permanent members to refrain from using the veto.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“The New Agenda for Peace will be an opportunity to identify ways to bolster trust in peacebuilding processes, and we look forward to the policy brief to be published in the summer. In that context — and many have said it before me — we need to put women and girls at the centre of security policy. We need to take into consideration a holistic view of peace anchored in human rights and development for all. We need to ensure greater cooperation between the Security Council and the Human Rights Council, as well as with the Peacebuilding Commission. We need to strengthen trust among the United Nations bodies that deal with the complexity of preventing, building and sustaining peace. In conclusion, let me recall that the concept note (S/2023/283, annex) for this debate rightly points out that trust is also about expectations and predictability.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“Beyond transparency and communication, we also need inclusion. One important step to ensure the Security Council contributes to fostering that inclusion and participation is to make the Council itself more representative. The most direct way of ensuring that would be through its reform, broadening the scope of countries represented in it. Meanwhile, other steps can be taken, such as increasing consultations with stakeholders — regional organizations, the private sector, academia and civil society, local actors such as grassroots women’s groups, youth and youth-led organizations — thereby fostering efforts in conflict prevention and sustaining peace. In that context, allow me to commend Switzerland’s commitment to giving a voice to civil society in the programme of work during its presidency of the Security Council.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“Their voices are necessary not just to design the measures, but also to determine whether the process is effective or needs to be amended. Let me also make two points concerning commu- nication. First, I would like to commend the recent strategic review by the Secretariat of strategic communications across United Nations peacekeeping operations, acknowledging the need for the United Nations system and the Member States to perform better in that area of crucial importance. Secondly, as today is World Press Freedom Day, it is worth recalling that trust requires a social environment in which people can express themselves freely, in which Human Rights are respected in their entirety, and in which free and independent media contribute to promoting democracy and to ensuring that institutions are accountable to the people they serve.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“We would like to commend Switzerland for holding the presidency of the Security Council for the first time and for convening today’s timely and important debate. I also wish to thank the briefers for the briefings we heard today. Trust requires transparency, communication and inclusion. How, then, can we foster trust in sustaining peace and peacebuilding processes? As we see it, communities are more likely to have trust in the process if the conflict or situation it is aimed at addressing is identified as an emerging threat in a transparent and timely manner, including through early warnings and strategic foresight; if the solutions to respond to it are designed in consultation with those communities; and if their implementation is carried out in close contact and coordination with the communities.”
2023-05-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9315 (2023) · source
“The promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment was established as a cross-cutting priority in the recently adopted 2030 Portuguese strategy for international cooperation. I would also like to note that one year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence of Portugal will host an international seminar in Lisbon on 26 April to discuss the preliminary lessons of the war from a gender perspective. In conclusion, let me reiterate that promoting and protecting the human rights of all women and girls is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic investment to foster sustainable peace.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Further efforts are also needed to close the digital gender gap, and we look forward to the results of the ongoing session of the Commission on the Status of Women. In Portugal, beyond the adoption of a national action plan on women and peace and security, whose third edition is now being prepared, the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) has also led to the integration of gender perspectives into the Portuguese armed forces. A defence action plan for equality was created, outlining measures aimed at boosting women’s involvement in peacekeeping missions. Therefore, we have also mainstreamed the gender perspective and the women and peace and security agenda into our cooperation agenda and in the area of security.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“And it is our duty to promote equality in the realization of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. In a world in which armed conflict is increasing and its devastating impact unfolding before us with a disproportionate impact on women and children, we cannot remain idle. It is imperative to ensure the protection of women’s rights in times of conflict and to empower them to become peacebuilders and mediators. We must bring the women and peace and security agenda into the core of the New Agenda for Peace. It is imperative to intensify our efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence and uphold all women’s human rights, including the right to education and health.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Mozambique on its presidency of the Security Council and wish it all the best. We are also grateful to Mozambique for convening today’s important and timely debate. Portugal aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the European Union, the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and the Group of Friends of Women, Peace and Security. Resolution 1325 (2000) was a turning point for foreign policy, declaring that the gender perspective is a vital prerequisite for conflict prevention and resolution, as well as for the promotion of peace and political and social stability, including women at all stages of peace processes and policymaking. But much still needs to be done. Closing the gender leadership gap is essential for national and global security.”
2023-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9276Resumption1 (2023) · source
“In our view, it will be key to ensure that the Security Council continues to work on a comprehensive approach to addressing the security impacts and risks posed by climate change. We trust that this meeting is a timely step in that direction.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“We particularly commend the work being done by the International Law Commission, whose Study Group is co-chaired by a Portuguese member of the Commission, Mr. Galvão Teles. We also fully support Vanuatu’s initiative requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States with respect to climate change. It is crucial to ensure that the United Nations system, as the platform best placed to promote a cooperative and coordinated response to the challenges we are discussing, works coherently to better prevent, prepare for and respond to sea level rise. It is therefore imperative that the United Nations system develop the means to do so.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“At the second United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, we pushed for a new set of more ambitious and more effective commitments on implementing the ocean-related targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and we have continued to work on further advancing the climate-water-oceans nexus. We must also focus on preparedness, on building resilience and on adaptation to the impact of rising sea levels and all of its consequences. Those efforts should also include the ability to answer legal questions arising from sea level rise and its effects. In that connection, we support ongoing reflections on how to preserve stability and legal security in international relations, and we highlight the importance of solutions consistent with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“As a coastal State with island territories and three quarters of whose population live in coastal areas, Portugal welcomes the opportunity to reflect on the implications of sea level rise for peace and security, and more importantly on how to collectively address the issue. In our view, we must start at the very root of the problem. We need to do more — and faster — to fight climate change. Portugal has been at the forefront of efforts to mitigate climate change. We were among the first countries in the world to commit to climate neutrality by 2050.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source
“Precisely two weeks ago, as co-Chair of the Steering Committee on Partnerships for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Portugal co-hosted an event with Samoa on climate-induced mobility in SIDS, which left no room for doubt about how climate change is already forcing large numbers of people to leave their homes. The displacement of people, forced migration, threats to territorial integrity and territorial and boundary disputes, as well as the escalation of current conflicts, are only some of the consequences that we are already witnessing and that are likely to be further exacerbated in future.”
2023-02-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9260Resumption1 (2023) · source