YouSaid · the spoken record

Zerrougui

lines on the record: 245
first: 2012-09-19
most recent: 2020-12-07
sittings or episodes: 19
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 myself just returned from Tanganyika province a few days ago, and I witnessed the unbearable conditions in which internally displaced persons are living and heard about the suffering and continuing tensions among communities. In Ituri province, I am glad to report, tensions in Djugu have recently abated. We undertook immense efforts in support of local authorities, including intensive dialogue at the local level to reconcile communities, good-offices engagement with local and national authorities to ease tensions, strong support for judicial authorities to fight impunity, and the deployment of three standing combat deployments to the highest-risk areas.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“We are seeing an intensification of inter-community violence and activities of local armed group coalitions that sometimes espouse a politically driven narrative. I remain particularly concerned about the Kasais, where the activities of several dissident militia factions continue; North Kivu where the Allied Democratic Forces is increasingly active; and South Kivu, Maniema and Tanganyika provinces. In all those areas, the civilian population - especially women and children - continue to pay the highest price for conflict. They are enduring grave human rights violations, displacement, challenges to their livelihoods and the disruptions to their education.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“On a positive note, we were pleased to hear the Minister of Health announce the official end of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this past Tuesday. In the face of that challenge, MONUSCO, together with other United Nations agencies, contributed to the Government's response by offering all available means to help contain the disease and prevent its spread to major urban centres. I commend the leadership demonstrated by the Government in confronting that challenge. Such a laudable achievement demonstrated what is possible through effective cooperation among the authorities, the United Nations and external partners. While the country is focused on the important upcoming elections, the security environment continues to be volatile and is deteriorating in some parts of the country.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“On the logistical side, Council members will recall the Government's stated intent - including in the President's state of the nation address - to manage and finance elections without external support. The logistical support of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) for elections, mandated by the Security Council, was initially planned to begin today. However, thus far, no request has been received from the Independent National Electoral Commission. Although we remain ready to provide support as requested, I must note that, in the interest of responsibly managing United Nations resources, we will soon require more clarity from the Council in that regard, as the first aircraft for MONUSCO's logistical support was denied landing clearance upon an attempted arrival yesterday.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“AlthoughI am pleased to note such a level of political engagement on the part ofall parties, I remain concerned by the poor implementation of confidence-building measures. While the Minister of Justice announced the release of 4,109 prisoners, only a few of them were part of the confidence-building measures, and the release of high-profile personalities was completely ruled out. As violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms continue to impact negatively on democratic space, peaceful demonstrations are being suppressed. Civil society actors and political opponents continue to be arbitrarily arrested, and media workers threatened. Conditions leading to a level playing field are therefore not yet in place, and without progress on those fronts, the credibility and inclusivity of upcoming elections could be at risk.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“I was also glad to see the engagement between the Independent National Electoral Commission and political parties, which ultimately resulted in several deadline extensions for provincial legislative candidate registration, thereby contributing to ensuring that the process is more inclusive and legitimate. Following a slow start, more than 18,000 candidacies were ultimately enrolled to compete for 715 seats. Although the final tally is yet to be published, initial indications suggest that women made up less than 12 per cent of all registered candidates. I continue to use my good offices to urge political parties to ensure greater female representation and participation in the upcoming elections.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“In the meantime, the newly established political platform - Front commun pour le Congo - for which President Kabila was designated the moral authority, has yet to nominate a presidential candidate. (Spoke in English) I am, however, encouraged to note that while encountering the disagreements that I just mentioned against the backdrop of immense logistical and financial challenges, all major political parties were able to successfully register candidates for provincial legislative elections. In my travels last week to Kolwezi, Lubumbashi and Kalemie, I heard first-hand the lengths to which political parties have gone to ensure their participation in upcoming elections. In some remote areas, candidates travelled nearly 1,500 kilometres by motorcycle to declare their candidature.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“These grievances were recently reiterated by a group of five political opposition parties and platforms, including UDPS, Ensemble pour le changement, Union pour la nation congolaise, Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC) and Dynamique de l'opposition, through a joint statement published on July 23 in Kinshasa. The statement also demands the return of high-profile personalities and the release of political prisoners within the framework of implementing the de-escalation measures set out in the 31 December 2016 agreement. On July 24, Jean-Pierre Bemba, President of the MLC and the party's nominee for the presidential elections, held his first press conference in Brussels to confirm his return to Kinshasa on 1 August to declare his candidacy. The same day, Moise Katumbi also announced his upcoming return without however specifying a date.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“Although significant progress has been achieved in meeting the critical benchmarks set out in the timetable, the electoral process remains a source of suspicion and mistrust between the majority and the opposition and between the opposition and the Independent National Electoral Commission. The opposition's grievances relate, inter alia, to voting machines, the electoral registry and the unresolved issue of the replacement of the representative of the Union pour la de'mocratie et le progres Social (UDPS) within the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“I should like to thank the Council for affording me the opportunity to brief it on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Less than five months before the elections, to be held on 23 December, preparations reached a key turning point yesterday with the opening of registration centres for presidential and legislative election candidacies. The elections continue to give rise to high expectations, both among the Congolese people and the international community, as they are of key significance to shoring up stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and throughout the region.”
2018-07-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8318 (2018) · source
“If we are to truly honour the memories of all those who have paid the ultimate price for peace, then we must complete the task at hand and ensure that elections that contribute to the peace and security of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are held, and that the spirit that led to the signing of the 31 December Agreement prevail. That is a task to which MONUSCO remains firmly committed, and I look forward to the continued support of the Council in that regard.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“That includes Congolese from all walks of life, such as the 27 staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission who lost their lives during the voter registration process - three were beheaded * while working to ensure that elections can take place on time. That also includes those who have come to serve in the name of peace, such as the 15 Tanzanian peacekeepers who recently laid down their lives at the Semuliki bridge, and the Pakistani peacekeeper who fell in South Kivu. Our thoughts are also with our missing Tanzanian peacekeeper, whom we are sparing no effort to find.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“It is essential that all stakeholders find ways to ensure that the elections scheduled for the end of this year are peaceful and credible, and thus serve as a factor that contributes to the stability and security of the country and of the region as a whole. During these times of heightened tensions, MONUSCO remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the Congolese authorities and protecting the most vulnerable and most affected by acts of violence - Congolese women and men, girls and boys, who hold the aspirations of their country firmly in their grasp. We must also not forget those who have lost their lives in the name of peace.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“There is no other way of saying it - the humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is shocking. I would encourage the Council in its deliberations on the renewal of the MONUSCO mandate to maintain its focus on how the political and electoral processes can best be supported, in line with the 31 December Agreement, the electoral calendar and the Congolese Constitution; and on how the security situation can be stabilized and protection for the Congolese civilian population can best be assured. A failure to generate confidence in the full and faithful implementation ofthe 31 December Agreement will serve only to heighten political tensions and to fuel the risks of inciting violence for political ends, particularly within a context of renewed and increased armed group activities.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“And it is our collective responsibility to ensure that those who direct and perpetrate such crimes be held fully responsible for their actions. In the context of the political tension and the deteriorating security situation, the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to face one of the world's most serious humanitarian crises. The number of internally displaced persons in need of humanitarian assistance has reached 4.5 million, the highest number in Africa. Hundreds of thousands have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. More than 7.7 million people face severe food insecurity throughout the country. More than 2 million children are severely malnourished and require urgent assistance. Relief efforts are hampered by critically low funding.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“The outbreak of violence starting early this year, which has led to the deaths of more than 60 civilians and the displacement of more than 200,000 people, poses a significant risk of escalation and requires our full attention. The attack on Maze less than a week ago, which left at least 33 people dead, most of them women and children, was a callous act. I condemn the persistent attacks by the various armed groups and militia across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the recruitment of children, the rape of women and young girls, the burning of houses and schools, and the desecration of places of worship. It is the responsibility of those who direct and those who perpetrate such attacks to ensure that this unacceptable violence comes to an end.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“The activities of the Allied Democratic Forces in the Beni area, and of Mayi-Mayi groups in North and South Kivu continue to pose significant threats to the civilian population, and those groups can still carry out attacks against the Forces armees de la Republique democratique du Congo and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO.) In the Kasai region, the security situation remains fragile, with reports of increased destabilizing activities of Kamuina Nsapu and other militia groups. The rapidly deteriorating situation in Ituri province, centred around events in Djugu territory, is of grave concern.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“(spoke in English) While national political attention remains centred on confidence-building measures and progress in the electoral process, the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has continued to deteriorate. That brings increased risk for renewed instability in many parts of the country, and poses a serious threat to the civilian population, particularly in the East.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“With regard to the electoral process, several key issues on the agenda of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) have yet to be resolved. First, the electoral legislation must be finalized, in particular with the adoption by Parliament of the provisions on the distribution of seats. Secondly, the financial resources needed to organize the elections on time must be regularly disbursed and allocated to CENI by the authorities. Moreover, the Democratic Republic of the Congo electoral support project must be adopted. Finally, differences with respect to some of the election modalities, including the possible use of voting machines, should be ironed out.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“In that regard, more effort must be made to examine the remaining typical cases and those involving other prisoners, and to pursue political openness. The disproportionate use of force by the security services during the peaceful demonstrations of 31 December and 21 January is another major concern. This disproportionate use resulted in 16 deaths, more than 100 wounded and 100 arrests. During the 25 February protests, at least 2 more people were killed, 47 were tried and 102 arrested by security forces across the country. Ensuring respect for the freedoms and fundamental rights enshrined in the Congolese Constitution is also crucial. I call on the Government to conduct credible investigations into these incidents and to take appropriate sanctions.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“They have played a critical role in ensuring a peaceful process, and I am sure that they will continue to do so. However, despite the progress made in the electoral process, major challenges remain. In this respect, it is important to restore the faith of the signatories of the New Year Agreement, both in the political process as a whole and in the organization of the elections. As such, the effective implementation of conciliatory measures and the respect of electoral deadlines are essential. Regarding the implementation of the conciliatory measures, although the Government has released numerous political prisoners since the signing of the 31 December Agreement, many others are still being detained.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“Despite the many challenges they face, these millions of Congolese men and women have signified their commitment to ensuring the first peaceful transfer ofpower in the history ofthe Democratic Republic ofthe Congo. I wish to pay tribute today to the determination of the Congolese people to participate in the political process and to shape the future of their country, because it is that determination and commitment that will help achieve the goals set by the 31 December 2016 Political Agreement. On the eve of the commemoration of International Women's Day, I wish to pay special tribute to all Congolese women for their courage and determination to bring about peace, stability and the consolidation ofthe democratic process in their country.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“I should like to thank you, Sir, for this opportunity to outline the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As members know, this is my first briefing to the Council since I assumed my functions as Special Representative of the Secretary-General. I should like at the outset to underscore the outstanding progress made in recent weeks in the preparations for the presidential and legislative elections, including the end of the voter registration process across the country, the enactment ofthe revised electoral law and the adoption of the electoral budget. I note that at this stage, more than 46 million potential voters, 47 per cent of whom are women, have registered, thereby indicating their intention to participate in the elections on 23 December.”
2018-03-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8198 (2018) · source
“We face a considerable challenge and we need creative ways to support initiatives and programmes to protect children. I call on Member States to ensure adequate resources for education and health services in emergencies and to provide financial and technical support to effective reintegration programmes for former child soldiers. These initiatives are vital if we are to build long-term sustainable peace and security. This mandate and the action it continues to generate represent a beacon of hope for millions of children affected by war. Our capacity to work together, to generate will to untangle the most difficult situations, will have a decisive impact on the present and future of millions of children.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“The United Nations stands ready to support Governments in their efforts to protect children and help address violations outlined in the report, but we cannot make up for the lack of political will. Others in this Chamber have a critical role to support these efforts. As members of the Security Council and the international community, they can and must do more to address the root causes of the suffering of children. Greater efforts must be made to prioritize conflict prevention and support peace processes, ensure respect for international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, and seek accountability when violations are committed. Impunity remains in times of war; this organ has a crucial role to play in ending it. The number of crises we are faced with today will test our capacity in 2016 and for many years into the future.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Our work often involves a difficult balancing act, but the tools developed by the Council to address grave violations against children are invaluable. The progress I have just outlined demonstrates that they are pragmatic, constructive and powerful enough to convince parties to conflict of the urgent need to protect children. Our success will depend on our impartiality, on the credibility of the tools at our disposal, and on the international community's support for our work. I want to reiterate my support for our dedicated colleagues on the ground who work tirelessly to achieve results. Despite successes over the years, there is no denying that the overall picture of violations in situations of armed conflict is extremely worrisome. Concerned Governments bear the primary responsibility for the protection of civilians.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“The coordinated action generated by this mandate is at the heart of these achievements. The dedication and tireless efforts of Member States, United Nations colleagues, civil society and many more have and continue to bring about positive change for boys and girls living in communities ravaged by war. This shows that when parties to conflict faithfully engage and where there is political space to act on behalf of children, we are able to achieve results. We are mandated to work and to achieve results with Governments and non-State armed groups, operating in the world's most difficult environments. As the Secretary-General noted, the goal of the report before the Council today is not to cause discomfort, but rather to bring about change for boys and girls confronted by violations the international community considers abhorrent.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“The agreement's successful implementation will be an important signal to parties to other protracted conflicts that committed dialogue can lead to results. The United Nations is also engaged in dialogue with listed armed groups in the Central African Republic, Mali, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Sudan and South Sudan. Years of work with Governments to improve legislative frameworks, build institutional capacity and address challenges, such as birth registrations, are bearing fruit. I am pleased to say that this engagement has helped thousands of children in the past 18 months, as mentioned by the Secretary-General in his statement. I urge national authorities to support ongoing and future discussions with armed groups on action plans so that many more can benefit.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Since the launch of the campaign, there has been a significant reduction in verified cases of the recruitment and use of children by national security forces, especially in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar. I call on all concerned Governments and on all those who can provide support to do their utmost to fully implement these action plans. Peace processes continue to represent a vital opportunity to engage with parties to conflict on child protection. Most recently, in Colombia, the Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejercito del Pueblo concluded an historic agreement to separate and reintegrate all children associated with the armed group.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Since the Secretary- General's first report to this body (S/2000/7l2), more than 115,000 children associated with parties to conflict have been released as a result of dialogue and action plans. To date, 25 action plans have been signed with parties to conflict; nine parties have fully complied and were delisted in Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Uganda. The Children, Not Soldiers campaign has also helped to consolidate the emerging global consensus that child soldiers should not be used in conflict. With the Government of the Sudan signing an action plan earlier this year, the United Nations is now engaged in implementing a written commitment with all Member States listed for recruitment and use of children.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“The lack of respect for international humanitarian law is also having ramifications beyond conflict zones. As the Secretary-General noted, children are being displaced in ever-increasing numbers. Unfortunately, the response of some Member States has not always been in the best interests of children. We must do more, including by supporting the small number of conflict- affected Member States that host 90 per cent of the refugee population in providing basic services. While the overall picture today is not positive, we cannot forget that progress has been achieved and continues in many places. I would like to seize the opportunity of briefing the Council in the twentieth year since the creation of the mandate to briefly reflect on some key accomplishments.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Ifa child goes before ajudge, it is often in a military or special court where due process and fair trial standards are sorely lacking. Children have even been sentenced to death. Just two weeks ago in Somalia, I met boys condemned to death for their alleged association with Al-Shabaab. This cannot be an acceptable outcome for children when they are rescued from armed groups. Many have been abducted and forcibly recruited and are primarily victims. Detention is also employed in some situations as a tactic to recruit and use children for intelligence-gathering purposes. I cannot emphasize enough the danger they are put in when they are used in this way. Reports of children being executed by armed groups for suspicion of collaboration with Government forces are all too common.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“Extrajudicial killings and torture of civilians have also been reported in territory liberated from armed groups. Governments are increasingly using militias to fight in support of their forces. These groups frequently lack respect for or even understanding of international humanitarian law. The ongoing reports of the recruitment and use of children by this group of actors are another concern. Counter-terrorism legislation is being broadly applied in many situations without appropriate checks and balances. Children are being apprehended on the basis of alleged links to non-State armed groups or of expansive interpretations of protecting national security. Civilian courts are being marginalized and juvenile justice is non-existent. Children can be held for months or even years by military or intelligence actors.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“To give an example, in April in Iraq the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant publicly executed a 15 year-old boy who they accused ofbeing a disbeliever. The boy was tied between two cars that were driven in opposite directions. It was terrible. While the challenges faced by Member States to address these groups and protect civilians are evident, security responses that do not comply with international law inflict further harm; they even risk aiding the very groups Governments seek to combat. The besiegement of civilians by Government forces is unconscionable. Airstrikes and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by international coalitions or individual Member States are an acute concern. They have contributed to some of the highest numbers of documented child casualties.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“(Spoke in English) In 2015, armed groups and Government forces killed, maimed, recruited and used, and inflicted sexual violence upon tens of thousands of boys and girls. There were over 2,000 attacks on schools and hospitals documented in 19 out of 20 situations in the report. Abduction remained a widespread concern, with over 4,000 incidents in 2015. Conflict also impacts children in ways that are not captured by the report's statistics. Children lose their parents, they are disabled due to easily curable illnesses and they suffer long-term psychological trauma. As the Council is well aware, children have been significantly affected by violent extremism. Many groups operating today defy the norm that attacks must not be directed against civilians, and commit routine and brutal acts.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to Malaysia for organizing this open debate and to thanking all participants for attending. The Secretary-General has just outlined how children remain the primary victims of armed conflict. This was Graca Machel's most troubling conclusion in her report of 20 years ago (see A/51/306). Unfortunately, despite concerted efforts and significant progress, we have yet to change this fact. The report before the Council (S/2016/360) notes that a multitude of prolonged and increasingly complex conflicts are having a devastating impact on children. In a number of situations, a shocking disregard for international law is in evidence and impunity prevails.”
2016-08-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7753 (2016) · source
“It is our collective responsibility to support a political solution to the conflict, accompanied by concrete commitments and actions to bring an end to the conflict and suffering. I call on all of you to be voices for the children in Syria and to take collective action to allow them to live a life free from fear and violence.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“Since my first visit to Syria in 2012, I have repeatedly stated that there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria. Finally, there is now a broader consensus that a political solution must be reached. The acknowledgement of the linkage between a ceasefire and a parallel political process by the International Syria Support Group, meeting in Vienna this past weekend, and the willingness of participants to encourage confidence-building measures that contribute to a viable political process and a nationwide ceasefire are important and constructive developments. In that context, I underscore that the issue of children has proved to be a positive entry point in a number ofpeace processes, and strengthening the protection of children must be at the centre of any peace talks.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“An estimated 2 million internally displaced children and 700,000 refugee children are not attending school. We are witnessing a generation at risk of not receiving an education, with serious long-term consequences for the future of those children. We can mitigate those consequences if the international community makes significant investments in protecting education and in providing education in emergencies. Five years of conflict in Syria have taken an immeasurable toll on the lives of children. I urge all parties to respect their obligations under international law, end grave violations against children and pursue accountability for violations. To that end, it is critical that every Member State with influence on the parties to the conflict play a constructive role.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“There are verified cases of children who were subjected to torture during detention and of children who died in custody. I reiterate that children recruited and used by armed groups are victims and should be treated as such. At the end of September, over a quarter of all the schools in Syria, about 6,000, were fully or partially destroyed. The United Nations has verified attacks on schools by Syrian government forces, ISIL, the Al-Nusra Front and other non-State armed groups in 2015. In addition, the military use of schools by Syrian government forces in Idlib has led to their targeting by armed opposition groups. Prior to the conflict, primary school enrolment was almost universal in Syria. Now, the right to education has been compromised by hostilities, displacement and restrictions in ISIL-held areas.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“Reports have been received of armed groups targeting children as young as seven years of age and forcibly recruiting children through the coercion of families and abductions. ISIL allegedly recruited up to 400 children in the first quarter of 2015, and the United Nations has verified cases of the use by ISIL of foreign children. Indoctrination and military training play an important role in the recruitment and use of children by ISIL and the Al-Nusra Front. Children have received military training in three ISIL centres: in Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah. In addition, ISIL has opened kindergartens for boys in Raqqah, and the Al-Nusra Front has instructed communities in Idlib to send boys aged from 8 to 12 to its education camps. Syrian Government forces have arrested and detained children for alleged association with armed groups.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“I reiterate that all the parties to the conflict must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, and especially the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. The ongoing use of methods and means of warfare that fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants and the use of indiscriminate weapons in populated areas are a clear violation of those obligations. A continuing feature of the conflict in Syria is the widespread recruitment and use of children by all non-State armed groups, including the Kurdish People's Protection Units, the Free Syrian Army and Government-affiliated groups. ISIL and the Al-Nusra Front have also recruited and used children to perpetrate acts of extreme violence.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has committed brutal atrocities against children. While it has been difficult to verify cases of grave violations occurring in ISIL-controlled areas, the killing and maiming of children by this group continue to be reported. That includes recent horrific video footage allegedly portraying the mass execution of200 children. It has also been reported that children recruited by ISIL have been executed for trying to escape. With the growing number of parties involved in the conflict, the risk of grave violations against children increases. It is reported that children have been killed and maimed in air strikes conducted by international forces.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“Aerial bombardments of civilian areas by Syrian Government forces, including the use of barrel bombs and successive airstrikes, have continued to cause a significant proportion of verified child casualties in 2015. For example, in May a barrel bomb attack on a school in Aleppo killed six children and injured 20. The indiscriminate shelling of densely populated areas, including mortar and rocket attacks, is another major cause of child casualties. For example, on 15 September, 19 children were killed and another 85 injured by more than 100 rockets and mortars fired by armed opposition groups into the Salah al-Din area of Aleppo. On 26 September, another 19 children were killed and 21 injured by a mortar fired from a Government position into a park in Homs.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“Drawing upon information documented through the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism in 2015, my briefing will focus on three of the six grave violations, namely the killing and maiming of children, the recruitment and use of children, and attacks on schools. It will complement briefings by my colleagues. Mr. O'Brien has already briefed the Council on the civilian casualties of the conflict. The cumulative death toll of children was estimated at 10,000 in 2014 and is expected to have increased significantly in 2015. The majority of those children were killed or injured as a result of indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas perpetrated by all parties to the conflict, in violation of international humanitarian law.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“The conflict in Syria continues to have disastrous humanitarian consequences for children, and I think that Stephen already highlighted some of what is happening. After five years of intensifying hostilities, and in the absence of a political solution, the fundamental principles of international humanitarian and human rights law continue to be violated daily. The increasing outflow of refugees and internal displacement demonstrate the deteriorating situation. Half of the Syrian population is now displaced, and half of the displaced are children. Children are paying a high price for the ongoing conflict. They continue to be killed, maimed, recruited and used, abducted and exploited by parties to conflict. Their futures are jeopardized by attacks on schools.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“Allow me at the outset to offer my condolences to the representative of France; the French people; the representative of Lebanon, who is here with us today; the Lebanese people; and all those who are the victims of extreme violence. The recent horrific attacks that took place in Paris and Beirut remind us in the most tragic fashion that we all are vulnerable to violent extremism. Today more than ever we must join forces and work together to find solutions to the extended conflicts that fuel such acts of terrorism. (spoke in English) I would like to thank the United Kingdom, during its presidency of the Security Council, and the Secretary of State for International Development for this opportunity to brief the Council on the situation of children affected by armed conflict in Syria.”
2015-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7560 (2015) · source
“An entire generation of children is depending on us to be their voice, to tell their story and, most of all, to take action. My Office stands ready to engage with any party to conflict that appears in the Secretary-General's report.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“The most important element of our response will be to redouble our efforts and address new challenges with new tools. I would remind the Governments concerned that they continue to bear the primary responsibility for the protection of the children within their borders and that they must actively address the violations outlined in the Secretary-General's report. The fight against impunity remains one of the key aspects of our efforts not only to react to, but also to prevent grave violations against children. Without credible accountability, the Violations will not stop. I call on all States to comply with their international legal obligations and to review their policies and practices to ensure that children are protected and their rights respected. Lastly, we must all answer this call to action. The stakes are high.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source
“My Office has been working with its partners to ensure that protocols are in place to ensure that detained children are handed over to child protection actors as soon as possible, and these efforts have borne fruit. In 2014, agreements for the handover of children to child protection actors were reached with the Governments of Chad and Somalia. Child-protection provisions were also included in the concept of operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force established to fight Boko Haram. Despite such progress, however, we continue to receive disturbing reports of large numbers of children being detained, particularly in the context of counter- terrorism operations. The rise in the number and gravity of recent crises has tested both our resolve and our ability to respond.”
2015-06-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7466 (2015) · source