The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, held meetings with senior American officials in Washington DC today to discuss recent developments and explore ways to facilitate progress towards resuming an inclusive Yemeni-led political process under UN auspices and a lasting resolution of the conflict.
Grundberg met with Richard R. Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Ambassador Michele J. Sison, Assistant Secretary...
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Mr. President,
The principle of respect for territorial integrity and the political independence of States is the cornerstone of our collective security.
Any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.
Yet that is what the Russian Federation has attempted in Ukraine, causing, in the process, unspeakable suffering and destruction.
This bears repeating as tomorrow will mark 10 years since the unlawful attempt by the Russian Federation to annex the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol through a so-called “referendum”.
The position of the United Nations on the status of Crimea is guided by General Assembly resolution on the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine of 27 March 2014.
This resolution states that Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol, Ukraine, is invalid and unrecognized by the international community.
Also, it has also been more than a year since the Russian Federation’s equally unlawful effort to annex the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine in September 2022.
Just days later, on 12 October 2022, the General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the resolution entitled “Territorial Integrity of Ukraine: defending the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”.
The resolution unequivocally condemns Russia’s organization of illegal referenda within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and its attempted annexation of these regions of Ukraine.
It also declared that these actions “have no validity under international law and do not form the basis for any alteration of the status of these regions of Ukraine”.
In this context, Russia’s intention to conduct presidential elections from today 15 March until 17 March in areas of Ukraine under its control is unacceptable.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has documented that past so-called referenda and local elections have been conducted in a coercive environment.
Under international humanitarian law, the occupying power – in this case, the Russian Federation – is obligated to uphold the laws of Ukraine in the occupied territories.
Mr. President,
International humanitarian law also prohibits indiscriminate attacks, and attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
But since February 2022, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified 10,703 civilians, including 594 children killed. 20,146 more civilians, including 1,316 children, have been injured. The actual toll is very likely much higher.
Since our last briefing to this Council only a week ago, Russian strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure have continued unabated.
On 12 March, five people were reportedly killed, and nearly 50 injured, including several children, in a Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine.
In Odesa, Russian drone and missile strikes have continued.
This morning, 20 people were reportedly killed, and 73 injured, in a Russian missile strike in the city. Two of the killed were first responders who died after a second strike hit the location where they had rushed to help the victims.
Attacks have also continued to damage civilian infrastructure in Odesa, with 25 drones reportedly targeting the city in just one overnight attack on Monday.
Less visible is the traumatizing effect of living in constant fear of sudden violent death, injury or loss. The mental scars left by such dread on countless Ukrainians may take generations to heal.
The war in Ukraine has awakened another kind of fear, one that haunts us all. The International Atomic Energy Agency continues to report explosions and other indications of military activity near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
We again stress the imperative of ensuring the integrity, safety and security of all nuclear sites.
In this context, we reiterate that there is no excuse for irresponsible and inflammatory nuclear rhetoric that fans the risk of further escalation.
Mr. President,
As highlighted last week by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the humanitarian situation in Ukraine remains dire amid the intensification of aerial assaults by Russian forces.
The most vulnerable, including internally displaced persons and those residing in frontline communities, are in urgent need of assistance.
Sustaining the donor support to the UN Humanitarian Response Plan is imperative to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the conflict.
Despite our persistent efforts, humanitarian access to the Russian-occupied territories remains restricted, raising grave concerns for the wellbeing of civilians residing in these areas.
Mr. President,
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has been on the ground for 10 years to monitor and report on human rights violations, including in occupied Crimea.
In Crimea, OHCHR has consistently reported on the unlawful imposition of Russian citizenship and laws, intimidation and pressure to participate in illegal electoral processes, suppression of freedom of expression and religion, and other human rights violations.
Similar patterns of violations are emerging in the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Since December 2023, our human rights colleagues have recorded a disturbing increase in reports of allegations of extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war by Russian forces.
As of today, OHCHR has verified three cases of execution of seven Ukrainian POWs, while an additional nine cases of alleged executions involving at least 25 Ukrainian POWs are still being verified.
OHCHR has also documented a pattern of arbitrary detentions and possible enforced disappearance of local officials, journalists, civil society activists and other civilians at the hands of Russian armed forces in occupied areas of Ukraine.
A new report by the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, published today, provides additional information on the Commission’s previous findings that torture against civilians by Russian authorities in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation has been widespread and systematic.
Victims’ accounts disclose relentless, brutal treatment inflicting severe pain and suffering during prolonged detention, with blatant disregard for human dignity. This has led to long-lasting physical and mental trauma.
All perpetrators of such egregious violations must be held accountable. We will support efforts to this end by continuing to record these cases, and to implore the Russian Federation to facilitate access to all detainees.
Mr. President,
As this war is now in its third year, peace continues to elude us.
The rising toll of the war on the people of Ukraine is undeniable. Furthermore, as reiterated during the ongoing 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, conflicts worldwide, including in Ukraine, have an acute impact on the lives of women.
Women constitute the vast majority of the 6.2 million people forced to flee their homes during the war, which jeopardizes the strides made toward gender equality and exacerbates existing inequalities.
Despite immense obstacle, Ukrainian women have been at the forefront of humanitarian initiatives. Women-led civil society groups were among the earliest responders to the full-scale invasion.
It is crucial to recognize the essential role Ukrainian women must assume in the long process to recovery and peaceful future of Ukraine.
The pursuit of peace must be our foremost priority, guided by the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.
The Secretary-General’s remarks to this Council on 23 February aptly underscored the imperative of recommitting to these fundamental principles to achieve just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
Thank you.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday expressed outrage at the recent abductions by gunmen of hundreds of people in Nigeria.
The war in Gaza has left a staggering almost 23 millions tonnes of rubble and unexploded weapons scattered across the enclave, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
Fresh evidence of “horrific…widespread and systematic” abuse and likely war crimes committed by Russian forces against civilians and military detainees in Ukraine emerged on Friday, in a new report by UN-appointed independent rights investigators.
The UN’s top political affairs official on Friday briefed the Security Council and slammed ongoing Russian elections in illegally occupied areas of Ukraine.
The war in Gaza has left a staggering almost 23 millions tonnes of rubble and unexploded weapons scattered across the enclave, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
Fresh evidence of “horrific…widespread and systematic” abuse and likely war crimes committed by Russian forces against civilians and military detainees in Ukraine emerged on Friday, in a new report by UN-appointed independent rights investigators.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen on Thursday emphasized the urgent need for a nationwide ceasefire and measures to improve living conditions in the war-ravaged country.
Out-of-control gang violence has created a humanitarian crisis in Haiti that the UN aims to help alleviate with the creation of an airbridge with the neighbouring Dominican Republic.
Desperately needed aid operations in Gaza must be protected from attack, the UN’s top aid official has warned, amid reports on Thursday that Palestinians were killed and injured while waiting for supplies in Gaza City.
Mr. President,
I would like to express my gratitude to Japan for hosting this important open debate.
The prevention of conflict – “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” – is the very purpose for which the United Nations was founded.
We are witnessing an upsurge in armed conflict around the world, with the highest number of conflict-related deaths in three decades.
Humanitarian needs continue to break new records, and far outpace our ability to meet them.
We need more prevention.
Prevention saves lives and safeguards development gains. It is cost effective.
Prevention is a central priority in the Secretary-General’s policy brief on A New Agenda for Peace, on three levels:
First, the prevention of conflict at the international level – to guard against the onset and escalation of violent conflict among countries.
Second, the need for stronger global-regional partnerships, given the increasingly regionalized nature of conflict and the importance of regional actors.
Third, the prevention of conflict within countries – to shore up development gains, protect advancements in human rights, and help guard against the impacts of global shocks.
Mr. President,
At the international level, the Charter of the United Nations provides a clear direction. Its first Article refers to the obligation to “take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace”.
For nearly 80 years, the United Nations has given the world a home for dialogue.
Chapter VI of the Charter enshrines the mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes – from the judicial dimension of prevention provided by the International Court of Justice to arbitration, negotiation and mediation.
Ultimately, at the international level, prevention is about the use of diplomacy for peace.
As the Secretary-General noted in A New Agenda for Peace, all sides must prioritize diplomacy – especially countries that disagree – to bridge the growing divides in the world, and to ensure that unmitigated competition does not trample humanity.
The good offices of the Secretary-General can play a critical role in this regard.
In A New Agenda for Peace, the Secretary-General reiterated his commitment to deploying his good offices to help Member States manage deepening divisions in global politics.
Mr. President,
Regional arrangements and organizations are crucial to prevention.
They can bring credibility and legitimacy to diplomatic efforts, increase trust and provide mechanisms for crisis management.
Regional actions have successfully prevented conflicts and escalation throughout history, as was the case with the Helsinki Process in Europe as well as regional integration efforts in Africa and its subregions.
The United Nations Regional Offices in Central Africa, West Africa and the Sahel, and Secretary-General’s Special Envoys for the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes all work closely with regional counterparts, helping to resolve issues that transcend borders, such as farmer-herder disputes.
Mr. President,
Prevention begins at the national level.
National actors have the ability to build the necessary mechanisms to manage disputes peacefully in their societies, and to enact the structural reforms needed to address the underlying drivers of conflict.
A New Agenda for Peace recognizes that prevention must be approached as a universal goal. Every single country, whether rich or poor, has an obligation to address the drivers of conflict in its own society, and to make the necessary political and financial investments to that end.
We have seen countries successfully invest in national infrastructures for peace. Such initiatives play a key role in building societies that are more inclusive and able to manage tensions peacefully.
International actors, in particular the United Nations, can play an important role in supporting these national efforts.
Through the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention, we provide such support to dozens of countries.
The Peacebuilding Commission is ideally placed to bring international actors together in support of national priorities, helping marshal resources, and providing a platform for experience sharing.
We note with great appreciation the increasing engagement by Member States who have come to the Peacebuilding Commission to show how they are advancing peacebuilding goals in their societies.
For example, Timor-Leste has spoken at the PBC of its peacebuilding journey and reflected on efforts to address challenges such as economic development and women and youth empowerment.
Canada, Colombia and Norway have shared their experiences in promoting indigenous voices in peace and reconciliation processes. These cross-regional experiences demonstrate the universal nature of prevention.
Mr. President,
A New Agenda for Peace places inclusion at the centre of prevention efforts.
It focuses on how women’s full, meaningful and effective participation is closely connected to our efforts to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace.
Simply put, without half the population participating in decision-making, there cannot be sustainable peace.
But almost 25 years after the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325, women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in building peace and preventing conflict remains the exception, not the rule.
Women must be able to exercise their full rights – they must be able to generate their livelihoods and participate in the economy; have access to education, health, and legal protections; and enjoy safety and security, online as well as offline.
The Women, Peace and Security Agenda can only be fully realised through national action.
Over a hundred countries from all regions have developed national plans to implement Security Council resolution 1325. We commend them for their leadership and call on others to join them.
It is essential that international support is made available for these efforts.
For our part, we have supported Women’s Advisory Groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen to enable women’s voices to be heard in political and peace processes.
We must also prioritize inclusion and empowerment of youth. They are a great source of resilience, hope and innovation in every society.
To achieve this, we have increasingly deployed new technologies to organize digital consultations with youth constituencies. These dialogues have helped us better understand their views and aspirations, and to reflect them in our work.
Mr. President,
We have an obligation to chart a path through these uncertain times by prioritizing the prevention of conflict at all levels, global, regional and national.
Thank you.
Amid reports of fresh Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight into Wednesday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said that more children have been killed there in recent months than in four years of conflict worldwide.
To address the ongoing Rohingya humanitarian crisis affecting 1.3 million people in Bangladesh, UN humanitarian agencies on Wednesday launched a $852.4 million appeal supporting refugees and the communities hosting them.
The UN’s top political affairs official on Wednesday stressed the urgent need for better prevention measures to save lives and boost development, amid a surge in armed conflicts worldwide and the unprecedented humanitarian crises they bring.
A Russian missile strike on a multi-storey apartment block in central Ukraine that left three dead and around 40 injured on Tuesday has been strongly condemned by the UN’s top aid official in Kyiv, Denise Brown.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday that Haiti is on the brink of a devastating hunger crisis, with aid operations at risk of “grinding to a halt” amid rampant violence as Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned on Monday and armed gangs tightened their grip on the capital, Port-au-Prince.
UN humanitarians are working around the clock to pre-position aid in Chad for Sudanese refugees fleeing the violence at home before the rains come.
A top European Union (EU) official on Tuesday emphasized the crucial role of the United Nations in addressing global challenges, describing it as an “unsinkable compass” for humanity.
Enough aid for 25,000 people has reached Gaza City for the first time in weeks, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Tuesday, in a call for daily aid missions and better access.
As the Holy Month of Ramadan has begun, we have now entered the sixth month of a devastating war in Gaza that will impact the Middle East for years to come. I call for the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem to be upheld and respected.
I take note of the guarantee by the Israeli authorities to allow the Muslim population of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, access to the Holy Sites. I call upon...
Amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the war in Gaza, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, briefed the Security Council in New York on her recent report relating to the 7 October attacks. She said while nothing can justify the "deliberate violence" perpetrated by Hamas, nothing could justify "the collective punishment of the people in Gaza".
Syria is experiencing a wave of violence not seen in years that likely amounts to war crimes, top UN-appointed rights investigators said on Monday.
Waves of violence have displaced more than 15,000 Haitians in just a week amid ongoing looting at the country’s main port, according to the latest report from the UN agency for migration, as the Security Council on Monday strongly condemned “destabilizing” criminal activity by armed gangs ravaging the Caribbean nation.
A Ramadan ceasefire for Gaza must be implemented immediately, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday, the first day of the Muslim holy month.
Amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, briefed the Security Council in New York on Monday on her recent report relating to the 7 October attacks in Israel. She said while nothing can justify the "deliberate violence" perpetrated by Hamas, nothing could justify "the collective punishment of the people in Gaza".
New York, 10 March 2024
I extend my warmest wishes as millions of Muslims around the world begin observing the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Ramadan embodies the values of peace, resilience, and generosity.
It is a period of reflection and prayer, an opportunity to come together and uplift each other.
Sadly, many will mark this month while facing conflict, displacement, and fear.
My thoughts and heart are with them – from the people...
The UN Secretary-General on Saturday highlighted the urgent need for a negotiated political solution in Syria, emphasizing the protection of civilians and the dire humanitarian situation.
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Mr President,
Two weeks ago, the Secretary-General joined this Council in marking two years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law.
On this grim milestone, we heard a loud and clear message from the broad membership of the Organization - the escalatory trajectory of this war and its enormous human cost are unsustainable and dangerous, particularly for Ukrainian civilians.
In this Council and at the General Assembly, we heard numerous urgent calls for de-escalation, peace and respect for the principles of the UN Charter.
However, the past two weeks have instead witnessed an intensification of attacks on civilians across different regions of Ukraine. Strikes have also been reported inside the Russian Federation, including today in the Belgorod region, reportedly leading to casualties.
Regrettably, our repeated calls for protection of civilians appear to fall on deaf ears.
Mr. President,
The Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa has become a frequent target of missile and drone attacks in recent days and weeks, with deadly consequences.
Two days ago, a Russian missile strike hit Odesa, reportedly killing five people and wounding several.. Further drone attacks were reported last night.
On Saturday, 2 March, 12 people were reportedly killed in a drone attack on an apartment block. Five of those killed were children, majority under the age of three, making it the deadliest incident for children in more than nine months.
This heartbreaking incident followed two consecutive nights of drone attacks on 22 and 23 February that claimed the lives of four people.
Since February 2022, Odesa – an important hub for Ukrainian agricultural exports - has also suffered repeated strikes on its infrastructure. The cultural heritage sites of the city have not been spared.
Odesa is far from being the only Ukrainian city under constant fire.
In recent days, civilian casualties have been reported in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine.
Last night, two people were reportedly killed as a result of a missile attack on the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region.
Yesterday afternoon, a reported Russian missile strike on the city of Sumy injured one civilian, damaged the central city hospital and the region’s emergency medical centre.
These are only a few of the recent incidents.
We are particularly concerned by the reports that the fighting is spreading to new residential areas in the east of Ukraine.
Throughout this war, fighting that came to Ukrainian villages, towns and cities led to complete or near complete destruction at the hands of Russian forces. This has been witnessed in Mariupol, Bakhmut, Lysychansk, Severodonetsk, Volnovakha and most recently in Avdiivka. This horrific pattern must not be perpetuated.
According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has already resulted in the death of 10,703 civilians, including 594 children. 20,146 more, including 1,316 children, have been injured.
We condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure - they are prohibited under international law.
They are unacceptable and must stop now.
Mr. President,
The Secretary-General has emphasized in his recent remarks to this Council that territorial integrity and political independence of states are fundamental principles of the UN Charter. They are at the heart of our multilateral order.
Therefore, the reports of the Russian Federation’s plans to organize and hold its March presidential elections in the territories of Ukraine currently under its control are deeply disturbing.
The attempted illegal annexations of Ukrainian territory have no validity under international law, as also declared by the UN General Assembly.
The United Nations remains fully committed to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.
Mr. President,
Today is International Women’s Day.
I wish to pay tribute to the courageous Ukrainian women and girls who, despite the unspeakable horrors they have endured, continue to work to support their communities and to build a better future for their country.
Yet, economic turmoil caused by the war is disproportionately affecting Ukrainian women’s livelihood. Their wellbeing is at risk due to restricted access to essential services. They face heightened risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
We continue to work to ensure that the needs of women and girls are addressed in our efforts to mitigate the impacts of the war. We are also committed to partnering with Ukrainian women leaders and Women, Peace and Security champions to promote women’s full and equal participation in decision-making, recovery and peace efforts.
Mr. President,
The past two years of war have come with a heavy price for Ukraine, Europe and the world.
We must not allow for this war to bring further loss of life, destruction and suffering.
In the Secretary-General’s words: “It is high time for peace – a just peace, based on the United Nations Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.”
The United Nations remains ready to support all meaningful efforts to this end.
Thank you.
Today, we celebrate the International Women’s Day under the theme: “Invest in women: Accelerate Progress.” Sadly, the Great Lakes Region is presently confronted with a worrying surge in tension and violence affecting the lives of women and girls particularly in the Eastern DRC..
Any assault by Israeli forces on the densely populated city of Rafah where 1.5 million have sought shelter following mass displacement, will hugely increase the risk of atrocity crimes, the UN High Commissioner for Human rights warned on Friday.
A recent sharp rise in deadly attacks against civilians in Ukraine and Russia, including by armed drones, run counter to international law and must end now, top UN officials told the Security Council on Friday afternoon.
The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a key resolution on Sudan, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the war-torn country during the month of Ramadan, which begins on Sunday.
An international maritime aid corridor to Gaza could be in operation as early as Sunday, according to the head of the European Commission, working closely with the UN’s Senior Humanitarian Coordinator and other international partners.
