Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security (Political and Security Situation in Ukraine)
Thank you, President
I thank ASG Jenča for the update provided and welcome the participation of the representatives of Ukraine, the European Union, Romania, Denmark, Poland and Latvia in today’s meeting.
Mr. President,
While today’s meeting was convened to discuss the political and security situation in Ukraine, we will be remiss to not speak at the outset about the ongoing violations of international law. Violations that continue to bring death and destruction to civilians on both sides, as the war spreads farther away from the frontlines with each passing day.
Each month we continue to receive alarming reports of civilian casualties, mostly occurring in Ukraine. Since February 2022, over thirty-four thousand civilians - men, women, and children - have borne the brunt of thousands of attacks. July, ASG Jenča reminded us, has been the deadliest for Ukraine.
We deplore the continued attacks against civilians and civilian objects, despite numerous calls by this Council and the General Assembly for full adherence to international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
We demand an immediate end to all attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects and, indeed, call upon the parties to the conflict to desist from launching such indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks. We also stress the need for accountability for all such violations.
Guyana further demands that the conflict parties take constant care to protect civilians and civilian objects from harm and all necessary measures to minimize the risk of civilian injury, death, and damage to civilian property. The status quo cannot be allowed to continue. Every UN Member State has an obligation to abide by the UN Charter and the wider body of international law.
Mr. President,
With each life lost, each family torn apart, and each home bombed, anger and hatred spread and the prospect for peace diminishes.
Guyana therefore stresses the urgency of resolving this conflict through peaceful means.
Prolonging it will only exacerbate the risks and consequences for all concerned and further threaten international peace and security.
As I have stated previously, innocent lives cannot continue to be sacrificed at the altar of political brinkmanship. We must choose peace.
We therefore reiterate our call to the parties to commit to a serious political and diplomatic process toward ending the conflict. We urge them to engage in good faith to bring an end to the suffering of the millions of men, women, and children who have already paid too high a price.
Mr. President,
As we’ve just heard from ASG Jenča, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is dire. It will only get worse as the winter season approaches. Guyana urges the international community to give increased attention to the plight of the 14.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine and to scale up support for the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.
We call for continued international support for the victims of this war, including medical, psychological, and legal support, with particular attention to children and survivors of sexual violence.
We further stress the need for access to be granted to the people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance in the occupied territories. We call upon the Russian Federation, to grant humanitarian access to all populations in need in these territories.
Guyana also calls for the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine.
In closing, Mr. President, Guyana will continue to support all efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful and sustainable end to this war.
I Thank You.
