This Month in the Security Council – February 2020

February 2020 was a busy month on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as there were many important meetings concerning areas of global significance:

1. Small Arms: It was important for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to highlight that even though the Caribbean does not produce arms, the region is profoundly affected by their illicit trafficking. SVG has a front-row seat to the damage caused by this illicit trade; we made use of these experiences to highlight that trafficking in small arms and light weapons cannot be divorced from other forms of organized criminal activity which form part of the same political economies. Our delegation reiterated CARICOM’s 2011 declaration on small arms and light weapons and encouraged various regional efforts being undertaken around the world, including the “Silencing the Guns” initiative in the African context.

2. Terrorism: Like many countries around the world, SVG has put key mechanisms in place to combat the financing of terrorism, including the establishment of our Financial Intelligence Unit. We noted however, that well-meaning but ill-fitting regulatory attempts to combat the financing of terrorism have had unintended effects on the banking system of small island states. We also emphasized the importance of CARICOM’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy, established in 2018, to enhance and guarantee safety in our region. We welcomed the upcoming joint CARICOM-UN High-Level Regional Conference on Counter-Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism to be held in Trinidad and Tobago in March, 2020.

3. Transitional Justice: In an open debate on the issue of Transitional Justice, our delegation highlighted that transitional justice mechanisms should always form part of a larger political strategy that addresses the structural inequalities in conflict-affected societies – to the benefit of all stakeholders without discrimination. We suggested that these mechanisms should also be complemented by sustainable development initiatives that address the root causes of insecurity and empower people to live in dignity. We also emphasized that there should be no statutes of limitation that prevent restitution for mass atrocity crimes – especially where these historical injustices have left legacies of underdevelopment, intergenerational traumas, and social inequities in their wake. We reiterated that the historical injustices of native genocide and chattel slavery, including the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, compel all former colonial powers to provide reparatory justice.

4. Peacekeeping Operations in the Central African Republic (CAR): For the first time, the Security Council witnessed the delivery of a joint statement between SVG, the Republic of Niger, the Republic of South Africa, and the Republic of Tunisia under the “A3 plus SVG” configuration. This statement was delivered by Niger, and was met with keen interest by Member States, given the unique partnership between SVG and the African group. Our statement highlighted the progress made by the Government and people of the CAR and emphasized that inclusive dialogue amongst the Central Africans themselves is the key to ending the crisis in the country. The A3 and SVG, in line with the approach of the African Union, will continue to support the aspirations of the Government and people of the Central African Republic to achieve lasting peace, stability and sustainable development.

5. Haiti: Our delegation expressed concerns over the dire situation in the country. We called for all parties to engage in inclusive dialogue, in a spirit of good faith, to resolve the protracted crisis. We highlighted that the root causes of Haiti’s underdevelopment should be addressed, including through the provision of reparatory justice for the experience of mass enslavement for which Haiti was made to pay rather than receive reparations. The South African delegation aligned itself to our statement on Haiti.

6. Syria: Syria continues to feature as an active file on the Security Council’s agenda. There were 7 meetings, in different formats, held on Syria during the month of February. SVG continued to express our deep concern at the current humanitarian crisis, which has seen the displacement of millions of Syrians. We also continued to reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict, and the only solution is through a Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.

A number of other outcomes were negotiated by our diplomatic team during the month, including resolutions to renew sanctions measures in Sudan, Libya and Yemen. The mandate for the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau would have also been extended by the time of publication.
Please visit svg-un.org for the full text of all statements.