The representative from Maldives made the following key points in their statement to the UN Security Council: 1) The UN Charter's principles of sovereignty, equality of states, non-interference, and peaceful dispute resolution are often not respected, as seen in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict where Israel violates Palestinian rights. 2) Prolonged conflicts like those in Syria and Israel-Palestine undermine peace due to lack of response and respect for the UN Charter, fueling violence and humanitarian crises. 3) Respect for the UN Charter by members is needed to resolve conflicts and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, as stability, development, and inclusive societies lead to greater peace and security.

1. MALDIVES
Permanent Mission of Maldives to the United Nations |800 Second Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: +1-212-599-6194 / +1-212-599-6195 | Fax: +1-212-661-6405 |www.MaldivesMission.com | info@MaldivesMission.com
Page 1 of 3
[Check Against Delivery]
Security Council
“The Respect to the Principles and Purposes of the Charter of the United Nations as Key Element
for the Maintenance of International Peace and Security”
Statement by:
Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative
United Nations, New York, 15 February 2016
Thank you Mr. President,
At the outset, allow me to congratulate the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on its presidency of the
Security Council for the month of February, as well as for convening this timely debate on the respect for
the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations as a key element for the maintenance of
international peace and security.
As we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the creation of this organization last September, we recalled the
purposes and principles on which this organization is based, those which are enshrined within the Charter
of the United Nations: the sovereignty, the equality of States, the non-interference, the peaceful
settlements of disputes and the refrain from the use or threat of use of force against the territorial integrity
or political independence.
Since its creation, this Organization, and the entity that is the Security Council, has known numerous
successes and achievements. The United Nations feeds 104 million people in 80 countries; in war zones,
natural disasters and in health emergencies. Everyday, the United Nations helps 17 million asylum seekers
and refugees. Despite these achievements, the key purposes and principles, as enshrined in the Charter, are
not always respected and adhered to by Member States. This is most evident in the on-going Palestinian-

2. Page 2 of 3
Israeli conflict, where Israel, the occupying Power, continues to violate the human rights of the Palestinian
people, notably by illegally occupying their territory, including East Jerusalem.
Mr. President,
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict began more than 50 years ago and has caused more than 21,500 casualties.
The inability of the international community at large, the United Nations and the Security Council to
respond to this conflict has only spurred violence in the region of the Middle East. This is most notable in
the Syrian conflict which is approaching its fifth anniversary. The humanitarian consequences of this
conflict are untold. UNHCR has registered more than 3 million refugees, and as of July 2015 there were at
least 7.6 million internally displaced people within Syria. This conflict, and the existence of the so-called
Islamic State, represents a clear threat to international peace and security.
According to the Report of the Sectary General for the World Humanitarian Summit, entitled One
Humanity: Shared Responsibility, between the late 1990s and early 2000s the number of civil wars
declined, before increasing from 4 in 2007 to 11 in 2014. Furthermore, the report states that one third of
today’s civil wars involve external actors. Consequently, these wars have become more deadly and
prolonged. The humanitarian consequences are more severe and long-term for the populations impacted
by these civil wars. For instance, a recent report published by the Syrian Center for Policy Research found
that, since March 2011, 11.5% of the Syrian population had either been killed or injured, with the number
of casualties amounting to 470,000. In order for these varying conflicts to be brought to an end, various
measures need to be in place, including the respect for the principles and purposes of the United Nations
Charter by Member States.
Mr. President,
In 2007, the Security Council held a high-level debate on the relationship between energy, security and
climate. It was the first time the Council addressed the potential impact of climate change on security. In
2009, on the initiative of the Small-Island Developing States of the Pacific, the General Assembly held a
debate on climate change and its possible security implications. Thereafter, the Assembly adopted a
resolution inviting the relevant organs of the United Nations to intensify their efforts in considering and
addressing climate change.

3. Page 3 of 3
The adoption of the Paris Agreement in December was an essential step in combating climate change.
Nevertheless, the security implications of climate change need to be considered with more intensity. For
the Maldives, as a small island state, we are already feeling the effects and consequences of climate
change. Climate change poses an existential threat for us: it risks our food security, it affects our water
security; it could even mean loss of our territory. Other Small Island Developing States are also already
being impacted by the consequences of climate change.
To conclude Mr. President,
Last September, we adopted the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It has been widely
acknowledged that sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security, and that the
stability of a nation is dependent upon its economic development. Case studies have shown that economic
and social stability lead to development. Development leads to more peaceful and inclusive societies. In
order for there to be peace and security at the international stage, Member States need to respect the
principles and purposes enshrined within the Charter of the United Nations. Without these, development
will not be achieved and we will not realize the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thank you very much.