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Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
212 quotes
“It is time to reinvigorate the UN General Assembly so that it can exercise a more decisive role in peace-making and peace-keeping, consistent with the will of the international community.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rights expert urges the UN General Assembly to adopt a more decisive role in peace-making (For International Day of Peace, Saturday 21 September 2013) .
“It is the responsibility of all of us to remind governments of their commitments to settle disputes by peaceful means and to negotiate in good faith under the UN Charter, and to denounce war agitation particularly by the media.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rights expert urges the UN General Assembly to adopt a more decisive role in peace-making (For International Day of Peace, Saturday 21 September 2013) .
“Without peace and the rule of law, civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights cannot be enjoyed, when killing, maiming and mutual poisoning prevail.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rights expert urges the UN General Assembly to adopt a more decisive role in peace-making (For International Day of Peace, Saturday 21 September 2013) .
“If we want world peace, we must break the vicious circle of violence and reprisal, of an eye for an eye, of endless hate.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rights expert urges the UN General Assembly to adopt a more decisive role in peace-making (For International Day of Peace, Saturday 21 September 2013) .
“Peace is not the silence of cemeteries, but the song of social justice.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rights expert urges the UN General Assembly to adopt a more decisive role in peace-making (For International Day of Peace, Saturday 21 September 2013) .
“Disarmament for Development is a win-win strategy for States and Peoples. It is time to reduce the spiral of military expenditures and to invest in research into the root causes of conflicts and in the development of strategies of conflict-prevention and resolution.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The cost in human lives of every armed conflict is staggering, but the economic cost of wars can continue for generations.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Even a cursory review of the situation worldwide reveals that, in many countries, accurate and understandable information on military expenditures is not available. In some countries, military activities are concealed by placing them under different rubrics such as energy, research or homeland security.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Participation by the public in decision-making, which requires full information, transparency and accountability, is essential to the democratic order. Parliaments have a special responsibility to oversee the adoption of national budgets and to monitor the actual use of appropriations so as to ferret out corruption.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Excessive military expenditures have their own logic and their own dynamic. The profit-driven character of the armaments industry may well undermine the otherwise legitimate aim of protecting the population from outside threats.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“As Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly said, ‘the world is over-armed and peace is under-funded’. A major shift in priorities is vital for both States and peoples.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Since a democratic and equitable international order requires peace, States must engage in good faith negotiations for disarmament and significantly reduce military expenditure and the arms trade.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Every democracy must involve civil society in the process of establishing budgets, and all sectors of society must be consulted to determine what the real priorities of the population are. Lobbies, including military contractors and other representatives of the military-industrial complex, must not be allowed to hijack these priorities to the detriment of the population’s real needs.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Global military spending levels constitute an unconscionable use of resources and remain at an all-time high, reaching a total of USD 1.75 trillion in 2012, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In a world where millions of human beings live in extreme poverty, die of malnutrition and lack medical care, where pandemics continue to kill, it is imperative to pursue good faith disarmament negotiations and to shift budgets away from weapons production, war-mongering, surveillance of private persons and devote available resources to address global challenges including humanitarian relief, environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, prevention of pandemics, and the development of a green economy.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I urge Governments to considerably reduce funds allocated to the military, not only as a disarmament issue, but also as a potential contributor to social and environmental protection and call for the holding of referenda on this issue worldwide.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A ten per cent reduction in military expenditures per year would be reasonable, coupled with a programme of retraining the workforce and redirecting the resources in a manner that creates employment and advances social welfare. I also encourage all States to contribute to the UN’s annual Report on Military Expenditures by submitting complete data on national defence budgets.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Transnational Corporations must be legally accountable for the negative human rights impacts of their activities.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) first seen 2014 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement by Alfred de Zayas, Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order Ecuador Workshop 11-12 March 2014 .
“This new declaration which emphasizes the necessity of global disarmament is based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations, in particular the prohibition of the threat and use of force, and on the obligation to negotiate disputes in conformity with the UN Charter. It is a strong and positive example for the entire world.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Its effects will be even broader than the establishment 45 years ago of Latin America and the Caribbean as a nuclear-free zone by the Treaty of Tlatelolco.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“This reduction implies the release of funds for development and a shift of the labour force previously dedicated to military industries toward peaceful activities, protection of human rights, conservation of the environment, the eradication of illiteracy, promotion of education and scientific research together with enhanced efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals and implement the agenda for the post-2015 period.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The CELAC Declaration is a positive sign towards the advancement of an international order which can and should be more democratic and equitable, based on the principles of the sovereignty of States and peoples and on international solidarity.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Participation is a hallmark of democratic governance.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) first seen 2015 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Post-2015 Agenda should include elected UN Assembly to strengthen democratic participation .
“As far as domestic democracy, all here present know that democracy means government of the people by the people. While we agree that consultation and participation are essential to every democracy, this is seldom achieved in practice.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) first seen 2013 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Statement by the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order, Prof. Dr. Alfred de Zayas. Brussels Conference on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, 16/17 October 2013 .
“A World Parliamentary Assembly functioning outside the United Nations, or a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly set up as a subsidiary body of the General Assembly pursuant to article 22 of the UN Charter, could start initially as a consultative body and gradually develop into a legislative assembly.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“We don’t want a dystopian future in which corporations and not democratically elected governments call the shots. We don’t want an international order akin to post-democracy or post-law.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The bottom line is that these agreements must be revised, modified or terminated.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Most worrisome are the ISDS arbitrations, which constitute an attempt to escape the jurisdiction of national courts and bypass the obligation of all states to ensure that all legal cases are tried before independent tribunals that are public, transparent, accountable and appealable.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Article 103 of the UN charter says that if there is a conflict between the provisions of the charter and any other treaty, it is the charter that prevails.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am concerned about the secrecy surrounding negotiations for trade treaties, which have excluded key stakeholder groups from the process, including labour unions, environmental protection groups, food-safety movements and health professionals.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I am especially worried about the impact that investor-state-arbitrations (ISDS) have already had and foreseeably will have on human rights, in particular the provision which allows investors to challenge domestic legislation and administrative decisions if these can potentially reduce their profits.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Downsizing military budgets will enable sustainable development, the eradication of extreme poverty, the tackling of global challenges including pandemics and climate change, educating and socializing youth towards peace, cooperation and international solidarity.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Budget and fiscal transparency are necessary tools to prevent the hijacking of the international order by the international military-industrial complex.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The ideal of direct democracy, including the power of legislative initiative of citizens and control of issues through genuine consultation and referenda has been partially achieved only in few countries.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Representative democracy deserves the predicate “democratic” only if and when parliamentarians genuinely represent their constituents.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Democracy and self-determination serve the overall goal of enabling human security and human rights.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Frequently, military expenditures are “secret” or concealed, thus frustrating the right of citizens to know how their taxes are being spent.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Disarmament is not just an idle promise; it is also a commitment under article 26 of the Charter of the United Nations.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The existence of zero nuclear weapons may sound utopian, but the effort is required in the name of humanity.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In the light of continued warmongering by some States, it is apparent that resolutions of the General Assembly, including its resolution 68/28, have not succeeded in reducing tensions.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“It would be preferable to teach that honour and glory can also be won through civil courage and working for social justice.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“A truly democratic country must proactively inform the public so that the public can decide on spending priorities.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“According to a 2014 report, the European Union is spending at least 315 million euros on drone-related projects.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“In totalitarian States citizen have no voice. In democratic countries, however, citizens bear responsibility for the decisions taken by their democratically elected officials. If crimes are committed in their name, it is their responsibility to demand accountability.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Reduced military budgets will release funds for the promotion and protection of human rights and for addressing global problems such as pandemics, climate change, deforestation and acute water shortages.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Austerity is necessary in the military – not in the progressive achievement of economic, social and cultural rights.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“States should significantly reduce military spending and develop conversion strategies to reorient resources towards social services, the creation of employment in peaceful industries, and greater support to the post-2015 development agenda.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Over the past twenty-five years bilateral international treaties and free trade agreements with investor-state-dispute-settlement have adversely impacted the international order and undermined fundamental principles of the UN, State sovereignty, democracy and the rule of law. It prompts moral vertigo in the unbiased observer.”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“The issue of corporate criminal responsibility for ecocide and other offences deserves in-depth analysis in a future report”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Globalization cannot be allowed to become the grand global casino where investors rig the system to guarantee that they always win”
Alfred-Maurice de Zayas (born 1947) wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source