The UN Secretary General opening the 59th General Assembly:
> History will judge us very harshly if we let ourelves be deflected from this task or think we are excused from it by invocations of national sovereignty[.]
> It is by rigorously upholding international law that we can and must fulfill our responsibility to protect innocent civilians from genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes[.]
> Throughout the world, the victims of violence and injustice are waiting - waiting for us to keep our word. They notice when we use words to mask inaction. They notice when laws that should protect them are not applied.
> Again and again, we see fundamental laws shamelessly disregarded - those that ordain respect for innocent life, for civilians, for the vulnerable - especially children[.]