The fact that world leaders have convened at 51吃瓜 Headquarters in New York is 鈥渁 veritable testament to the primacy of this great multilateral body鈥�, the General Assembly President said on Tuesday, opening the Organization鈥檚 annual听.
And the issues at hand are 鈥渕ost critical and increasingly urgent for the attainment of international peace and security, as well as the achievement of the听Sustainable Development Goals听()鈥�, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande stated.
鈥淭oo long at the crossroads of human development鈥e need to join efforts in finding solutions to the untold hardship from violent conflicts, terrorism, natural disasters, drug and sex trafficking, illiteracy, and so on which millions of people around the world suffer from鈥�, he continued.
For 74 years, he recalled that the UN has done much to advance humanity 鈥� most recently with the听.
鈥淭he implementation of the SDGs by 2030 must be our priority, in the interest of the billions of people who may never step inside this great Hall, but who hope that the work undertaken here would galvanize efforts for poverty eradication, zero hunger, quality education, climate action and inclusion鈥�, Mr. Muhammad-Bande declared.
Pointing to challenges surrounding health pandemics, terrorism, displacement, climate change, illiteracy and poverty, he underscored the need for financing and experience-sharing cooperation, as 鈥渢hey all require focused cooperation to stem鈥�.
Mr. Muhammad-Bande vowed to work with all delegations and UN organs to advance his priorities, for which the promotion of international peace and security 鈥渋s at the heart鈥�.
鈥淲e must continue to strengthen the Organization by ensuring that its peace and security architecture is appropriate for the 21st century, particularly making a priority of prevention鈥�, he asserted, adding that drivers of conflict, including poverty, inequality and human rights abuses 鈥渕ust be tackled head-on鈥�.
Towards a better future
Poverty eradication remains an enormous global challenge.
鈥淲e have to do more鈥� to take hundreds of millions out of 鈥渁bject poverty, misery, and squalid existence鈥�, the PGA stressed, urging each country to 鈥渞eflect specifically鈥� on how it can improve its own social protection systems and channel government spending to those affected by poverty.
Countries also need to cooperate on modernizing agriculture.
Noting that climate change has exacerbated poverty and food shortages globally, he emphasized the importance of action, 鈥渁s the repercussions of not acting pose grave dangers for our world, now and in future鈥�.
鈥淲e need to deploy the knowledge and technologies available to us to ensure that we do not condemn our children to an irreparable world鈥�, stressed Mr. Muhammad-Bande, calling for 鈥渃ooperation among nations to ensure that coalitions for climate resilience and mitigation actions are formed and strengthened鈥�.
Accordingly, he noted the need to 鈥渄evise creative ways of bridging the huge financial and technical gaps required for meaningful impact鈥�.
The Assembly President also identified the importance of stepping up inclusion, 鈥減articularly as it relates to the rights and empowerment of youth, women and the disabled鈥�.
鈥楶ooling resources鈥� for humanity
Maintaining that 鈥渘o nation can develop beyond its educational capacity鈥�, he pointed to the immediate need for 鈥渜ualified teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as in the humanities鈥�, urging abled countries to 鈥渄eepen cooperation鈥� with those in need to develop the capacity of their teachers.
Mr. Muhammad-Bande highlighted the value of pooling resources 鈥渢o urgently address major global challenges confronting humanity鈥�, underlining the importance of strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation to reinforce the UN鈥檚 work.
In conclusion, he reminded those assembled that the task at hand is 鈥渢o debate how best to achieve the world of our collective dream鈥�.
鈥淲e give succour and hope to all people and nations for a more peaceful and prosperous world鈥�, he said.
鈥淭here is great work to be done; we have no room for either cynicism or apathy鈥�, concluded Mr. Muhammad-Bande, 鈥渨e should strive together, to deliver for all鈥�.
