Ant¨®nio Guterres was speaking on Friday, during the High-Level Segment of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) session, to review progress towards achieving sustainable development for all by 2030.
¡°This is the moment for the international community to heed the current wake-up call, and move ahead with a collective response in unity and solidarity¡±, he?.
Renewed and inclusive multilateralism
The pandemic has underscored the need for a strengthened and renewed multilateralism, the Secretary-General told the virtual gathering.¡°A multilateralism built on trust, that is based on international law and is geared towards the overarching goals of peace and security, human rights and sustainable development¡±, he said.
This renewed multilateralism needs to be inclusive by drawing on the contributions of civil society, business, academia and other sectors, he continued. The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and its agencies, along with international financial institutions and regional organizations, must also work together more effectively.
Critical role for ECOSOC ¡®mothership¡¯
Mr. Guterres highlighted the role?ECOSOC?can play in revitalizing global cooperation, describing it as the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ¡¯s ¡°mothership for sustainable, inclusive development¡±.The Council is one of the six main bodies of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and serves as the central platform for reflection, debate and innovative thinking on this issue.
¡°But I believe Member States can empower the Council to evolve and change with the times¡±, the Secretary-General added.
¡°At this pivotal moment, with?COVID-19?still spreading, geopolitical tensions rising, and the cry for racial justice, social justice and climate justice ever more urgent, we have a responsibility to respond to the anxieties, fears and hopes of the people we serve¡±, he said.
¡°A revitalized ECOSOC at the heart of a networked, inclusive and effective multilateralism can help us to do so.¡±
The power of working together
This year¡¯s High-Level Political Forum which closed on Thursday, charting progress so far towards realizing the ambitious 2030 Agenda, has highlighted how recovery from the pandemic must lead to a more just, inclusive and sustainable world, according to the Council¡¯s President, Mona Juul.The two weeks of discussions revealed how COVID-19 has affected people everywhere, with impacts that will be felt for some time.
¡°The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for more resilient public health and emergency response systems, particularly in developing countries¡±, said Liu Zhenmin.
¡°It requires a response that looks not only at the short term and emergency measures. But, one that also addresses the deep systemic change and structural policies needed to reach the SDGs.¡±
Stamps for solidarity
Prior to officially concluding the Forum, Ms. Juul, the ECOSOC President, unveiled new Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ stamps which pay tribute to frontline workers in the pandemic.Proceeds from an added surcharge will go directly to?to support the World Health Organization () and partners.
Source: Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ News