Making the United Nations Relevant to all People– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the 蘑菇视频 General Assembly
17 October 2018
2018 Africa Dialogue Series
Excellencies, Mr. Secretary General, Panellists, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honoured to participate in the 2018 Africa Dialogue Series.
This discussion is quite timely. Africa occupies a central place in the multilateral system, which is currently facing strong headwinds. Stronger and more collaborative efforts between the United Nations and the African Union is essential to our efforts to strengthen multilateralism.
On that note, allow me to make two key points on how we can improve collaboration, particularly around sustainable development and peace and security.
Colleagues,
According to the World Bank, an estimated 42% of Africa’s population – or 400 million people – live on less than one dollar – nineteen cents ($1.90) per day. On the other hand, growth in Africa has rebounded to 3.6% in 2017 and will accelerate to 4.1% in 2018 and 2019.
This means, that for Africa is key to seize upon its potential economic growth, focusing on a sustainable development approach. This is extremely key. Africa’s Agenda 2063, complemented by the Sustainable Development Goals, is thus a critical response.
Agenda 2063, which aims to deliver, and I quote: “the Africa we want”, indeed addresses the needs and aspirations of over a billion people across more than 50-countries.
Today, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty remind us of our obligation to leave no one behind.
Dear friends,
I am pleased to note that in implementing the first decade of Agenda 2063, the Africa Union has been an active partner with the United Nations to ensure synergies and coordination with the 2030 Agenda.
Then Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, recognized the importance of this when he declared that, “The alignment between the global and the continental agendas calls for a harmonized approach in planning, implementation and monitoring.”
The Joint Framework for Implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a tool to achieve this ‘harmonized approach’.
By joining our efforts, our skills, our capacities and our resources, we can streamline efforts while maximizing progress.
Concretely, the Framework will help enhance information sharing, reform legislation, boost capacities, and enshrine development goals in national planning processes.
These seemingly mundane tasks are the foundation upon which solid, sound, and effective development initiatives can be built.
This includes, of course, initiatives such as Agenda 2063’s “Silencing the Guns by 2020”, which will help strengthen peace and security, and open a space for development gains to thrive.
On that note, my second point relates to peace and security, and how we can empower youth and women to play a more active role.
First, allow me to be frank: there can be no sustainable development so long as the threat of conflict hangs in the air.
How do you encourage girls to attend school when routes are unsafe?
And how do you ensure food security or livelihoods when there is fighting over limited resources?
We must do more to predict and avert conflicts before they emerge. Stronger linkages between the United Nations and African Union will certainly help, but we must also extend this to regional and sub-regional bodies who often have their ‘ear to the ground’.
This is where empowering all people to be peacemakers and peacebuilders is so critical.
Excellencies, as a woman former Minister of Defense, I will tell you that far, far too often women and youth are relegated to the role of victims in conflict, while their potential to contribute is left to waste.
Take youth, for example. With 11 million young people entering the labour market per year, Africa is a continent that is poised for change. This is a generation that will help shape Africa for decades to come. But only if they are given the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
Abdoulaye Wade, former President of Senegal said:
“Dis-moi quelle jeunesse tu as, je te dirai quel peuple tu seras??
Investing and promoting access to education and to decent jobs is essential. Reducing inequalities and building peaceful and resilient societies is critical. We must invest in youth.
In terms of gender empowerment, I am pleased to say that this is explicitly recognized in the Framework on Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security.
And initiatives such as the African Women leaders Network, a jointly led African Union-United Nations initiative, is paving the way for more concrete action.
Already the Network has undertaken missions to conflict affected countries; created national chapters; and is poised to mobilize at least 120 women leaders from various sectors across the continent.
These efforts will help to close the gap that exists between the reality lived by many African women, which is one of exclusion, and their aspirations to be leaders and partners for transformative change.
Africa occupies a central place in the multilateral system, which is currently facing strong headwinds. Stronger and more collaborative efforts between the United Nations and the African Union is essential to our efforts to strengthen multilateralism.
Dear friends,
From the initial ‘Common African Position’, to ‘Agenda 2063’, the people of Africa have long forged their own path.
Our role, as the United Nations, is not to course- correct, but to help accelerate their journey along this route.
As both the United Nations and the African Union undergo their own revitalization processes, let us ensure that the end result are two dynamic institutions that work together on behalf of all people.
It is with this in mind that we have included areas such as decent work, gender equality, and youth, peace and security, as priority areas in the 73rd Session of the General Assembly.
Our focus remains the same as yours: to ensure that the 蘑菇视频 is reflective of, and relevant to the needs of all people. This includes those who have struggled and struggle; those who persevere.
And allow me to quote the French version of a beautiful Touareg?proverb:
??On entend le fracas des arbres qui tombent, mais pas le murmure de la forêt qui pousse??
Brothers and sisters, my commitment is with Africa and the African people.
Thank you.