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\u00a0<\/p>\n
New York,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n October 19,\u00a0 2021<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Your Excellency, Ms. Egriselda Gonz\u00e1lez Lopez, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and Chair of the Fourth Committee,<\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It is my pleasure to address the Fourth Committee. I congratulate Ambassador Lopez and all Bureau Members on their election and wish you a successful session.<\/p>\n We meet at a time when much of the world remains in a state of anxiety, wearied by a pandemic and afraid of what the future might bring. They look to us at the United Nations to provide them with hope.<\/p>\n Let us prove we are up to the task.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n Since the United Nation\u2019s inception 76 years ago, we have celebrated many milestones in our efforts to leave the dark legacy of colonialism behind.<\/p>\n In that time, 80 countries and 750 million people have broken the shackles of foreign domination, and have begun to shape their own destinies, in the spirit of self-determination.<\/p>\n Pursuant to GA resolution 75\/123, this year, 2021, marks the beginning of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.<\/p>\n With over 17 non-self-governing territories, populated by over 2 million people, remaining in limbo, our work is incomplete. Let us do all we can to make this<\/em> decade the closing chapter of the decolonization era.<\/p>\n In that same regard, the issue of the Palestinian people\u2019s long-standing struggle to secure their inalienable right to self-determination remains on the agenda.<\/p>\n The resolution of this issue depends on a just and lasting settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. We have long recognized that a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders is the only viable solution to this conflict. It is time to expedite our efforts to make this a reality.\u00a0<\/p>\n While I speak on this subject let me take the opportunity to thank the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.<\/p>\n Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA\u2019s efforts within the region help safeguard the human rights of Palestinian refugees and provide them with access to basic needs.<\/p>\n It is most unfortunate that a precarious financial situation jeopardizes their ability to continue their work. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵWRA currently faces a funding gap of over $100 million. This puts at risk the education of over half a million children and could potentially halt the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines at a critical stage, with a fourth wave looming.<\/p>\n I urge all Member States to spare what they can and assist the Agency\u2019s efforts to secure the necessary funds.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n As we speak, United Nations Peacekeepers remain essential in maintaining stability in conflict-prone areas around the world. To streamline and strengthen the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, I call on all stakeholders to redouble efforts to meet their obligations outlined in the Declaration of Shared Commitments on Action for Peacekeeping.<\/p>\n Further, in line with my commitment to equal gender-representation across the United Nations, I call upon stakeholders to ensure the meaningful participation of more women peacekeepers.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n The work of this committee extends to the ever-expanding frontiers of outer space. It is our responsibility to ensure that those frontiers always remain peaceful, and that our activities are guided by scientific curiosity and a spirit of global kinship.<\/p>\n By adding to our knowledge and enhancing our technological capacity, research and exploration in outer space can benefit all of humanity, while accelerating our progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n On a personal note, I have always been fascinated by space. I come from an island-nation, the Maldives, where the night-sky is remarkably clear, allowing us to truly appreciate its vastness and beauty.<\/p>\n I reflect that humanity has looked into the stars since the dawn of civilization and contemplated our place within the universe, while seeking to uncover its mysteries. I believe that this yearning for truth is universal across our species, transcending our socio-cultural and political differences.<\/p>\n As we delve deeper into its expanse, let us leave behind the uglier aspects of our history, from conflict to colonialism and preserve space as a common good.\u00a0<\/p>\n I believe that space is something that can unite us. And in unity there is hope.\u00a0<\/p>\n The hope that together, we can usher in a brighter tomorrow. After all, that is the founding vision of the United Nations. It is the same vision that guides my Presidency of Hope.<\/p>\n I wish you all the best in carrying forward the work of the Fourth Committee and I thank you for the opportunity to speak to you.<\/p>\n And I thank you.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” prev_background_color=”#000000″ inner_width=”auto” inner_max_width=”none”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ custom_padding__hover=”|||” custom_padding=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial _builder_version=”4.9.7″ quote_icon_background_color=”#f5f5f5″ box_shadow_horizontal_image_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_image_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_image_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_image_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” body_link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”body_link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” body_link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”body_link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” body_link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”body_link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” body_ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”body_ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” body_ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”body_ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” body_ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”body_ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” body_ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”body_ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” body_ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”body_ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” body_ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”body_ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” body_quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”body_quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” body_quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”body_quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” body_quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”body_quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ body_quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” author_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”author_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ author_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” author_text_shadow_vertical_length=”author_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ author_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” author_text_shadow_blur_strength=”author_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ author_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” position_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”position_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ position_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” position_text_shadow_vertical_length=”position_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ position_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” position_text_shadow_blur_strength=”position_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ position_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” company_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”company_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ company_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” company_text_shadow_vertical_length=”company_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ company_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” company_text_shadow_blur_strength=”company_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ company_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ author=”Abdulla Shahid” job_title=”President of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly” portrait_url=”https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/76\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/101\/2021\/09\/aQNubGha_400x400.jpg”]<\/p>\n Throughout our disarmament efforts, it is my conviction that women and youth can make a meaningful contribution. Let us take special pains to ensure that women and youth, as well as civil society, are more actively engaged in this work going forward.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Remarks of H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid – Address to the Fourth Committee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":353,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-250586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n