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Excellencies,
Dear friends,<\/p>\n
Thank you for joining this High-Level Thematic Debate on Galvanizing Momentum for Universal Vaccination.<\/p>\n
Today, we gather here at a time when a fellow member state, Ukraine has been attacked. This military operation undermines global security and stability, and is inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. <\/p>\n
As I had said in my statement on Ukraine yesterday, the use of force and coercion has no place in the 21st century. I call on all Member States to uphold their obligations under international law and international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n
It is time for an immediate ceasefire, de-escalation of tensions, exercise of maximum restraint and a firm return to diplomacy and dialogue.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
As we get to grips with this new situation, we already have the COVID crisis that continues to rage in many parts of the world.<\/p>\n
Since the outbreak of the virus, we have come far. Human ingenuity has ensured that a record number of vaccines were developed in the shortest possible time.<\/p>\n
Yet, while a handful of us are enjoying the fruits of our common labor, the vast majority are still sitting and waiting for the elusive jab.<\/p>\n
Although the world is expected to have enough COVID-19 vaccine doses by mid-2022 to vaccinate 70% of the world\u2019s population with three doses, uncertainties abound.<\/p>\n
These include the possible need for variant-specific vaccines, changes to vaccination policies, country preference for some products over others, the programmatic complexity of managing multiple products, and the need for better intelligence on country-level planning and execution.<\/p>\n
While large volumes of vaccines have recently become available, in most cases the increase in volumes are expected to create challenges in absorption capacity in resource-poor settings.<\/p>\n
This includes the capacity to receive, store, distribute, record and administer vaccines including wastage due to lack of trained health personnel or vaccination centers.<\/p>\n
The original goal of COVAX was to achieve fair and equitable vaccine access to all the participants.<\/p>\n
However, many high-income countries entered into direct contractual arrangements with vaccine suppliers, bypassing the COVAX mechanism, and pharmaceutical companies did not prioritize and deliver according to their contractual obligations with COVAX, seriously reducing its supply and making it highly unpredictable.<\/p>\n
Moreover, high-coverage countries began donating directly to their low-coverage and low-income counterparts, bypassing COVAX.<\/p>\n
Indemnity and liability-related conditions also added barriers to the vaccine access for the most vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Our collective health security depends on the health security of all populations wherever they are – SIDS, LDCs or LLDCs or whatever status they may have in individual countries, including as refugees or as internally displaced persons.<\/p>\n
Let me be clear: vaccine inequity is immoral, and it is impractical.<\/p>\n
It is not okay that 27 countries have vaccinated less than 10% of their populations while others are rolling out boosters or lifting restrictions entirely.<\/p>\n
It is a failure on us, as an international community, that over 10 billion vaccine doses have been administered as of the middle of this month \u2013 more than enough to provide at least one dose to every citizen on this planet \u2013 and yet 83% of the population of the African Union has not received a single dose.<\/p>\n
This very inequity that is leaving billions of people exposed and at-risk is jeopardizing all of the development progress we have made.<\/p>\n
Essentially, the Decade of Action has turned into a Decade of Recovery.<\/p>\n
How long before another variant emerges? How long before our vaccines prove ineffective? Are we really willing to go back to square one and start all over again, because we could not share?<\/p>\n
We can and we must do better than this.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
COVID-19 is precisely the type of challenge the United Nations was built for. If we are to shore up multilateral support and demonstrate to our 8 billion constituents, the value of global cooperation then there is no better test than the COVID crisis that has affected the entirety of the planet.<\/p>\n
As a President of Hope, I remain convinced that we all want the same thing: to end this pandemic, not only for ourselves but for our neighbors and friends. Only then will we see our economies lifted, only then will we see tourism flourish, only then will we be able to live life without the threat of restrictions.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
If the pandemic has shown us anything, it is the importance of collective action \u2013 that our strength lies in solidarity.<\/p>\n
This was reiterated during the General Debate of the 76th session, and most recently, by the Member States who joined my New Year\u2019s Resolution to stand for vaccine equity.<\/p>\n
And the irony is, we have the very tools and resources to do just that.<\/p>\n
We have the knowledge and know-how to fix supply chain issues and to reach far flung locations.<\/p>\n
We must fortify that now with political will.<\/p>\n
Let us be resolute in our commitment for vaccine equity. Let us resolve to share, resolve to support, resolve to distribute, resolve to deliver, and resolve to achieve universal access.<\/p>\n
This means committing to greater ambition and action, including eliminating all potential barriers to timely access.<\/p>\n
This means increasing multilateral, multi-stakeholder engagement towards greater international cooperation, to promote greater synergy within existing strategies.<\/p>\n
This means prioritizing at-risk populations, as well as marginalized groups, such as women or indigenous peoples.<\/p>\n
And this means providing support to all countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries, to ensure access to quality COVID-19 vaccines at affordable prices, including through local production of vaccines.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
We cannot rejoice until all of us, the Member States, work together to meet the vaccine targets, and finally bring this pandemic to an end.<\/p>\n
And we cannot achieve that without fulfilling our promise to vaccinate the entire world.<\/p>\n
Join me in showing your support and let us deliver on this promise.<\/p>\n
I thank you.<\/p>\n
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Opening Remarks at the High-Level Thematic Dialogue on Galvanizing Momentum for Universal Vaccination <\/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":"
Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p>
I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p>
Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p>
A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[668,550,556,553,454],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-258542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-covid19","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","tag-vaccines","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n