[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.14.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Dear friends,<\/p>\n
Thank you for joining me today.\u00a0 <\/span>I am incredibly delighted to be among a diverse group of aspiring young leaders. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I warmly welcome our friends from the Obama Foundation Scholars program to the United Nations Headquarters.<\/p>\n My friends, it is opportunities like these that remind me why I chose to embark on this journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout the course of my career, my meetings with ambitious youth, keen on making a difference, have remained among my most rewarding and enriching experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Each time, I learn something new, and impart an additional bit of wisdom. Hard-earned wisdom, I might add, that has cost me hours of sleep and most of my hair. I share some of it with you now for free, so that you can get some rest, and hopefully keep your hair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You see, two critical lessons I have learned over the years is that we cannot solve any of the challenges confronting us without multilateralism, and that youth-engagement and commitment is vital to secure the future of multilateralism.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Upon assuming office as President of the General Assembly, those same lessons continue to guide me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By involving young women and men in the work of global multilateralism, I believe we can lay stronger groundwork for an inclusive, relevant, and sustainable future.<\/p>\n Our meeting today aims to build upon that groundwork. It is about hearing your stories, your ambitions, as well as your viewpoints on how we – at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ can better deliver for the planet.<\/p>\n Beyond these exchanges, today is also about building networks between like-minded peers, to forge what I hope can become enduring friendships in our shared aspirations.<\/p>\n My friends,<\/p>\n Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ needs to live up to its commitment for the people we serve, especially in these complex and trying times.<\/span><\/p>\n When I chose \u2018Hope\u2019 as the underlying theme of my Presidency for the 76th<\/sup><\/span> session of the General Assembly, I realized it would be met with some skepticism. But I also realized that it was time that \u2018we the people<\/i>\u2019,\u00a0united to give hope to the people who so desperately needed it.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Humanity is facing major global challenges that are transitional as well as transnational in nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to worsening climate impacts, the devastating humanitarian crises in ongoing conflict situations, trans-national terrorism, disinformation, and the continued unraveling of hard-won gains on everything from curbing poverty to closing the gender divide has demonstrated that none of these can be addressed by any single government or institution acting alone.<\/p>\n The pandemic and its consequent global impact has reminded us that if we do not work together as a united global family, the return to normalcy will continue to elude us.<\/p>\n In the same vein, the realization of development frameworks, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, calls for greater equality and inclusivity of every person, regardless of age, gender, color, ability, religion, or any other marker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My friends,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is the principles of equality and human rights that guide my five priority pillars or \u2018five rays of hope\u2019 as I call them, on recovering from COVID-19, rebuilding sustainably, responding to the needs of the planet, respecting the rights of all, and revitalizing the United Nations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Each of the five rays are seen through a gender equality-lens and with it a commitment for greater youth engagement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As part of this commitment, I have met with youth representatives throughout my meetings here in New York and travels abroad. This includes meeting with climate activists at COP26 who have, and continue to make, a vast impact on the climate discourse.<\/p>\n It is heartening to hear of their unwavering commitment, determination, and persistence for change on issues that shape their future.<\/p>\n I have always been a firm believer that empowering youth is empowering the grassroots, and the civil society. By doing so, we ensure policies are not only made FOR<\/i> the people but WITH<\/i> the people.<\/p>\n I am proud to have successfully launched my Fellowship of HOPE, which aims to build on the skills and capacity of the 8 young diplomats among us today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Fellowship program seeks to broaden the knowledge and skills of young diplomats within the multilateral system, both here in the United Nations and through their respective missions.<\/p>\n Like the Obama Foundation Scholars, the HOPE fellows represent a diverse array of backgrounds. But most importantly, they come from under-represented member states of the United Nations, the Least Developing Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and the Small Island Developing States.<\/p>\n It is my hope that upon completion of this program, our HOPE Fellows will take home these lessons and experiences to benefit their respective national roles. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I acknowledge the different fields, skillsets, interests, and ambitions each of you pursue and acquire. And I am confident that as you successfully harness these opportunities, as HOPE Fellows and Scholars of the Obama Foundation, that you will no doubt continue to make impactful changes.<\/p>\n As you do, know that you can always count on my support.<\/p>\n With those few words, I invite your views and thoughts on how the multilateral system can better work for and with youth.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Women organized event for IWD<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"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":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-260192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n