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16 May 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen,<\/p>\n I congratulate WION for hosting the Global Summit 2022. This summit remains a significant platform for interactive multi-stakeholder discussions. It takes place at a critical time, as our world faces many interlinked challenges, which demand our urgent action.<\/p>\n COVID-19 confronts us with its multidimensional impacts.<\/p>\n Conflicts, including the military aggression in Ukraine, undermines global security while compounding global humanitarian issues.<\/p>\n Longstanding issues of peace and security remain unresolved across the globe. Conflicts rage on in Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Mali, Afghanistan, and Libya, among others. Thousands of lives continue to be lost and entire generations face bleak futures, filled with bloodshed and poverty.<\/p>\n Nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction continue to proliferate, posing an existential danger to human civilization.<\/p>\n Terrorism and violent extremism continue to menace our lives.<\/p>\n Reflecting a breakdown in global trust, states are increasing military budgets. As outlined in a concerning report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in recent years, total global military expenditure rose to almost two trillion USD, despite the economic shocks of a global pandemic.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the climate crisis is upon us. As extreme weather events, wildfires, droughts, and natural disasters increase in frequency, we have awoken to a new reality. Climate change is not an abstract threat looming in the distance \u2013 but is the lived reality of many of the globe\u2019s communities. It causes and compounds humanitarian issues, including famine and displacement, while detrimentally affecting peace and security.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Altogether, the challenges ahead are daunting. Yet, I remain hopeful – because we still have powerful tools at our disposal. Tools that include diplomacy, multilateralism, and the resilience of the human spirit.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n As we emerge from a generational pandemic, we must seize this watershed moment to come together as an international community and strengthen our bonds of friendship and cooperation. As reaffirmed during last year\u2019s declaration to commemorate the 75th<\/sup> anniversary of the United Nations, multilateralism is not an option but a necessity.<\/p>\n That is why, I have consistently called for the revitalization the General Assembly, and the reform of the Security Council, through the IGN process.<\/p>\n I welcome the recent adoption by the General Assembly of a landmark resolution requiring the Assembly to meet every time a veto is used in the Security Council. This is an important development in our efforts to make the Security Council more accountable in discharging its mandate.<\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/p>\n Preventing conflict and sustaining peace is central to the work of the United Nations. Nevertheless, there remains a clear gap between our desire for peace, and our willingness to finance it. This must change.<\/p>\n Recently, I convened a high-level meeting to advance, explore and consider options for ensuring adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for peacebuilding. I am encouraged by Member States\u2019 commitments to address gaps in peacebuilding financing, but much needs to be done to translate those commitment into concrete actions<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Reinvigorating multilateralism requires a full-scale mobilization. We cannot neglect the talents of half of our population. There is both a moral and practical obligation upon us to break barriers preventing women from contributing their full potential, and assuming more leadership roles, in solving global challenges.<\/p>\n This understanding has continued to inform my ongoing efforts to mainstream gender equality into all aspects of the United Nations\u2019 work.<\/p>\n In a similar regard, we must also pay more attention to our youth. They will reap the rewards or bear the burdens of our action or inaction. It is our responsibility to shape a multilateral order that benefits them, and to listen to and involve them in our efforts to shape that system.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Yes, we face many challenges that are increasingly complex and interconnected.<\/p>\n Yes, our window of opportunity for effective action is fast closing.<\/p>\n Yet, if we act now; if we finally and truly embrace the spirit of multilateralism enshrined in the charter and come together as a global community \u2013 we can solve all challenges, and we can secure a brighter future.<\/p>\n Thank you.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Virtual<\/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-265584","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