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17 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I congratulate TV9 network for organizing this Global Summit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today we face a world in crisis. A pandemic, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, a war and inflating food and commodity prices.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These multiple overlapping crises have led to a collapse in hope, and fed into growing mistrust in the ability of our international institutions to predict crises, prevent harm, and propose solutions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And the ongoing war in Ukraine has only brought further despair, with many once again questioning the ability of the international order and the international organizations to maintain peace and security.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, the question we ask ourselves now is, do we need a new international order? Is there common consensus, that the international order has failed?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My response is this: the international order, as it stands, remains the best option \u2013 the most viable option – to address global risks and challenges.<\/u><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In fact, it is more vital now than ever that we strengthen current international systems, that we fight for all that we have built.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dear friends,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The biggest criticism of the international order is that it is not able to prevent conflict.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After all, the United Nations \u2013 which is synonymous with the multilateral order\u2013 was itself borne of the ashes of WW2 and was created to prevent war.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The idea was that if countries are working together, by keeping each other in check, by following the same principles, and by being guided by the same values, we could prevent war.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These principle and core values remain valid to this day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My friends, the United Nations is the best and most universal platform for bringing countries together, under the same values and principles. It allows for dialogue, a cornerstone of peace and of understanding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Remember, it is easy to mark the conflicts that take place, it is far more difficult to measure those which have been prevented, quietly, through decades of diplomacy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For every conflict that emerges, scores more may have been prevented through the annals of multilateralism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beyond conflict, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and the current order stands as our primary means to collaborate on the other challenges we face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Climate change, of course, is the frontrunner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is no threat that is as broad in scale or as existential in consequences as clime change. And there is no better platform than that of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ to address this.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, helps bring together best practices and policies, helping countries identify practical solutions and how to access them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For sure, the private sector may have more resources to channel \u2013 but the international order, embodied by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, has more leeway in monitoring and evaluating, in reviewing the impact, and in correcting the global course of actions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The fact is that the current multilateral world order remains the biggest equalizer. Multilateralism is where every country has a voice, a vote, and a seat, regardless of its size and might.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of course, ensuring equality is something we need to continuously work on. We need to ensure our system better caters to the special and specific challenges of LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The international order as it stands is certainly not perfect. That, I believe, we can all agree on. There are flaws. But I strongly believe it is the best hope we have.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Allow me to make a few contributions on how this can be improved:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n First, the international order system needs to be more equal. The current world order is vastly different from that of 1945. Our international power structures need to reflect these changes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Second, we need to make the international order system more efficient. International bureaucracy is often cumbersome and slow. We need to devise flexible and effective systems to address our common challenges as they arise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And lastly, the International Order system must be forward-looking. The system needs to be able to predict and forecast issues and at the same implement strategies to counter such forecasts. For this, we must embrace emerging technologies and be willing to be innovative.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My friends, the recent COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how interconnected and interlinked our world is. We all suffered together; lost together; struggled together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our world is too tightly wound for any approach that is not joined up and multilateral.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just as we worked together to develop multiple viable vaccines against COVID-19, we can work together to tackle climate change, to protect biodiversity, to address inequality, and, of course, to ensure peace and security.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I thank you for this opportunity and I wish this Summit every success.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/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":362,"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-267806","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