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23 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I would like to start by thanking the Government of Rwanda and the Commonwealth Secretariat for convening this Forum.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As a Commonwealth citizen, I am honored to participate in this first meeting since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I particularly welcome this year\u2019s theme: Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming<\/em>, with a focus on \u201cA Global Reset\u201d.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This topic is dear to my heart and particularly resonates right now, as we strive to build a more resilient future and recover from Covid-19.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As we are all aware, the pandemic has been devastating for our global economy – the backlash of which has been particularly acute for small island states and developing countries.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For this reason, I have made recovery from Covid-19 a priority during my Presidency of the General Assembly.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n However perilous our road has been, we find ourselves in an opportune moment to build back better.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This moment is one we must seize; we must learn from this and attempt to tackle the myriad challenges we face in addition to Covid-19: climate change being one of the most pressing.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We cannot let this moment pass us by.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I urge the international community to accelerate SDG actions to build back better, stronger, greener, and bluer.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The pandemic has shown us that science and innovation are at the heart of this effort to transform our world for the better and achieve our 2030 Agenda.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This was evidenced by the rapid and joint development of novel vaccine technology.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We cannot let our ingenuity stop there.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must lean into our innovative capacities, strengths, and skills, while ensuring no one is left behind.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must transform our production and consumption patterns to be more sustainable and resilient.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must alleviate the digital inequalities causing a rift between developed and developing countries.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In this journey, business leaders and the private sector have a key role to play.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As central actors of the global economy, you are in a unique position to invest in innovation and play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable and resilient world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This requires adoption of sustainable and responsible business models, ones in line with the Ten Principles of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Global Compact.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n These principles drive competition while bolstering equity, inclusion, and climate resilience.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The private company Zipline is an example to look to. Its role in both Rwanda\u2019s national blood delivery network and Ghana\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine distribution is an instance of successful partnership between public and private entities, and demonstrates the use of innovation for common good.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies and friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Achieving our complete recovery from Covid-19 and our SDG targets is conditional upon our prioritizing those most vulnerable. This includes women and young people.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Inclusive and multilateral discussions are the only blueprint for a more resilient and sustainable world, guided by the SDGs.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Today\u2019s panel illustrated both the challenges ahead and the innovative solutions we have at our disposal, to resolve and overcome them.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us seize the opportunity to build a new world \u2013 one built on science, innovation, and creativity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us truly build back better.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/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":" Kigali, Rwanda<\/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-268232","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