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13 July 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n H.E. Mr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana,<\/p>\n H.E. Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, Co-host of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Ocean Conference (TBC),<\/p>\n H.E.\u00a0 Collen Vixen Kelapile, President of the Economic and Social Council,<\/p>\n Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Distinguished Ministers,<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Distinguished Delegates,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Thank you for opportunity to contribute to the opening of this year\u2019s High-Level Political Forum.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Forum comes at a defining moment.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The volume, magnitude, and scale of complex challenges to sustainable development are arguably both unprecedented and unrelenting.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n From deepening climate change and regional conflicts, to rising inequality and food insecurity, the challenges we face threaten to derail the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Yet, there is hope; hope that together we can not only pull through but come out stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Hope that we can indeed right the ship, as they say, and pivot away from the harmful practices that have put us on a self-destructive path.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n My friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 2030 Agenda is so much more than a set of targets and data points.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Agenda and its SDGs represent a vision, a blueprint and a roadmap for the kind of policies all countries must undertake if we are to build a better, more inclusive world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must therefore ask ourselves:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This may seem like a lot to ask \u2013 but, dear friends, this should be our baseline for any plans to build back better.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To break the vicious cycle of crises we must do more than \u201clook\u201d towards a more sustainable future, we must put it into practice.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I have five key recommendations, or asks, for you during this HLPF:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n First<\/strong>, we must take action to get us there.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must invest in innovation, technology and behavioral change that bring about the future we want and need.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This includes increasing investments into areas supportive of social protection, poverty reduction, the environment and climate action, as well as empowering youth as \u201cagents of a sustainable transformation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Second,<\/strong> we must learn the lessons from COVID-19, particularly where systems and policies proved dysfunctional.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must invest in the kinds of actions that can protect the most vulnerable, ensure resilient livelihoods, and leverage the power of science and technology.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Third,<\/strong> we must push for reform measures in the international financial system, in debt relief and vulnerabilities, and in Overseas Development Assistance and humanitarian relief.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fourth,<\/strong> we must commit to addressing the situation of the most vulnerable countries. This includes shaping targeted responses to the issues they face.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This also includes advancing a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) as a vital tool to help vulnerable countries access financing to respond to these crises.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I am hopeful that the high-level panel of experts that I had constituted to finalize the MVI will be successfully completing their work before the end of the 76th<\/sup> session and the outcome agreed to by all.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fifth<\/strong>, we must renew the commitment to the sustainable development of Africa, including on supporting key actions to reach universal vaccination, achieve food security, and ensure energy access across the continent.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Next week (Wednesday, 20 July), the President of ECOSOC and I will convene a special dialogue on the sustainable development of Africa. I invite all of you to join us for this important opportunity to reconfirm the development of Africa as a priority for all.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The pandemic tested the limits of international solidarity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Yet multilateralism prevails and international solidarity persists.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n From the establishment of COVAX and rapid advances in development of vaccines; to the negotiations on a global pandemic treaty and adoption of the recent treaty on fisheries subsidies, we have seen countries and communities come together to find common solutions to common challenges.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We must build on this in every way we can.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The SDG Summit that will be held in September 2023 will be a critical milestone to do just that. As we mark the mid-point in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, we can recommit to the principles of the SDGs in our efforts to rebuild sustainably.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Dear friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The last three years despite being marked by immense global tragedy and grief, gave us the much-needed pause to reassess the state of our world and our existence, and to see what needs to be fixed, replaced, renewed, reimagined or transformed. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n My friends, we have yet to fully seize that historic opportunity for a profound transformation, renewal, and reset.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us change that.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us resolve to act NOW.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us ensure that future generations look back on this pandemic, on this period in history, not only as one of grief and trial, but of renewal and change.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let us ensure that the pain we have experienced translates into lessons learned, into actions, and into a more inclusive, sustainable, and hopeful future.<\/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":" Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly, New York<\/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-269343","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\n