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18 July 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Distinguished representatives,<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I am pleased to co-convene this critical meeting on the global food crisis, in partnership with the Committee on Food Security.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I thank the Executive Office of the Secretary-General for its support in organizing the event.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n My friends,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The world faces a grave food crisis, as outlined by the recently released 2022 Report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Hunger and malnutrition are on the rise, with nearly a billion people going hungry in 2021.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This is a tragic reality brought on by a host of factors, including\u00a0 COVID19, climate change, and ongoing conflicts. These in turn have led to disrupted supply chains and inflation, driving millions into poverty.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The World Bank now warns us that the conflict in Ukraine will plunge an additional 95 million people into extreme poverty, and 50 million into severe hunger, this year.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As of June 30, 2022, the global Agricultural Price Index is estimated to be 34 percent higher than January 2021. Maize prices are 47 percent higher, and wheat prices 42 percent higher, compared to January 2021.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Our prospects of attaining SDG 2, a world of Zero Hunger, by 2030 look dim if we continue in this direction.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Frankly, we were already falling short of meeting our food-security targets, prior to 2020. However, the situation is now critical. The shocks of multiple global crises have weakened our institutions, our economies, and challenged our ability to effectively respond.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In spite of this bleak picture, we cannot lose hope. Despair solves nothing. We must collectively mobilize to alleviate global hunger and malnutrition, and address the factors that cause them.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In this, the United Nations must take a leading role.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I fully support the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, launched by the Secretary-General, to provide joint analysis and policy recommendations from the whole of the United Nations System.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I also thank Member States for adopting resolution 76\/264, entitled \u201cState of global food insecurity\u201d, urging the international community to jointly support countries affected by the food security crisis.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To further complement these initiatives, it is crucial that we involve all stakeholders, including major donors, international financial institutes,\u00a0 global and regional blocs, and civil society.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In our efforts, we must prioritize food-security in countries in special situations \u2013 LDCS, LLDCs and SIDS \u2013 whose citizens are typically forced to spend a larger share of their income on basic necessities, including food, and are thus disproportionately affected by rising food prices.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As we provide support to these countries, we must prioritize helping them implement the recommendations of the United Nations Food Systems Summit, on achieving sustainable transformations of their food systems.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We have long recognized that current food practices, in terms of production, consumption, and distribution, are unsustainable. They cause waste and inefficient distribution, while damaging our planet. If we continue on this path, we risk reduced crop yields and less available arable land in the future, threatening the food-security of not only ourselves, but of our children and grandchildren.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As we implement more sustainable and environmentally responsible food-practices, we must approach food security as part of a broader multilateral agenda. One that recognizes the interconnectedness of today\u2019s challenges, and the futility of trying to solve them unilaterally or in isolation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We need to ensure that our food systems can provide affordable healthy diets that are sustainable and inclusive, and become a powerful driving force towards ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms, for all.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Among the actions that we must immediately take include scaling up climate resilience across food systems, strengthening food environments and changing consumer behaviour to promote dietary patterns with positive impacts on human health and the environment.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Solving food security also requires us to stop conflicts and pandemics that disrupt supply chains; to repair our relationship with nature, and secure sustainable agriculture; and to strengthen the global institutions working to alleviate poverty and hunger.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n These are monumental yet necessary tasks. We will succeed only if we work together with solidarity, compassion, and resolve; with a sense of responsibility towards our most vulnerable; and with an urgent commitment to ensure that no one, anywhere should live their life in hunger, poverty, or insecurity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I hope that our discussions today help us achieve our food security goals, and I wish you all a very productive discussion.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I 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":" Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters, 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-269679","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