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15 December 2022<\/b><\/p>\n
(PRE-RECORDED)<\/p>\n
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n
We are at a watershed moment, in urgent need of crisis management and transformation on several fronts.<\/p>\n
Our world is grappling with multidimensional, multifaceted crises triggered by the pandemic, steep inflation, growing debt burdens, the adverse effects of climate change as well as old and new geopolitical tensions.<\/p>\n
To overcome these challenges and to create a sea change in the implementation of our 2030 Agenda we need the voice of the developing world louder and more united than ever.<\/p>\n
Already before the pandemic, many countries were off track in fulfilling the SDGs by 2030. By now, things have gone from bad to worse.<\/p>\n
With these cascading crises, the most vulnerable have been hardest hit.<\/p>\n
Many have been pushed into extreme poverty and debt distress, rolling back hard-won gains.<\/p>\n
This is all the more reason why we need your ideas, solutions and actions today.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
At present, there are 15 processes launching within the General Assembly, including the preparatory work for the SDG Summit in September, which will mark the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda.<\/p>\n
The SDG Summit \u2013 and other high-level events on water, financing, health, and pandemic preparedness \u2013 will offer historic opportunities to accelerate transformation for sustainable development.<\/p>\n
Next September\u2019s ministerial preparatory meeting for the Summit of the Future will be another opportunity to speed up SDG implementation.<\/p>\n
I encourage G77 members to actively engage in these processes and high-level meetings to secure as many and as strong political pledges as possible.<\/p>\n
We need to agree on real game-changers, unlocking new commitments and spurring the adoption of innovative policies that are grounded in science.<\/p>\n
Dear friends,<\/p>\n
An integrated approach to achieving the SDGs is imperative.<\/p>\n
We must learn to work across disciplines.<\/p>\n
The devastating floods in Pakistan and the deadly deluges across most of Africa this year, have affected millions \u2013 but water is also a solution for climate action.<\/p>\n
The integration of water and climate policies is vital for guarding societies against disasters, for supporting biodiversity and, in general, for protecting our planet.<\/p>\n
Our 8 billion shareholders demand measurable change \u2013 seen in the crops they can plant, food they can afford, fuel they can buy, services they can use \u2013 and opportunity they can gain.<\/p>\n
Growth that is not only about quantities. Growth that is bringing a higher quality. Growth that really goes \u201cbeyond GDP\u201d.<\/p>\n
To boost these changes, we need an international financial system based on inclusion.<\/p>\n
A system that treats countries as equals. Fosters investments that are climate smart and SDG-aligned. And frees developing countries from the vicious spiral of debt and interest.<\/p>\n
Your conference is aimed at identifying measures to overcome immediate challenges and addressing the structural changes that we need.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it can be a crucial step in that direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one can whistle a symphony\u201d as the saying goes. \u201cIt takes a whole orchestra to play it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I wish your orchestra all the best for today\u2019s deliberations.<\/p>\n
I thank you.<\/p>\n
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15 December 2022 (PRE-RECORDED) Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, We are at a watershed moment, in urgent need of crisis management and transformation on several fronts. Our world is grappling with […]<\/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":"
10 November 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\r\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is in crisis. It is in many crises.<\/p>\r\n It has been 15 months since the Taliban consolidated control over the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Its economy is in ruins. The humanitarian situation is disastrous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Two-thirds of the population is hungry.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Girls and women are banned from learning, having a job or getting proper medical care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The country is awash with heroin and opium.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Organized crime and terrorist organizations are thriving once again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is facing complex and interlinked challenges that the Taliban have shown they cannot \u2013 or would not \u2013 solve.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\r\n It is time to support the Afghan people with concrete solutions that place their needs front and center.<\/p>\r\n It is true that some problems will require some time to resolve.<\/p>\r\n But there are actions the Assembly can take to change the paradigm now.<\/p>\r\n I would like you to consider one solution through solidarity.<\/p>\r\n The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan \u2013 which requires $4.4 billion US dollars \u2013 is only half funded.<\/p>\r\n With winter weather just weeks away, I encourage Member States to provide urgent support to help reduce the $2.3 billion dollar shortfall.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s remind ourselves of the old saying from Afghanistan: \u201cA real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend in times of distress and helplessness.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan has a rich history of scientific achievement.<\/p>\r\n I encourage the country\u2019s reengagement with the international science community.<\/p>\r\n And\u00a0to allow women who used to be respected members of the country\u2019s science community to resume their research and their studies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Afghanistan is now the only state in the world that would deny girls their full right to education.<\/p>\r\n The prospect of girls\u2019 education has been left to uncertainty amid seemingly random edicts from the Taliban.<\/p>\r\n This time last year, Fawzia Koofi, the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament, recalled her dream of one day addressing the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ as the President of Afghanistan.<\/p>\r\n She said:\u00a0\u201cWith me, millions of girls and women in Afghanistan had this dream that now they think will never come true.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Dreams of becoming President have been replaced by the reality of child marriage. Arrests if women and girls leave their home without a male chaperone.<\/p>\r\n I reiterate my call for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans, especially women and girls.<\/p>\r\n Similarly, I urge the Taliban to ensure the safety of all Afghans, regardless of gender, ethnic background, religious belief or political affiliation.<\/p>\r\n To protect journalists and civil society members.<\/p>\r\n To allow unhindered humanitarian aid, and to cooperate with humanitarian workers.<\/p>\r\n We expect the Taliban to make good on the commitments they made to the international community.\u00a0To show honesty through\u00a0concrete action.<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n The dramatic changes of 2021 have taken a massive toll on Afghanistan\u2019s economy and profoundly widened many security risks.<\/p>\r\n