[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-76px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
21 February 2023<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Ladies and Gentlemen,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
My warm thanks to the Chair of the Third Committee, my good friend, Ambassador Jos\u00e9 Alfonso Blanco, for organizing this second informal meeting with civil society organizations. As far as I understand, the second one during this session.<\/p>\n
\n
And I welcome the fact that this dialogue has become a tradition.<\/p>\n
\n
I encourage future Chairs of the Third Committee \u2013 and in fact, other Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ bodies \u2013 to follow your example, my dear friend.<\/p>\n
\n
For my Presidency, I also prioritized engagement with civil society representatives.<\/p>\n
\n
The stakeholder dialogue in October to prepare for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Water Conference, the Civil Society Townhall in December and the science briefings held some weeks ago were key moments of these interactions.<\/p>\n
\n
There will be several other opportunities for civil society to participate in the work of the General Assembly in the coming months.<\/p>\n
\n
As you know, Member States will continue to negotiate on important issues, including preparations for the SDG Summit in September and the Summit of the Future in 2024.<\/p>\n
\n
They will also discuss the text of a Declaration on Future Generations and a Global Digital Compact, among other important issues.<\/p>\n
\n
I asked all co-facilitators to consult with a range of stakeholders before the start of these negotiations to build a common knowledge base.<\/p>\n
\n
I am convinced this approach will foster more evidence-based proposals to address the challenges we face today.<\/p>\n
\n
The Water Conference in March, the second Townhall in April and the multistakeholder hearings on universal health coverage, the fight against tuberculosis, the \u00a0pandemic preparedness in spring are prime opportunities for you to share your experiences, data and suggestions with us.<\/p>\n
\n
The task is nothing short of transformation. We have to shape this world jointly, together with you.<\/p>\n
\n
Today, we are meant to have a dialogue. It is a dialogue looking back at the work in the Third Committee and forward to the tasks that remain to be done.<\/p>\n
\n
It could not be more timely.<\/p>\n
\n
Today\u2019s interconnected world brings a multitude of crises, spanning issues of social, humanitarian and cultural significance.<\/p>\n
\n
Now more than ever, there is a need to deepen the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ engagement with civil society to facilitate solutions that have meaningful impact on the ground.<\/p>\n
\n
You are the ground. You have the practical knowledge we need.<\/p>\n
\n
And that is why we call for your help.<\/p>\n
\n
We need you to work hand-in-hand with delegations and hold impact-oriented consultations with them.<\/p>\n
\n
Dear Colleagues,<\/p>\n
\n
Your contributions are particularly important for the work of the Third Committee.<\/p>\n
\n
I admire the courage and dedication of human rights defenders and countless civil society actors who work for a better future and share the common objectives of justice, equality, and human rights.<\/p>\n
\n
We know sometimes in very difficult conditions.<\/p>\n
\n
I especially welcome those civil society representatives whose mission it is to provide a voice to the most vulnerable and marginalized.<\/p>\n
\n
Truly, you are at the core of \u201cleaving no one behind\u201d. I\u2019m sure you know where this sentence is coming from.<\/p>\n
\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
\n
The interactions between the General Assembly and civil society are integral to reaching the solutions we need.<\/p>\n
\n
I reaffirm my deep commitment to ongoing dialogue and partnership with civil society.<\/p>\n
\n
I encourage you to come forward with proposals.<\/p>\n
\n
Proposals that are based on experience, data and science.<\/p>\n
\n
Proposals that are concrete and practical.<\/p>\n
\n
Proposals that are also mindful of the interconnections between the challenges we face all jointly.<\/p>\n
\n
Dear friends,<\/p>\n
\n
The actors and leaders are open to listening to you, ready to interact with you, and pleased to learn from all of you.<\/p>\n
\n
Thank you very much.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
21 February 2023 Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My warm thanks to the Chair of the Third Committee, my good friend, Ambassador Jos\u00e9 Alfonso Blanco, for organizing this second informal meeting […]<\/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