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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remarks by Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the General Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n 16 September 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n [As delivered]<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, we find ourselves at a crossroads, a moment of reckoning on our path to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The buzz word of the day is “Mobilization,” which suggests a sense of urgency that we cannot ignore.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is crunch time; time to roll up our sleeves and turn our aspirations, and our promises, into reality, for the benefit of all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our mission today, for the next week \u2013 and for the next seven years as we strive to achieve the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) \u2013 is to <\/span>mobilize<\/span><\/i>; to harness the collective strength and resourcefulness of all governments and stakeholders; and to convert possibilities into opportunities and challenges into triumphs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our progress toward the SDGs has been marred by crises \u2013 from the relentless onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic to the unyielding manifestation of climate change and inequalities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Unhappily, we are at a point where progress on <\/span>more than half of our targets<\/span><\/b> is stalling, if not regressing.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, we must be resolute, and act with increased determination\u00a0 and unity of purpose to break through the barriers that obstruct our path to delivering the SDGs<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is not enough to merely acknowledge our goals; we <\/span>must breathe life into them<\/span><\/b> and implement them in substance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But, dear friends,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As we stand on this global stage, we must also remember that our ambitions cannot be achieved by governments alone.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We need the private sector, civil society, women, youth, scientists, academics, philanthropic foundations \u2013 <\/span>all stakeholders across all fields and disciplines<\/span><\/b> \u2013 to come forward, to lend their voices, and their hands, to ensure a transformative process that delivers both for people and planet.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our challenge now is to find smarter, more efficient ways to involve, include and to work with you as partners.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I therefore take this opportunity to thank you for your tireless efforts and advocacy. We have seen the results that can be achieved when civil society contributes to our shared endeavours.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But now is also time for more resolute collective action \u2013 and this reminds me of a recent citation by His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone of the African proverb that: <\/span>If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let us focus our energies on the goals where progress is lagging, on the countries in acute vulnerability, on the roots of inequality that persist, still today.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This calls for more than words; it calls for an unwavering commitment not only to mobilizing resources and investments but more importantly political will.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Together, we can address the problems of inequalities and imbalances of development, ensuring that no one is left behind, and that no goal is neglected.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The commitments we make today will shape the world of tomorrow.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Together, let us transform the blueprint we created into a tangible living reality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let us transform the SDGs from a legacy of hope to a bright living dynamic reality of peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Thank you.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 Remarks by Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the General Assembly 16 September 2023 [As delivered] Excellencies,\u00a0\u00a0 Ladies and gentlemen,\u00a0 Today, we find ourselves […]<\/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":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-272447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n