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Remarks by the President of the 78th session of the General Assembly,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n at the opening of the General Debate<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n [as delivered]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n 19 September 2023<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n Excellencies<\/span><\/em>, Heads<\/em> of<\/em> State<\/em> and<\/em>Government<\/em>,<\/span><\/p>\n Mr<\/span><\/em>. Secretary<\/em>–General of the United Nations<\/em>,<\/span><\/p>\n Honourable<\/span><\/em> Ministers<\/em>,<\/span><\/p>\n Distinguished<\/span><\/em> Delegates,<\/em> and all<\/em>stakeholders<\/em> here<\/em> present<\/em>, <\/span><\/p>\n Good morning.<\/span><\/p>\n It is my honor and privilege, as President of the United Nations General Assembly, to welcome you to this Hall for the opening of the General Debate of the 78th<\/sup> session.<\/span><\/p>\n Allow me to acknowledge in our<\/span> midst today, several former Presidents of the General Assembly, including His Excellency Han Seung-soo,<\/span> former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea who served as President of the 56th<\/sup> Session of the Assembly, and <\/span>who now sits as Chair of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Council of Former Presidents of the General Assembly (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCPGA).<\/span><\/p>\n Together, this General Assembly Hall and this rostrum, stand as <\/span>a living testament to multilateralism and to <\/span>the extraordinary role <\/span>and compelling influence of the United Nations over the 75 years of its existence.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is a unique and truly global platform for debate, <\/span>dialogue, and problem -solving through multilateral diplomacy.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This year our imperative is clear: to unite the nations<\/strong>, to be united in conviction <\/span>of common purpose and in solidarity of joint action.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Such a common coordinated approach is needed now, as much as at any point in our history.<\/span><\/p>\n War. Climate change. Debt. Energy and food crises. Poverty and famine.<\/span><\/p>\n These crises are directly impacting the lives and well-being of billions of people around the world.<\/p>\n They are rolling back decades of hard-won development gains, and thus condemning millions to lifelong intergenerational poverty and hardship.<\/span><\/p>\n It is at times like these that we must search deep within to find our better selves and our common humanity that impels us to meet the moment.<\/p>\n I therefore implore you, let us use this forum for that which it was intended. <\/span><\/p>\n Let us listen and learn. Let us rebuild trust and reignite global solidarity. And let us find common ground to address the challenges we face.<\/span><\/p>\n In the words of the late, great Madeline Albright, \u201cIf the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ did not exist, we would have to invent it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n We are fortunate, therefore, that it does exist.\u00a0 Let us therefore make full and effective use of this unparalleled resource.<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/p>\n This message is all the more important in light of the continued violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a fellow member of the United Nations \u2013 Ukraine.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n That horrendous war has unleashed untold suffering and destroyed countless families, communities, and lives. <\/span><\/p>\n Its cascading impacts has also spooked many developing countries \u2013 in far-flung corners of the globe \u2013 unleashing acute shortages of essential commodities, triggering food insecurity and volatility in energy prices.<\/span><\/p>\n It has even revived the unconscionable threat of nuclear warfare.<\/span><\/p>\n We all want this war to end. It is an afront to everything that this organization and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter stands for.<\/span><\/p>\n We need just and sustainable peace in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world, in line with international law and with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter.<\/span><\/p>\n Peace<\/span><\/strong> must also be given a chance in other parts of the globe \u2013 from Africa to the Middle East.<\/span><\/p>\n With the adoption of Agenda 2063, Africa spelt a clear path for \u201cThe<\/strong>Africa<\/strong> We<\/strong> Want<\/strong>\u201d \u2013 and the continent still has a great chance to cut a corner in consolidating democracy and good governance. <\/span><\/p>\n But the resurgence of coups in <\/span>Africa is a regressive step \u2013 and the root causes of such an alarming trend must be carefully analyzed and addressed. <\/span><\/p>\n I urge you, Member States, to use this High-Level Week \u2013 not to fan the flames of conflict and hostility \u2013 but instead, to opt for dialogue and diplomacy.<\/span><\/p>\n We must remember that peace<\/strong> is an investment in our collective prosperity<\/u>.<\/span><\/p>\n I call on leaders to come together, to abide by the Charter, and support efforts to deliver a peaceful resolution to the war.<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/p>\n Yesterday, we began our High-Level Week with the SDG Summit<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n It offered a prime moment to take stock of our successes and failures in delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. <\/span><\/p>\n Front and center were the fact that 1.2 billion <\/span>people are living in multidimensional poverty as of 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n While some progress had been made on the Goals, the Summit is being convened in a context where there have been unacceptable delays and rollbacks.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Let me be clear: we do not have the luxury of excuses<\/u>, nor are we absolved of our responsibilities. <\/span><\/p>\n The onus is on us \u2013 collectively \u2013 to make up for the lost momentum and work much harder in the remaining seven years to accelerate progress on that which we have promised to deliver.<\/span><\/p>\n The commitment to action presented at the Summit should therefore be the tailwind to regain lost ground and supercharge implementation. <\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/p>\n The SDG Summit was only the start of what is a full agenda during this High-Level Week. <\/span><\/p>\n It naturally interlinks with the General Assembly\u2019s High<\/strong>–Level<\/strong> Dialogue<\/strong> on<\/strong>Financing<\/strong> for<\/strong> Development<\/strong> \u2013 which is key to accelerating the financing impetus for the SDGs.<\/span><\/p>\n The preparatory ministerial meeting for the Summit for the Future<\/strong> will help to launch the negotiations of the Pact<\/strong> for<\/strong>the<\/strong> Future<\/strong> \u2013 giving guidance on how to ensure the United Nations is fit for purpose in the twenty-first century. <\/span><\/p>\n It will give Member States the opportunity to come together, and to transform our shared future.<\/span><\/p>\n We will also see three health-related High-Level Meetings on: Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response; Universal Health Coverage; and on Tuberculosis<\/strong> \u2013 all of which offer us opportunities to better the lives of our global citizens.<\/span><\/p>\n And the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit<\/strong> offers a moment to build political ambition ahead of COP28 in November.<\/span><\/p>\n Tomorrow, I will also join hands with several Heads of State and <\/span>Government to convene a Breakfast Summit to address the existential<\/strong>threats<\/strong> posed<\/strong> by<\/strong> sea<\/strong>–level<\/strong> rise<\/strong> \u2013 an issue of significant concern to small island developing states, especially those in the Pacific region.\u00a0<\/p>\n Excellencies<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/p>\n Allow me to pause here and reiterate my deepest condolences to the Governments and peoples of Morocco and Libya.<\/span><\/p>\n The twin disasters of earthquakes and flooding have left thousands dead and untold more suffering. <\/span><\/p>\n It is my sincere hope that resources and relief can be expedited to support all those who now find themselves in desperate need.<\/span><\/p>\n As a citizen of a climate-vulnerable region, I urge Member States to recognize the continued and escalating impacts of climate change \u2013 and to deliver real, transformative results. <\/span><\/p>\n Let us work together to unlock the finances and resources required to support those most vulnerable in mitigation, adaptation, and resilience-building.<\/span><\/p>\n And let us continue work on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index<\/strong> \u2013 with the aim of moving beyond GDP to a measure of economic development that effectively captures a country\u2019s true vulnerability to external shocks.<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond the High-Level Week, this year we will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n This is an opportunity <\/span>to re-dedicate ourselves to the principles enshrined in the Declaration and to remind ourselves that \u201cwe are all born free and equal in dignity and in rights\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n As President of the 78th<\/sup> Session, I am committed to championing vulnerable and marginalized groups, including indigenous peoples, peoples living with disabilities and older persons.<\/span><\/p>\n I have committed to ensure that we do not continue to neglect countries in special situations, and I intend to soon launch the High<\/strong>–Level<\/strong> Advisory<\/strong>Group<\/strong> on<\/strong> LDCs<\/strong>, LLDCs<\/strong> and<\/strong> SIDS<\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n But first and foremost, we need to work for all women and girls, who are appallingly still struggling for equality and respect.<\/span><\/p>\n We must \u2018walk the talk\u2019 on gender<\/strong>equality<\/strong> and<\/strong> women\u2019s<\/strong>empowerment<\/strong>. This means according women full, equal, and meaningful participation at every level.<\/span><\/p>\n As an international gender champion myself, I am strongly committed to promoting gender equality and women\u2019s empowerment, and I have appointed a Special Envoy and Special Adviser on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment to assist me in this endeavor.<\/span><\/p>\n Before I close, allow me to emphasize this: despite the many and complex challenges we face, we do have the capacity to effect change<\/u>, consequential change.<\/span><\/p>\n We CAN make a meaningful difference to the lives of billions of people, if we so choose.<\/span><\/p>\n We do not lack capacity. What we lack is the will to act.<\/span><\/p>\n By putting aside our differences and bridging divides we can deliver, we must deliver, Peace, Progress, Prosperity, and Sustainability <\/strong>to everyone, everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n So let us step up and take action now.<\/span><\/p>\n Let us re-energize the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly and demonstrate our capacity and our will to deliver <\/span>for all.<\/p>\n