[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-21px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Remarks by the President\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the 78th session\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the General Assembly,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n at the opening\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u00a0Alliance<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Civilizations<\/span>\u00a0Group<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Friends<\/span>\u00a0High<\/span>–Level<\/span>\u00a0Meeting<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \n Your Excellency, Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos,\u00a0High<\/span>\u00a0Representative for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u00a0Alliance<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Civilizations<\/span>,<\/i><\/p>\n Your Excellency. Mr. Hakan Fidan, Minister\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Foreign Affairs\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0T\u00fcrkiye,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Your Excellency, Mr. Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the Kingdom\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Spain,<\/span><\/i><\/i><\/p>\n Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,<\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Let me begin by thanking you for the generous invitation to join you today.<\/p>\n \n It is an honour to be among\u00a0friends<\/span>\u00a0and leaders, with such rich experience in building convergence\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0thought through constructive dialogue.<\/p>\n \n Indeed,<\/p>\n \n \u2026 the work\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0this\u00a0Alliance<\/span>\u00a0becomes as\u00a0critical<\/b>\u00a0as ever as part\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the toolkit to reverse this trajectory\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0violence and despair; and in finding new pathways to kindle actions devoted\u00a0to\u00a0unity and solidarity among all peace-loving\u00a0nations<\/span>.<\/p>\n \n As you know, I have chosen \u201cpeace<\/b>\u201d as one\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the four pillars\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the theme for my Presidency\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the General Assembly.<\/p>\n \n I believe the mission\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0Alliance<\/span>\u00a0is closely aligned with this vision \u2013 and I see several points\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0convergence and cooperation to achieve our common goal\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0tolerant and peaceful societies<\/b>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n First,<\/b>\u00a0let us work together to fight disinformation and hateful rhetoric.<\/p>\n \n Let us do so, mindful that our efforts do not endanger or infringe on media freedoms and other fundamental rights that form the backbone\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0safe, inclusive, democratic societies.<\/p>\n \n We know that Internet shutdowns are not a solution for creating trust among peoples or confidence in Governments \u2013 quite the opposite.<\/p>\n \n Here at the\u00a0United<\/span>\u00a0Nations<\/span>, let us lead by example, promoting transparency and truth as the basis for our common action.<\/p>\n \n We know that access to trustworthy, accurate information is\u00a0essential<\/b>\u00a0to countering propaganda that incites hate and division.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Second,<\/b>\u00a0we must recognise that\u00a0women have proven to be agents\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0peace<\/b>.<\/p>\n \n Women peacebuilders play a crucial role in creating inclusive, just and durable peaceful societies.<\/p>\n \n Let us place women\u2019s leadership at the centre\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0decision-making.<\/p>\n \n And let us, again, start in this House.<\/p>\n \n Yesterday, I was delighted to reconvene the Women Leaders\u00a0Platform over lunch, and I was deeply impressed by the change-oriented ideas generated.<\/p>\n \n It is appalling that\u00a0in 78 years<\/b>, there have been only four women elected to the position I hold today.<\/p>\n \n Just four.<\/p>\n \n And we have yet to see a woman lead this Organisation.<\/p>\n \n We can and must do better.<\/p>\n \n As an international gender champion, I am strongly committed to promoting gender equality and women\u2019s empowerment, and I have appointed a Special Adviser on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment to assist me in this endeavour.<\/p>\n \n I look forward to hearing\u00a0your<\/b>\u00a0views on how we can reverse the dangerous erosion\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0women\u2019s rights in many parts\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the world.<\/p>\n \n Third,<\/b>\u00a0we simply must do more to protect children\u2019s rights to\u00a0education<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 this mightiest\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0peacebuilders.<\/p>\n \n Education \u2013 in its empowerment \u2013 plays a critical role in fostering respect, tolerance and mutual understanding that underpin safe and resilient societies.<\/p>\n \n \u201cA mind is like a parachute<\/i>,\u201d as the saying goes. \u201cIt does not work if it is not open<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Critical, yet tolerant minds flourish only when schools are safe and education is not weaponised to extremist ends.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/i><\/p>\n \n Let me close by saying that \u2013 with\u00a0two billion<\/b>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0our fellow citizens living in conflict settings \u2013 it is abundantly clear that we need a renewed atmosphere\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0trust, cooperation and commitment to prevail.<\/p>\n \n I am convinced that, together, we can build bridges and achieve the urgently needed shift from conflict to collaboration.<\/p>\n \n I commend your leadership in continuing to focus on these important issues and I wish you the best in your deliberations today.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Thank you.<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Remarks by the President\u00a0of\u00a0the 78th session\u00a0of\u00a0the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, at the opening\u00a0of\u00a0the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u00a0Alliance\u00a0of\u00a0Civilizations\u00a0Group\u00a0of\u00a0Friends\u00a0High-Level\u00a0Meeting Your Excellency, Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos,\u00a0High\u00a0Representative for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u00a0Alliance\u00a0of\u00a0Civilizations, Your Excellency. Mr. Hakan Fidan, Minister\u00a0of\u00a0Foreign […]<\/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-272613","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\n