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Remarks by the President of the General Assembly<\/b><\/p>\n
H.E. Dennis Francis<\/b><\/p>\n
At the High-Level Panel on Protecting Statehood, Sovereignty, and Heritage amidst the Climate Crisis at COP28<\/b><\/p>\n
Dubai, UAE<\/b><\/p>\n
2 December 2023<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heads of State and Government,<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is a real pleasure to be co-host of this timely High-Level Panel alongside the Director-General of International Organization for Migration, Ms. Amy Pope.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the Global Centre for Climate Mobility for organizing this discussion.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is, for me, a special honour to welcome you \u2013 the global leaders \u2013 whose visionary stewardship is deeply valued as we confront the complicated questions and repercussions of the climate crisis.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I say complex questions because they speak to the core multidimensional issues of culture and identity, statehood, and not least of all, the sovereignty of States.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the one hand we are talking legalese; on the other, we are discussing the very soul and spirit of nations, and of the identity of the many diverse people that encapsulate these nations.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
It must be recognized that climate impacts \u2013 such as sea-level rise \u2013 are already in motion and, in many cases, irreversibly existential and leaving us without a choice but to ask ourselves: what then?<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Do we stand idly by as the rising seas wash away small island nations and generation upon generation of unique history and culture, or do we act now to protect and preserve?<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
My friends, I have chosen the latter.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I am ensuring that my Presidency of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly firmly focuses on the climate crisis. Of which I view the issues of statehood and sovereignty as being among those at the forefront, indeed the centre of this crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Therefore, in September co-hosted several high-level events and also convened a General Assembly Informal Plenary<\/p>\n
Meeting in October for Member States and stakeholders to reflect on the consequences of sea-level rise. I thank your delegations for their support.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I also spotlighted this issue during my recent visit to the Cook Islands for the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting and continue to do so here at COP28.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
What I took away from the Pacific, is that there is broad regional support to act and to protect the homes, homelands, and heritage of Small Island Developing States.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pacific Leaders recognize the catastrophic threats posed by sea-level rise to the political, social, economic, and cultural fabric \u2013 and consequently, in partnership with communities on the frontlines, they are seeking innovative solutions.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thankfully, they are not alone.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Secretary-General\u2019s Our Common Agenda report has called upon the international community to act \u201con territorial threats of climate change and to prevent, protect, and resolve situations of environmental displacement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
What those solutions entail, however, remains unclear and undefined.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I am hopeful that at least the final outcomes of this COP will spotlight rising sea levels and the present climate emergency confronting Small Island Developing States in the Pacific, the Caribbean, and around the world.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
And I hope that these conclusions are backed by necessary action, in response to the lingering questions:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
What efforts can we take to empower communities and shore up resilience?<\/p>\n
How can we effectively protect against the loss of culture and heritage?<\/p>\n
And what avenues exist to ensure that the status of statehood and sovereignty are never a cause for anxiety or doubt?<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In that light, I welcome the Rising Nations Initiative (RNI) \u2013 a Member States-led initiative, guided by a core group of champions, aimed at pressing forward efforts to preserve the sovereignty, rights, culture, and heritage of SIDS in the face of the existential threats posed by sea-level rise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Excellencies, Esteemed Colleagues,<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
We all recognize the magnitude of the forces at play \u2013 it is time to find solutions that serve both people and planet. I look to you for collective guidance to the world \u2013 by sharing your experiences, thoughts, and expectations.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is an opportune time, and a propitious place to take decisive steps; to refine our understanding of the dynamics of sea-level rise \u2013 and to build momentum for urgent and targeted action.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
This includes addressing the speculations around the continuity of statehood and protecting the maritime territorial integrity of Member States. It includes robust advocacy and enhanced political action on relevant legal issues.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
And decidedly, it includes mobilizing a coalition of like-minded countries to ensure that Small Island Developing States and low-lying coastal States are prioritized in climate action and climate finance.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cultural heritage of countries threatened by sea-level rise must be safeguarded, sustaining their livelihoods, and strengthening their resilience.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I look forward to your discussions today on how you envision to shore-up support and to make this happen.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I thank you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Remarks by the President of the General AssemblyH.E. Dennis FrancisAt the High-Level Panel on Protecting Statehood, Sovereignty, and Heritage amidst the Climate Crisis at COP28Dubai, UAE2 December 2023\u00a0\u00a0Heads of State […]<\/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":"
Remarks of the President of the General Assembly<\/p>\r\n
H.E Dennis Francis<\/p>\r\n
GA plenary meeting on the
Report of the International Criminal Court,<\/p>\r\n
Monday, 30 October 2023<\/p>\r\n
As Delivered<\/i><\/i><\/p>\r\nPresident of the International Criminal Court, Judge Piotr Hofmanski,<\/i><\/i>\r\n\r\nExcellencies,<\/i>\r\n\r\nDistinguished Delegates,<\/i>\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/i>\r\n\r\nToday we gather to consider the annual report of the\u00a0International Criminal Court (ICC) \u2013 a\u00a0 critical pillar of the international legal order.\r\n\r\nThe ICC stands as a perennial symbol of our shared commitment to justice and humanity\u2019s greatest aspirations.\r\n\r\nIt serves as an emphatic reminder that\u00a0no one \u2013 I repeat, no one \u2013 should be exempt from accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community,\u00a0and that regardless of their status, position or location, perpetrators of such crimes will invariably face the weight of justice.\r\n\r\nIndeed, when it comes to the most egregious crimes against humanity,\u00a0 accountability knows no exceptions and justifiably so.\r\n\r\nIn those grave and heinous cases \u2013 when national legal systems prove unable or unwilling to bring perpetrators to justice \u2013 the ICC must step in.\r\n\r\nAccordingly, the ICC stands as a testament to our unshakeable resolve to end impunity, and moreover, to deter others from the commission of such crimes in the future.\r\n\r\nThe Court is indeed a truly unique embodiment of our collective resolution to upholding the principles of justice and accountability.\r\n\r\nI express my\u00a0 fulsome appreciation to the Court for its diligent efforts,\u00a0 as indeed to its judges and its prosecutor, as well as to the dedicated staff who have laudibly committed themselves to the pursuit of justice \u2013 and indeed, to what is\u00a0right<\/i>.\r\n\r\nThe report highlights both the progress and the challenges faced by the ICC this year, specifically as regards the prevention and punishment of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.\r\n\r\nThese principles are fundamental to our global vision of peace and are integral to our mission of maintaining international peace and security, promoting respect for human rights, and delivering justice to those who have suffered the gravest injustices.\r\n\r\nLadies and Gentlemen,<\/i>\r\n\r\nWe must acknowledge that the Court operates in a multifaceted international landscape.\r\n\r\nIts jurisdiction spans cases where state parties have brought situations to the attention of the Court, including situations referred by the United Nations Security Council.\r\n\r\nWhile it may present a unique set of challenges \u2013this duality in referral mechanisms underscores the importance of international cooperation.\r\n\r\nDespite these challenges, the hope for universal ratification of the Rome Statute, and the Kampala amendments, serve as a profound affirmation of the ICC's enduring commitment to justice.\r\n\r\nAs more countries join and support the ICC, the bold ambition of ending impunity for the most serious crimes becomes increasingly realistic to achieve.\r\n\r\nAs we engage in this discussion, let us remember the voices of the victims, whose suffering must compel us to take meaningful action.\r\n\r\nI underscore the\u00a0need for universal cooperation with the court among Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States in our common pursuit of a more just and peaceful world.\r\n\r\nI call upon States to support the ICC where it faces constraints in its pursuit of justice, including predictable funding to effectively undertake its investigations and prosecutions.\r\n\r\nIn line with the fundamental principle of complementarity, States should cooperate\u00a0with the ICC and with each other in investigations and prosecutions, including by sharing information and evidence to uphold the rule of law and ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes.\r\n\r\nLet us remain committed to strengthening the international legal framework and ensuring that the ICC continues to fulfill its essential role in our global efforts to prevent impunity and injustice and to promote lasting peace.\r\n\r\nI thank you and look forward to a fruitful discussion on this important matter.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-274513","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