Remarks by H.E. Annalena Baerbock

President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

at the High-level thematic event on

“Exploring New Pathways for Dialogue Among Civilizations and Jointly Writing New Chapters for Global Governance”
on the International day for Dialogue Among Civilizations

Wednesday, 10 June 2026?

(As Delivered by Chef de Cabinet, Ms. Sofia Borges)

 

The President of the General Assembly joins Your Excellencies in recognizing the value of dialogue among civilizations, which celebrates the diversity of peoples, cultures, languages, ethnicities, and beliefs that make our world truly remarkable.

 

Indeed, it was this appreciation for diversity, and for building unity through that diversity, that inspired the theme of the 80th session: Better Together.

 

Because the reality is that a world of eight billion people, representing thousands of cultures and traditions, can only thrive when there is mutual respect and understanding, and when the inherent dignity and value of every person is recognized.

 

Excellencies,

 

Our United Nations was born out of an era of profound division, marked by devastating wars and the horrors of the Holocaust.

Its creation, symbolized by the signing of the Charter in San Francisco, represented both a rejection of the forces that led to such tragedies, and an affirmation that humanity could overcome its differences through cooperation and dialogue.

 

Today’s commemoration reflects those same principles.

 

Yet, like the United Nations itself, dialogue among civilizations requires constant effort, adaptation, and renewal.

 

Today, hatred and division manifest themselves in new ways, fueled by misinformation and disinformation, and amplified by social media, and spread across borders with unprecedented speed.

 

Conflicts in Sudan, in Gaza, Ukraine, and elsewhere continue to inflict immense suffering on millions of people.

 

In this context, embracing dialogue means more than celebrating our differences. It means actively pushing back against those who seek to divide.

 

It means standing up for the principles of the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And it means affirming the dignity and humanity of all people, everywhere.

Excellencies,

 

Let us use this moment not only to celebrate dialogue among civilizations, but also to recommit ourselves to the institution that embodies that principle and provides a home for that dialogue.

 

And let us work together to build a more peaceful, inclusive, and equitable world for present and future generations.

 

Because, as the President has ?said time and again, we are, in the end, better together.

 

I thank you.

 

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