In a world of new challenges, ‘we need to build on what unites us’, Assembly President tells UN Member States |

“This year, we heard from 190 speakers, including 76 Heads of State, 50 Heads of Government, 4 Vice Presidents, 5 Deputy Prime Ministers, 48 ​​Ministers and 7 Heads of Delegation,” said the National President. association Csaba Kőrösi as he summed up the first General Debate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While only 23 speakers were women, he echoed former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who moderated the General Assembly’s first Forum on Women Leaders this year, when saying that they ” close a punch”.

‘New Era’ of Humanity

Unable to summarize 190 statements into a few phrases, Mr. Kőrösi instead focused on a few general themes, beginning to realize increasingly that “humanity has entered a new era”.

Faced with complex challenges and multi-layered crises, he argues that significant transformations are taking place, pointing out that the “fundamental conditions” of global cooperation have changed, leaving “a world of change”. new challenging world, changing priorities, changing roles and changing ways”.

“New pages of history are being written, with new divisions and new alliances, new grievances and new successes about them,” said the President of the Council.

Highlights about Ukraine

Next, the Hall echoed in agreement that the Ukraine war should end.

He reiterated Member States’ concerns about shortages, inflation, refugees, nuclear safety and the “risk of disinformation and propaganda”.

“However, despite being the largest and most acrimonious war, the war in Ukraine is one of nearly 30 armed conflicts worldwide,” the senior UN official said, “and not the conflict in the world. which is improved”.

Climate change

A third theme that resonated throughout the speeches highlighted the dangers of climate change.

Discussions followed about countries experiencing droughts and floods simultaneously; unsustainable patterns of production and consumption; and plastic pollution fills the oceans and kills fish, “even as rising waves engulf the shores,” he continued.

Yet despite calls to achieve global net-zero and climate justice, some still seem unconvinced that “growth of our economy can be balanced with curbs on development.” waste and conserve biodiversity,” said Kőrösi.

Human rights

Calls were also heard to improve human rights and respond to the needs of those most vulnerable to exploitation.

“There is a cost to speaking out about human rights violations, but the right to freedom of speech is strongly supported,” he admitted.

The President of the Council reiterated speeches affirming diversity as “a strength, not a responsibility” and drew attention to the high-profile event on minorities marking 30 years since a historic Declaration about the rights of people of national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities.

Revival and reform

He also noted support for revitalizing the General Assembly to better respond to intertwined global crises and reforming the Security Council to reflect the realities of this century.

The senior UN official then pointed to the goal of a peaceful post-COVID world with enhanced trust, where we can work together to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Queen. He reminded that his vision statement for “solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science” is a step in that direction.

“We need to build on what unites us,” he said, and presented “the most acute challenges” in terms of crisis management and transformation.

“To deepen solidarity, we must build trust.”

Next step

With the aim of strengthening widely accepted and proprietary actions, the Chair of the Council plans to launch a series of consultations, including with the scientific community.

He said that he is also preparing for United Nations Water Conferencethe Sendai midterm review and SDG . Summit.

Mr. Kőrösi said: “When I asked you a week ago, I said that things… go wrong when we don’t seize the opportunity in front of us. “Our opportunity is here and now. Let us act.”

Before closing, he thanked everyone who made Senior Week a success.