Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye. The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Türkiye’s support to the United Nations and multilateralism.
The Secretary-General and the President discussed the way forward on the Cyprus issue as well as developments in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support for the work of the United Nations, including UN peacekeeping operations.
The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister exchanged views on developments in the region, including Afghanistan and the Middle East, and on other issues of common concern.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Ms. Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation. The Secretary-General and the President discussed Switzerland’s role on the Security Council. They also exchanged views on the war in Ukraine and the situation in Afghanistan.
The Secretary-General also expressed support for Switzerland’s engagement in the field of Women Peace and Security.
*****
Le Secrétaire général a rencontré S.E. Mme Viola Amherd, Présidente de la Confédération suisse. Le Secrétaire général et la Présidente ont discuté du rôle de la Suisse au sein du Conseil de sécurité. Ils ont également échangé des points de vue sur la guerre en Ukraine et la situation en Afghanistan.
Le Secrétaire général a également exprimé son soutien à l’engagement de la Suisse dans le domaine des femmes, de la paix et de la sécurité.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister underlined the solidarity and cooperation between the United Nations and Timor-Leste.
They discussed challenges faced by Small Island Developing States, sustainable development, as well as regional and global issues. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister further discussed the Summit of the Future and agreed on the need for reforms of the international financial institutions.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. To Lam, State President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for the strong cooperation between Viet Nam and the United Nations, particularly on the Sustainable Development Goals, governance of the digital space, climate action, just energy transition and peacekeeping, as well as for the strong partnership between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. They exchanged views regarding efforts to fight climate change and the protection of biodiversity.
The Secretary-General and the President also discussed bilateral relations between Guyana and Venezuela, the situation in Haiti and the Middle East.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They discussed the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and ongoing regional peace efforts. The Secretary-General reiterated the United Nations’ support for regional peace initiatives.
****
Le Secrétaire-Général s’est entretenu avec S.E. M. Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, Président de la République démocratique du Congo. Ils ont discuté de la situation dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo et des efforts de paix régionaux en cours. Le Secrétaire général a réitéré le soutien des Nations Unies aux initiatives de paix régionales.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Simon Harris T.D., Taoiseach of Ireland. The Secretary-General and the Taoiseach discussed the Summit of the Future, the implementation of the Pact for the Future, and efforts to galvanize support for multilateralism. They also discussed the wars in Ukraine and the situation in the the Middle East, including the war in Gaza.
Source: United Nations Population Fund
During the UN General Assembly, countries and donors rally critical investments to save women and girls’ lives and drive sustainable development.
As part of the global effort to secure sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all, governments and philanthropies have committed approximately US$350 million in new investments to expand access to family planning and sexual and reproductive health services.
Healthy women are the foundation of healthy families, vibrant communities, and prosperous economies and demand for SRH services is growing globally. Between 2023 and 2035, the number of people in low- and middle-income countries using modern contraceptives is predicted to increase by 95.4 million and annual births will increase by 3.29 million. Yet, a significant financing gap for contraceptives and lifesaving maternal health medicines – reaching at least US$1.5 billion in the world’s poorest countries alone by 2030 – threatens to derail hard-earned progress. Today, only 57 per cent of women are able to make their own decisions about their SRHR—a lack of autonomy that can put women’s lives at risk, rob them of opportunities, and foster an intergenerational cycle of poverty.
Together, the landmark commitments announced today on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly — ranging from countries committing domestic resources for reproductive health supplies to donor governments pledging funds to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership and new commitments from private sector and foundation partners — will help transform the lives of women and girls in 54 countries.
“Investing in reproductive health supplies is a ‘best buy’ for development, empowering women, improving maternal and newborn health outcomes, and uplifting economies,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency. “The significant new resources that governments and philanthropies are committing to are a lifeline for millions of women, who can now enjoy reproductive freedom and the power of choice. Together, we must close the funding gap for reproductive health commodities so that every woman, everywhere, can exercise her fundamental rights.”
The contributions to UNFPA alone have the potential to reach more than 28 million people with reproductive health care, prevent more than 8 million unintended pregnancies, avert more than 2 million unsafe abortions, and save the lives of up to 9,000 women and girls.
Domestic financing commitments include:
Financing commitments from international donors include:
Other commitments include:
A Smart Investment for Health, Prosperity, and Sustainable Development
“When we invest in healthy women, we invest in a healthy world,” said Dr. Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation. “Family planning is a proven, high-impact intervention that not only saves lives but also fuels economic growth, makes societies more resilient, and advances gender equality. Investing in family planning can help unlock a brighter, more sustainable future for us all.”
Increasing sexual and reproductive health financing pays off. Globally, every US$1 invested in family planning yields more than US$8 in benefits for families and societies. Addressing the women’s health gap – in which they currently spend 25 per cent more of their lives in poor health compared to men – will boost the global economy by US$1 trillion by 2040. That amounts to an increase in per capita GDP of nearly 2 per cent every year.
A World Made Possible by Family Planning
Furthering the impact of today’s domestic financing announcements, the governments of the Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, and Nepal have ongoing commitments under FP2030 to expand access to family planning. FP2030 – a global partnership dedicated to putting family planning at the centre of global health, development, and gender equality – premiered a new video at the UN General Assembly featuring Nigerian football star Asisat Oshoala and former US Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star and American business owner Renee Montgomery speaking to all that has been made possible by continued investments in family planning and SRH.
“So much of our world has been made possible by family planning. By enabling more women to shape their lives and futures, family planning has helped women to finish their education, join the workforce, ascend to leadership positions, and achieve their dreams,” said Dr. Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director of FP2030. “The commitments made to family planning and sexual and reproductive health today will create limitless possibilities for women, for families, and for our collective future.”
Investing in Family Planning and Sexual and Reproductive Health is Investing in the Future
Today’s commitments represent a critical step towards ensuring universal access to SRH services. While the work is far from over, these commitments get us closer to closing the current and expanding financing gap.
“There is no escaping the reality: even with the important pledges today, we still need to do more to ensure all women and girls have access to life-saving family planning when they want it,” said Sir Chris Hohn, Founder and Chair of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. “The shameful gap in funding for commodities and services must be met by strong domestic leadership – and sustained donor funding in service to country priorities. CIFF’s US$100 million investment in the WISH platform, on top of our US$100 million investment last year to end the commodity financing gap, is a demonstration of our commitment to prioritizing country-led solutions to ensure more women and girls can choose their futures.”
By unlocking sustainable financing and recharging political will for SRH, we can secure a healthier, more equitable world for future generations.
Media contact:
Source: World Food Programme
NEW YORK CITY–Today, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed a contribution of US$ 8 million from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints towards WFP’s home-grown school meals programme in Haiti. The announcement came at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024 Annual Meeting taking place in New York City, where it was featured as a new CGI Commitment to Action.
The grant from the Church to World Food Program USA will support WFP’s ongoing work with local governments and partners in Haiti’s Artibonite and Centre departments to scale up school meals that use food from local smallholder farmers.
“Building on more than a decade of work together, the Church continues to serve as an essential collaborator, supporting WFP’s global operations during emergencies, while simultaneously stepping up to build community resilience,” said Barron Segar, World Food Program USA President and CEO. “In addition to supporting work on the ground in Haiti, we are grateful for the Church’s generosity in helping us serve thousands of people in other countries around the world this year, as we combat the world’s global hunger crisis.”
In Haiti, half of the population is struggling to find enough to eat — one of the highest proportions of acute food insecurity worldwide. Home-grown school meals serve as an opportunity to provide much-needed nutrition to children and to support their education, while sourcing food locally supports local economies and ensures sustainability of the programme. In the upcoming 2024/25 school year, WFP is planning to provide school meals to nearly 500,000 students, 70 percent of which will be made entirely with Haitian-grown ingredients purchased from local farmers.
“As followers of Jesus Christ, we strive to care for those in need as He would,” said Blaine R. Maxfield, Managing Director of the Church’s Welfare and Self-Reliance Services. “These efforts in Haiti will help ensure that children have access to the nutrition they need to focus on their education, while at the same time strengthening communities by sourcing meals locally.”
As a longstanding collaborator of WFP, in 2024 alone, the Church has generously supported food assistance in multiple countries across the globe — from delivering emergency food in Ukraine and Nigeria, to feeding school children and ensuring mothers and their newborn children have access to the right nutrients in Chad, Ecuador, Cuba, Guinea, Honduras and Peru.
# # #
About WFP
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media.
About World Food Program USA
World Food Program USA, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC, proudly supports the mission of the United Nations World Food Programme by mobilizing American policymakers, businesses and individuals to advance the global movement to end hunger. Our leadership and support help to bolster an enduring American legacy of feeding families in need around the world. To learn more, please visit wfpusa.org.
Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Geneva, 24 September – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched the Youth Changemakers Initiative, empowering ten young leaders globally, who will collaborate closely with IOM offices to advocate on critical issues such as climate mobility, human trafficking, gender equality, health, and countering xenophobia.
Driven by a passion for migration and a commitment to creating meaningful change, IOM’s Youth Changemakers will dedicate the next 11 months to positively impacting their communities. This initiative will provide them with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills, as well as leverage the support of a global network of like-minded peers.
“The IOM’s Youth Changemakers Initiative is supporting young leaders worldwide to become effective migration advocates and agents of change in their communities,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope.
Of the world’s 281 million migrants, 87 million of them – or about 31 percent – are under the age of 30. In their host communities, young changemakers bring innovative solutions to migration challenges and opportunities, playing a crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The selection process for the Youth Changemakers involved two stages. Initially, five young leaders were chosen through a competitive global application process. They were later joined by five African Union (AU)-IOM Migration Youth Ambassadors, selected in 2023 by the IOM Special Liaison Office in Addis Ababa in partnership with the AU Women, Gender and Youth Directorate and the Office of the AU Chairperson’s Youth Envoy.
The IOM Youth Changemakers are (in alphabetical order):
As a first step, each Youth Changemaker will create an individual action plan aimed at raising awareness about migration in ways that are both accessible and relevant to their communities. To support their efforts, IOM will facilitate their participation in key meetings and events, offer training sessions, and provide peer-learning opportunities.
Despite their significant contributions to sustainable development, young people remain underrepresented in public policymaking. The Youth Changemakers Initiative aims to enhance their participation in migration discussions and promote safe, orderly, dignified, and inclusive migration.
More information about this initiative is available on the official website.
For more information, please contact media@iom.int.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil. They talked about Brazil’s presidency of the G20 and COP 30, as well as the implementation of the Pact for the Future. The Secretary-General and the President agreed on the pressing need to reform the global governance institutions, including the international financial architecture. They further discussed global and regional issues, including the situation in Haiti, Ukraine, and the Middle East.
Source: United Nations Population Fund
Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
I greet you in peace, so desperately needed in our turbulent world.
The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, stands with you to forge the path to a better, more sustainable future of peace and prosperity for all.
Demographic shifts – population growth, ageing, migration – are reshaping our world and our future.
In an ever-changing world of over 8 billion, our focus must be on people.
This means ensuring that population dynamics are factored into development plans, with an emphasis on rights, choices, dignity and equality.
It means investing in human capital – in health, education, and the empowerment of women and young people. We know this yields significant returns with ripple effects across generations.
Our commitment to individual dignity, rights, and choices is the foundation for a resilient and sustainable future.
Our 1.9 billion young people have the power to transform our world. Let’s invest in their potential and support their leadership.
I participated in the Action Days preceding this Summit, where young people brought forward their unique perspectives, experiences, and innovative approaches to policies, programmes, and decision-making.
The energy was palpable. Our investments in the social and economic development of young people must be palpable as well. They have a fundamental right to participate in sustainable development, humanitarian action, and in sustaining peace.
By leveraging science, data, and statistics, combined with strategic foresight, we can ensure that we are thinking about the present – and preparing for the future.
Let’s embrace and shape the technology that is transforming our world and our work.
The digital gender divide is driven not just by a lack of technological availability and affordability, but also by harmful social and gender norms that restrict women’s and girls’ autonomy.
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence disproportionately affects women, girls, and young people, and occurs both online and off.
As we work to bridge the digital divide, our task is to ensure technology fosters empowerment and gender equality rather than perpetuating violence.
Excellencies,
Three decades on from the groundbreaking International Conference on Population and Development and as the end of our ICPD30 review process draws near, UNFPA remains laser focused on the future of every 10-year-old girl today. As she stands on the cusp of adolescence, how can we ensure that she is prepared to navigate that adolescence with anticipation, and without fear?
This requires rallying new allies and partners, harnessing innovation, exploring new forms of financing and embracing the power of technology to advance rights and choices for her and for everyone, in line with the objectives of this Summit.
We congratulate Member States for their consensus on the Pact of the Future, the Declaration on Future Generations and the Global Digital Compact.
These important outcomes offer some solutions. Yet, we know much more remains to be done to translate commitments into action.
By focusing our efforts and strengthening our partnerships and investments, we can overcome our common challenges and build a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for all.
Thank you.
Source: World Food Programme
QUEZON CITY – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are hosting the Preparedness and Response Excellence in the Philippines (PREP) Forum on September 24 – 25, highlighting local solutions to tackle food insecurity in disaster-prone areas. Supported by USAID and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this forum aims to enhance the Philippines’ emergency response and management capacities, supporting vulnerable Filipinos during natural disasters.
“I am incredibly impressed at the speed of innovation in disaster management in the Philippines,” said USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks. “As your friend, partner, and ally, the United States remains committed to strengthening our partnerships and working with the Philippine government to rebuild and restore lives following disasters.”
Ahead of the forum, WFP launched the PREP Innovation Challenge in July to explore local solutions that tackle food insecurity. Participants in the challenge come from diverse sectors, including national Government, academia, private sector, and non-governmental organizations such as the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards Center, the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, and the Tarabang para sa Bicol, Inc.
“What makes this year’s Forum special is our focus on innovation. WFP aims for the Forum to be a valuable platform where experts and stakeholders share solutions that will enhance the Philippines’ disaster management capacity. Innovative solutions can empower vulnerable communities to better prepare for and recover faster from climatic shocks and other crises,” said Regis Chapman, WFP Philippines Country Director.
Going forward, WFP will collaborate with the local innovators to implement their solutions in at least one of the most disaster-prone provinces of the Philippines: Albay, Cagayan, Catanduanes, Dinagat Islands, Isabela, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Surigao del Norte. This joint venture will empower the most vulnerable communities to prepare for and recover faster from disasters and crises.
The innovation challenge is part of WFP’s mission in the Philippines to help pilot and scale existing innovative approaches to improve food security in some of the most disaster-prone areas in close partnership with and support of the Government, donors, and partners.
The Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. For the third consecutive year, the Philippines ranked 1st worldwide due to its exposure and susceptibility to natural hazards.
# # #
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on Twitter/X @wfp_media @wfp_philippines
Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping
Captain Sabrina Binte Islam is an aircraft maintenance engineer in the Bangladeshi army. She has been serving with MONUSCO since March 2024 / Photos Aubin Mukoni and Banbatt
To be of service. To be useful to others. In Captain Sabrina Binte Islam’s family, those are some of the values that have been handed down from father to daughter. Her father, a retired Bangladeshi army doctor, inspired her from an early age.
Captain Sabrina Binte Islam is an aeronautical maintenance engineer from Bangladesh. She arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March 2024, and her job is to ensure the safety and functionality of MONUSCO helicopters, which crisscross the Congolese skies to deploy troops, transport civilians and provide emergency responses in the mission’s areas of operation.
In the province of North Kivu, where the prevailing security situation is often volatile and air transport can be life-saving, maintaining helicopters to ensure their operational readiness takes on a whole new dimension.
It’s a responsibility that Captain Sabrina Binte Islam says she approaches with an attention to detail and meticulousness. “My job is to ensure that our three helicopters are always operational and mission-ready. Inspecting helicopters isn’t just about finding faults, it’s also about making sure that lives are safe,” she explains.
Her family’s commitment to serving others is a source of pride and motivation. She is not the only one to have followed this path: her eldest sister is a doctor in the Bangladeshi army, another one of her sisters is a civilian doctor and her brother is also a doctor in her country’s army.
The 29-year old captain been serving in the Bangladeshi army for almost ten years. She began her military training immediately after graduating from high school. During her training, which lasted almost three years, she studied electrical engineering, specializing in aircraft maintenance. She also passed the test to become a parachutist.
“Jumping was a challenge that attracted me for a long time. I dared to take the plunge, and I succeeded,” she says. Today, Sabrina continues to practice skydiving on a regular basis to maintain this specific skill, alongside her daily tasks.
Giving it her all
Captain Binte Islam’s day begins at dawn with sports. “Fitness isn’t just a requirement, it’s a state of mind: it’s about being ready to give our all when duty calls,” she explains. Then begins a demanding day’s work, during which she performs a thorough pre-flight check, solves technical problems and collaborates with flight crews and maintenance engineers.
The Bangladeshi aviation battalion based in Goma is available 24/7, ready to deploy within 30 minutes during the day and 45 minutes at night. This rapid response capability is vital to support MONUSCO’s mandate, both in terms of humanitarian efforts and the protection of civilians in conflict zones. “Knowing that my work is helping to improve the lives of people in the DRC gives me a deep sense of purpose,” emphasizes Captain Binte Islam.
Proud to serve
Reconciling a demanding career with family life is a challenge she enjoys. “It’s essential to draw a line between work and family life,” she says. The support of her family and colleagues plays a crucial role in helping her manage this balance. “Whenever I’m faced with a challenge, I don’t hesitate to ask for help. It’s this support that helps me keep things in perspective,” she explains.
She loves to read novels and biographies of historical figures, admitting with a smile: “I’m not the best cook either, but I love trying out new recipes. And even if my family or guests sometimes make fun of me, I enjoy trying”.
Captain Sabrina Binte Islam is optimistic about the future of the DRC, recognizing the country’s potential for growth and development. “There is so much to be done to improve living conditions here. The region has enormous potential, and I’m excited to be part of that change,” she declares.
Source: United Nations secretary general
Excellencies, dear friends,
The Sustainable Development Goals represent a bold vision: a commitment to a better, healthier, safer and more prosperous and sustainable future.
But the Goals are facing massive headwinds.
More than 4 out of 5 SDG targets are off track.
On top of the impacts from a global pandemic, many countries are being crushed by massive debt burdens, limited liquidity and sky-high borrowing costs.
Conflicts, hunger, inequalities and the climate crisis are all intensifying.
And the global financial architecture is not providing developing countries with sufficient financing and liquidity or to act as an effective safety net for all.
The world has the wealth, the technology, and the know-how to achieve the SDGs.
Last September’s SDG Summit included consensus around an SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion per year in financing for developing countries — and the need for global financial architecture reform.
It highlighted key transitions to generate maximum progress — ending hunger, expanding renewable energy, digitalization, education, social protection and decent work, and ending the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
It also underscored the vital importance of ensuring that women, girls and young people are at the decision-making table.
Today, you will hear from leaders about their countries’ progress across all these areas — leaders determined to make changes, even in the face of great odds.
And we will celebrate some milestones at the global level.
From reducing child mortality rates…to preventing new HIV infections…to increasing access to renewable energy and broadband …to greater gender parity across education systems.
As we reflect on next steps, I urge focus on the three development drivers that can accelerate progress.
The first is finance.
Crushing debt and inefficient tax systems are starving investments in health, education and food in many developing countries.
The Pact for the Future includes support for the SDG Stimulus and global financial architecture reform to help ease the debt crisis of so many developing countries.
This includes multiplying the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks to provide more resources for climate action and sustainable development, and changing their business model to leverage massive amounts of private finance.
As we look towards next year’s Summits on Social Development and Financing, I urge all countries to double down on these reform efforts.
The second development driver is climate action.
I urge countries to put forward ambitious national climate action plans that align with the 1.5 degree limit, and cover the whole economy and all sectors.
This requires aligning national energy strategies with a 1.5-degree world, ending fossil fuel subsidies and putting a price on carbon.
It is time for a rapid and just phase-out of fossil fuels, and a rapid and smart scale-up of renewables to drive sustainable development, energy security and economic prosperity.
We must fairly and sustainably meet the global demand for critical minerals that can power the renewables revolution. And the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals has provided recommendations to do this.
Protecting development gains from climate upheaval is also critical.
We need new and generous contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund.
We need developed countries honouring their commitment to double adaptation funding by 2025.
And we need governments to agree on a significant new climate finance goal at COP29, including new and innovative sources of finance.
Le troisième facteur de développement, c’est la paix.
Tous nos plans de développement sont rapidement anéantis par des conflits sans fin causant la mort, la destruction, la faim, les déplacements de populations et les violences basées sur le genre.
Et les ressources dont nous avons tant besoin pour nourrir et éduquer nos enfants et construire une planète durable pour notre jeunesse sont gaspillées en dépenses militaires.
Nous avons besoin de paix – à Gaza, en Ukraine, au Soudan, et partout ailleurs.
J’appelle les dirigeants du monde entier à surmonter les divisions, à mettre fin aux conflits, et à investir dans l’avenir de leurs populations et dans la paix.
Chers amis,
Dans un monde de richesses exceptionnelles, de connaissances et de technologies sans précédent, nous n’avons aucune excuse.
Il est temps de tenir les promesses du Programme 2030 – de mettre fin à la pauvreté, de protéger la planète, et de ne laisser personne de côté.
Gardons les Objectifs de développement durable en vie.
Je vous remercie.
***
[all-English]
Excellencies, dear friends,
The Sustainable Development Goals represent a bold vision: a commitment to a better, healthier, safer and more prosperous and sustainable future.
But the Goals are facing massive headwinds.
More than 4 out of 5 SDG targets are off track.
On top of the impacts from a global pandemic, many countries are being crushed by massive debt burdens, limited liquidity and sky-high borrowing costs.
Conflicts, hunger, inequalities and the climate crisis are all intensifying.
And the global financial architecture is not providing developing countries with sufficient financing and liquidity or to act as an effective safety net for all.
The world has the wealth, the technology, and the know-how to achieve the SDGs.
Last September’s SDG Summit included consensus around an SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion per year in financing for developing countries — and the need for global financial architecture reform.
It highlighted key transitions to generate maximum progress — ending hunger, expanding renewable energy, digitalization, education, social protection and decent work, and ending the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
It also underscored the vital importance of ensuring that women, girls and young people are at the decision-making table.
Today, you will hear from leaders about their countries’ progress across all these areas — leaders determined to make changes, even in the face of great odds.
And we will celebrate some milestones at the global level.
From reducing child mortality rates…to preventing new HIV infections…to increasing access to renewable energy and broadband …to greater gender parity across education systems.
As we reflect on next steps, I urge focus on the three development drivers that can accelerate progress.
The first is finance.
Crushing debt and inefficient tax systems are starving investments in health, education and food in many developing countries.
The Pact for the Future includes support for the SDG Stimulus and global financial architecture reform to help ease the debt crisis of so many developing countries.
This includes multiplying the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks to provide more resources for climate action and sustainable development, and changing their business model to leverage massive amounts of private finance.
As we look towards next year’s Summits on Social Development and Financing, I urge all countries to double down on these reform efforts.
The second development driver is climate action.
I urge countries to put forward ambitious national climate action plans that align with the 1.5 degree limit, and cover the whole economy and all sectors.
This requires aligning national energy strategies with a 1.5-degree world, ending fossil fuel subsidies and putting a price on carbon.
It is time for a rapid and just phase-out of fossil fuels, and a rapid and smart scale-up of renewables to drive sustainable development, energy security and economic prosperity.
We must fairly and sustainably meet the global demand for critical minerals that can power the renewables revolution. And the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals has provided recommendations to do this.
Protecting development gains from climate upheaval is also critical.
We need new and generous contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund.
We need developed countries honouring their commitment to double adaptation funding by 2025.
And we need governments to agree on a significant new climate finance goal at COP29, including new and innovative sources of finance.
And the third development driver is peace.
All our development plans are quickly erased by relentless conflicts that cause death, destruction, hunger, displacement and gender-based violence.
And the resources we desperately need to feed and educate our children and build a sustainable planet for our young people are wasted on military expenditures.
We need peace — from Gaza to Ukraine to Sudan and beyond.
I call on global leaders to heal divisions, end conflicts, and invest in people and peace.
Dear friends,
In our world of unprecedented wealth, knowledge and technologies, there is no excuse.
It’s time to keep the promises of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to end poverty, protect the planet, and leave no one behind.
Let’s keep the SDG commitment alive.
Thank you.
***
[all-French]
Excellences, Chers amis,
Les objectifs de développement durable incarnent une vision audacieuse. Ils constituent un engagement en faveur d’un avenir meilleur, plus sain, plus sûr, plus prospère et plus durable.
Mais les vents contraires sont nombreux.
Nous sommes mal partis pour atteindre plus de quatre sur cinq de toutes les cibles associées aux objectifs de développement durable.
Outre les conséquences d’une pandémie mondiale auxquelles ils doivent faire face, de nombreux pays sont écrasés par un endettement massif, des liquidités limitées et des coûts d’emprunt très élevés.
Les conflits, la faim, les inégalités et la crise climatique s’intensifient.
En outre, l’architecture financière mondiale ne permet pas aux pays en développement de pouvoir compter sur suffisamment de financements et de liquidités et ne leur offre pas un filet de sécurité efficace pour tous.
Le monde a pourtant les richesses, les technologies et le savoir-faire qu’il faut pour atteindre les objectifs de développement durable.
Au mois de septembre dernier, le Sommet sur les objectifs de développement durable a permis de dégager un consensus autour d’un plan de relance des objectifs de développement durable, prévoyant des financements d’au moins 500 milliards de dollars par an pour les pays en développement – et de s’accorder sur le fait qu’il est nécessaire de réformer l’architecture financière mondiale.
L’accent a été mis sur les transitions clés qui permettront d’accomplir un maximum de progrès dans toute une série de domaines : élimination de la faim, développement des énergies renouvelables, numérisation, éducation, protection sociale et travail décent, ainsi que de mettre fin à la triple crise planétaire, à savoir les changements climatiques, la pollution et l’appauvrissement de la biodiversité.
Il a également été souligné qu’il était crucial de veiller à ce que les femmes, les filles et les jeunes aient leur place à la table des décisions.
Aujourd’hui, vous entendrez des dirigeants et dirigeantes parler des progrès réalisés par leur pays dans tous ces domaines. Ils sont déterminés à faire bouger les lignes, en dépit des difficultés énormes auxquelles ils heurtent.
Et nous célébrerons des réussites phares à l’échelle planétaire : depuis la réduction des taux de mortalité infantile jusqu’à l’amélioration de la prévention des nouvelles infections par le VIH, en passant par l’élargissement de l’accès aux énergies renouvelables et de l’accès au haut débit et par l’amélioration de la parité entre les femmes et les hommes dans les systèmes éducatifs.
Alors que nous réfléchissons aux prochaines étapes, je vous invite à vous concentrer sur les trois moteurs du développement qui pourraient permettre d’accélérer le rythme des progrès.
Tout d’abord, les financements.
Dans de nombreux pays en développement, les investissements dans les domaines de la santé, de l’éducation et de l’alimentation sont exsangues à cause du niveau écrasant de la dette et de l’inefficacité des systèmes fiscaux.
Dans le Pacte pour l’avenir, il est prévu d’appuyer le plan de relance des objectifs de développement durable et la réforme de l’architecture financière mondiale afin d’atténuer la crise de la dette que traversent de trop nombreux pays en développement.
Il s’agit notamment de multiplier la capacité de prêt des banques multilatérales de développement afin de dégager davantage de ressources pour l’action climatique et le développement durable, et de modifier leur modèle de fonctionnement afin de mobiliser en masse des financements privés.
Les Sommets sur le développement social et le financement auront lieu l’an prochain, et j’invite tous les pays à redoubler d’efforts pour faire avancer la réforme dans cette perspective.
Le deuxième moteur du développement, c’est l’action climatique.
J’invite les pays à adopter des plans d’action nationaux pour le climat qui soient ambitieux, en ne dépassant pas la limite des 1,5 degré, et en couvrant l’ensemble de l’économie et tous les secteurs.
Il faudra pour cela aligner les stratégies énergétiques nationales sur l’objectif d’une élévation de la température mondiale ne dépassant pas les 1,5 degré, mettre fin aux subventions aux combustibles fossiles et fixer un prix pour le carbone.
L’heure est venue d’éliminer progressivement mais rapidement les combustibles fossiles, au terme d’une transition équitable, et d’augmenter rapidement, avec discernement, les énergies renouvelables pour favoriser le développement durable, la sécurité énergétique et la prospérité économique.
Nous devons répondre d’une manière juste et durable à la demande mondiale en minéraux essentiels, qui ont le potentiel de porter la révolution des énergies renouvelables. Et le Groupe chargé de la question des minéraux essentiels à la transition énergétique a formulé des recommandations à cette fin.
Il est également essentiel de protéger les acquis du développement face aux bouleversements climatiques.
Il faut par ailleurs que de nouvelles et généreuses contributions soient versées au Fonds pour les pertes et les préjudices.
Les pays développés doivent honorer l’engagement qu’ils ont pris de doubler le financement de l’adaptation d’ici à 2025.
Et il faut que les gouvernements se mettent d’accord sur un nouvel objectif ambitieux en ce qui concerne le financement de l’action climatique lors de la vingt-neuvième session de la Conférence des Parties à la Convention-cadre des Nations Unies sur les changements climatiques, y compris au sujet des sources de financement nouvelles ou novatrices.
Le troisième facteur de développement, c’est la paix.
Tous nos plans de développement sont rapidement anéantis par des conflits sans fin causant la mort, la destruction, la faim, les déplacements de populations et les violences basées sur le genre.
Et les ressources dont nous avons tant besoin pour nourrir et éduquer nos enfants et construire une planète durable pour notre jeunesse sont gaspillées en dépenses militaires.
Nous avons besoin de paix – à Gaza, en Ukraine, au Soudan, et partout ailleurs.
J’appelle les dirigeants du monde entier à surmonter les divisions, à mettre fin aux conflits, et à investir dans l’avenir de leurs populations et dans la paix.
Chers amis,
Dans un monde de richesses exceptionnelles, de connaissances et de technologies sans précédent, nous n’avons aucune excuse.
Il est temps de tenir les promesses du Programme 2030 – de mettre fin à la pauvreté, de protéger la planète, et de ne laisser personne de côté.
Gardons les objectifs de développement durable en vie.
Je vous remercie.
***
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar. The Secretary-General thanked Qatar for being an important partner to the United Nations and an advocate for international diplomacy. The Secretary-General and the Amir exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including the wars in Gaza and Sudan.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Ms. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark.
The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister discussed the Pact for the Future, as well as Denmark’s upcoming non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the period of 2025-2026. They also discussed the war in Ukraine.
Source: United Nations secretary general
Mr. President, Excellencies,
Two days ago, in the newly agreed Pact for the Future, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to international law and to the Charter of the United Nations.
Our Organization is based on the principle of sovereignty of all Member States – within their internationally recognized borders.
The Charter unequivocally stipulates that all States must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any other State – and that international disputes must be settled by peaceful means.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – following the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol a decade ago – is a clear violation of these principles.
And civilian populations continue to pay the price.
The death toll keeps rising.
Nearly 10 million people have fled their homes.
Systematic attacks against hospitals, schools, supermarkets… are only adding pain and misery.
Power cuts and infrastructure damage have left millions in the dark.
I strongly condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian facilities – wherever they occur and whoever is responsible. They all must stop immediately.
And I remain deeply concerned about the safety, humanitarian needs and basic human rights of people residing in occupied areas.
Mr. President,
Despite immense challenges, the United Nations remains fully engaged as the largest international presence in Ukraine.
This year alone, and together with our partners, we have provided lifesaving aid to more than 6.2 million people.
But we need the support of the international community.
15 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian assistance – more than half of them women and girls.
But – as winter is approaching – less than half of our 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is funded.
I urge donors to help us pursue our vital work on the ground.
We are also assisting the government of Ukraine in its recovery and reconstruction efforts.
This includes access to basic services and the restoration of Ukraine’s energy production capacities.
In recent weeks, we have seen a resurgence of inflammatory rhetoric and incidents around nuclear sites – particularly at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and alarmingly, at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the Russian Federation.
I commend the International Atomic Energy Agency, including its critical presence in Ukraine’s nuclear sites, to help ensure nuclear safety and security.
I urge all parties to act responsibly and avoid any declaration or action that could further destabilize an already incendiary situation.
Monsieur le Président,
Deux ans et demi après l’invasion à grande échelle de l’Ukraine, plus de 11 000 civils ont été tués.
Plus cette guerre tragique se prolonge, plus le risque d’escalade et de débordement est grand.
Cela n’affecterait pas seulement la région, mais aggraverait les tensions et les divisions mondiales – à un moment où notre monde a désespérément besoin de plus de coopération et d’action collective.
Nous devons mettre fin aux souffrances et briser le cycle de la violence, dans l’intérêt du peuple ukrainien, du peuple russe – et du monde entier.
L’initiative de la mer Noire et les échanges de prisonniers de guerre nous le rappellent : lorsqu’il y a une volonté politique, la diplomatie peut réussir, même dans les heures les plus sombres.
Bien que la paix puisse aujourd’hui paraître hors de portée, les nombreux appels au dialogue représentent une lueur d’espoir.
Intensifions donc nos efforts pour aboutir à la paix en Ukraine – une paix juste, totale et durable ;
Une paix conforme à la Charte des Nations unies, au droit international et aux résolutions de l’Assemblée générale.
L’Organisation des Nations Unies soutiendra tout effort en ce sens.
Je vous remercie.
******
[all-English]
Mr. President, Excellencies,
Two days ago, in the newly agreed Pact for the Future, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to international law and to the Charter of the United Nations.
Our Organization is based on the principle of sovereignty of all Member States – within their internationally recognized borders.
The Charter unequivocally stipulates that all States must refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any other State – and that international disputes must be settled by peaceful means.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – following the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and City of Sevastopol a decade ago – is a clear violation of these principles.
And civilian populations continue to pay the price.
The death toll keeps rising.
Nearly 10 million people have fled their homes.
Systematic attacks against hospitals, schools, supermarkets… are only adding pain and misery.
Power cuts and infrastructure damage have left millions in the dark.
I strongly condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian facilities – wherever they occur and whoever is responsible. They all must stop immediately.
And I remain deeply concerned about the safety, humanitarian needs and basic human rights of people residing in occupied areas.
Mr. President,
Despite immense challenges, the United Nations remains fully engaged as the largest international presence in Ukraine.
This year alone, and together with our partners, we have provided lifesaving aid to more than 6.2 million people.
But we need the support of the international community.
15 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian assistance – more than half of them women and girls.
But – as winter is approaching – less than half of our 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is funded.
I urge donors to help us pursue our vital work on the ground.
We are also assisting the government of Ukraine in its recovery and reconstruction efforts.
This includes access to basic services and the restoration of Ukraine’s energy production capacities.
In recent weeks, we have seen a resurgence of inflammatory rhetoric and incidents around nuclear sites – particularly at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and alarmingly, at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in the Russian Federation.
I commend the International Atomic Energy Agency, including its critical presence in Ukraine’s nuclear sites, to help ensure nuclear safety and security.
I urge all parties to act responsibly and avoid any declaration or action that could further destabilize an already incendiary situation.
Mr. President,
Two and half years since the full-blown invasion of Ukraine, more than 11,000 civilians have been killed.
The longer this tragic war continues, the greater the risk of escalation and spillover.
This would not only impact the region, but further deepen global tensions and divisions – at a time when our world desperately needs more cooperation and collective action.
We must stop the suffering and break the cycle of violence – for the sake of the people of Ukraine, the people of Russia, and the world.
The Black Sea Initiative and the continued exchanges of prisoners of war serve as reminders that, when there is political will, diplomacy can succeed – even in the darkest hour.
Today, though the prospects for peace may seem distant, I am inspired by the growing calls for dialogue.
So let us intensify our efforts to seek peace in Ukraine – a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace, in line with the UN Charter, international law and resolutions of the General Assembly.
United Nations stands ready to support all efforts towards achieving this goal.
Thank you.
******
[all-French]
Monsieur le Président, Excellences,
Il y a deux jours, à travers le nouveau Pacte pour l’avenir, les dirigeants du monde ont réaffirmé leur attachement au droit international et à la Charte des Nations unies.
Notre Organisation est fondée sur le principe de la souveraineté de tous les États membres – à l’intérieur de leurs frontières internationalement reconnues.
La Charte est sans équivoque : tous les États doivent s’abstenir de recourir à la menace ou à l’emploi de la force contre l’intégrité territoriale ou l’indépendance politique de tout autre État, et que les différends internationaux doivent être réglés par des moyens pacifiques.
L’invasion massive de l’Ukraine par la Russie en février 2022 – après l’annexion illégale de la République autonome de Crimée et de la ville de Sébastopol il y a dix ans – constitue une violation manifeste de ces principes.
Et les populations civiles continuent d’en payer le prix.
Le nombre de morts ne cesse d’augmenter.
Près de 10 millions de personnes ont fui leurs foyers.
Les attaques systématiques contre les hôpitaux, les écoles, les supermarchés… ne font qu’amplifier la douleur et la détresse.
Les coupures de courant et les dommages causés aux infrastructures ont plongé des millions de personnes dans l’obscurité.
Je condamne fermement toutes les attaques contre les civils et les installations civiles, peu importe où elles se produisent et qui est responsable. Elles doivent toutes cesser immédiatement.
Et je reste profondément préoccupé par la sécurité, les besoins humanitaires et les droits humains des personnes résidant dans les régions occupées.
Monsieur le Président,
Malgré d’immenses défis, l’Organisation des Nations Unies reste pleinement engagée, représentant la plus grande présence internationale en Ukraine.
Rien que cette année, en coopération avec nos partenaires, nous avons apporté une aide vitale à plus de 6,2 millions de personnes.
Mais nous avons besoin du soutien de la communauté internationale.
15 millions de personnes en Ukraine ont besoin d’aide humanitaire – et plus de la moitié d’entre elles sont des femmes et des jeunes filles.
Cependant, à l’approche de l’hiver, moins de la moitié de notre Plan d’intervention humanitaire pour 2024 est financée.
J’exhorte les donateurs à nous aider à poursuivre notre travail vital sur le terrain.
Nous assistons également le gouvernement ukrainien dans ses efforts de redressement économique et de reconstruction.
Cela comprend l’accès aux services de base et la restauration des capacités de production d’énergie de l’Ukraine.
Ces dernières semaines, nous avons vu une recrudescence de rhétorique incendiaire et d’incidents autour des sites nucléaires – en particulier à la centrale nucléaire de Zaporizhzhia et, de façon inquiétante, à la centrale nucléaire de Koursk, dans la Fédération de Russie.
Je félicite l’Agence internationale de l’énergie atomique, notamment pour sa présence essentielle sur les sites nucléaires ukrainiens, afin de contribuer à garantir la sûreté et la sécurité nucléaires.
J’appelle toutes les parties à agir de manière responsable et à éviter toute déclaration ou action susceptible de déstabiliser davantage une situation déjà incendiaire.
Monsieur le Président,
Deux ans et demi après l’invasion à grande échelle de l’Ukraine, plus de 11 000 civils ont été tués.
Plus cette guerre tragique se prolonge, plus le risque d’escalade et de débordement est grand.
Cela n’affecterait pas seulement la région, mais aggraverait les tensions et les divisions mondiales – à un moment où notre monde a désespérément besoin de plus de coopération et d’action collective.
Nous devons mettre fin aux souffrances et briser le cycle de la violence, dans l’intérêt du peuple ukrainien, du peuple russe – et du monde entier.
L’initiative de la mer Noire et les échanges de prisonniers de guerre nous le rappellent : lorsqu’il y a une volonté politique, la diplomatie peut réussir, même dans les heures les plus sombres.
Bien que la paix puisse aujourd’hui paraître hors de portée, les nombreux appels au dialogue représentent une lueur d’espoir.
Intensifions donc nos efforts pour aboutir à la paix en Ukraine – une paix juste, totale et durable ;
Une paix conforme à la Charte des Nations unies, au droit international et aux résolutions de l’Assemblée générale.
L’Organisation des Nations Unies soutiendra tout effort en ce sens.
Je vous remercie.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Ms. Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, President of the Republic Honduras. The Secretary-General emphasized the significance of the Pact for the Future, particularly in supporting the needs and priorities of developing countries. They exchanged views on the efforts to establish an international, impartial, independent and autonomous mechanism against corruption and impunity in Honduras.
***
El Secretario General se reunió con la Excelentísima Sra. Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento, Presidenta de la República de Honduras. El Secretario General destacó la importancia del Pacto para el Futuro, especialmente en lo que respecta a apoyar las necesidades y prioridades de los países en desarrollo. Intercambiaron impresiones sobre los esfuerzos para establecer un mecanismo internacional, imparcial, independiente y autónomo contra la corrupción y la impunidad en Honduras.
Source: World Food Programme
Photo: WFP/Mumit M. Bangladesh is currently grappling with severe floods that have impacted nearly 6 million people, particularly in the southeastern and northeastern regions of the country.
ROME – As the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) responds to flood emergencies across the globe, the agency is calling for investment and concerted action to prepare vulnerable communities for more frequent extreme climate events that threaten to damage crops, displace communities and disrupt food systems.
The number of floods in WFP’s areas of operation has increased this year, with at least 21 countries already facing significant flooding, and more expected. The floods exacerbate ongoing crises and threaten food security, while also slowing down efforts to deliver critical relief. In 2023, climate extremes drove 72 million people into crisis or emergency levels of hunger, a 26 percent increase from the previous year.
“Rich and poor countries alike are suffering severe floods and record-breaking storms, and with each passing year extreme climate events are becoming the new normal,” said WFP Assistant Executive Director Valerie Guarnieri. “When flood events come on top of conflict, displacement and hunger, they multiply the strain on communities and governments. Investing in early action and preparedness is essential to protect people’s access to food and this is a core priority for WFP.”
In 2023, WFP assisted almost 18 million people in 60 countries with solutions and services to manage climate risks. WFP’s support for early warning systems and ‘anticipatory action’ – where help arrives before disaster strikes – reached 36 countries, covering over 4.1 million people. WFP-supported climate risk insurance programmes provided 5.1 million people in 27 countries with financial protection.
In flood-affected Bangladesh, WFP recently provided cash assistance to 120,000 families before floods hit – one of WFP’s largest anticipatory action programmes to date. WFP has also been supporting cash-for-work schemes that help rebuild critical infrastructure. From Bangladesh to Somalia, WFP is working with governments and communities to analyse climate risks, strengthen early warning systems and expand climate protection.
“Climate shocks are predictable. By investing in preparedness, we can help reduce the impact of extreme weather and safeguard food security amid the climate crisis,” said Guarnieri. Evidence generated by WFP in Bangladesh and Nepal shows that anticipatory action investments have reduced the cost of humanitarian responses to floods in affected areas by up to 50 percent.
The recent spate of floods worldwide has seen WFP responding on several fronts, most recently in Asia and West Africa.
Forecasts suggest major flooding events will likely continue across Asia, the Sahel, Sudan and South Sudan over the next few months. As La Niña takes over from El Niño, floods and increased tropical storm activity are more likely in Southern Africa, northern South America and Southeast Asia. In addition to the La Niña pattern, the current extremely warm ocean temperatures are fuelling what is expected to be an exceptionally active 2024 hurricane season in the Caribbean.
For photos, click here.
# # #
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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Source: World Food Programme
Nairobi/Geneva: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is in a race against time to save lives in war-torn Sudan, as 1.5 million people across the country either face famine or are at risk of famine. Without urgent assistance, hundreds of thousands of people could die.
WFP is working tirelessly to get aid into the hands of people who are facing starvation, and we are saving thousands of lives every single day in Sudan. So far this year, we’ve supported 5.4 million people with life-saving food and nutrition assistance. As we speak, we are urgently getting basic staple foods into the hands of 180,000 people facing famine in Zamzam camp. Vulnerable communities are receiving a package of wheat flour, lentils, oil and salt.
Meanwhile in Khartoum, WFP is supporting community kitchens to provide around 175,000 hot meals daily. We’ve also just started in-kind food distributions for around 155,000 people in Karrari and Omdurman where people will receive two-month rations. Around 16,000 people in the metropolitan area received mobile money transfers in July and August, with a higher number planned for this month. WFP has also launched self-registration pilots to expand mobile money transfers to North and South Darfur, South Kordofan, and Gezira State.
WFP is taking advantage of the reopening of the Adre border from Chad into the conflict-rattled Darfur region. Trucks carrying vital food and nutrition supplies are crossing that border most days, despite facing delays due to flooded seasonal rivers and muddy road conditions where aid convoys are getting stuck. Since Adre reopened one month ago, we’ve transported 2,800 metric tonnes of food supplies into Darfur region via this route, enough aid for over 250,000 people. Of that, over 100,000 people in risk of famine areas in West Darfur have so far received emergency food and nutrition supplies.
Even though we are doing everything we can – it’s just a drop in the ocean compared to the needs, not just in Sudan but regionally. Across Sudan, South Sudan and Chad, around 36 million people have been pushed into hunger because of the ongoing war.
I was recently in Adre, Chad – where around 800,000 people have fled to. After enduring unimaginable violence, they are only met with hunger and destitution. Despite receiving food assistance, many are struggling to get by, eating once a day if they are lucky. Like a teenage girl I met called Thuraya who lost both her parents and is solely responsible for her younger siblings, sometimes only able to offer them water instead of a meal. If that is the situation for people in a comparably safe and stable place – it is hard to imagine what people facing famine or at risk of famine in Sudan are going through. I did get a glimpse from the stories I heard of women who had recently fled from ‘risk of famine’ areas. Women like Nadjua. Nadjua, along with other new arrivals, risked their lives to get to safety in Chad because there was nothing left to eat, and all their crops had been destroyed by floods. Others said they could not farm because it was too unsafe to go their fields. Health and nutrition workers in the camp told me that over half of their malnutrition cases in the camp were new arrivals coming from risk of famine areas in Sudan.
It is people like Thuraya and Nadjua – who are among tens of millions bearing the brunt of the brutal war in Sudan – that world leaders need to pay attention to. It is for them that they need to step up for during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. WFP and other aid agencies cannot tackle these challenges alone. We are doing everything we can, but we cannot stop widespread starvation and hunger-related deaths without the support and attention of the international community, too.
World leaders need to give this humanitarian catastrophe the attention it requires. That attention then needs to be translated into concerted diplomatic efforts – at the highest levels – to push for a humanitarian ceasefire and ultimately an end the conflict. We also need the international community to step up in demanding that the warring parties guarantee safe and unfettered humanitarian access and adhere to international humanitarian law. Lastly, we need a surge in funding to address the extraordinary level of need – over $600 million in coming six months, to provide urgent aid to people in the most severe levels of hunger across the region. We would require even more to help everyone who needs it.
For over 500 days the Sudanese people have been bearing the brunt of this war, feeling forgotten and abandoned by the world. They are still holding on to hope that one day they can return to their lives. Together, we owe it to the Sudanese people to step up collective action and prevent mass-scale starvation. The hopes of the Sudanese people, their future, are riding on what we do next. We cannot let them down.
# # #
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media
Source: United Nations secretary general
Excellencies,
I want to begin by thanking the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, and WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesusas, as well as all of our distinguished guests present for this special occasion.
Our gathering today marks a critical milestone; we are one year away from the next UN high-level meeting on NCDs, and just less than six years out from the 2030 SDG deadline.
Yet despite the ticking clock above our heads, underinvestment in health services has become a deadly norm; the gap between the need for, and availability of, quality care and support for people affected by NCDs remains as wide as ever.
Meanwhile, the SDGs, intricately linked with NCDs and mental illness, are careening off-track.
We are best placed to improve health outcomes for NCDs only if we fully know and understand the complex relationship between NCDs and the global goals.
Excellencies,
Let me briefly outline this connection on three fronts.
First, we must fully understand the link between health, climate change and air pollution.
Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, storms and floods, impact people living with NCDs by worsening their conditions.
When food systems are disrupted, the opportunities and capacities to maintain healthy diets diminish.
When the air we breathe is toxic, our health can no longer be sustained. Ninety-nine per cent of humanity breathes polluted air – leading to an estimated 8 million premature deaths – including more than 700,000 children under five.
Small island nations understand this deadly interplay all too well, and I commend the bold action championed by many on this front.
Second, NCDs and the economy are inextricably linked.
High out-of-pocket payments for NCD treatment push many people into poverty. Chronic conditions also take people out of work with little or no alternative income, continuing the vicious cycle.
Third, and finally, let me underscore the tragic connection between health, conflict and emergencies.
We are living through a time where conflicts are raging across the globe. In times like these of crisis, the needs of people living with NCDs and mental health conditions, are often left unmet and left behind.
Access to essential medicines is cut off.
Acute mental distress increases.
The impacts of COVID-19 still linger on. The world is still catching up on delayed vaccinations and key health services, most of which are related to the prevention of NCDs.
Excellencies,
We are gathered here today because only political will can help turn the tide. Your political commitments and actions are critical to building more resilient health systems that address these equity gaps.
To succeed in the fight against NCDs, governments must act decisively by integrating One Health principles, strengthening national NCD action plans, ensuring equitable access for vulnerable populations, and allocating sustainable funding to public health initiatives that reduce NCD risk factors and address root causes.
The critical role of research for development, robust data systems, accelerating innovation and technologies in advancing solutions to NCDs is also key.
So today, my ask of you is simple: let’s collaborate across borders, sectors, and disciplines to build a more resilient, healthy world for all.
I hope our conversation today will spark optimism and the bold decision-making that is needed at this critical juncture.
We have 52 weeks left to the next high-level meeting on NCDs – let’s make them count.
Thank you.
Source: United Nations secretary general
Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our world is in a whirlwind.
We are in an era of epic transformation – facing challenges unlike any we have ever seen – challenges that demand global solutions.
Yet geo-political divisions keep deepening. The planet keeps heating.
Wars rage with no clue how they will end.
And nuclear posturing and new weapons cast a dark shadow.
We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.
Meanwhile, 2024 is the year that half of humanity goes to the polls – and all of humanity will be affected.
I stand before you in this whirlwind convinced of two overriding truths.
First, the state of our world is unsustainable.
We can’t go on like this.
And second, the challenges we face are solvable.
But that requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems.
The Summit of the Future was a first step, but we have a long way to go.
Getting there requires confronting three major drivers of unsustainability.
A world of impunity – where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and the UN Charter.
A world of inequality – where injustices and grievances threaten to undermine countries or even push them over the edge.
And a world of uncertainty – where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways.
These worlds of impunity, inequality and uncertainty are connected and colliding.
Excellencies,
The level of impunity in the world is politically indefensible and morally intolerable.
Today, a growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a “get out of jail free” card.
They can trample international law.
They can violate the United Nations Charter.
They can turn a blind eye to international human rights conventions or the decisions of international courts.
They can thumb their nose at international humanitarian law.
They can invade another country, lay waste to whole societies, or utterly disregard the welfare of their own people.
And nothing will happen.
We see this age of impunity everywhere — in the Middle East, in the heart of Europe, in the Horn of Africa, and beyond.
The war in Ukraine is spreading with no signs of letting up.
Civilians are paying the price – in rising death tolls and shattered lives and communities.
It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, on international law and on UN resolutions.
Meanwhile, Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it.
Look no further than Lebanon.
We should all be alarmed by the escalation.
Lebanon is at the brink.
The people of Lebanon – the people of Israel – and the people of the world — cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.
Let’s be clear.
Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7th, or the taking of hostages – both of which I have repeatedly condemned.
And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
The speed and scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza are unlike anything in my years as Secretary-General.
More than 200 of our own staff have been killed, many with their families.
And yet the women and men of the United Nations continue to deliver humanitarian aid.
I know you join me in paying a special tribute to UNRWA and to all humanitarians in Gaza.
The international community must mobilize for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution.
For those who go on undermining that goal with more settlements, more landgrabs, more incitement — I ask:
What is the alternative?
How could the world accept a one-state future in which a large a large number of Palestinians would be included without any freedom, rights or dignity?
In Sudan, a brutal power struggle has unleashed horrific violence — including widespread rape and sexual assaults.
A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads. Yet outside powers continue to interfere with no unified approach to finding peace.
In the Sahel, the dramatic and rapid expansion of the terrorist threat requires a joint approach rooted in solidarity – but regional and international cooperation have broken down.
From Myanmar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Haiti to Yemen and beyond – we continue to see appalling levels of violence and human suffering in the face of a chronic failure to find solutions.
Meanwhile our peacekeeping missions are too often operating in areas where simply there is no peace to keep.
Instability in many places around the world is a by-product of instability in power relations and geo-political divides.
For all its perils, the Cold War had rules.
There were hot lines, red lines and guard rails.
It can feel as though we don’t have that today.
Nor do we have a unipolar world.
We are moving to a multipolar world, but we are not there yet.
We are in a purgatory of polarity.
And in this purgatory, more and more countries are filling the spaces of geopolitical divides, doing whatever they want with no accountability.
That is why it is more important than ever to reaffirm the Charter, to respect international law, to support and implement decisions of international courts, and to reinforce human rights in the world.
Anywhere and everywhere.
Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,
L’augmentation des inégalités est un deuxième facteur de l’insoutenabilité et une tache sur notre conscience collective.
L’inégalité n’est pas une question technique ou bureaucratique.
Au fond, l’inégalité est une question de pouvoir, aux racines historiques.
Les conflits, les bouleversements climatiques et la crise du coût de la vie étendent ces racines historiques plus profondément encore.
Dans le même temps, le monde peine encore à se relever de la flambée des inégalités engendrée par la pandémie.
Si l’on regarde les 75 pays les plus pauvres du monde, un tiers d’entre eux se trouve aujourd’hui dans une situation pire qu’il y a cinq ans.
Au cours de la même période, les cinq hommes les plus riches de la planète ont plus que doublé leurs fortunes.
Et un pour cent des habitants de la planète détient 43 % de l’ensemble des avoirs financiers mondiaux.
Au niveau national, certains gouvernements décuplent les inégalités en accordant des cadeaux fiscaux massifs aux entreprises et aux ultra-riches — au détriment des investissements dans la santé, l’éducation et la protection sociale.
Et personne n’est plus lésé que les femmes et les filles du monde entier.
Excellences,
La discrimination et les abus généralisés fondés sur le genre constituent l’inégalité la plus répandue dans toutes les sociétés.
Chaque jour, il semble que nous soyons confrontés à de nouveaux cas révoltants de féminicides, de violences fondées sur le genre et de viols collectifs – en temps de paix comme en tant qu’arme de guerre.
Dans certains pays, les lois sont utilisées pour menacer la santé et les droits reproductifs.
Et en Afghanistan, les lois sont utilisées pour entériner l’oppression systématique des femmes et des filles.
Et je suis désolé de constater que, malgré des années de beaux discours, l’inégalité de genre se manifesteet je vous demande pardon de le dire, elle se manifeste aujourd’hui encore, pleinement dans cette enceinte.
Moins de 10 pour cent des intervenants au Débat général de cette semaine sont des femmes.
C’est inacceptable, surtout quand on sait que l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes contribue à la paix, au développement durable, à l’action climatique et bien plus encore.
C’est précisément pour cela nous avons pris des mesures spécifiques pour atteindre la parité hommes-femmes parmi les hauts responsables de l’Organisation des Nations Unies,objectif qui est déjà complété.
C’est faisable.
J’exhorte les institutions politiques et économiques du monde dominées par les hommes à le faire aussi.
Excellences,
Les inégalités mondiales se reflètent et se renforcent jusque dans nos propres organisations internationales.
Le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies a été conçu par les vainqueurs de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
À l’époque, la majeure partie du continent africain était encore sous domination coloniale.
À ce jour, l’Afrique n’a toujours aucun siège permanent au sein de la principale instance de paix du monde.
Un changement s’impose.
Il en va de même pour l’architecture financière mondiale, mise en place il y a 80 ans.
Je félicite les dirigeants de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international pour les mesures importantes qu’ils ont entreprises.
Mais comme le souligne le Pacte pour l’avenir, la lutte contre les inégalités exige une accélération de la réforme de l’architecture financière internationale.
Au cours des huit dernières décennies, l’économie mondiale s’est développée et transformée.
Les institutions de Bretton Woods n’ont pas suivi le rythme.
Elles ne sont plus en mesure de fournir un filet de sécurité mondial, ni d’offrir aux pays en développement le niveau de soutien dont ils ont tant besoin.
Dans les pays les plus pauvres du monde, le coût des intérêts de la dette dépasse, en moyenne, le coût des investissements dans l’éducation, la santé et les infrastructures publiques réunis.
Et à l’échelle du monde, plus de 80 % des cibles des Objectifs de développement durable ne sont pas en bonne voie.
Excelencias,
Volver al camino correcto requiere un aumento de financiamiento para la Agenda 2030 y el Acuerdo de París.
Esto implica que los países del G20 lideren un Estímulo para los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de 500.000 millones de dólares al año.
Implica reformas para aumentar sustancialmente la capacidad de préstamo de los Bancos Multilaterales de Desarrollo – y permitirles ampliar masivamente la financiación asequible a largo plazo para el clima y el desarrollo.
Implica ampliar la financiación de contingencia mediante el reciclaje de los Derechos Especiales de Giro.
E implica promover una reestructuración de la deuda a largo plazo.
Excelencias,
No me hago ilusiones sobre las barreras a la reforma del sistema multilateral.
Los que tienen poder político y económico, o y los que creen tenerlo, son siempre reacios al cambio.
Pero el status quo ya está agotando su poder.
Sin reformas, la fragmentación es inevitable, y las instituciones globales perderán legitimidad, credibilidad y eficacia.
Excellencies,
The third driver of our unsustainable world is uncertainty.
The ground is shifting under our feet.
Anxiety levels are off the charts.
And young people, in particular, are counting on us and seeking solutions.
Uncertainty is compounded by two existential threats – the climate crisis and the rapid advance of technology — in particular, Artificial Intelligence.
Excellencies,
We are in a climate meltdown.
Extreme temperatures, raging fires, droughts, and epic floods are not natural disasters.
They are human disasters — increasingly fueled by fossil fuels.
No country is spared. But the poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit.
Climate hazards are blowing a hole through the budgets of many African countries, costing up to five per cent of GDP – every year.
And this is just the start.
We are on course to careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degree temperature rise.
But as the problem gets worse, solutions are getting better.
Renewable prices are plummeting, roll-out is accelerating, and lives are being transformed by affordable, accessible clean energy.
Renewables don’t just generate power. They generate jobs, wealth, energy security and a path out of poverty for millions.
But developing countries cannot be plundered in that journey.
Our Panel on Critical Minerals has recommended fair and sustainable ways to meet global demand for these resources, which are essential to the renewables revolution.
Excellencies,
A future without fossil fuels is certain. A fair and fast transition is not.
That is in your hands.
By next year, every country must produce an ambitious new national climate action plan – or Nationally Determined Contributions.
These must bring national energy strategies, sustainable development priorities, and climate ambitions together.
They must align with the 1.5 degree limit, cover the whole economy, and contribute to every one of the COP28 energy transition targets.
An International Energy Agency report released today breaks this down.
By 2035, on average, advanced economies must slash energy emissions 80 per cent, and emerging markets 65 per cent.
The G20 is responsible for 80 per cent of total emissions.
They must lead the charge – keeping with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances.
But this must be a joint effort — pooling resources, scientific capacities and proven and affordable technologies for all to be able to reach those targets.
I’m honoured to be working closely with President Lula of Brazil – who is both G20 Chair and COP30 host – to secure maximum ambition, acceleration and cooperation. We just met for that purpose.
Finance is essential.
COP29 is around the corner.
It must deliver a significant new finance goal.
We also need a Loss and Damage Fund that meets the scale of the challenge – and developed countries meeting their adaptation finance promises.
And we must finally flip the script on a crazy situation:
We continue to reward polluters to wreck our planet.
The fossil fuel industry continues to pocket massive profits and subsidies, while everyday people bear the costs of climate catastrophe – from rising insurance premiums to lost livelihoods.
I call on G20 countries to shift money from fossil fuel subsidies and investments to a just energy transition;
To put an effective price on carbon;
And to implement new and innovative sources of financing – including solidarity levies on fossil fuel extraction – through legally-binding, transparent mechanisms.
All by next year and this taking into account that those who shoulder the blame must foot the bill.
Polluters must pay.
Excellencies,
The rapid rise of new technologies poses another unpredictable existential risk.
Artificial Intelligence will change virtually everything we know — from work, education and communication, to culture and politics.
We know AI is rapidly advancing, but where is it taking us:
To more freedom – or more conflict?
To a more sustainable world – or greater inequality?
To being better informed – or easier to manipulate?
A handful of companies and even individuals have already amassed enormous power over the development of AI – with little accountability or oversight for the moment.
Without a global approach to its management, artificial intelligence could lead to artificial divisions across the board – a Great Fracture with two internets, two markets, two economies – with every country forced to pick a side, and enormous consequences for all.
The United Nations is the universal platform for dialogue and consensus.
It is uniquely placed to promote cooperation on AI – based on the values of the Charter and international law.
The global debate happens here, or it does not happen.
I welcome important first steps.
Two resolutions in the General Assembly, the Global Digital Compact, and the recommendations of the High-Level Body on AI can lay the foundations for inclusive governance of AI.
Let’s move forward together to make AI a force for good.
Excellencies,
Nothing lasts forever.
But a feature of human life is that it appears otherwise.
The current order always feels fixed.
Until it is not.
Across human history, we see empires rising and falling; old certainties crumbling; tectonic shifts in global affairs.
Today our course is unsustainable.
It is in all our interests to manage the epic transformations underway; to choose the future we want and to guide our world towards it.
Many have said that the differences and divisions today are just too great.
That it is impossible for us to come together for the common good.
You proved that is not true.
The Summit of the Future showed that with a spirit of dialogue and compromise, we can join forces to steer our world to a more sustainable path.
It is not the end.
It is a start of a journey, a compass in the whirlwind.
Let’s keep going.
Let’s move our world towards less impunity and more accountability …. less inequality and more justice … less uncertainty and more opportunity.
The people of the world are looking to us – and succeeding generations will look back on us.
Let them find us on the side of the United Nations Charter … on the side of our shared values and principles … and on the right side of history.
I thank you.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland. The Secretary-General and the President discussed the global geopolitical situation and the role of the United Nations in addressing global challenges. They also discussed UN Security Council reform and the Summit of the Future.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg. The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister discussed the United Nations reform, the Summit of the Future, the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
***
Le Secrétaire général a rencontré S.E. M. Luc Frieden, Premier ministre du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Le Secrétaire général et le Premier ministre ont discuté de la réforme des Nations Unies, du Sommet de l’avenir, de la guerre en Ukraine et de la situation au Moyen-Orient.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Right Honourable Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Your Excellency Dr. Garry Conille, Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
On behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, I have the honour to join you for this high-level event – and stand together in solidarity with Haiti, during these critical times.
I would like to thank Canada, the Chair of the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, for their active efforts to support a coordinated and coherent approach to Haiti’s stabilization and sustainable development.
Excellencies,
The security situation in Haiti remains extremely preoccupying – and poses major threats not only to the people of Haiti but also to peace and security in the region.
Gang violence continues to ravage the country.
Heavily armed gangs attack police stations, loot hospitals, occupy courthouses, and destroy other critical installations.
These are deliberate efforts to erode state authority, sow chaos and make it easier to prey on vulnerable communities.
Between January and end-August alone, the United Nations has documented more than 3,400 people killed and 1,600 others injured in gang violence – with over a 1,000 people kidnapped by these groups.
Other shocking human rights abuses have been amply documented, including rape, forced recruitment, and exploitation.
More than 578,000 people are internally displaced, over half of them children.
Nearly half of the population are food insecure and lack access to clean drinking water.
The proliferation of armed gangs in the capital has led to an alarming rise in sexual and gender-based violence mainly against women and girls.
In some areas, health service providers have reported receiving 40 rape victims a day.
The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must face justice.
Many children are victims of crossfire, exploitation and trafficking, forced to join gangs and increasingly used to carry out attacks.
[UNICEF estimates that 30 to 50 per cent of gang members are children.]
Haiti’s situation exemplifies a vicious cycle where decades of development deficits are deepened by ongoing insecurity and political instability.
This cycle has severely hampered any progress towards sustainable development, deeply affecting the socio-economic fabric of the nation.
Haiti also has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere.
Excellencies,
These daily horrors must stop.
The Haitian National Police face significant shortages of human, material and financial resources.
They need sustained and generous international support to equip and empower them to tackle the escalating gang violence and to protect Haitians from violence.
The deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission in June is a welcome development.
I salute the commitment of Kenya, Belize and Jamaica, who have currently deployed personnel to the MSS.
The UN Trust Fund for the MSS has received $67 million in voluntary contributions from Member States, out of a total of $84 million pledged.
Still, much more is needed to ensure the MSS can fulfil its mandate.
This is why the Secretary-General has consistently urged Member States to contribute to the MSS.
However, addressing security concerns alone is insufficient.
Enhancing educational opportunities, healthcare access, social protection and economic development is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty and instability and foster a resilient society.
Distinguished delegates,
Breaking the cycle of violence requires both political solutions and security measures – in parallel.
Progress on the establishment of transitional bodies is urgently to ensure that the elections timeline agreed by Haitian stakeholders and the restoration of democratic institutions by February 2026 does not slip.
I call on all political stakeholders in Haiti to reaffirm their commitment to the political accord and roadmap to re-establishing democratic institutions.
Finally, continued international support and collaboration are essential to ensure these political milestones are complemented by strong development policies.
Today, nearly half of the population needs humanitarian assistance.
Despite this dire situation, only one third [36%] of the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan remains funded.
I urge donors to step up, contribute to addressing these urgent needs while pledging long term development aid that addresses the root causes of instability.
Dear friends,
The Secretary-General and the entire United Nations remain steadfast in our commitment to the people of Haiti.
Together, let us continue to do everything we can to bring peace, stability, and sustainable development – for all Haitians.
Thank you.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic of Chile. The Secretary-General and the President discussed the outcomes of the Summit of the Future, reforms to international institutions and climate change. The Secretary-General and the President also addressed challenges to peace and security.
*****
El Secretario General se reunió con el Excelentísimo Sr. Gabriel Boric Font, Presidente de la República de Chile. El Secretario General y el Presidente conversaron sobre los resultados de la Cumbre del Futuro, la reforma de las instituciones internacionales y el cambio climático. El Secretario General y el Presidente también abordaron desafíos para la paz y la seguridad.
Source: United Nations secretary general
Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Dear Colleagues,
It is a pleasure to be here with you all to commemorate the African Union’s Year of Education.
As the world emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive disruption it caused, we were faced with an exacerbated education crisis. A crisis of exclusion, of quality and of relevance. A crisis made worse by stagnating investments by national governments, as well as the international community.
It was in this context that the Secretary-General called for the Transforming Education Summit.
The Summit was a landmark moment that was borne out of a realization that the education of yesterday was simply not up to task to respond to the needs of today and of tomorrow.
It succeeded in elevating education on the global agenda, in mobilizing greater commitment to deliver SDG4 at the country-level and in expanding the global movement for a reimagined education.
The Summit led to several important initiatives, calls to action and national statements of commitment by over 140 countries, more than 40 of which are from Africa. It led to the creation of the SG’s High-Level Panel on Teachers, which earlier this year produced specific, actionable recommendations on transforming teaching as well as the teaching profession. I hope that we are all heeding these recommendations, as we devise policies and draft legislation.
Importantly, it also led to the African Union’s declaration of 2024 as its year of education. A truly momentous decision. It represents a significant opportunity to highlight the importance of education within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as Agenda 2063.
This is important because when it comes to investing in education, our continent offers significant returns. African youth are poised to expand our continents and the world’s economic productivity. Within the next ten years, every third new entrant into the global workforce will be African.
At the same time the proliferation of digital technologies, like Artificial Intelligence, offers an opportunity to leapfrog the many constraints we face when pursuing the traditional pathways of development.
Investing in education now will help achieve broader development goals.
Despite progress in the last two decades in increasing access to education in the region, there is still a lot to do. Close to 100 million children are out of school in Sub-Saharan Africa. Primary school completion rates are below 70%, which drops to 50% for girls. Africa needs an additional 15 million teachers in the classroom to achieve SDG targets by 2030.
As you continue your journey, the UN system – UNESCO, UNICEF, UNECA, the RC system – stands poised to support you, through technical support as well as programme funding. This support will focus on digital transformation, entrepreneurship and jobs, inclusion and equity, and data and accountability, along with the traditional models of multilateral support which are focused on classrooms and curricula.
Excellencies, ,
Today, exactly two years after the Transforming Education Summit, we stand at an important inflection point.
With our new Pact of the Future, you have renewed your commitment to the Goals including SDG4. With this rejuvenated focus on the SDGs we will proceed to the Global Education Meeting next month in Brazil; on to Financing for Development in Madrid (FFD4) and then the World Summit for Social Development in Qatar (WSSD2). As we do this, we must not lose sight of the work of actually delivering change.
While we must keep pushing education to the forefront of the global stage through our advocacy, our efforts must also be aimed at delivering effective education policy changes at the regional, national and sub-national level.
We must take concrete actions on the ground for a prosperous and growing Africa. We must transform and tailor teaching, curricula, and classrooms to the needs of young people and the demands of the modern world. We must harness technology, where possible to leapfrog the constraints that we may face in delivering the traditional model of education.
Excellencies,
In simple terms, we must deliver on education today, so a new generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders can emerge in the years to come.
I look forward to hearing about your discussions and follow-up actions as you move forward on the journey to transform education. Your motivation to face the crisis in education in meaningful and concrete ways is a source of hope for all of us.
Thank you.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Filipe Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique. The Secretary-General and the President discussed the situation in Mozambique, including preparations for the upcoming general elections to be held in October and developments in the Cabo Delgado Province.