Opening remarks by H.E. Mr Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, at Leaders Segment of World Humanitarian Summit
23 May 2016
©WHS
His Excellency President Erdogan, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,
Heads of State and Government, Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great honour to join you all at this decisive Summit and I thank the Government of Turkey for both hosting this event and caring for millions of refugees during this crisis.
Excellencies, last year, world leaders united behind a framework for a better future, for people and planet alike.
Now, through this Summit and the High Level Meeting on Migrants and Refugees in September, we must unite again – this time for the sake of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Expectations are high.
People around the world are demanding that we move beyond fine words; that we build on the generosity we already see; and live up to our core responsibilities.
Now is the time to end the conflicts at the root of the current crisis.
To ensure adherence to international humanitarian law and accountability for violations.
To make the humanitarian system more efficient and more effective.
To stand up for those we are leaving behind.
And to secure the extra 15 billion dollars we need to meet humanitarian needs – just one cent out of every 50 dollars of today’s global economy.
As President of the UN General Assembly, I stand ready to support you however I can.
But today, it is up to you – to give hope to 60 million displaced people; to embrace the Secretary General’s Agenda for Humanity.