Closing remarks by H.E. Mr Peter Thomson, President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly at High-Level Meeting on Refugees and Migrants
19 September 2016
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Thank you Deputy Secretary General Eliasson, for your comprehensive summary.
I join in thanking all Member States for your high level of participation at today’s Summit – it reflects the gravity of the situation before us, and our collective commitment to finding humane global solutions to address this crisis.
But our actions must not stop here.
We must move quickly to fulfil the commitments made today.
We must continue to give the refugee and migrant crisis the attention, energy and support it needs.
We must redouble our efforts to protect the human rights of refugees and migrants.
We must counter racism, xenophobia and others forms of intolerance that seek to dehumanise vulnerable people in need.
And, most importantly, we must push for universal implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which will help to address many of the root causes that drive people to flee.
I stand ready to work with Member States, the UN system, civil society, and other key stakeholders throughout the 71st session, so that we may find durable solutions that help to address this moral imperative of our time.
As I said in my opening remarks this morning, ‘I urge Member States to maintain their high levels of ambition throughout these processes, and to always reach for the higher ground on the basis of our common humanity, and our values of decency and equality.
The wellbeing of millions rests with us at the United Nations, and we must not fail them in their hour of need’.
Thank you.