Making the United Nations Relevant to all People– As delivered –
[translated from Spanish]
Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly
27 September 2018
G77 Annual Ministerial Meeting
Mr. President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Chairman of the Group of 77
Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished Ministers,
Mr. Executive Secretary of the Group of 77,
distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
In January of this year, in my capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, I had the honor of participating in the ceremony to handover the Presidency of the Group of 77 and China, to our Egyptian brothers. At that time, I highlighted the relevance of the voice of this Group, which calls for a more equitable and just world, to achieve full development in harmony with nature.
The G77 and China maintains its historic relevance 54 years after its creation. Its voice is getting stronger and stronger in the main multilateral fora, demanding justice, equality and a fairer international order.
It is this group that was on the forefront of important proposals defining international instruments which are the basis for the most recent legacy of the United Nations, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Plan of Action, the New Urban Agenda. The Global South has its voice in this Group.
Excellencies,
First of all, I would like to congratulate Egypt for its leadership during its presidency of the G77 and China. And, of course, the State of Palestine, which today will be elected president of the Group for 2019. Brothers from Egypt and Palestine, count on my support in your efforts leading the Group.
Excellencies,
As you know, I have proposed seven priorities for this session. Two of them with a direct reference to the challenges facing our young population. The future of work and the role of youth in the maintenance of peace and the prevention of conflicts, are issues of central importance for all countries in the world.
Therefore, I am very happy that the Group of 77 and China, at this ministerial meeting, has also decided to prioritize young people, their demands and their needs.
If we want to advance the 2030 Agenda, and if we want to build peaceful societies, we must provide greater opportunities for young people and achieve their social and political inclusion.
Excellencies,
According to the International Labor Organization, in 2018 about 192 million people globally are unemployed. More than 50% of workers in the world do not have social protection. And every year, 40 million people enter the labor market, which implies that, by 2030, the global economy must generate more than 600 million new jobs.
These statistics define the future of work as one of the most important public policy challenges for development and for the sustainability of social security systems.
Our challenge is, therefore, to advance in the creation of better opportunities for basic, technical and university education, life-long training, and more dual education initiatives, such as state policies, involving government institutions and the private sector, to give our young people the necessary tools to access decent jobs.
Work not only provides the income necessary to live well and in dignity, it also makes us better human beings. In the case of young people, it gives meaning to their lives, which just began, and allows them to contribute to the important task of development by using their creativity and their creative enthusiasm.
The active participation of the G77 and China will be of utmost importance in the processes we are working on in this session, because, without any doubt, it is the most important Group of the United Nations, not only because it represents almost three quarters of its membership, but also because his voice represents 80% of the world’s population.
Excellencies,
Young people are not only the future, they are the present. If we do not invest in them now, we will be wasting their unique creative potential, we will be wasting what we all already know as the demographic advantage for each of our countries.
Excellencies,
My role as the President of this year’s General Assembly is to represent 193 States. I have the responsibility to represent and care for my beloved Latin America and the Caribbean region, and to care for the special challenges and needs of all developing countries in achieving their national goals, the 2030 Agenda and in building fairer and more equal societies.
As I have stated on several occasions, with your support, I will pay special attention to the vulnerabilities of countries in special situations in all the specific mandates related to the Small Island States, the Landlocked Countries, the Least Developed Countries and the Middle Income Countries.
Excellencies,
It is our collective responsibility to advance policies that promote mobilizing resources for financing for development.
I would like to put a special emphasis on the importance that the of the Second High-Level Conference on South-South Cooperation to be held in Argentina in March 2019, to Group of 77 and China. It is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen South-South cooperation, to address the complex challenges of developing countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda, and to strengthen their means of implementation.
Excellencies,
The active participation of the G77 and China will be of utmost importance in the processes we are working on in this session, because, without any doubt, it is the most important Group of the United Nations, not only because it represents almost three quarters of its membership, but also because his voice represents 80% of the world’s population. This is why you play a key role in the defense of multilateralism and the maintenance of a multipolar order.
Never before has this Organization and its founding principles been so threatened. However, the speeches we have heard over the last three days of the General Debate are encouraging. Almost all states have expressed their commitment to this Organization and its founding principles, and to multilateralism, as the only possible response to the global problems we face.
Only with your support can we make the United Nations more relevant to all people.
Thank you very much.
