– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly

22 February 2019

Honorable Representative Gabriela Cuevas Barrón, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Distinguished Members of Parliament,

Excellencies,

Surely you have grown bored with my presence here so many times, but I had to come to share my satisfaction with this opportunity of dialogue with you.

First, allow me to thank the very constructive participation of all those who attended this event. Particularly, I would like to thank the Members of Parliament who travelled from their capitals, many of them quite far from New York. Thank you for your participation.

Holding this hearing has become a very valuable forum for interactions between the Members of Parliament, representatives of the United Nations system and the diplomatic community of New York.

Furthermore, the fact that this house is the venue for this annual event shows a firm commitment to continue to promote the coordinated and joint work between this Organization and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Excellencies,

Throughout these two intense days of debates and exchange of perspectives, I received reports from my Office about the work that has been done and, in fact, we have heard enlightening presentations and specific recommendations about how we can stop polarization and mistrust from undermining an international system that was built with so much patience over more than seventy years; and the active role that the Members of Parliament must take for it within their own societies.

Although there were a wide variety of proposals, all of them are based on the pressing need of defending multilateralism.

It has been very gratifying to hear that all attendees here share the conviction that, through dialogue and cooperation based on equality, respect and good faith, a better future for the peoples and nations of the world is possible.

Likewise, I would like to emphasize the key areas that were identified to continue to promote collective action, with a sense of shared responsibility: Sustainable Development Goals; promoting and protecting human rights; gender equality and respecting the rights of women, including their political participation; building peace, preventing conflicts and security.

Excellencies,

The importance of revitalizing multilateral institutions has also reverberated in this room. We must make them more effective, responsible and inclusive.

In that sense, the good practices of parliament applied in several countries can serve as an inspiration to improve the work methods of the General Assembly and make it more efficient, being the parliament of humanity that we are.

Dear Members of Parliament,

The essence of the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union imply multilateralism; today’s meeting is a confirmation of this.

I hope we continue to embrace the profound relationship between this Organization and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

I invite you to keep moving forward in our shared objectives, specifically, to achieve more peaceful, fair and sustainable societies, where no one is left behind.

I wish you a safe trip back to your cities and, once again, I thank you for your deep commitment and dedication to the noblest causes of humanity.

In closing, I would like to particularly thank this great leader, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. As a Latin American woman, I am very proud to see that you have such a strong and intelligent leader, who will know how to lead the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Thank you all for being here with us these two days. Thank you.