Vision Statement by H.E. Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa, former Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility Minister of Ecuador and President-elect of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Government of the Republic of Ecuador has decided to present my candidature for the position of President of the United Nations General Assembly, in full respect of the established principle of geographical rotation and the need to promote and ensure gender balance throughout the United Nations system.
Ecuador is a founding member of the Organization, and as such, its judicial legislation and national and international policy are based on the UN founding principles. During 2007 I contributed to the work of the National Constituent Assembly that led to Ecuador’s 2008 Constitution, which considers international cooperation and the peoples´ unity as basic principles for peaceful living and for development of all nations. Those are the same principles that encourage me.
The General Assembly is the most important multilateral forum for dialogue, agreements and commitments that pursues the goals and needs of the peoples of the world. The Presidency of the General Assembly offers the possibility to facilitate this global dialogue.
In 2009, it was an honor to co-facilitate on behalf of Ecuador, together with Norway and the support of all Member States, the negotiations for the General Assembly Revitalization. Today the agreements and principles achieved remain as shown by the Resolution A/RES/71/323 (2017), which calls the General Assembly to hold informal interactive dialogues with candidates for the position of President of the General Assembly, thus contributing to the transparency and inclusivity of the process.
It is also in observance of operative paragraph 73 of said Resolution that I have the honour to present my vision statement.
Strategic Vision for the 73rd Session
“Dialogue and strengthening of multilateralism as a catalyst for the well-being of all persons and a sustainable planet.”
Priorities
- Guide the work of the General Assembly in an open, effective, transparent and inclusive manner, providing continuity and strengthening initiatives and achievements by former Presidencies, according to the mandates of Member States.
- Facilitate the fulfillment of global commitments, not only as a goal, but also as an obligation with our peoples and our planet.
- Bring the United Nations closer to the people, with permanent actions to make sure that the United Nations work is known and appreciated by global society. People should feel and recognize that the United Nations has the capacity to face and solve conflicts and humankind´s challenges.
- Facilitate quick and effective responses of the General Assembly to emergency situations.
- To call high level meetings, in accordance to General Assembly mandates, on issues that are important to the international community, with special attention to persons in situation of greater vulnerability.
- Continue to strengthen the transparency and inclusion of the General Assembly President´s Office.
- Develop the necessary efforts to continue improving synergies in the United Nations System, in support of social and sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian aid, disarmament, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, as well as financing for the effective work of the organization.
- Maintain an Open door-based Presidency in order to listen to the needs and initiatives of each Member State, as required.
Key elements and strategies for action
- Maintaining the good practice on effective coordination of Assembly’s meetings, including the high-level meetings and thematic debates, particularly on the Sustainable Development Goals, that will form part of the High Level Political Forum in 2019: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). We should take advantage of the universality and complementarity of the SDGs and their targets.
- The General Assembly should facilitate mobilization of resources that are essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to move forward decisively towards development. We should promote dialogue and cooperation to create capacities and a sustainable and inclusive development.
- The climate change agenda should be strengthened at the global level, while we continue to fulfill the defined objectives. The Paris Agreement is notable and its fulfillment is necessary, but insufficient. We should work together decisively to develop initiatives addressed to strengthen and broaden mitigation, adaptation and early alert efforts.
- As part of our commitment of not leaving anyone behind, we need to strengthen our global efforts for a greater inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities and their families, without overlooking lessons learned in this process, based on the statement “Nothing about us, without us”. It is therefore essential to continue promoting adequate accessibility and the inclusion of a rights-based approach and accessibility in the General Assembly processes.
- Promotion and protection of Human Rights and development and reduced inequalities should continue being the motor of a global agenda that seeks to prevent conflict and reach peace.
- We must keep our commitment with migrants all over the world. We are building an agreement and it is our responsibility to finalize our work. In the next session of the General Assembly, we should continue to strengthen this agenda until its adoption and implementation.
- The efforts against all forms of racial discrimination deserves the strongest support from the Organization. There are still many challenges.
- Gender equality must continue as a crosscutting issue at the United Nations. We should promote and take advantage of women contribution to achieve the SDGs as well as peacekeeping, peacebuilding and other multilateral processes.
- We must continue focusing on conflict prevention and how the General Assembly can contribute as a global dialogue forum to reach this objective. The General Assembly is specifically called to promote a culture of peace, strengthening multilateralism and fostering friendly relations among countries, based on the observance of international law, dialogue and the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples. It is necessary to consider that “sustainable development is not possible without peace, and peace cannot exist without sustainable development”.
- Revitalization of the General Assembly is a commitment of all G-193 States. At the General Assembly, we should propose efficient responses to solve humankind´s problems placed for the United Nations consideration. We must accompany and guide the United Nations reform process promoted by the Secretary General, according to the criteria and recommendations made by all members.
Commitment
I offer a General Assembly Presidency guided by the principles of universality, objectivity, non-selectivity, constructive international dialogue and cooperation: a Presidency that will seek agreements based on consultations, dialogue and common interests.
The United Nations Organization is home to a very wide source of rich information since it generates and holds the most specialized knowledge of all regions, countries and cultures. The Presidency of the General Assembly must remain committed to serve each Member State of the organization, through a daily work focused on the needs of all nations, under the perspective that this legacy is a heritage that should be strengthened and well used to move forward towards sustainable development and peace.
To that end, I would highly appreciate the most valuable support that the governments of all Member States could lend to my candidature.
María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés
20 February 2018
Source : Complete Candidate Vision Statement