Remarks by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the UN General Assembly

 

His Excellency Riyad Mansour, Ambassador of Palestine and Chairman of the G77 and China,

Mr. Mourad Ahmia, Executive Secretary of the G77 and China,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

I am pleased to once again address the Group of 77 and China, having attended the 43rd Annual Ministerial Meeting, here in New York. I look forward to our continued engagement on matters of interest, throughout the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly.

I commend the leadership of Palestine during a particularly busy year for the Sustainable Development Agenda, which featured the South-South Cooperation Conference in Buenos Aires, the Climate Action Summit, the SDG Summit, the High-level Mid-Term Review of the Samoa Pathway and the High-level dialogue on Financing for Development.

I commend this Group for its commitment to advancing the prospects of marginalized people around the world, through actively engaging across all three pillars of sustainable development.

This Group’s coordination and unity of voice during negotiations allows processes to move forward. The G77 and China is the largest and most diverse group at the United Nations. Your strength lies in your membership, which is drawn from Least Developing Countries, Land Locked Countries, Small Island States and Middle-Income Countries. I consider the Group of 77 and China to be an indispensable partner at the General Assembly.

Excellencies,

My priorities for the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly are anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely: peace and security through conflict prevention; poverty eradication and zero hunger; climate action; quality education; and inclusion. I will endeavour to galvanise multilateral action in order to meet the needs of those we serve as we face increasingly complex and interlinked challenges.

The SDG Summit convened on the margin of the General Debate presented us with an opportunity to assess the level of progress achieved and to mobilize support at the highest political level. This momentum has set the pace for the Decade of Action and Delivery, which will be pivotal to the fate of current and future generations, and our planet.

Mindful of the interconnectedness and indivisibility of this comprehensive framework, I will endeavour to provide the needed leadership on all goals, with some focus on the aforementioned areas. We know that progress on one Goal is not made in a vacuum, but rather it benefits the Agenda in its entirety. Thus, all positive synergies should be harnessed.

As the first Goal, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes poverty eradication as an overarching issue. We must engage in global partnerships, seeking innovative and smart solutions involving governments, donors, international organizations and agencies, private sector and philanthropies to foster greater commitments and identify appropriate resources to end poverty in all its forms. Poverty should be our baseline for development, as of today there is much to do as we move towards 2030.

Quality education is a key priority of mine for the seventy-fourth session; as I consider it to be central to the development of all societies.

Education is much more than a certificate – it equips youths with skills to make them resilient to social pressures whether that is anti-social behaviour, crime, or extremism. Education in this era must respond to the rapid technological changes of the modern world; preparing youths for jobs which may not even exist today.

I consider myself a permanent student, as I truly believe that education does not end when we pass school-going age. Lifelong learning opportunities and vocational studies are just as important as strong curricula and quality teacher training. I look forward to working with you on this issue in the coming months.

As we enter the next decade, we must focus on the deep challenges and disparities that still exist; and on the dangers posed by the climate crisis; by conflict and extremism; and by the rapid transitions we are undergoing in demography and technology.

When we speak of correcting inequalities, we need to unequivocally invoke principles of inclusion. We will not make progress if we exclude fifty per cent of the population.

In addition, the role of young people and, girls in particular, cannot be understated. In the same breath, I reference those who are often marginalised: older persons, persons with disabilities, and indigenous persons. I have said it before, and I say it again, we will not have a UN that excludes.

Inclusion is not just checking a box: inclusion is the protection and promotion of equal dignity and human rights for all the people. This is the foundation upon which we can secure a future of peace, stability and development.

Excellencies,

I commend members of this Group that presented their Voluntary National Reviews at the High Level Political Forum under the ECOSOC, and those who expressed interests to do so in 2020.

More than 140 countries have presented their VNRs. Some have even made two presentations so far. This has allowed us to measure progress and identify areas which require accelerated action. By presenting your VNR you are showing solidarity with other Member States who may look to learn from your example.

The Group of 77 is an important platform of South-South Cooperation. I encourage the Group to continue in the same spirit, supporting each other in our collective endeavour towards SDGs.

The Second UN Conference on South-South Cooperation, hosted by Argentina earlier this year presented Member States with an opportunity to further strengthen this agenda. I trust on your continued leadership on this issue at the 2020 South Summit, which will take place in Uganda.

Excellencies,

In order to achieve actual progress for the people we serve we must make a realistic appraisal of the financing gap. Currently standing at $2.5 trillion per year in developing countries alone, we need to ‘zoom out’ and consider the financing for development agenda. We have no choice but to mobilize action and commitments if we are to achieve progress.

The Decade of Action will require us to work together, sharing solutions which will improve the lives of everyone, everywhere.

The seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly will be marked by a plethora of Conferences, events and processes related to the Sustainable Development Agenda.

The Second United Nations Ocean Conference, will be held in Lisbon in June and will convene all stakeholders. The Conference will sound the alarm for the need to mobilise action on these issues which are critical to healthy people and a healthy planet.

I am appointing co-facilitators to lead on the arrangements for the Preparatory meeting, which will be held in early February 2020. This will allow for the identification of necessary elements for the draft of the negotiated outcome document. I trust on your continued leadership in this arena to ensure for a successful outcome and path forward.

I understand that Member States are currently discussing a resolution proposed by the G77 and China on the mandated Biodiversity Summit. My Office stands ready to provide the necessary leadership in implementing the mandate and raising global awareness on the need to preserve our biodiversity and ecosystems, ahead of COP15 of the CBD in China (October 2020).

COP25 will call on all Member States to urgently address climate challenges, progressing commitments made under the Paris Agreement into tangible action. The Climate Action Summit which was convened by the Secretary General, set the stage in terms of scaling-up finance and mitigation pledges. I am confident that continued efforts will lead to the promises of Paris Agreement being upheld.

The ECOSOC and HLPF Review process will be of utmost importance during this session. We will engage in the review process in the next few days, in accordance with the General Assembly resolutions on:

the “Format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable development”;

the “Follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level”; and

the “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolution 68/1 on the strengthening of the Economic and Social Council”.

I will take all measures to ensure that the process is inclusive, transparent and intergovernmental in nature.

Furthermore, I have appointed the Permanent Representative of New Zealand as a facilitator on the process to decide on a theme for the ECOSOC and HLPF 2020. I would like to thank you for the support you have extended to him.

On the Alignment of Agendas of the General Assembly, ECOSOC, and their subsidiary bodies to the 2030 Agenda, I will engage with Member States, the President of ECOSOC and the General Committee, as well as bilaterally with the Chairs of the Committees to identify proposals aimed at addressing gaps and duplication in the agenda, as duly mandated.

We will build on the progress achieved during past sessions, including during the 73rd session which updated the mapping of SDGs and identified the criteria for the definition of overlaps and gaps.

The General Assembly will hold important consultations related to administrative and budgetary matters. This is a crucial juncture in the Fifth Committee; indeed, the Secretary-General has repeatedly drawn the attention of the membership on the critical financial situation of the Organization. The UN requires adequate funding to carry out its multiple mandates.

In this context, I cannot emphasize enough the tremendous role of the G77 in addressing the critical agenda related to the administrative and budgetary issues, both at its main session for the regular budget, as well as during the resumed sessions in March and May.

I will also implement the mandates pertinent to the many processes related to GA revitalization, reform of the Security Council, the Review of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture and the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review.

Furthermore, I will organise mandated events and thematic debates: including the review of the Vienna Programme of action for LLDCs (December 2019); the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the high-level thematic debate on rapid technological change.

Last week, I met with the General Committee to address issues of proliferation and duplication. I will continue to do this throughout the session in order to improve and streamline our work.

Finally, on this point, I ask you all to take particular note: as part of my commitment to revitalizing the General Assembly and ensuring open dialogue, I am continuing the practice of hosting Morning Dialogues. I hope to engage all Member States, and at times invite external voices who may offer fresh ideas on issues of interest for the General Assembly, and the United Nations more broadly.

Excellencies,

2020 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations. The United Nations came into existence when world leaders chose hope over cynicism, empathy over indifference, and partnership over distrust.

When the General Assembly first convened, it sought to bring peace and prosperity to the people we serve. We must never forget that this is our purpose.

The United Nations is steadfast in its endeavours to address poverty, inequality, climate change, conflicts and violations to human rights. The principles and values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations have served us well. We must continue to choose hope and unity to reduce the trust deficit between nations and peoples, reaffirming confidence in this Organisation.

The celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations must be considered an opportunity to mobilize commitment to multilateral action. We must also review and look seriously at the way we do business at the United Nations, in order to be more effective, inclusive and transparent.

I will appoint soon co-facilitators to start working on the Political Declaration for the commemorative event in September 2020, the theme of which is: “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism”.

I will also work on modalities for the commemorative ceremonies of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations on 26 June 2020, and the United Nations day on 24 October 2020.

Furthermore, I have already started working closely with the President of the ECOSOC to convene a youth plenary in April 2020 in conjunction with the Youth Forum.

Moreover, the commemoration of Beijing+25 shall be seized to build on the progress made in the implementation of this visionary Agenda, in order to ensure equality and gender parity in every facet of our work and in the lives of the people we serve. I look forward to working closely with the G77 and China to implement these many mandates and deliver on the processes.

Excellencies,

This is a milestone year, and every step we take together must be purposeful. I hope you will join me on this path to 2030; and to seventy-five more years of the United Nations.

I am confident that by striving together, we will succeed in delivering for all.

I thank you.