Remarks by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

20 June 2022

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

The world continues to face complex and interlinked crises. The Covid-19 pandemic, which has loomed over our existence for the past two years, joins a list of other critical issues that we must work together to address.

 

Conflicts pervade our world, in Ukraine, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Palestine, among other countries, taking thousands of lives, and leaving a tragic humanitarian toll.

 

The climate crisis continues unabated, even as the urgency of resolving it becomes more evident, in the form of increasing climate-related disasters, irregular and extreme weather patterns, global warming, and devastated ecosystems.  

The multilateral system that has kept our world intact since 1945 is under unprecedented pressure. We face economic uncertainty, growing food-insecurity, and immense strain on our global supply chains.

 

Other endemic issues, from developmental challenges and poverty, to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, cast a shadow on the global agenda.

 

These serious and urgent issues are beyond the capacity of any single state or global institution to resolve unilaterally.

 

Their resolution requires a comprehensive effort; an effort that leverages the energy and expertise of all states and stakeholders, in the true spirit of multilateralism.  

 

Parliaments play a key role in this.

 

This is a fact that I keenly appreciate, not only as a former parliamentarian, but as a former Speaker of Parliament.

 

Excellencies,

 

Global agendas cannot succeed without concrete progress at the national level, where legislatures play a profoundly important role.

 

As I have remarked on before, parliaments serve as the platform in which UN resolutions can be turned into national legislation. Parliaments also help channel local concerns to the international community, to better inform their debates and deliberations.

 

That synergy is always important. Yet it is especially important as major global crises – such as COVID-19, climate change, conflict, and poverty, converge and compound one another.

 

The inputs and insight of parliamentarians from across the political spectrum will help us to face and overcome these challenges. Their collective knowledge and expertise can help our world find peace, strengthen its democracies, and support the economic well being of our communities.

 

Excellencies,

 

I am pleased that the cooperation between the United Nations system, parliamentary organizations, and national parliaments has expanded over the past two years, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

 

That cooperation has been greatly facilitated by the very effective work of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

 

I commend and applaud those efforts.

 

Going forward, collaboration and partnership between the UN, national parliaments and the IPU must be further strengthened.

 

Rest assured that throughout my Presidency of Hope, I will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to facilitate those partnerships and build synergies.

 

By working together – governments, civil society, the private sector, and legislatures – we can achieve great feats.

 

We can realize our common vision of a brighter future, where we have addressed the climate crisis; built sustainable economies; alleviated poverty; realized gender equality; and have done right by our youth.

 

Parliaments continue to be vital to maintain the political momentum necessary to turn those visions into a reality.  

 

And we, in turn have a responsibility to work with parliaments, to help realize a brighter future for all the peoples comprising our United Nations.

 

Thank you.