[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-76px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
9 December 2022<\/b><\/p>\n
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Dear Colleagues,<\/p>\n
Friends<\/p>\n
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This Day was born out of the General Assembly\u2019s desire to ensure that \u201cnever again\u201d would a person face the horrors of genocide.<\/p>\n
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And out of the GA\u2019s desire to honor those who continue to suffer because, unfortunately, \u201cnever again\u201d has become \u201cagain and again\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Today we also\u00a0pay tribute to the people who helped to create, in 1948, the Genocide Convention,\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Adopted in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the Second World War, it was the first human rights treaty adopted by the General Assembly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Governments have the primary responsibility to prevent genocide but advocating for the world\u2019s most vulnerable is our collective responsibility.<\/p>\n
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As was announced, today\u2019s event is dedicated to the role of sports in promoting peace and inclusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Sports have changed a lot since the time of ancient Greece.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The events have lost their religious dimensions of comparing the human achievements to select the best performance and offer it to God. But still preserved that sport is about coming together to work towards the same goal, and compare the achievements in a peaceful and noble manner in accordance with agreed rules.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In sports everyone speaks the same language, across boundaries, cultures and religions.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n Sports can develop a sense of understanding and awareness of diversity, it can combat stereotypes and hate speech.<\/p>\n \n Athletes are among the most influential people in the world \u2013 giving a voice to the vulnerable people who don\u2019t have one.<\/p>\n \n Athletes have been symbols of transformation and inclusion for decades.<\/p>\n \n My message to the captains and athletes \u2013 you are role models for today\u2019s youth. \u00a0<\/p>\n \n Young people who are most exposed to extremism and radicalism.<\/p>\n \n Your positive example teaches them rules, discipline and teamwork.<\/p>\n \n You can educate them as nobody else can.<\/p>\n \n Sports were born out of respect, devotion, and human virtue. Let us not forget about it.<\/p>\n \n We still need to do more to integrate a common approach to use sports to fight hate online and offline.<\/p>\n \n I count on your commitment to advancing that important cause.<\/p>\n \n Before concluding, I want to acknowledge today\u2019s keynote speaker, Ms. Laura Ellsworth, for her work on the Eradicate Hate Global Summit as well as our moderator, Ms. Michele Rosenthal for her inspiring efforts in this field.<\/p>\n \n They both stand for the message of Nelson Mandela: \u201cNo one is born hating another person. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.\u201d<\/p>\n \n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 9 December 2022 \u00a0 Dear Colleagues, Friends This Day was born out of the General Assembly\u2019s desire to ensure that \u201cnever again\u201d would a person face the horrors of genocide. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" 10 November 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\r\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is in crisis. It is in many crises.<\/p>\r\n It has been 15 months since the Taliban consolidated control over the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Its economy is in ruins. The humanitarian situation is disastrous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Two-thirds of the population is hungry.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Girls and women are banned from learning, having a job or getting proper medical care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The country is awash with heroin and opium.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Organized crime and terrorist organizations are thriving once again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is facing complex and interlinked challenges that the Taliban have shown they cannot \u2013 or would not \u2013 solve.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\r\n It is time to support the Afghan people with concrete solutions that place their needs front and center.<\/p>\r\n It is true that some problems will require some time to resolve.<\/p>\r\n But there are actions the Assembly can take to change the paradigm now.<\/p>\r\n I would like you to consider one solution through solidarity.<\/p>\r\n The UN humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan \u2013 which requires $4.4 billion US dollars \u2013 is only half funded.<\/p>\r\n With winter weather just weeks away, I encourage Member States to provide urgent support to help reduce the $2.3 billion dollar shortfall.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s remind ourselves of the old saying from Afghanistan: \u201cA real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend in times of distress and helplessness.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan has a rich history of scientific achievement.<\/p>\r\n I encourage the country\u2019s reengagement with the international science community.<\/p>\r\n And\u00a0to allow women who used to be respected members of the country\u2019s science community to resume their research and their studies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Afghanistan is now the only state in the world that would deny girls their full right to education.<\/p>\r\n The prospect of girls\u2019 education has been left to uncertainty amid seemingly random edicts from the Taliban.<\/p>\r\n This time last year, Fawzia Koofi, the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament, recalled her dream of one day addressing the UN as the President of Afghanistan.<\/p>\r\n She said:\u00a0\u201cWith me, millions of girls and women in Afghanistan had this dream that now they think will never come true.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Dreams of becoming President have been replaced by the reality of child marriage. Arrests if women and girls leave their home without a male chaperone.<\/p>\r\n I reiterate my call for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans, especially women and girls.<\/p>\r\n Similarly, I urge the Taliban to ensure the safety of all Afghans, regardless of gender, ethnic background, religious belief or political affiliation.<\/p>\r\n To protect journalists and civil society members.<\/p>\r\n To allow unhindered humanitarian aid, and to cooperate with humanitarian workers.<\/p>\r\n We expect the Taliban to make good on the commitments they made to the international community.\u00a0To show honesty through\u00a0concrete action.<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n The dramatic changes of 2021 have taken a massive toll on Afghanistan\u2019s economy and profoundly widened many security risks.<\/p>\r\n