Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,
Mr. Dennis Francis,
On the occasion of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness
5 March 2024
[As delivered]
Dear Friends,
As President of the United Nations General Assembly, it gives me no pleasure at all to make the observation that multilateralism is teetering on the brink.
From Gaza to Ukraine, Haiti to Sudan – and elsewhere across the globe – we are witnessing daily sobering reminders of how far the world has regressed in sustaining peace.
And amid the prevailing hostilities, marked by breakdowns in trust and the erosion of democratic norms, the risk of a global catastrophe looms ever larger.
I am fully aware of how many out there must be feeling a sense of frustration and disappointment.
But now is not the time to give up.
Quite the contrary, it is the time to fight for our values and convictions; to strengthen our resolve and indeed our activism for peace.
That resolve must guide us today as we mark the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness.
Our mission must remain to spread the message, loudly and urgently, and far and wide, about the risks and threats of arms proliferation.
Today – in this era of cutting-edge technological innovation – the science of warfare has also evolved significantly.
Weapons have become more sophisticated, and more lethal; and the ease of their acquisition much more widespread – thus posing a threat around the world.
Despite multilateral efforts and frameworks, the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons also remains prevalent – undermining peace and security; crippling societies; and exacerbating the already dire plight of vulnerable populations caught up in conflict situations or in the trafficking chain.
All of which impedes and further complicates our crucial journey towards the promised achievement of sustainable development by 2030.
To add to our woes, the risk of a nuclear catastrophe has never been greater.
Understanding the probable consequences of the threat posed by these weapons means rising to meet the imperative of general and complete disarmament.
Let us not depart from our core values and convictions that define our empathy, compassion, and understanding, and most of all, our unwavering commitment to peace – lest we betray our promise to future generations to protect and preserve our planet.
I thank you.
