New York - "Global unity and solidarity are essential in the face of a multitude of crises that threaten to undo decades of developmental progress and condemn millions to poverty," stated the President of the UN General Assembly in his address during the opening of the 78th General Debate on Tuesday.
Dennis Francis, representing Trinidad and Tobago, emphasized the Assembly's unique and truly global role as a platform for debate, dialogue, and multilateral diplomacy.
With most of the UN's 193 Member States' Heads of State and Government gathered in the iconic General Assembly Hall for their annual week of debates for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis emphasized the imperative of uniting nations with a shared purpose and joint action.
He stressed the need for a common approach as the international community grapples with conflicts, climate change, debt, energy, food crises, poverty, and famine, which collectively threaten to reverse hard-fought development gains.
These challenges are erasing the progress made over the decades, perpetuating inter generational poverty and hardship, he lamented, appealing to leaders to fully harness the General Assembly as a global forum for sparking change.
"Let us listen and learn. Let us rebuild trust and rekindle global solidarity. And let us find common ground to address the challenges we face," he urged.
The urgency of his message was underscored by the ongoing violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, which he referred to as a "horrendous war" causing suffering not only in the country but also globally, impacting food security, energy prices, and even raising the threat of nuclear war. He called for an end to the war, stressing its contradiction to the principles of the UN Charter.
Mr. Francis also emphasized the need for just and sustainable peace in Ukraine and other regions, expressing concern about the resurgence of coups in Africa and calling for a deeper analysis of their root causes.
The High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly began with a summit aimed at revitalizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), designed to create a fairer and more environmentally friendly future for all by 2030. However, due to the ongoing global crises and insufficient financing, these 17 goals are in jeopardy, with over a billion people still living in poverty.
He called on the collective effort of Member States to regain lost momentum and work diligently over the remaining seven years to accelerate progress on the promises made.
Mr. Francis extended his deepest condolences to the Governments and peoples of Morocco and Libya, who have suffered from devastating earthquakes and flooding. He expressed hope for the swift delivery of resources and relief.
As a representative of a climate-vulnerable region, he urged Member States to recognize the escalating impacts of climate change and to achieve tangible, transformative results.
On the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr. Francis reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for vulnerable and marginalized groups, including Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and older individuals. He also pledged to continue drawing attention to the least-developed countries, landlocked developing nations, and small island developing states.
But he emphasized that the top priority should be the advancement of women and girls, who continue to struggle for equality and respect. He stressed the importance of "walking the talk" on gender equality and women's empowerment, ensuring women's full, equal, and meaningful participation at all levels.