[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
Distinguished Delegates,<\/p>\n
Thank you for joining today\u2019s first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform.<\/p>\n
I am heartened to see that the membership\u2019s commitment to the IGN process remains robust.<\/p>\n
Let me thank Her Excellency, Ambassador\u00a0Alya\u00a0Ahmed\u00a0Saif\u00a0Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar, and His Excellency, Ambassador Martin Bille Hermann, Permanent Representative of Denmark, for accepting the important responsibility of chairing this process.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I am also grateful to Member States for their unqualified support for the appointed Co-Chairs.<\/p>\n
The commitment of your Heads of State and Government to, and I quote: \u201cinstill new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council\u201d, gives us pause to reflect on our great responsibility to ensure a more inclusive future.<\/p>\n
Excellencies,<\/p>\n
One of my priorities, in this Presidency of Hope, is \u201cRevitalizing the United Nations.\u201d<\/p>\n
This reflects our collective aspiration to make our organization efficient, effective, and accountable. It also includes supporting efforts to reform the Security Council.<\/p>\n
This is a daunting task, as we are all well aware, yet, as I stated only weeks ago, when I presented my priorities for the resumed part of the seventy-sixth session of the General Assembly:<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout all our efforts, there\u2019s one constant that needs to be present: HOPE.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Colleagues, I remain hopeful that with your constructive engagement, we will be able to move the IGN process forward this session.<\/p>\n One thing is clear: the success of this process depends on you, on the Member States.<\/p>\n Let us therefore find common ground, achieve convergence, and match our vision with bold action to truly reform the main body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.<\/p>\n Let us prove the naysayers wrong.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Look at how far we have come in building a world based on international cooperation and multilateral diplomacy.<\/p>\n Yet, we are reminded today of the growing number of global risks: the existential threat of climate change, social inequities, macroeconomic fragilities, ideological polarization, geopolitical tensions \u2013 all exacerbated by the current pandemic.<\/p>\n These complex challenges remind us that we, as United Nations, the pinnacle of multilateralism, must put humanity and human dignity at the front and center of what we do.<\/p>\n They also remind us that our United Nations must be adaptable and ever-changing. In an interconnected world of evolving complexities, we cannot be static. We ourselves must be able to evolve.<\/p>\n The Security Council needs to represent today\u2019s world; it needs to be more representative and more inclusive, reflecting the realities of 21st century international diplomacy.<\/p>\n This is not only important for Member States and the issues of peace and security but is indicative of our efforts to revitalize the United Nations and to maintain the relevance of this great institution.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n On the IGN process, our Co-Chairs committed \u201cto ensure its transparency, inclusivity and member-driven nature.”<\/em><\/p>\n I encourage all delegations to avail of the opportunity that this session provides to engage in a constructive, meaningful and transparent manner.<\/p>\n You have my full support in achieving an open, impartial, and objective process.<\/p>\n I look forward to listening to you, to hearing your views on the process and its way forward.<\/p>\n And I emphasize once again: the task before us will be challenging but it is far from impossible.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Other Matters Related to the Council (1st meeting of the IGN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":353,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the 爆料网 and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[547,550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-257401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ecosoc","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n